Category: acquired things

Today I finally got around to installing the Shimano SF-MX30 16T freewheel on the Bianchi D.I.S.S., replacing the 18T that was there. This takes the gear ratio from 32:18 (1.778:1) to 32:16 (2:1), which should be nice for flatter single track stuff where I’d end up practically spinning out. Hill climbs may be difficult, but hopefully I’ll still be able to make it. If I can’t I guess I can just go back to the 18T.

Since a threaded rear hub is required to use a freewheel like this, I’m tempted to get a track cog and lockring to try it as a fixed-gear mountain bike. This could go very, very wrong, though.

While fitting the freewheel I ended up cleaning up the drivetrain, washing the chain in solvent and then re-lubricating it. After the winter riding it was pretty grimy and needed a bit of work. After cleaning it up I tried out the Park Tool CC-3 which, as can be seen here, nestles into the chain to show if it is beyond 0.75% or 1% stretched. As the 0.75% side didn’t fit into the chain, it’s just fine to continue using.

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One of the biggest difficulties I had with going to clipless pedals on my bike last year was that the requirement for bike shoes made it difficult to use my bike for a short trips, such as those up to the store. It’s not hard to slip my bike shoes on, but they aren’t exactly comfortable for walking around in. While it would be possible to buy something like Keen’s Commuter cycling sandels / hiking shoes, that would be expensive and overkill.

Thanks to I’ve been checking out Alfred E. Bike‘s Daily Deal section, and late last week they had a set of Winwood Decksters for right around US$20, shipped. These devices are aluminum platform pedals, but with SPD-type cleat mounts (like most cycling shoes) on the bottom. Mated to a pair of cleats, they can turn any pedal back into a platform, perfect for quick rides to the store, picking up pizza, etc. Having recently switched to Crank Brothers Eggbeater pedals I had a spare set of cleats, perfect for use on these pedals.

When my set of Decksters arrived today, I decided to fit them with the cleats and deal with the cold / wet weather and give them a try. Installation of the cleats was very simply, and after being torqued to ~44 inch-pounds, I snapped them on the pedals and took a couple quick rides around the basement. Due to the plastic blocks on the bottom of the pedals (mandatory for using the Decksters with TIME or Eggbeater pedals) the Decksters fit very snugly on the pedals, and didn’t move.

While I could pop them off by twisting them with my hands, during a test ride around the neighborhood, intentionally rotating my feet on them, they didn’t seem to move. They also felt nicely solid, like a good pair of reasonably sized platforms. Initially I thought that pins or sharp points on them would make them a bit better, but I think this would lead to them popping off more easily, and may encourage their use in situations where they just don’t belong (BMX, DJ, FR, etc.).

If you’d like to see more photos of these pedals, here is my album of the Winwood Decksters platform pedal adapters, and here are the photos which can be found in there:

· Boxed Winwood Decksters, as received from Alfred E. Bike.
· The Winwood Deckster platforms themselves, along with nuts and screws for mounting the cleats.
· Pair of Crank Brothers Eggbeater cleats, ready to mount on the bottom of the Winwood Decksters.
· Yes, I made sure to torque the screws to the recommended ~44 inch-pounds.
· Bottom of the Winwood Decksters pedal with Crank Brothers Eggbeater cleat attached.
· Winwood Decksters platform pedal clipped into the Crank Brothers Eggbeater C pedal on my multi-speed bike. This feels very stable for riding around the neighborhood and to the store.
· Detail of the underside of the Winwood Deckster pedal, clipped to an Eggbeater C pedal. Note that the plastic blocks rest against the pedal and ensure that it doesn’t move.

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Last week I purchased a barely used Race Face Deus XC crankset, with brand new bottom bracket for a really good price. After a bunch of thinking about building a new bike I ended up using it on my currently multi-speed bike.

As they can be a bit fiddly, I had Rochester Bike Shop mount the external bottom bracket, then I took it home and finished putting everything else together. With just a little bit of front derailleur adjustment everything was nicely in place, and a test ride today (before that photo was taken) shows that the new rings really are working better, as everything just worked.

There’s still a bit of seal drag because the BB is brand new, but that should clear itself up after a bit more riding. If only it wasn’t going to rain and snow tonight and tomorrow I might be able to get out this week on trails. Ah well, maybe next weekend…

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Thanks to last night’s fall, my helmet is (as seen above) a bit damaged. Typically one should replace a helmet after a crash deforms it, because after that it’s not quite as strong as it was, has harder spots, etc. When I stopped by Fraser Bicycle & Fitness to pick up my repaired rear wheel they happened to be having a spring sale, including 20% off all accessories. So, while there I picked up a this Giro Phase helmet in Matte Gunmetal. Hopefully this one will work out nicely as well, protecting my head if / when I crash the next time.

Here’s another image of the damage to my old helmet. I wonder if that crease-ish line there was caused by the mounting post for the visor, or something else. If it was the mounting post, it may explain some of the cuts on my face, as it’s directly in line with my nose and upper lip. Tomorrow I may be heading out to Stony Creek with some folks to help pick up downed trees / improper log piles (such as the one I ended up on), so maybe I can find the visor from the old helmet and figure it out.

I also need to destroy my old helmet so that no one else ends up using it. I’m not sure how I’ll do that yet, but I have a feeling that it may involve my bandsaw, if I can get the helmet to fit in there. Or, can any of you think of any uses for a should-not-be-worn helmet? I will not donate it to charity / a thrift shop, regardless how amusing it is to think about doing wrong things. That does force me to ask how immoral it is to try and pawn it, though. Pawn shops are particularly caveat emptor.

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