Bike Gremlin

Some 3 years ago since I had started putting most info, charts, articles on-line. Had it all on my computer for years. Primary use was to help myself with all the (verified) data in one place. Then a friend suggested we put it all on line, using his hosting, so I can use it wherever I go and so it can help others as well - it would cost just to register a domain name, since it would take just a small portion of the hosting already used and paid for.

Spent about 10 seconds thinking of a domain name. Named it Bike Gremlin, for gremlin being used when a cause of malfunction is not known, or as a scapegoat. Plus, having the "gift" for things to break down, if they ever do, when I start using them and (perhaps thanks to that in part) being a pretty good troubleshooter (both in my IT daytime job and mechanics).

Sheldon Brown's site was the main inspiration - I was amazed with the amount of info. Discussed it with some local good mechanics and, apart from English being a problem, they complained about Sheldon Brown not being up to date enough. Thought, OK, I have some knowledge, no one else will do it apparently, why not make a "Serbocroatian sheldonbrown", and make it up to date (while I live at least ).

Made an original Serbocroatian version at bikegremlin.com, but right from the start thought - I speak English, why not make an English version as well - so I can just pass a link, instead of answering the same questions - even for foreigners. So made an English version, placed on a subdomain:
bike.bikegremlin.com

Site has "grown" in time to become No1 cycling mechanics info place in the native speaking region within a two years time, but the English version has grown to even more visitors. So this summer I had to spend some effort in optimizing it, so it can work with the current hosting (until I see if I can afford to move it to faster, more expensive hosting). I had also redesigned the menus a bit, in order to make it easier for people to navigate and improved the search function (WordPress default search is very limited and some visitors pointed that problem out). Also introduced SSL/TLS encryption, just so that both I and the visitors are on the safe side. In addition to some anti spam and anti troll policies, since that seems to come along with the Internet, unfortunately.

Still haven't placed all the data I want on the site - 1-2 articles per month is most I can manage, but it'll get there.

I'd appreciate any feedback on the following things:
Is the site easy to navigate, find the info?
Is it easy to read (layout, font and colour choice)?
Any data/info errors, or needed additions?
Bid spilling corrictions (it's not my native), sentence corrections etc. are also welcome.

Relja

zornitta

Hi, Relja!

I just read your great article Bicycle frame materials – explained.

Could not post a coment there, got a Captcha error (could not find any Captcha...)

I'm wondering if you can add something about bamboo as a frame material.

Thanks in advance.

dabac

Overall, I think you’re doing a great job.
Latest thing I looked up was the comparison of cable pull between canti/caliper and v-brakes.
For that chapter, I’d like to suggest that you add the distance between lever pivot and cable attachment for the different brake(lever) types.
While the amount of cable pull may be the functionally more important number, pivot-to-cable is easier to measure, easier to use to determine the type of brake an unknown lever is compatible with.

Bike Gremlin

Sorry for the late reply - didn't get a notification.

A good suggestion.

I'm not sure which is easier to measure (if we keep drop-bar levers in mind), but it certainly wouldn't hurt to add more info - letting the reader choose what's easier for them to measure.
Can't promise any deadlines (it's a hobby project, and I've got a long backlog of stuff I still didn't write about), but I've added it to the to-do list.

Bike Gremlin

Late reply - didn't see this. Sorry.

Thank you very much for the feedback, it's appreciated.

It's an ever-lasting battle between preventing spam, and making the comments work.
You may have gotten this error:
"Error: You have entered an incorrect reCAPTCHA value.
Click the BACK button on your browser and try again."

In that case, with the Chrome browser, hitting the "BACK" button and trying again works when I test it.
From Firefox, it doesn't.

The alternative is to have dozens of spam comments each hour, which is very time-consuming to deal with. Couldn't find a better way (my current anti-spam solution, in case anyone knows of a better way to do it, on a budget)

Regarding bamboo:
My knowledge on that is basically zero.
Also, I've never seen a bamboo bicycle.

While I was happy to find some eager mechanical engineers to consult on the article, for a bamboo section, I'd have to leave everything to a wood materials expert (not sure what that PhD is called in English) and a mechanical engineer - without having any clue of whether the finished text makes any sense. And they'd have to be eager to do it for free, since the site is still non-profit.

Maybe someday that will be possible (my editing policy and philosophy), but I don't see how to manage that right now.

It's also fair to note my own prejudice that bamboo (and wood for that matter) is far from a practical/good bike frame material, since people make all sorts of stuff out of wood in my country (we still have lots of it), but none do bike frames. Of course, that doesn't mean it's a bad idea, maybe no one's thought of doing it (I certainly haven't).