Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
Steel is real. I'd love to ride a 7 speed hub for cyclocross, it would save sooo much grief when riding in mud. Only thing would be the ridicule from the hecklers watching the race :D Luther KB5QHUForest Park, IL '98 ML320 Max (169,xxx mi) On 8/13/2013 11:14 PM, Gary Hurst wrote: i'm not keen on any derailleur system, actually . i also only ride steel On Wed, Aug 14, 2013 at 12:10 AM, Benz Hogs benz-n-h...@gulseth.net wrote: Yes, Altus is high end compared to Wal-feces, but it's still low-end for what Cannondale offers. Cannondale is one of the premier aluminum frame makers, and has been for the last 20 years, but that doesn't make the low-end Altus groupo any better... Luther KB5QHUForest Park, IL '98 ML320 Max (169,xxx mi) ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
Alex Chamberlain wrote: I'm sure there's a standard neglected bike tuneup that I can pay to have someone do or do myself (just like how on neglected cars you need to replace all the filters, rotten rubber, etc.). Any other recommendations for component upgrades based on that web page? Should I consider beefing anything up to handle more weight? (I weighed about 160 lb when I bought the bike and sadly am closer to 250 now.) Might be a good idea to oil the chain and repack all the non-sealed bearings. Watch the tires closely as you blow them up, see if any cracks open up. Anything 'hybrid' probably came with wide enough tires to support your carcass. Ideally, you'd lose about 15% of the distance from the rim to the ground when you get on the bike. If you get over 20% drop at the max pressure on the back tire, you might want to look for something bigger. If you need new brake pads, it'll be obvious when you try to stop. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
You should probably change out the tubes in the tires, the tires should be OK for now. I would clean and grease the chain and derailleurs -- some degreaser and a hose and toothbrushes, then some light spray lube (chain lube). Lube the cables and shifters too. Brake pads might have gone hard, cheap and easy replacement. Then just ride and enjoy. Soon that 250 might be down to 200! It should be good to handle that weight, those are stout machines. Get a small toolbag to hang on the seat, and a spare tube and pump to mount on the frame, you never know when you will need it. Also lights -- blinky red on the back and bright white on the front, preferably one of the LEDs that can blink. And be sure to WEAR YOUR HELMET! I cannot stress that enough. Always, no exceptions. I was riding with a buddy a year ago, we were barely moving and his back wheel caught a gap in some road pavers, he went down hard. Cracked his helmet badly, got a huge hematoma on his hand, and messed up his shoulder. This was from barely moving speed, just fell over BANG like that. His head would have been cracked like a ripe melon. On Sunday I was riding my mtb through the little shopping area down the road, watched some dude in a pickup cruising up to the driveway there, he was looking to the right to make a right turn, never looked my way to the left, so I knew he was going to blow the stop sign, which he did right there in front of me, like 4 ft away, I yelled loudly at him, he stopped and rolled down his window, I proceeded to give him all kinds of hell for being a dumbass. Had I not been watching for the anticipated stupidity I would likely have run into him, just that quick. --R On 8/13/13 2:01 AM, Alex Chamberlain wrote: OK, all you bike geeks like Jabba talking about building custom wheels and such has gotten me interested in riding again--I can use the exercise too. I know practically nothing about bicycles, but I have a 15-year-old Cannondale hybrid that has been sitting in the garage untouched for most of those years. Here's a page with all the specs: http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?year=1996brand=Cannondalemodel=H200 I'm sure there's a standard neglected bike tuneup that I can pay to have someone do or do myself (just like how on neglected cars you need to replace all the filters, rotten rubber, etc.). Any other recommendations for component upgrades based on that web page? Should I consider beefing anything up to handle more weight? (I weighed about 160 lb when I bought the bike and sadly am closer to 250 now.) Alex ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
i used to wear a helmet all the time but it's so not part of the culture down here that i don't anymore. but your point is well taken though as for the 90s cannondale, i'd just spray the chain with some chain lube, fill the tires with air and go. 250 is going to edgy on that back wheel but will probably work for a long while. On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 10:26 AM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: You should probably change out the tubes in the tires, the tires should be OK for now. I would clean and grease the chain and derailleurs -- some degreaser and a hose and toothbrushes, then some light spray lube (chain lube). Lube the cables and shifters too. Brake pads might have gone hard, cheap and easy replacement. Then just ride and enjoy. Soon that 250 might be down to 200! It should be good to handle that weight, those are stout machines. Get a small toolbag to hang on the seat, and a spare tube and pump to mount on the frame, you never know when you will need it. Also lights -- blinky red on the back and bright white on the front, preferably one of the LEDs that can blink. And be sure to WEAR YOUR HELMET! I cannot stress that enough. Always, no exceptions. I was riding with a buddy a year ago, we were barely moving and his back wheel caught a gap in some road pavers, he went down hard. Cracked his helmet badly, got a huge hematoma on his hand, and messed up his shoulder. This was from barely moving speed, just fell over BANG like that. His head would have been cracked like a ripe melon. On Sunday I was riding my mtb through the little shopping area down the road, watched some dude in a pickup cruising up to the driveway there, he was looking to the right to make a right turn, never looked my way to the left, so I knew he was going to blow the stop sign, which he did right there in front of me, like 4 ft away, I yelled loudly at him, he stopped and rolled down his window, I proceeded to give him all kinds of hell for being a dumbass. Had I not been watching for the anticipated stupidity I would likely have run into him, just that quick. --R On 8/13/13 2:01 AM, Alex Chamberlain wrote: OK, all you bike geeks like Jabba talking about building custom wheels and such has gotten me interested in riding again--I can use the exercise too. I know practically nothing about bicycles, but I have a 15-year-old Cannondale hybrid that has been sitting in the garage untouched for most of those years. Here's a page with all the specs: http://www.bikepedia.com/**quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?year=** 1996brand=Cannondalemodel=**H200http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?year=1996brand=Cannondalemodel=H200 I'm sure there's a standard neglected bike tuneup that I can pay to have someone do or do myself (just like how on neglected cars you need to replace all the filters, rotten rubber, etc.). Any other recommendations for component upgrades based on that web page? Should I consider beefing anything up to handle more weight? (I weighed about 160 lb when I bought the bike and sadly am closer to 250 now.) Alex __**_ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com __**_ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- *reliable vendor of superior parts for mercedes and other european cars * *www.BuyEUROparts.com* ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
Be an agent of change, not a lemming --- On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 12:25 PM, Gary Hurst jabbahur...@gmail.com wrote: i used to wear a helmet all the time but it's so not part of the culture down here that i don't anymore. -- OK Don They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin 1775 in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. - Benjamin Franklin 1789 2013 F150, 19 mpg 2012 Passat TDI DSG, 45 mpg 1957 C182A, 12 mpg - but at 150 mph! ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
On Aug 13, 2013 10:25 AM, Gary Hurst jabbahur...@gmail.com wrote: as for the 90s cannondale, i'd just spray the chain with some chain lube, fill the tires with air and go. So, no need to replace cables or brake pads? Alex ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
not really. you can adjust cable and may want to lube them as well, but ride it first. if it is shifting and braking nicely, then you should be fine. and if not, you can then start messing or pay a bike shop to do a tune up for you. i think i paid $40 for this when i visited atlanta this winter and decided working brakes are important going downhill On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 1:32 PM, Alex Chamberlain apchamberl...@gmail.comwrote: On Aug 13, 2013 10:25 AM, Gary Hurst jabbahur...@gmail.com wrote: as for the 90s cannondale, i'd just spray the chain with some chain lube, fill the tires with air and go. So, no need to replace cables or brake pads? Alex ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- *reliable vendor of superior parts for mercedes and other european cars * *www.BuyEUROparts.com* ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
The culture is a bunch of stupid rednecks, geezers with one foot in the grave, and docs making killings off medicare treating the aforementioned.. I guess you fit right in. --R (/s off) On 8/13/13 1:25 PM, Gary Hurst wrote: i used to wear a helmet all the time but it's so not part of the culture down here that i don't anymore. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
i mean the bike culture. and there really aren't any rednecks here. this is latin america with haitians. my kid is definitely having culture shock. On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 1:49 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: The culture is a bunch of stupid rednecks, geezers with one foot in the grave, and docs making killings off medicare treating the aforementioned.. I guess you fit right in. --R (/s off) On 8/13/13 1:25 PM, Gary Hurst wrote: i used to wear a helmet all the time but it's so not part of the culture down here that i don't anymore. __**_ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- *reliable vendor of superior parts for mercedes and other european cars * *www.BuyEUROparts.com* ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
Even worse for stupidity then. Do they pile 12 kids in the car with no car seats or seatbelts? --R On 8/13/13 1:57 PM, Gary Hurst wrote: i mean the bike culture. and there really aren't any rednecks here. this is latin america with haitians. my kid is definitely having culture shock. On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 1:49 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: The culture is a bunch of stupid rednecks, geezers with one foot in the grave, and docs making killings off medicare treating the aforementioned.. I guess you fit right in. --R (/s off) On 8/13/13 1:25 PM, Gary Hurst wrote: i used to wear a helmet all the time but it's so not part of the culture down here that i don't anymore. __**_ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
i really stay off the roads here and barely ever leave my geographic safe zone On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 2:15 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: Even worse for stupidity then. Do they pile 12 kids in the car with no car seats or seatbelts? --R On 8/13/13 1:57 PM, Gary Hurst wrote: i mean the bike culture. and there really aren't any rednecks here. this is latin america with haitians. my kid is definitely having culture shock. On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 1:49 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79TD300@**constructivity.netrichthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: The culture is a bunch of stupid rednecks, geezers with one foot in the grave, and docs making killings off medicare treating the aforementioned.. I guess you fit right in. --R (/s off) On 8/13/13 1:25 PM, Gary Hurst wrote: i used to wear a helmet all the time but it's so not part of the culture down here that i don't anymore. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/ http://www.okiebenz.**com/archive/ http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.com http://mail.**okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/**mercedes_okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com __**_ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- *reliable vendor of superior parts for mercedes and other european cars * *www.BuyEUROparts.com* ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
OK Don wrote: Be an agent of change, not a lemming --- Lemming? Like Rich the Magic Foam Hat Worshipper? Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
Rich Thomas wrote: And be sure to WEAR YOUR HELMET! I cannot stress that enough. I've got two problems with that statement. 1. Why single out a safe and healthy activity such as cycling and claim it's the only daily activity that's so freaking dangerous that you can't do it without donning body armor? Perhaps you should recommend foam hats for really dangerous activities, like diving or climbing stairs? 2. 35 years of data have failed to give us a statistically valid conclusion as to whether your fatality rate increases or decreases. I was riding with a buddy a year ago, we were barely moving and his back wheel caught a gap in some road pavers, he went down hard. Cracked his helmet badly, got a huge hematoma on his hand, and messed up his shoulder. This was from barely moving speed, just fell over BANG like that. Typical helmet saved my life anecdote. His head would have been cracked like a ripe melon. Objection, assumes facts not in evidence. His head is a lot harder to crack open than that foam hat was. The only way this proof works is by circular logic: Step 1: foam hats save lives Step 2: since foam hats save lives, this smashed foam hat must have saved a life Step 3: since the foam hat in step 2 saved a life, we now have proof of step 1 I'll give you another anecdote: When I was 16, I was cranking full speed up a slight hill on my 10 speed. Probably 85-95 rpm in ninth gear (52x17). My fork crown separated from my steerer tube, dumping me straight on my head. Would have destroyed a plain foam hat for sure, almost certainly would have done major damage to the real hard shell helmets that Bell made 30 years ago. In the absence of any body armor, it ripped loose a flap of skin on my head which took 11 stitches to close, and the blood flow blinded me in my right eye. The impact in the right front quadrant of my head threw my head back and left, actually tearing muscles in the right side of my neck. All I know for certain is: 1. If I had a foam hat on, I wouldn't have needed eleven stitches in my head. Foam hats are very good at protecting from surface abrasions on the part of the head that they cover, if they're strapped down tightly enough to stay in place. 2. If I had a foam hat on, my neck would have bent further before my shoulder took the remaining impact, because it would have made my head effectively larger. Whether the neck injury would have been enough worse to result in paralysis is unknown, but I'd much rather keep the scar on my head than go back in time and put a foam hat on before that crash. Just like Rich's friend would not want to go back in time and repeat his fall without any head armor, but TBI would seem unlikely if he took a large part of the impact with his hand. The only person I actually knew who suffered major TBI (and a fractured skull) in a simple fall from a bicycle was wearing a 1980s Bell hard shell helmet. It might have been a Bell Biker, but I'm fairly sure it was a Bell Tourlite like I wore at the time. She and her husband were just riding along on their tandem when a dog attacked them. The dog took out their front wheel and they fell over sideways, because tandems are too long to flip over forwards like other bikes do when the front wheel stops turning. Spent something like six weeks in the hospital and was never quite the same again, but the doctors didn't have to pick gravel out of her scalp. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
I got hit by a Sprinter van while riding my bike. I related the story of my buddy who fell and cracked his helmet. Several of my cycling buddies have crashed at various times, some more than once. It is a virtual statistical certainty that you will crash at some point, either by your own (in)action or someone else's. Those are facts. It is also a fact that everyone I know who rides a bike wears a helmet, whatever their (in)valid reasons. My neighbor who was a trauma surgeon rode his bike to work, and always wore a helmet, saying it was stupid not to, and he saw the results of that sort of stupidity. The other docs I ride with all wear helmets, they seem like sorta half-smart people. Wearing a helmet is a voluntary act. Getting hit or crashing is usually not. It is my personal opinion, backed up by a fair amount of anecdotal reality, that wearing a helmet is a better choice than not to prepare for the inevitable crash, but it is still your choice. I made a strong suggestion based on my experience, knowledge, anecdotal evidence, and what I believe to be a reasonable, minimal effort thing to do that to me has no particular downside and a fair amount of upside. You can make your own choice, and if it is not to wear a helmet I will think you are stupid, but I doubt if you care what I think (I don't really care much about what others think, except my wife for obvious reasons, so that is not an insult). Feel free to ride your motorcycle without one too, here in SC -- we need more organ donors. --R On 8/13/13 2:59 PM, Mitch Haley wrote: Rich Thomas wrote: And be sure to WEAR YOUR HELMET! I cannot stress that enough. I've got two problems with that statement. 1. Why single out a safe and healthy activity such as cycling and claim it's the only daily activity that's so freaking dangerous that you can't do it without donning body armor? Perhaps you should recommend foam hats for really dangerous activities, like diving or climbing stairs? 2. 35 years of data have failed to give us a statistically valid conclusion as to whether your fatality rate increases or decreases. I was riding with a buddy a year ago, we were barely moving and his back wheel caught a gap in some road pavers, he went down hard. Cracked his helmet badly, got a huge hematoma on his hand, and messed up his shoulder. This was from barely moving speed, just fell over BANG like that. Typical helmet saved my life anecdote. His head would have been cracked like a ripe melon. Objection, assumes facts not in evidence. His head is a lot harder to crack open than that foam hat was. The only way this proof works is by circular logic: Step 1: foam hats save lives Step 2: since foam hats save lives, this smashed foam hat must have saved a life Step 3: since the foam hat in step 2 saved a life, we now have proof of step 1 I'll give you another anecdote: When I was 16, I was cranking full speed up a slight hill on my 10 speed. Probably 85-95 rpm in ninth gear (52x17). My fork crown separated from my steerer tube, dumping me straight on my head. Would have destroyed a plain foam hat for sure, almost certainly would have done major damage to the real hard shell helmets that Bell made 30 years ago. In the absence of any body armor, it ripped loose a flap of skin on my head which took 11 stitches to close, and the blood flow blinded me in my right eye. The impact in the right front quadrant of my head threw my head back and left, actually tearing muscles in the right side of my neck. All I know for certain is: 1. If I had a foam hat on, I wouldn't have needed eleven stitches in my head. Foam hats are very good at protecting from surface abrasions on the part of the head that they cover, if they're strapped down tightly enough to stay in place. 2. If I had a foam hat on, my neck would have bent further before my shoulder took the remaining impact, because it would have made my head effectively larger. Whether the neck injury would have been enough worse to result in paralysis is unknown, but I'd much rather keep the scar on my head than go back in time and put a foam hat on before that crash. Just like Rich's friend would not want to go back in time and repeat his fall without any head armor, but TBI would seem unlikely if he took a large part of the impact with his hand. The only person I actually knew who suffered major TBI (and a fractured skull) in a simple fall from a bicycle was wearing a 1980s Bell hard shell helmet. It might have been a Bell Biker, but I'm fairly sure it was a Bell Tourlite like I wore at the time. She and her husband were just riding along on their tandem when a dog attacked them. The dog took out their front wheel and they fell over sideways, because tandems are too long to flip over forwards like other bikes do when the front wheel stops turning. Spent something like six weeks in the hospital and was never quite the same again, but the
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
i may be with rich here and wil likely get a helmet. sorry to disappoint the anti helmet faction On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 5:20 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: I got hit by a Sprinter van while riding my bike. I related the story of my buddy who fell and cracked his helmet. Several of my cycling buddies have crashed at various times, some more than once. It is a virtual statistical certainty that you will crash at some point, either by your own (in)action or someone else's. Those are facts. It is also a fact that everyone I know who rides a bike wears a helmet, whatever their (in)valid reasons. My neighbor who was a trauma surgeon rode his bike to work, and always wore a helmet, saying it was stupid not to, and he saw the results of that sort of stupidity. The other docs I ride with all wear helmets, they seem like sorta half-smart people. Wearing a helmet is a voluntary act. Getting hit or crashing is usually not. It is my personal opinion, backed up by a fair amount of anecdotal reality, that wearing a helmet is a better choice than not to prepare for the inevitable crash, but it is still your choice. I made a strong suggestion based on my experience, knowledge, anecdotal evidence, and what I believe to be a reasonable, minimal effort thing to do that to me has no particular downside and a fair amount of upside. You can make your own choice, and if it is not to wear a helmet I will think you are stupid, but I doubt if you care what I think (I don't really care much about what others think, except my wife for obvious reasons, so that is not an insult). Feel free to ride your motorcycle without one too, here in SC -- we need more organ donors. --R On 8/13/13 2:59 PM, Mitch Haley wrote: Rich Thomas wrote: And be sure to WEAR YOUR HELMET! I cannot stress that enough. I've got two problems with that statement. 1. Why single out a safe and healthy activity such as cycling and claim it's the only daily activity that's so freaking dangerous that you can't do it without donning body armor? Perhaps you should recommend foam hats for really dangerous activities, like diving or climbing stairs? 2. 35 years of data have failed to give us a statistically valid conclusion as to whether your fatality rate increases or decreases. I was riding with a buddy a year ago, we were barely moving and his back wheel caught a gap in some road pavers, he went down hard. Cracked his helmet badly, got a huge hematoma on his hand, and messed up his shoulder. This was from barely moving speed, just fell over BANG like that. Typical helmet saved my life anecdote. His head would have been cracked like a ripe melon. Objection, assumes facts not in evidence. His head is a lot harder to crack open than that foam hat was. The only way this proof works is by circular logic: Step 1: foam hats save lives Step 2: since foam hats save lives, this smashed foam hat must have saved a life Step 3: since the foam hat in step 2 saved a life, we now have proof of step 1 I'll give you another anecdote: When I was 16, I was cranking full speed up a slight hill on my 10 speed. Probably 85-95 rpm in ninth gear (52x17). My fork crown separated from my steerer tube, dumping me straight on my head. Would have destroyed a plain foam hat for sure, almost certainly would have done major damage to the real hard shell helmets that Bell made 30 years ago. In the absence of any body armor, it ripped loose a flap of skin on my head which took 11 stitches to close, and the blood flow blinded me in my right eye. The impact in the right front quadrant of my head threw my head back and left, actually tearing muscles in the right side of my neck. All I know for certain is: 1. If I had a foam hat on, I wouldn't have needed eleven stitches in my head. Foam hats are very good at protecting from surface abrasions on the part of the head that they cover, if they're strapped down tightly enough to stay in place. 2. If I had a foam hat on, my neck would have bent further before my shoulder took the remaining impact, because it would have made my head effectively larger. Whether the neck injury would have been enough worse to result in paralysis is unknown, but I'd much rather keep the scar on my head than go back in time and put a foam hat on before that crash. Just like Rich's friend would not want to go back in time and repeat his fall without any head armor, but TBI would seem unlikely if he took a large part of the impact with his hand. The only person I actually knew who suffered major TBI (and a fractured skull) in a simple fall from a bicycle was wearing a 1980s Bell hard shell helmet. It might have been a Bell Biker, but I'm fairly sure it was a Bell Tourlite like I wore at the time. She and her husband were just riding along on their tandem when a dog attacked them. The dog took out their front wheel and they fell over
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
When I was riding a motorcycle it never ceased to amaze me when I saw all the people who rode free. For many of them it wasn't that the helmet was an issue, it was the man telling them they had to wear one. Stupid. A good friend who used to be a trauma nurse called Jap bikes donor bikes. Dan On Aug 13, 2013, at 5:37 PM, Gary Hurst jabbahur...@gmail.com wrote: i may be with rich here and wil likely get a helmet. sorry to disappoint the anti helmet faction On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 5:20 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: I got hit by a Sprinter van while riding my bike. I related the story of my buddy who fell and cracked his helmet. Several of my cycling buddies have crashed at various times, some more than once. It is a virtual statistical certainty that you will crash at some point, either by your own (in)action or someone else's. Those are facts. It is also a fact that everyone I know who rides a bike wears a helmet, whatever their (in)valid reasons. My neighbor who was a trauma surgeon rode his bike to work, and always wore a helmet, saying it was stupid not to, and he saw the results of that sort of stupidity. The other docs I ride with all wear helmets, they seem like sorta half-smart people. Wearing a helmet is a voluntary act. Getting hit or crashing is usually not. It is my personal opinion, backed up by a fair amount of anecdotal reality, that wearing a helmet is a better choice than not to prepare for the inevitable crash, but it is still your choice. I made a strong suggestion based on my experience, knowledge, anecdotal evidence, and what I believe to be a reasonable, minimal effort thing to do that to me has no particular downside and a fair amount of upside. You can make your own choice, and if it is not to wear a helmet I will think you are stupid, but I doubt if you care what I think (I don't really care much about what others think, except my wife for obvious reasons, so that is not an insult). Feel free to ride your motorcycle without one too, here in SC -- we need more organ donors. --R On 8/13/13 2:59 PM, Mitch Haley wrote: Rich Thomas wrote: And be sure to WEAR YOUR HELMET! I cannot stress that enough. I've got two problems with that statement. 1. Why single out a safe and healthy activity such as cycling and claim it's the only daily activity that's so freaking dangerous that you can't do it without donning body armor? Perhaps you should recommend foam hats for really dangerous activities, like diving or climbing stairs? 2. 35 years of data have failed to give us a statistically valid conclusion as to whether your fatality rate increases or decreases. I was riding with a buddy a year ago, we were barely moving and his back wheel caught a gap in some road pavers, he went down hard. Cracked his helmet badly, got a huge hematoma on his hand, and messed up his shoulder. This was from barely moving speed, just fell over BANG like that. Typical helmet saved my life anecdote. His head would have been cracked like a ripe melon. Objection, assumes facts not in evidence. His head is a lot harder to crack open than that foam hat was. The only way this proof works is by circular logic: Step 1: foam hats save lives Step 2: since foam hats save lives, this smashed foam hat must have saved a life Step 3: since the foam hat in step 2 saved a life, we now have proof of step 1 I'll give you another anecdote: When I was 16, I was cranking full speed up a slight hill on my 10 speed. Probably 85-95 rpm in ninth gear (52x17). My fork crown separated from my steerer tube, dumping me straight on my head. Would have destroyed a plain foam hat for sure, almost certainly would have done major damage to the real hard shell helmets that Bell made 30 years ago. In the absence of any body armor, it ripped loose a flap of skin on my head which took 11 stitches to close, and the blood flow blinded me in my right eye. The impact in the right front quadrant of my head threw my head back and left, actually tearing muscles in the right side of my neck. All I know for certain is: 1. If I had a foam hat on, I wouldn't have needed eleven stitches in my head. Foam hats are very good at protecting from surface abrasions on the part of the head that they cover, if they're strapped down tightly enough to stay in place. 2. If I had a foam hat on, my neck would have bent further before my shoulder took the remaining impact, because it would have made my head effectively larger. Whether the neck injury would have been enough worse to result in paralysis is unknown, but I'd much rather keep the scar on my head than go back in time and put a foam hat on before that crash. Just like Rich's friend would not want to go back in time and repeat his fall without any head armor, but TBI would seem unlikely if he took a large part of the impact with his hand. The
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
As others have said. Clean the bike chain, gears, and derailleurs with a degreaser, preferably one that is NOT water based. Simple Green is fairly good, just keep it away from paint and the brake surface. If you do happen to get some on the brake surface, clean the surface with a clean rag and alcohol. Inspect the rubber items (tires, brake shoes, and handlebar grips) for cracks or gooeyness and replace as needed. Check brake and shifting cables for smooth operation, and plan to replace them if there is any resistance. They need to be resistance free or brakes will stick and derailleurs will grind and not shift smoothly. It was suggested to repack bearings, this may (read 99% likely) require special tools, especially for the crank and wheels. Also, the headset may need specific adjustment, depending on the style. Probably best left to someone with experience and tools. When you apply lube to the chain, coat the chain liberally with a good chain oil that will NOT attract/hold dirt. Leave it soak for 10 min or so, then wipe ALL of the extra off the chain with a clean-lint-free rag. This will minimize any collection of dirt that wears the chain prematurely. Luther, hit by a car and still wearing a helmet Luther KB5QHUForest Park, IL '98 ML320 Max (169,xxx mi) On 8/13/2013 1:01 AM, Alex Chamberlain wrote: OK, all you bike geeks like Jabba talking about building custom wheels and such has gotten me interested in riding again--I can use the exercise too. I know practically nothing about bicycles, but I have a 15-year-old Cannondale hybrid that has been sitting in the garage untouched for most of those years. Here's a page with all the specs: http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?year=1996brand=Cannondalemodel=H200 I'm sure there's a standard neglected bike tuneup that I can pay to have someone do or do myself (just like how on neglected cars you need to replace all the filters, rotten rubber, etc.). Any other recommendations for component upgrades based on that web page? Should I consider beefing anything up to handle more weight? (I weighed about 160 lb when I bought the bike and sadly am closer to 250 now.) Alex ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
On Aug 13, 2013 3:49 PM, Benz Hogs benz-n-h...@gulseth.net wrote: Check brake and shifting cables for smooth operation, and plan to replace them if there is any resistance. Can't they be lubed like motorcycle cables, or is it not worth the effort? Alex ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
They can be lubed, but if the cable has rusted inside the housing, lube won't help. Luther KB5QHUForest Park, IL '98 ML320 Max (169,xxx mi) On 8/13/2013 7:28 PM, Alex Chamberlain wrote: On Aug 13, 2013 3:49 PM, Benz Hogs benz-n-h...@gulseth.net wrote: Check brake and shifting cables for smooth operation, and plan to replace them if there is any resistance. Can't they be lubed like motorcycle cables, or is it not worth the effort? Alex ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
Oh, and the cable+housing will cost $20 or less, depending on how much highway robbery your local shop does... Luther KB5QHUForest Park, IL '98 ML320 Max (169,xxx mi) On 8/13/2013 7:30 PM, Benz Hogs wrote: They can be lubed, but if the cable has rusted inside the housing, lube won't help. Luther KB5QHUForest Park, IL '98 ML320 Max (169,xxx mi) On 8/13/2013 7:28 PM, Alex Chamberlain wrote: On Aug 13, 2013 3:49 PM, Benz Hogs benz-n-h...@gulseth.net wrote: Check brake and shifting cables for smooth operation, and plan to replace them if there is any resistance. Can't they be lubed like motorcycle cables, or is it not worth the effort? Alex ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
Gary Hurst wrote: i may be with rich here and wil likely get a helmet. sorry to disappoint the anti helmet faction What's this 'anti-helmet faction' you speak of? I've not seen any of that, but there is a huge 'helmet-nazi faction'. As somebody who used to give out unsolicited advice to 'buy a helmet', I try to help others to quit being jackasses like I used to be. It's pretty much beyond dispute that foam hats (and padded leather gloves!) prevent bruises and abrasions. And nobody is saying that foam hats increase injuries or death, so why not wear them? Which reminds me. Alex, get some decent gloves and shorts too. They make cycling more comfortable, and the more you weigh the more it matters. When it comes to serious injury and death, the glowingly pro-helmet research (Thompson/Rivera/Thompson et al) is intentionally flawed, and the non-slanted research always seems to come up inconclusive. One theory is that foam hats, which are designed to and should reduce linear acceleration, might be increasing radial acceleration, but AFAIK nobody has figured out a way to test that theory. Another theory is that they do protect the brain, but the effect is so minor that you just can't prove it with large population studies. Then there's the risk-compensation theory: Foam hats work great, but people ride more dangerously when they wear them, so it all cancels out (I don't subscribe to this one, but it could be a minor factor). Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
Alex Chamberlain wrote: On Aug 13, 2013 3:49 PM, Benz Hogs benz-n-h...@gulseth.net wrote: Check brake and shifting cables for smooth operation, and plan to replace them if there is any resistance. Can't they be lubed like motorcycle cables, or is it not worth the effort? Depends on if the cables are plastic coated or the housings are plastic lined. If either is the case, dry is probably better. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
Or a gel/memory foam seat cover instead of padded shorts. Not everyone likes walking around feeling like they have a full diaper between their legs Luther KB5QHUForest Park, IL '98 ML320 Max (169,xxx mi) On 8/13/2013 8:23 PM, Mitch Haley wrote: Which reminds me. Alex, get some decent gloves and shorts too. They make cycling more comfortable, and the more you weigh the more it matters. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
A 15yo hybrid is not likely to have plastic coated cables. Especially since it has low end Altus/AceraX components. Luther KB5QHUForest Park, IL '98 ML320 Max (169,xxx mi) On 8/13/2013 8:25 PM, Mitch Haley wrote: Depends on if the cables are plastic coated or the housings are plastic lined. If either is the case, dry is probably better. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
Proud to be a jackass! --R (sent from my miniPad) On Aug 13, 2013, at 9:23 PM, Mitch Haley m...@voyager.net wrote: I've not seen any of that, but there is a huge 'helmet-nazi faction'. As somebody who used to give out unsolicited advice to 'buy a helmet', I try to help others to quit being jackasses like I used to be. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
altus is super high end compared to most of the walmart stuff on the street. so much is relative. i would consider that cannondale to be a really nice bike but some would call it a POS they give bike to the homeless down here (who, as amazing as this will sound, are largely seasonal themselves) and i spend a lot of time helping guys with broken down walmart bikes. dismal stuff that makes me appreciate a cannondale! On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 10:34 PM, Benz Hogs benz-n-h...@gulseth.net wrote: A 15yo hybrid is not likely to have plastic coated cables. Especially since it has low end Altus/AceraX components. Luther KB5QHUForest Park, IL '98 ML320 Max (169,xxx mi) On 8/13/2013 8:25 PM, Mitch Haley wrote: Depends on if the cables are plastic coated or the housings are plastic lined. If either is the case, dry is probably better. Mitch. __**_ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- *reliable vendor of superior parts for mercedes and other european cars * *www.BuyEUROparts.com* ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
Yes, Altus is high end compared to Wal-feces, but it's still low-end for what Cannondale offers. Cannondale is one of the premier aluminum frame makers, and has been for the last 20 years, but that doesn't make the low-end Altus groupo any better... Luther KB5QHUForest Park, IL '98 ML320 Max (169,xxx mi) On 8/13/2013 10:21 PM, Gary Hurst wrote: altus is super high end compared to most of the walmart stuff on the street. so much is relative. i would consider that cannondale to be a really nice bike but some would call it a POS they give bike to the homeless down here (who, as amazing as this will sound, are largely seasonal themselves) and i spend a lot of time helping guys with broken down walmart bikes. dismal stuff that makes me appreciate a cannondale! ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT for bike geeks: Cannondale H200
i'm not keen on any derailleur system, actually . i also only ride steel On Wed, Aug 14, 2013 at 12:10 AM, Benz Hogs benz-n-h...@gulseth.net wrote: Yes, Altus is high end compared to Wal-feces, but it's still low-end for what Cannondale offers. Cannondale is one of the premier aluminum frame makers, and has been for the last 20 years, but that doesn't make the low-end Altus groupo any better... Luther KB5QHUForest Park, IL '98 ML320 Max (169,xxx mi) On 8/13/2013 10:21 PM, Gary Hurst wrote: altus is super high end compared to most of the walmart stuff on the street. so much is relative. i would consider that cannondale to be a really nice bike but some would call it a POS they give bike to the homeless down here (who, as amazing as this will sound, are largely seasonal themselves) and i spend a lot of time helping guys with broken down walmart bikes. dismal stuff that makes me appreciate a cannondale! __**_ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- *reliable vendor of superior parts for mercedes and other european cars * *www.BuyEUROparts.com* ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
