ChainStays pt.2 ... Double Vision & Such

A regular chainstay, and my Chainstay.

Double Vision.

How about Civia Cycles, Loring? This bicycle is really nice. Brooks saddle, Avid DISC brakes, Mavic Rims, Truvative Stem, Post, & cranks, bamboo fenders. It's an internal 3 speed. As you all know, I'm no stranger to the 3 speed. For a Cargo/Commuter I'd have liked it to have a 5+ speed, but a 3 speed will work just fine.

Check it Bleed! Bamboo for the rack panels.

How about this? Combined with the double kickstand, this spring will keep the wheel straight while it's parked, so your bike doesn't tip over and you loose your cargo. Now that's thinking outside the box, before long we are going to see these types of add-ons everywhere. as Banksy says, "Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a f'ing sharp knife to it."
— Banksy

A Banksy picture that pretty much seems up the currect global conciousness.

3 speed revisited

Ohhhh the three speed. I forgot what putting some miles on a 3 speed is like. Well it's been a 2 speed for the most part. I've noticed I don't use 3rd a lot. Most of the time I use 2nd (40x16), after all it's the gear I've been using lately when I ride fixed. So me being me I decided to investigate.
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I chose 40x16 because I usually ride between a 17Mph and 20Mph pace. At 85RPM I'm around 17Mph, and at 100Rpm I'm around 20Mph . . . I call it close enough.

The hub I'm using is a Sturmey Archer AW. They call it a wide range.
Notice:
1st gear at 100Rpm = 2nd gear at 75Rpm.
2nd gear at 100rpm =3rd at 75 Rpm.
Thats a 25 Rpm drop or rise.
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If you like to ride with a cadence between 75Rpm to 100Rpm this hub work perfect for you. however in my case if I'm riding comfortably at around 18.7 Mph/95Rpm in 2nd gear, then catch a tail-wind or whatever, this forces me out of my comfort zone. So I shift up . . . To What? . . To maintain 95 Rpm I have to increase my speed almost 6Mph, or drop cadence to a 70 to 75Rpm grind?
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I was talking to some people about it the other day and they said they couldn't do with just 3 gears and I joking replied, you actually have 6. 1st gear standing out of the saddle, then 1st, then 2nd standing out of the saddle, then 2nd, . . . and so on. However it's not to far from the truth, and gives us something to consider. It's a fact, with just 3 gears you will stand, but how many times do you stand and pedal out of the saddle in 3rd gear? . . . almost none. A lot in 1st, and 2nd going up hills; but not 3rd so much, if at all.
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So I'm going to try using a gear in the back that has 2 more teeth. I'm going from a 16 tooth cog to 18 teeth.

and this is what the chart will look like. Now in order to maintain 19.7Mph in 3rd gear instead of maintaining a cadence of 75Rpm and can pedal at a comfortable 85Rpm. Hopefully I find myself using 3rd gear some more. We will see.
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In conclusion if you want to change from a single speed to a 3 speed wide range hub, add 1 to 2 teeth in the back.

Donut Dash

Couldn't Make it to Street Cred Stage 2 yesterday, But I did manage to get out for a while this morning.

Changed the tires on the 3 Speed. Dig the reflective hoops. My Continental 28c Sport Contact tires are noticably faster than my Nokian Hakkapeliitta studded tires. The Nokians are so much slower I was thinking about changing to a lower gear with the Nokians.
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Riding just past the Thuman Library I saw Poppy Donuts. I thought it might be fun to have a Tour de Donuts. It been a while since I've been in a donut shop and the smell did disapoint. Also it was good to see a lot of "Experienced"people. People who know what donuts should taste like. I ordered a glazed and a chocolate. The glazed was outstanding, and the chocolate was good . . . both much better than those corporate donuts. Also if you get the idea to ride to 52 donut shops in 52 weeks and review donuts . . . That idea has already been taken.
52 Donuts BlogSpot
http://52donuts.blogspot.com/
And a review of Poppy's
http://52donuts.blogspot.com/2009/01/week-2-poppy-famous-donuts.html
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Aaaaah The Rheinland Restaraunt. Want some good food, this is the place. Also if you check their event's calender in two weeks (02/26) is the Fasching or german carnival. This sounds like a good destination for a bike ride. Actually it was the destination of a ride two years ago. We all had a good time and vowed to return. However I was informed we could come up, but seriously doubted we could get a table, because they are booked for that day 6 months ago. Just when I thought I was on top of the ball getting there two weeks in advance. I say lets go there anyway, what's the worst that can happen? . . . Will we get thrown out by Techno Viking?



The penciled in plan is to Ride Street Cred Stage four, then ride to Benettis, then ride to Rheinlands. If people don't want to ride Street cred they can ride
meet us at Benetti's about 6pm.

Then past the good Ol RLDS church.
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Then past Pace Bike Haven. Here a bike shop that been around for a long time. Mark is a good guy, and if you get a chance, go inside and check it out.
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Ever wonder why if you go inside a super market, they have a section called "Health Food", or in this case "Health Market"? I mean if the healthy stuff is there, what is the rest? Frankenfood?
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This is why one place I like is "The Store" . . . It 's a little grocery Store in Raytown called "The Store"
http://www.thestoremeatmarket.com/

The smell of there Barbeque is almost criminal. As you can see they have won contests, and I can tell you they are most deserved.
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How About "Rat Shack"? Don't they sponsor some guy that got sick, then only to come back and win the worlds hardest bicycle race 7 times against the other worlds best racers who were all doping except him? . . . anyway "They" got the nickname "RatShack" during the days of the "Blue Box". I don't know if this is the case or not now, but some "Suspected" they would keep a list of what customers bought, and if you bought a combination of items that could build something . . . unsavory . . . you just might get a visit.
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Here's a site Jazzy Pet Spa. Every pet needs a good bath and massage
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I also got a Zum Bar while I was out, and as you might have guessed, Indigo Wild who makes these soaps are local to Kansas City. However today I noticed something different. The Betsy Bar. It smells pretty good, and the price of the soap won't put me out as much as cancer would so I say lets give a little to the cause. Plus the rides over . . . Shower Time

Street Cred with 3 Speed CX

The StreetCred Series started this Saturday.
http://www.streetcredkc.blogspot.com/
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The race Started at Volker Bicycles at 18th and Wyandotte
http://www.volkerbicycles.com/index.shtml
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In the Cross Roads District.
http://www.kccrossroads.org/
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With the conditions of the streets, and never knowing what to expect, I decided to ride my single/3 speed cross bike setup 3 Speed. Before for 3 speed mode I had STI levers to shift the gears, but now I don't.

What do they say, "Necessity is the mother of invention". This is an old Sutour Retro action MTB friction thumb shifter. If you go friction, you must go Suntour Retro Friction. They work like this.
Suntour Retro Friction Rebuild
My CX bars are over size so I needed a 31.8 clamp. I had a 32mm Gates clamp, but it was about 5mm too short, so I added another.
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There you have it. It took about 10 minutes before I figured out where I needed to be for 2nd gear, but once I knew it worked flawless . . . at least for 3 speed. The problem I find . . . as well as other it turns out . . . with 3 speed hubs is that once you coast, it might take 1/8 turn before it become engaged again. This gives the feeling that it's not going to engage, there by engaging the Panic Reflex. (. . . and yes those are my old 80's wool "Fishnet"tights).
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The solution is to plan ahead and always be engaged. Think of it as a single speed you can change gears on without using tools. Also after you coast, or change gears, re-engage the drive while seated.

We were penalized for each piece of carbon fiber we had. I had a carbon fiber fork. So after the race started I had to eat one beep before I could leave the start. I heard one guy had to stand there eating 5 peeps before he could leave.
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The race consisted of 8 stops. Above is the completed manifest. I also took a picture of all the answers that I photoshoped on the picture of the manifest. In otherwords the manifest didn't have pictures on it.
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OOOOOoooooooooooouuuuu! . . . Upon reaching the first stop, I found . . . or didn't find . . . my manifest. So I had to go back, lucky for me my old buddy, old pal, Bryce showed up 15 minutes late. I don't know, maybe it was written in the stars because he was singing Ice, Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice, and I had just listen to Under Pressure by Queen. If you don't see the relationship between these two songs click here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Ice_Baby
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First Stop: Shuttee Lumber
http://www.schuttelumber.com/
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Second Stop: Union Station
http://www.unionstation.org/index2.php
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Third Stop: Gem Theater in Jazz District
http://18thandvinedistrict.org/
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Forth Stop: Statue of Ilus Winfield Davis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilus_W._Davis
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Stop Five: River Market Pier
http://www.kansascityrivermarket.com/


To find the plaque for the Great Flood of 1844
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Flood_of_1844
The Missouri river was full of these ice lilly pads floating down the river.
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I thought this park had some neat architecture.
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Stop Six: Pacific House (About 4th & Delaware)
http://www.kc-lofts.com/bldgs/pachouse.htm
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Stop Seven: Staute of lewis and Clark. Check it out! I didn't know Lewis and Clack had an I-Phone. I suspect they had the GPS application, and I thought they did the exploration using maps, compass, and the stars. The object here was to find the Dog's name, who is on the back side of this picture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaman_(dog)
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This has to be one of the highest parts of kansas City looking over the lowest parts of Kansas City.
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Stop Eight: Plaque for Father Donnelly
http://www.kcgolddome.org/page.php?ID=19
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From stop eight it was a coast down hill. We had to go past the new Kauffman Center.
http://www.kauffmancenter.org/

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Then back to the bike shop. The ride went to plan and nothing crazy happened. No I will say that I had an unusual amount of bad drivers to contend with.

There I met this guy. He was a nice guy.
http://www.somethingclassicinkc.blogspot.com/
I also met a few other people there, they were all real nice, if you have never come out to an Alley cat ride you should give it a go. It's all about having fun.

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Then I went next door to YJ's for some Red beans & Rice. I like YJ's and eat there ever chance I get. They have lot of snacks and things, and a special. Today was Red Beans and Rice. It was very good as usual.
http://www.pitch.com/locations/yjs-snack-bar-12385/
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Speaking of local. Here is a bakery who's goodies I'm going to check soon in Lee's Summit. They call themselves Be Free Bakery.
http://befreebakers.com/

3 speeds . . . That's how I Roll

Got the rig ready for June 19. Why 3 speed? . . . Why not. 1. Got a gear to go uphill, 2. Got a gear for the flats, 3. Got a gear for down hill.

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The only place on the bike this shifter will fit, and not have it in the way.


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The real question is, Where did I find a 3/32, 16T cog.

In case you want to run the rough numbers. It's a Sturmey Archer AW It geared "Wide Range" . . . . Ohh Goody Extremes! . . . 42x16 = 69". We can calculate 1st gear is 69*.75= 51.7", and 3rd gear is 69*1.333= 92". with a 700x23c tire, this hub gives me 51.7", 69", and 92" .
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Basically I'll be packing roughly a 39x20, 42x16, and a 52x 15. Works for me.

5 songs
I Am the Owl
seek and destroy - Agent Orange
Praise the lord and pass the amunition - impatient Youth
All Day - Ministry
1963 - New Order

So how about them chainstays?

One day I'll start on that frame again. It had better be soon since both Raytown BMX an Blue spring BMX . Start the first week in April.
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So what's he up to then. Putting Baby Powder in my tires, to relieve a little fraction between the tube and tire to prevent some pinch flats.

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Making green smoothies.

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Don't forget the beet

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Chop Chop!

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Mmmmmm . . .

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. . . and don't forget the Mason Jar . . . everybody knows everything is better in a Mason Jar.

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No really what's he up to for this weekend.

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It's not as complicated as it looks. and yes those are spoke nipples. I had to take 4 spokes out so I could get the spanner on the bear race to remove it.

I really like internally geared hubs. They make cleaning a drive train easy, and most of all when your bunny hoping something, no chainslap. I'm not the only fan of internally geared hubs. Check out Hub Stripping on what's new, you'd be surprised.

The figures and the stats

(Click on Pictures to enlarge)
First off the 200k brevet is not 124.25 miles, but instead a little over at 130 miles. I was planning on riding my fixie, but what gear? I made this spread sheet where I can input the numbers in blue to find out my ride time, MPH, and other tid bits. The red text is for convenience store stops, which happen to be check points. Also I have list the check point opening times . . . don't want to be too early. Then it occured to me, maybe 130 on a fixed gear in March might be a bit much, so why not break out the 3 Speed Psycho-Cross. According to Sturmey Archer 1st gear advances 133%, and 3rd retards at 75%, so I also included those to see what the 2 other gears would be equivolent to.
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For example if I change 43 to 40 (or any number in Blue or Red)you see that change reflected in all the figures.

I suspect I'll make changes, but I think it's pretty good so far. Who doesn't like statistics.

Fixed gear, 3 speed . . . 3 speeds Fixed.

I don't usually post other people's business, but I thought it was worth mentioning that Stumey Archer is developing a Fixed Gear 3 speed hub. This could be one of the greatest things to come along in a long time. I'm sure there are a lot of fixie purists out there that will say this defeats the simplicity of what fixed gear riding is all about . . . and they will be right, but this just opens up another pen in my stable for a new bike . . . not like I need it, but want it none the less

"The first batch of prototype Fixed Gear 3 speeds is finished. The new hub will be called the S3X. The hub will be made using a much stronger aluminum hubshell. Overall gear range will be 160%.

1st Gear -37.5%
2nd Gear - -25%
3rd Gear - Direct Drive

Gear step gear 1 to gear 2: 20%
Gear step gear two to gear 3: 33%

Shifters are still up in the air but we have had many requests for a bar end style shifter. Also we are still planning on the possibility of doing some anodized colors with laser etching instead of screen printed graphics. Please comment on what you would like to see in the way of shifters or color choices."

http://sunrace-sturmeyarcher.blogspot.com/search/label/%22Sturmey%20Archer%22