New BSO long-term test!
#1027
Banned
Thread Starter
#1028
Mostly harmless ™
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Novi Sad
Posts: 4,424
Bikes: Heavy, with friction shifters
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1105 Post(s)
Liked 213 Times
in
127 Posts
I've tried it - rides lovely and is pretty light.
White arrow - vintage road bike project - Cycle Gremlin
#1029
Banned
Thread Starter
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've tried it - rides lovely and is pretty light.
White arrow - vintage road bike project - Cycle Gremlin
#1030
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,691
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 510 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7287 Post(s)
Liked 2,365 Times
in
1,382 Posts
I see a rear brake caliper but no lever for it. Is that right?
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#1031
Banned
Thread Starter
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.
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.
#1032
Banned
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.
#1033
Banned
Thread Starter
episode 194
stats:
3684km/2289mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.15/km
€0.19/km
$0.312/mi
stats:
3684km/2289mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.15/km
€0.19/km
$0.312/mi
#1034
Banned
Thread Starter
episode 195
stats:
3690km/2292mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.15/km
€0.19/km
$0.312/mi
stats:
3690km/2292mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.15/km
€0.19/km
$0.312/mi
Last edited by acidfast7; 06-29-17 at 02:50 PM.
#1035
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 8,101
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times
in
12 Posts
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.
#1036
Banned
Thread Starter
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
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
#1037
Banned
Thread Starter
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
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
#1038
Banned
Thread Starter
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
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
#1039
Banned
Thread Starter
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
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
#1040
Banned
Thread Starter
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
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
#1041
Banned
Thread Starter
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
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
Last edited by acidfast7; 07-12-17 at 01:05 AM.
#1042
Banned
Thread Starter
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
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
#1043
Banned
Thread Starter
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
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
#1044
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
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.
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.
#1045
Banned
Thread Starter
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.
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.
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
#1046
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,266
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Sirrus
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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.
#1047
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
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
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
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
#1048
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
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.
#1049
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,266
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Sirrus
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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.
#1050
Banned
Thread Starter
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.)