Frustration
#26
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Marquette, MI
Posts: 29
Bikes: 88 Nishiki Ariel, 89 DB Apex, mutant tall bike, Sinister R9
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I'm in wet sand a lot, the shoulder is often mostly wet sand. There are sections of these roads that are just all lumps of hot fill from years and years of filling. It's probably a lot like riding cobbles in europe. There isn't a lot you can do to mitigate it sometimes. I do pretty well, but between the roads being **** and handling traffic and not being perfect sometimes the bike gets rocked.
When I originally posted this I was fresh off a conversation with this friend, who (again) does not touch his bicycle that he rides every day....which I find frustrating. I have subsequently asked him more questions, and indeed, he hasn't replaced anything after years of daily riding. No tires, no chains, no brake pads, nothing. Evidently that's what life is like being little on an expensive bike. It's ****ing frustrating. Then again, knowing where he lives and a lot of his riding, a lot of what he does is flat and smooth on pretty clear bike path whereas I'm up and down hills on gravely/sandy road shoulders...so it's apples and oranges to a degree.
When my chains get really stretched out, I get a new chain. I would guess maybe 4K miles yearly, I tend to give up when it starts being sub zero every morning. That's a few months. It's overly dangerous to attempt my commute when it's snowed more than 3 or 4 inches, or really I guess just whenever the county plows are operating, and that happens here somewhat regularly. Not that you can't ride a bike when it's like that, but there are some specifics of the roads I have to ride to get to my job that are problematic...so commuting is out and rec time is on skis that time of year.
Anyway I'm thinking I'll probably just build myself a 48h rear wheel and be done with it. I've also acquired a trailer, and I'm probably going to be setting that up for any really heavy trips.
You know...for such a legit question, it's pretty tough to answer. I mean, I don't weigh my groceries....and I think it varies. Frequently I grab 20ish lbs of stuff in a few bags. Infrequently I make a bigger trip that may be 50 lbs or more. There's no doubt I'm maxing it all out. I'm a 275 lb man riding downhill on bumpy messed up roads with a grocery cart of stuff in my panniers. I can feel frames and wheels flexing.
I think if I got something right now I'd get a 60cm 26" disc trucker. I don't have that kind of money...even a good deal would be a tough sell to the wifey...so I'm making do. I wish there were a realistic (meaning easy and efficient) way to just trade my stupid arsenal of late-80s time machines for one disc trucker. lol...whatever. f it.
Last edited by Albino Wino; 12-24-15 at 08:32 PM.
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 329
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Albino,
A couple of questions.
Are you breaking spokes on the rear wheel only?
What tire pressure are you riding front and rear?
I am one cheeseburger short of 300 lbs and ride MTBs of the same type and vintage as you. I know they are pretty sturdy and do not break easily for the most part. I just got a DB Ascent EX (1989 or 1993) in Acetylene Smoke paint scheme and it is pretty strongly built.
A couple of questions.
Are you breaking spokes on the rear wheel only?
What tire pressure are you riding front and rear?
I am one cheeseburger short of 300 lbs and ride MTBs of the same type and vintage as you. I know they are pretty sturdy and do not break easily for the most part. I just got a DB Ascent EX (1989 or 1993) in Acetylene Smoke paint scheme and it is pretty strongly built.
#29
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Marquette, MI
Posts: 29
Bikes: 88 Nishiki Ariel, 89 DB Apex, mutant tall bike, Sinister R9
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Albino,
A couple of questions.
Are you breaking spokes on the rear wheel only?
What tire pressure are you riding front and rear?
I am one cheeseburger short of 300 lbs and ride MTBs of the same type and vintage as you. I know they are pretty sturdy and do not break easily for the most part. I just got a DB Ascent EX (1989 or 1993) in Acetylene Smoke paint scheme and it is pretty strongly built.
A couple of questions.
Are you breaking spokes on the rear wheel only?
What tire pressure are you riding front and rear?
I am one cheeseburger short of 300 lbs and ride MTBs of the same type and vintage as you. I know they are pretty sturdy and do not break easily for the most part. I just got a DB Ascent EX (1989 or 1993) in Acetylene Smoke paint scheme and it is pretty strongly built.
The other day I broke 2 more spokes....so I tore down several wheels and very carefully found the best spokes and nips and built a wheel with a hub I don't mind trashing in the salt....very carefully....to just sort of start from scratch with something and see how it goes. It's been taking a real beating riding lumpy snow and rutted ice and my brakes are adjusted really tight to immediately know if it's losing true and so far so good. True, tension even, no signs of fatigue or failure. Interestingly, going through these other wheels and spokes, all these drive side spokes were very damaged from chain suck...all of which would have happened before I had the parts because my stuff is adjusted (and I friction shift, and I just don't remember ever overshifting into the spokes, let alone overshifting and mashing and tearing my spokes up...I don't know how people do that)....so maybe that's more the issue with spoke breakage than anything else; I can say that's where they're breaking.
I ride various tire pressures, I'm at about 50psi on some knobby tires for winter, summer 1.5s are at 100ish, 2.0s at 80ish.
Last edited by Albino Wino; 01-01-16 at 12:48 PM. Reason: further detail
#30
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Marquette, MI
Posts: 29
Bikes: 88 Nishiki Ariel, 89 DB Apex, mutant tall bike, Sinister R9
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I think the stance of the DB in particular puts a lot of my weight on the seat and rear wheel. It's setup upright to be comfortable for me, I can sit on that bike all day and it's totally worth the wind resistance penalty. I'm not riding fast.
Last edited by Albino Wino; 01-01-16 at 12:54 PM. Reason: added photo
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 329
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Albino,
To try and stop the wheel issues, you migh try the following.
Continue to work on your rear wheels. I am doing that myself. I got a used Park TS-2 wheel truing stand and a Park WAG-5 wheel dishing tool for Christmas and am working on a few of my rear wheels also.
Consider experimenting with your tire pressure. Maybe go to a lower pressure with more pressure in the rear wheels than the front. A lower pressure may provide more cushion and transmit less stress to the rim on the rough roads you ride.
When you carry loads, try and distribute the weigh across both tires more evenly. The trailer may be helpful with that. Maybe front panniers.
I know this all seems rather obvious but hopefully it might help resolve the spoke problems.
i also like the picture of your Diamondback Apex. It has the same Acetylene Smoke paint scheme my Ascent EX has.
To try and stop the wheel issues, you migh try the following.
Continue to work on your rear wheels. I am doing that myself. I got a used Park TS-2 wheel truing stand and a Park WAG-5 wheel dishing tool for Christmas and am working on a few of my rear wheels also.
Consider experimenting with your tire pressure. Maybe go to a lower pressure with more pressure in the rear wheels than the front. A lower pressure may provide more cushion and transmit less stress to the rim on the rough roads you ride.
When you carry loads, try and distribute the weigh across both tires more evenly. The trailer may be helpful with that. Maybe front panniers.
I know this all seems rather obvious but hopefully it might help resolve the spoke problems.
i also like the picture of your Diamondback Apex. It has the same Acetylene Smoke paint scheme my Ascent EX has.
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 1,109
Bikes: s-1
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 221 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've seen several workhorse bikers around here using toddler carriers for cargo like heavy tools and groceries. takes the weight off the frame and lets the bike carry you. there are several on my local craigslist right now for $40-80, just a thought that would be cheaper than a whole new bike.
also I agree, get a road bike, it's amazingly lighter and faster. I still ride my MTB in the winter, just slap on fenders and some road friendly tires. but I'm not setting any PRs out there this time of year.
also I agree, get a road bike, it's amazingly lighter and faster. I still ride my MTB in the winter, just slap on fenders and some road friendly tires. but I'm not setting any PRs out there this time of year.
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 1,109
Bikes: s-1
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 221 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No offense, but that thing does NOT look like a speed machine. You shouldn't even try to compare your performance to someone on a stripped down road bike with an aero riding position, tight clothes, and no panniers. You said it yourself, "I'm not riding fast," but wind resistance is a function of frontal area and increases exponentially as you speed up. Maybe you need to consider if it really is "worth the wind resistance penalty" if your goal is riding fast.
#35
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Marquette, MI
Posts: 29
Bikes: 88 Nishiki Ariel, 89 DB Apex, mutant tall bike, Sinister R9
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
No offense, but that thing does NOT look like a speed machine. You shouldn't even try to compare your performance to someone on a stripped down road bike with an aero riding position, tight clothes, and no panniers. You said it yourself, "I'm not riding fast," but wind resistance is a function of frontal area and increases exponentially as you speed up. Maybe you need to consider if it really is "worth the wind resistance penalty" if your goal is riding fast.
for what it's worth, I think some of you don't really get where I'm riding.
This is where I live this time of year, and this photo is not atypical:
so I'm not going to be on a road bike for a few months. Whatever you ride here, now, is going to have a lot of rolling resistance. May-November is a different story, I have other bikes for that.
#36
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Marquette, MI
Posts: 29
Bikes: 88 Nishiki Ariel, 89 DB Apex, mutant tall bike, Sinister R9
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I've seen several workhorse bikers around here using toddler carriers for cargo like heavy tools and groceries. takes the weight off the frame and lets the bike carry you. there are several on my local craigslist right now for $40-80, just a thought that would be cheaper than a whole new bike.
#38
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Marquette, MI
Posts: 29
Bikes: 88 Nishiki Ariel, 89 DB Apex, mutant tall bike, Sinister R9
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
So after a great deal of work and thought I've built some wheels. I rebuilt my winter rear wheel when I was breaking spokes and didn't touch it all winter...rode like 20 psi until it was back to riding pavement instead of ice and snow.
This spring I've built a severe service rear wheel for that bike, 36h deore XT hub, dt alpine 3 spokes, and rhyno lite rim. I'm running 8 speed with 34 tooth low gear and 24 tooth chainring, so I can pull big weight up steep hills. I've also completed my trailer, and it's all fantastic. I've carried all of my laundry and a full grocery cart of heavy stuff simultaneously. Set the trailer up to also easily tow another bike...which is actually pretty handy for running a bike down to the co-op to use their tools or whatever.
In theory, I've also gained about 20 lbs of cargo capacity just by losing 20lbs from my fat ass. Which is also nice.
Built another set of 32h wheels with leftover parts, bontrager corvair rims, deore hubs, cheapo spokes up front and alpine 3s in the back and they haven't moved a mm.
Discovered a lot of the movement I was experiencing in one of my bikes was because of a cracked chainstay, and another had to do with a cracked rack. I added a giant mudflap to the front fender of the foul weather bike that's about 6 inches wide and actually touches the ground...that's allowed me to ride in this muck and wet sand I deal with commuting here without ever really getting any sand in the drivetrain. It's been absolutely amazing how much that mud flap did for the drivetrain.
So, better parts have equated to less maintenance and I'm now somewhat convinced much of my issue was just running really old stuff. Riding all winter really changed my perspective on riding slowly too, I rode slowly all winter on squishy tires and loose snow and it was just fine. So now I feel a lot more comfortable with the concept of just chugging along slowly.
all in all, things are going much better.
This spring I've built a severe service rear wheel for that bike, 36h deore XT hub, dt alpine 3 spokes, and rhyno lite rim. I'm running 8 speed with 34 tooth low gear and 24 tooth chainring, so I can pull big weight up steep hills. I've also completed my trailer, and it's all fantastic. I've carried all of my laundry and a full grocery cart of heavy stuff simultaneously. Set the trailer up to also easily tow another bike...which is actually pretty handy for running a bike down to the co-op to use their tools or whatever.
In theory, I've also gained about 20 lbs of cargo capacity just by losing 20lbs from my fat ass. Which is also nice.
Built another set of 32h wheels with leftover parts, bontrager corvair rims, deore hubs, cheapo spokes up front and alpine 3s in the back and they haven't moved a mm.
Discovered a lot of the movement I was experiencing in one of my bikes was because of a cracked chainstay, and another had to do with a cracked rack. I added a giant mudflap to the front fender of the foul weather bike that's about 6 inches wide and actually touches the ground...that's allowed me to ride in this muck and wet sand I deal with commuting here without ever really getting any sand in the drivetrain. It's been absolutely amazing how much that mud flap did for the drivetrain.
So, better parts have equated to less maintenance and I'm now somewhat convinced much of my issue was just running really old stuff. Riding all winter really changed my perspective on riding slowly too, I rode slowly all winter on squishy tires and loose snow and it was just fine. So now I feel a lot more comfortable with the concept of just chugging along slowly.
all in all, things are going much better.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Josebiker
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
10
01-04-16 05:45 PM
Elphabasan
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
11
06-03-14 05:51 PM
Wooden Tiger
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
79
03-04-13 07:44 PM