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New BSO long-term test!

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New BSO long-term test!

Old 06-21-17, 08:17 AM
  #1026  
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Originally Posted by acidfast7
but it will come back and beat this POS of Slaninar




Just joking. Great to see you back.
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Old 06-21-17, 09:05 AM
  #1027  
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Originally Posted by Slaninar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlJtohZSsfY



Just joking. Great to see you back.
Thanks! I want to see your stable. What happen to that other bike you assembled and painted for a friend?
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Old 06-21-17, 10:04 AM
  #1028  
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Originally Posted by acidfast7
Thanks! I want to see your stable. What happen to that other bike you assembled and painted for a friend?
It's getting lots of miles, she loves it.
I've tried it - rides lovely and is pretty light.

White arrow - vintage road bike project - Cycle Gremlin
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Old 06-21-17, 10:07 AM
  #1029  
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Originally Posted by Slaninar
It's getting lots of miles, she loves it.
I've tried it - rides lovely and is pretty light.

White arrow - vintage road bike project - Cycle Gremlin
I'm jealous. Very nice reuse of older parts. Cool beans.
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Old 06-21-17, 10:07 AM
  #1030  
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I see a rear brake caliper but no lever for it. Is that right?
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Old 06-21-17, 10:12 AM
  #1031  
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Originally Posted by noglider
I see a rear brake caliper but no lever for it. Is that right?
yup, it just holds the fender ... the entire mechanism rusted in the two-year garage hiatus.

so I removed the junk and recycled it with the household waste.

it's really a BMX-style brake and as the chain stretches, the pads can't be lowered enough to reach the breaking surface any longer.

front brake is more than enough for now.
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Old 06-21-17, 11:41 AM
  #1032  
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
Yea that 220v stuff is different.. but the electric kettle does heat faster than the US 110v versions.
Originally Posted by acidfast7
Yeah, the tea is quite good over here ... the coffee is utter rubbish.




Instant Coffee is a Travesty ..



I brought along an Ortlieb Folding filter support cone, and a re usable Cotton filter, on my British Isles Bike tour.


Vacuum packed coffee, ground, was Adequate, But back in Oregon Fresh Coffee drive thrus are everywhere..




Last edited by fietsbob; 06-21-17 at 11:47 AM.
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Old 06-23-17, 11:03 AM
  #1033  
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episode 194

stats:

3684km/2289mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.15/km
€0.19/km
$0.312/mi
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Old 06-29-17, 12:53 PM
  #1034  
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episode 195

stats:

3690km/2292mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.15/km
€0.19/km
$0.312/mi
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Last edited by acidfast7; 06-29-17 at 02:50 PM.
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Old 06-29-17, 02:55 PM
  #1035  
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
Instant Coffee is a Travesty ..



I brought along an Ortlieb Folding filter support cone, and a re usable Cotton filter, on my British Isles Bike tour.


Vacuum packed coffee, ground, was Adequate, But back in Oregon Fresh Coffee drive thrus are everywhere..




Instant Coffee is under appreciated. It can be used to develop film for example:



Not bike related but one of my favorites:


Last edited by tjspiel; 06-29-17 at 03:38 PM.
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Old 07-02-17, 10:53 PM
  #1036  
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episode 196

stats:

3697km/2297mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.15/km
€0.17/km
$0.31/mi
£2.89/commute
€3.29/commute
$3.76/commute
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Old 07-03-17, 11:59 AM
  #1037  
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episode 197

stats:

3706km/2302mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.155/km
€0.18/km
$0.310/mi
£2.89/commute
€3.29/commute
$3.76/commute

And a few extra of the original floorboards (1909) that we went over with this baby (Makita 9404, it's a workhorse for sure):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/7du/Makit...der/B000056NOA
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Old 07-04-17, 11:17 AM
  #1038  
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episode 198

stats:

3711km/2305mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.153/km
€0.174/km
$0.310/mi
£2.86/commute
€3.25/commute
$3.60/commute
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Old 07-05-17, 02:46 PM
  #1039  
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episode 199

stats:

3716km/2309mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.152/km
€0.173/km
$0.309/mi
£2.84/commute
€3.25/commute
$3.59/commute
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Old 07-06-17, 10:26 AM
  #1040  
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episode 200

stats:

3721km/2312mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.152/km
€0.173/km
$0.309/mi
£2.83/commute
€3.22/commute
$3.57/commute
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Old 07-10-17, 01:10 PM
  #1041  
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episode 201

stats:

3727km/2315mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.152/km
€0.172/km
$0.308/mi
£2.82/commute
€3.18/commute
$3.55/commute
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Last edited by acidfast7; 07-12-17 at 01:05 AM.
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Old 07-12-17, 01:08 AM
  #1042  
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episode 202

stats:

3733km/2319mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.1519/km
€0.1699/km
$0.3081/mi
£2.80/commute
€3.14/commute
$3.53/commute
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Old 07-12-17, 12:33 PM
  #1043  
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episode 203

stats:

3737km/2322mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.1517/km
€0.1712/km
$0.3077/mi
£2.79/commute
€3.15/commute
$3.52/commute
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Old 07-12-17, 01:19 PM
  #1044  
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Aren't you still on Campus riding past ivy covered walls in professorial tweeds? I figured you'd have to buy a dignified english 3-speed cruiser and have to start over.

You're getting into pretty good value now at just over 30 cents per mile

Are you tempted to replace the rear brake though? $30, won't set you back that much, just a bump up to 32 cents.
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Old 07-12-17, 01:48 PM
  #1045  
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
Aren't you still on Campus riding past ivy covered walls in professorial tweeds? I figured you'd have to buy a dignified english 3-speed cruiser and have to start over.

You're getting into pretty good value now at just over 30 cents per mile

Are you tempted to replace the rear brake though? $30, won't set you back that much, just a bump up to 32 cents.
Yeah, still on campus but I've given up ivy covered walls for the sunny southern seaside

The front brake is more than enough for now; I'd take the rear brake off but it holds the fender in place.

Seems that my inexpensive spokes are rusting and when flexing are making some noise under stress.

I thought about converting the bike to three speed ... but after the wheels fail
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Old 07-12-17, 01:57 PM
  #1046  
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At $714, is your bike still a BSO, assuming it ever was? Mine cost me about $600 so far, I have 2006 miles on it and I don't consider it a BSO at all.
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Old 07-12-17, 02:00 PM
  #1047  
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Originally Posted by acidfast7
Yeah, still on campus but I've given up ivy covered walls for the sunny southern seaside

The front brake is more than enough for now; I'd take the rear brake off but it holds the fender in place.

Seems that my inexpensive spokes are rusting and when flexing are making some noise under stress.

I thought about converting the bike to three speed ... but after the wheels fail
Good excuse for a light(er) weight wheelset. Or the IGH that you're probably thinking of.

The wheels on my own fixed gear BSO commuter (inspired by your example) weigh over 8 pounds which I'm pretty sure I could improve considerably. But no rust or other problems, gives me no excuse to upgrade
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Old 07-12-17, 02:04 PM
  #1048  
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Originally Posted by treadtread
At $714, is your bike still a BSO, assuming it ever was? Mine cost me about $600 so far, I have 2006 miles on it and I don't consider it a BSO at all.
It's a matter of perspective, and I kind of questioned that at first, but for where he was purchasing it and what's available there it's legitimately a low end cheap bike. Besides, it's kind of mean to demean someone's cheap bike just because others buy cheaper bikes.
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Old 07-12-17, 02:16 PM
  #1049  
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
It's a matter of perspective, and I kind of questioned that at first, but for where he was purchasing it and what's available there it's legitimately a low end cheap bike. Besides, it's kind of mean to demean someone's cheap bike just because others buy cheaper bikes.
Only on the commuter forum would we argue about who has the cheapest bike
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Old 07-12-17, 02:18 PM
  #1050  
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Originally Posted by treadtread
At $714, is your bike still a BSO, assuming it ever was? Mine cost me about $600 so far, I have 2006 miles on it and I don't consider it a BSO at all.
That includes every penny spent on the bike (except helmet/clothes), including lights/locks/fenders/etc... which are pushing $150 or so of that cost.

Also, I think it's important to remember that the UK has 20% sales tax and a low exchange rate now. So, that $700+ includes $150 of tax and $150 of gear (so it's around $400 or so, including nearly $100 in tires with two Gatorskins and a Schwalbe Marathon) ... so the bike is really $300 with a 1.3:1 exchange rate on around a $250 bike (originally £299 with £60 of that being tax).

This exercise has really been for a few reasons:

1. The bike is cheap and has worked well. An expensive bike isn't needed really.

2. The consumable and gear cost A LOT. Lights and locks aren't cheap. Good tyres are very expensive but should last for ever.

3. I'm curious how the bike will die ... I assume theft or maybe accident.

4. I think bikecommuting is more expensive than people think (but also more pleasurable.)
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