Weather Station AcuRite
Bill Polleck shares the following information. A couple of weeks ago I was in the Albuquerque Costco store and found a new weather station for homes. Data included are temps, wind speed, rain amount, forecasts, etc. It’s wireless and can connect to your desk top with a separate “I-pad-size” screen, it keeps historical reports, averages speed and temperature. And one can connect to other weather apps, such as Weather Underground, which I did. One also can add a program app to a smart phone showing weather at your home from anywhere in the world.
The manufacturer is AcuRite. The “5-in-1” station on their web site costs $150. I purchased the AcuRite from Costco for $79, as long as supplies last. Even better, Costco’s web site today says you get another $20 off through Nov 26.
I am authorizing Weather Underground to make my station available on its application. Not there yet, but soon you will be able to see my weather when you plan a visit to Eldorado to ride your bike, bring gifts, etc. Costco web site:
http://www.costco.com/AcuRite-5-in-1-Color-Weather-Station-with-PC-Connect.product.100228431.html
eine kleine trailmusik
Below the technical riding north rim in the GBP (Galisteo Basin Preserve) are miles of enjoyable less anxious cycling trails. A half dozen Off Road Seniors on Bikes Ken, Thomas, MarcoPolo, Adrian, Dan, Judy occasionally spend a couple hours repairing particularly badder trail destructions. Sunday morning among the equestrians and several family groups including youngsters on their 24 inch wheeled bikes, two merry band of Off Road pedaling mistrals worked one arroyo trail section.
With permission of the land manager, last year as a learning exercise and experiment, Adrian engineered a unique lattice and rock dam structure, which we had fun constructing across one small arroyo. Over the season we monitored the design and arroyo for wear and tear, and we have good news and we have bad news. The operation was a success, but the patient died. As is Southwest normal, monsoons create huge water volumes that quickly drain through arroyo systems. Neither good nor bad, it is what it is. We learn to work with nature and accept all trails are a work in progress. It is an outdoor serenade. Here you see how the monsoon waters diverted around both sides of the test structure worsening this section of trail with each storm. That’s Dan.
Thirty minutes to remove the most excellent lattice dam structure, relocating THE mighty big boulder to protect largest washout. Those clouds look ominous. Can you say monsoon?
The arroyo shuffle a.k.a. packing dirt. The sky is getting darker and darker. Pick up the beat trail guy.
Dan’s yellow Pulaski, behind his elbow, marks where once stood THE mighty big boulder and Hadrian’s… Adrian’s Wall. At arroyo crossings we try to spread thus slow water, which drops sediment across and on tread before channeling again on the down hill side.
Hey trail guy, where are we? A Seattle-type drizzle has started, soon to become… dare I say?
New Google Map App
Bill Pollock shares this mapping application from the LA Times. http://latimes.com This new Google map could help hikers and bicyclists.
Google map app to work offline
BY DAVID PIERSON
A map app is only as good as your access to the Internet. Now drivers who have ever been frustrated by losing navigation can use Google Maps offline and still have access to directions. The latest version of Google’s map app enables users to download city maps so that streets and businesses will be stored on their mobile devices. The app automatically goes into offline mode when it detects little or no signal.
The offline version still provides information such as a business’ hours of operations, contact information and ratings. But it can’t offer real-time traffic patterns to help determine driving routes. “When a connection is found, it will switch back online so you can easily access the full version of Maps, including live traffic conditions for your current route,” Google Product Manager Amanda Bishop wrote in a blog post Tuesday. “By default, we’ll only download areas to your device when you are on a Wi-Fi connection to prevent large data fees.” Google first previewed the new features during its developers conference Google I/O in May. The company said more offline features were in the works.
The update is only available for Android users, but will come to Apple iOS soon. Google Maps is the No. 1 downloaded map app. The Mountain View, Calif., company also owns Waze, another popular map app that Google bought in 2013 for about $1 billion. Apple also features a navigation app called Maps, but it has long been dismissed as inferior to Waze and Google Maps. david.pierson@latimes.com Twitter: @dhpierson
Extreme Exercise Dangers
Adrian VanderHave sent in an article re dangers of over-exercise from the Wall Street Journal. Interesting to find out about the difference between soft and dense artery plaque. If the first two paragraphs whet your interest link will take you to the full monty. Enjoy.
By KEVIN HELLIKER
A new study finds that exercise that is extreme in either volume or intensity may be associated with high levels of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries.
The study, presented in August at a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology, studied 169 veteran competitive endurance athletes against a control group of 171 relatively sedentary subjects. Compared with the control group, the study found lower levels of coronary artery calcium in athletes who ran fewer than 35 miles a week or cycled fewer than 150 kilometers a week. But athletes who ran or cycled beyond that threshold were found to harbor higher levels of coronary artery calcium than did the control group.
Winter Tuesday – Thursday Road Riding Guidelines – from Bob B.
| Author: Bob Bogart
| Title: Suggested Winter Guiding Ridelines
| Summary:
Or Winter Tuesday – Thursday Riding Guidelines:
Please chime in if you want to suggest changes. Note that conditions change
quickly.
Road conditions: Dry or mostly dry, absolutely no snow on road or shoulder.
Projected Air Temperature at start time: >= 38 with bright sun, mid 40s if
significant cloud cover. (Air Temp is a very personal decision, these are
kind of my working guidelines and you probably won’t see me if temps are
lower than this. Your mileage may vary.)
Wind: <= sustained 15 at start time. Wind forecasts are very variable and
inaccurate so look outside.
| LINK:
http://sobrideblog.cosine-santafe.com/groups/ride/suggested-winter-guiding-ridelines
|
| Comments: 1
| —————————————————
| New comment:
| Author: Bob Bogart
| Title: Guidelines – just that
Thanks for the feedback. My goal was to try to avoid having to send out
emails before each winter ride discussing the conditions. Thus some
guidelines that we could all understand for when “most?” folks are likely to
show for a ride and when conditions are just too harsh for “most” but if you
are inclined to ride, then you take your chances that you may be one of a
very select (and hardy) few. These numbers are not cast in stone. For
example, >32<38 with 2 mph wind might be reasonably comfortable but >32<38
with 10 mph, not so much. We could revise the temp to be wind chill and say
wind chill has to be >32 ??? I am happy to lower the standalone wind number
so let’s say 12.5 mph as a compromise. Just remember actual wind conditions
vary, calm at DeVargas might be gale force at 599. Wind forecast for speed
is also inaccurate IMHO. I’ll create a new post with the revised guidelines
in a day or so after some time elapses for additional comments.
| LINK: http://sobrideblog.cosine-santafe.com/comment/379#comment-379
| —————————————————
Valles Caldera National Preserve
Valles Caldera fee $20 per vehicle except for appropriate pass. Hours 8 A.M.- 6 P.M., 5 P.M. Saturday Sunday, Closed Thanksgiving Christmas.
http://www.nps.gov/vall/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
Senior Pass
$10 Lifetime pass
For U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. May be obtained in person at a federal recreation site or through the mail using this application form. The cost of obtaining a Senior Pass through the mail is twenty dollars ($20). Ten ($10) for the Senior Pass and ten ($10) for processing the application. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship. May provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services. Generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners. Note: Golden Age Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass.
La Tierra TH Info
Couple people have asked for La Tierra TH directions and other info; ergo, an update.
Google.com/maps/La Tierra Trails Santa Fe for an interactive map that shows at least eight THs including THE La Tierra TH. If I am lucky, the previous sentence is hot linked to said trail map, testing, one, two, three, testing…
There are at least ten trail heads (TH) on that west side open space called La Tierra Trails. The official map does not have the “mailbox” a.k.a. THE La Tierra TH, which is just off the map on the lower left side.
THE La Tierra TH a.k.a. “mailboxes” is on Camino La Tierra Road about a mile/kilometer+ west of 599. West side of 599 a.k.a. Veteran’s Memorial Highway road is Camino La Tierra, east side of 599 road is called Paseo Nopal.
Re tire size. Couple of us have ridden La Tierra on cross bikes with 35c tire size, but it was difficult on some of the more technical rocky trails. For less experienced riders, if on a cross bike 40c tires approximately 1.5 inch width would be my recommendation.
Ad Hoc Ride Schedule through March 2016
Winter Riding Schedule (Road Rides)
March – 10.30 AM
Thursdays – meet as below, same times
January – Museum Hill, 11 am
February – El Dorado, 11 am
March – 599 RR Sta, 10.30 am
Moab Tour – 2016 from Judy
Hi All, Some SOB members were asking if we might do a road bike tour in Moab. Well, as a member of Bicycle Adventure Club, I read of such a trip. To join the trip, you must be a member of the club which is $50 the first year and $25 each year following. Then, you can sign up for any of their tours, but they fill up almost as soon as they are posted. So, I am suggesting that this may be a fun and fairly close tour and very reasonably priced. Several SOB are considering it. You do have to commit at least with the first deposit of $250. You can read (if you are a member) the description of the rides and also of the cancellation policy by going to the web site – Bicycle Adventure Club. But, as I say it will fill up practically the day it is posted. I am going to try to sign up for it, but I will be in India, on a BAC trip, so not sure.
Judy
Magnificent Moab – 2016
This ride has been approved and will be released on the first business day of the month
Arrival
10/23/2016
Departure
10/28/2016
Ride Director
Christopher Marsh
Ride Co-Director
Janis Marsh
Starting Location
Moab, Utah
Finishing Location
Moab, Utah
Estimated Cost
$950
Deposit
$250
Number of Riders
2 (min. 18 /max. 24)
Space Available
22
No. of Pending Riders
0
Ride Rating
2B Warning – Read the Description Carefully
Map data ©2015 Google
Ride Description
OVERVIEW: The area around Moab offers incredible scenery and bicycle friendly roads with low traffic. This is a fixed based road bike tour, with rides in Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and along the Colorado River. In addition to riding, Moab also offers excellent hiking and rafting. We will meet in the evening on Sunday, October 23 at the Canyonlands Inn for our first social hour and welcome dinner. The organized rides will be from Monday, October 24 to Friday, October 28.
We will spend five nights (Sunday night – Friday morning) at the Best Western Canyonlands Inn that is centrally located in town, within walking distance of good restaurants and bike shops. The Canyonlands Inn has a complimentary full hot breakfast, high speed internet, bike storage and repair facilities, laundry, heated pool, and jacuzzi.
RIDE RATING: Maps and cue sheets will be provided for several on-road routes with multiple options. For the five core rides that will be offered the average elevation gain is 1,500 feet with an average distance 40 miles – a 2B rating. Three of the rides are flat while one has over 3,200 feet of climbing. There is a short steep climb into Arches National Park. The ratings for the five core rides are: 1B, 2A, 1A, 3B and 1A. Most of the rides are out and back so they can be made shorter with less climbing if desired. Longer options are also available (with additional climbing). In addition to the core rides, there are other optional rides available — some from remote starts that require transportation. Note that Moab is at 4,000 feet in elevation and some of the rides reach elevations of over 6,000 feet.
Ojo Calliente Accident follow up from SF Roadriders
Brian K. BikeRider and Charles Bouldin posted in Santa Fe Road Riders.
Below is a copy of the email I sent this evening to the Bicycle Coalition of New Mexico regarding the shoulder paving situation that has been discussed down the page. — Brian
_________________________________________
Board of Directors, Bicycle Coalition of New Mexico
John Hooker, President
Diane Albert, Vice President
Stephen Newhall, Treasurer
Jackie Shane, Secretary
Tim Rogers
Eugene Dougherty
William Thompson
All:
On October 1, 2015, Pam Reynolds posted the following on the Santa Fe Road Riders Facebook page describing a recent accident that occurred on a ride by the Santa Fe Seniors on Bikes: “If you are thinking of riding the Ojo Caliente-El Rito loop, please be aware that a stretch of Hwy 84 from 285 (Hernandez) to 554 (El Rito turnoff) has been newly paved. As in, leaving at least a two inch lip between the travel lane and the shoulder. Two riders on the Seniors on Bikes ride today went down because of it, sending one to the ER and another to urgent care. They’ll be ok, but it was scary.”
On October 10, as part of a Santa Fe Road Riders bicycle ride, I had a chance to ride south on US 84 from NM 554 and observe the partial shoulder paving. The new paving ended at the south end of the Rio del Oso bridge. After the ride, I drove back to that section of US 84 and took photographs. Two of those images from October 10 are attached to this email.
Image 1 is looking south where US 84 crosses the Rio del Oso bridge. As you can see in the image, the shoulder completely disappears as you approach the bridge and any cyclist is required to vault a 3+ inch lip differential between the crumbling shoulder and the newly paved travel lane.
Image 2 also looks south and shows multiple travel lane pavement layers next to old style rumble strips. One may only conclude that the travel lanes have been paved at least twice previously without the shoulder being fully paved.
In addition to the road hazard created by the partial shoulder paving, failing to pave the shoulders here did not allow the NMDOT to redo the rumble strips shown in the photo to bring them in compliance with Appendix D of the NMDOT’s own January 2009 Bicycle-Pedestrian-Equestrian Advisory Plan: http://s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/dot.state.nm.us/ContentPages/18959442.pdf
So here we have a clear example of harm caused by the NMDOT’s failure to pave and maintain the full road shoulder. The question then becomes what’s to be done about it before there are yet more victims of the NMDOT’s deficient and hazardous paving practices. The answer of course is full shoulder paving. What we don’t want is asphalt cold patching to address the most egregious flaws.
Please advise as to what your intentions are to directly address this situation on US 84.
Yours very truly,
—————————————————–
Brian Kreimendahl
Edgewood, New Mexico
—————————————————–
cc: Santa Fe Road Riders Facebook page
New Bicycle Assembly
Her first grasshopper.
Excerpt from Barnett’s latest newsletter article “Excellence, or Expediency?” http://bbinstitute.com
When the bicycle leaves a factory, it has considerable potential, but if the right things don’t happen between the factory and the purchase by the rider, that potential doesn’t even get close to being fully realized.
Here’s what we know from our cumulative century-plus of experience:
From the factory, virtually not a single adjustable bearing (in a hub, a bottom bracket, or headset) was ever correctly adjusted.
From the factory, not a single derailleur would not have benefited from a few minutes of attention from a highly-skilled mechanic.
From the factory, not a single wheel is as well tensioned or as straight as any fully-skilled mechanic would make a wheel for use on his or her own bike.
And these are just a few salient examples. In summary, not a single bike we have ever seen come out of a box could not have been improved in every single adjustable area by a mechanic with a top-level skill set.
The implication of this is enormous. Very few consumers have ever ridden a bicycle performing at it’s maximum performance potential.
Just how impractical could it be to see that a bicycle leaves the store in optimum condition? The difference between a “expedient” bike assembly and an “excellent” assembly is a matter of a couple of hours of a fully-capable mechanic’s attention. At the going rate for service in today’s bicycle retail industry, that’s a difference of more than $100, but probably not more than $200. Will the consumer pay that? In fact, in some of the more sophisticated (and successful) bike shops, consumers do pay extra for an excellent assembly. In these cases, either the bike is priced at the suggested retail, and the charge for assembly is added on, or the bike is priced above suggested retail and the higher price includes the cost of assembly.
News Update from Santa Fe MPO
First Flat Tire Ever … Lessons Learned – from Ward
First Flat Tire Ever … Lessons Learned
This is old hat to many – most – of the readers here, but there might be a few who don’t yet know some of these really esoteric points. They were certainly new to me, not having owned (or even ridden) a bicycle between 1967 and 2013.
Monday the 7th, I was out on a pre-ride of the B– route with Bob G., who will be leading it on the 10th. About 4 miles short of the end I had a rear wheel flat. I cussed for a moment, but that ended when I realized I have ridden with the SOBs for over two and a half seasons, plus all my personal riding, with nary a flat … not too shabby. We walked 100 yards or so to a good no-traffic area to handle the repair, and broke out the tools.
Because there were two of us with different tool kits, I did not have to call home for a ride … if I had been alone, I’d have been S.O.L. Here are the things I learned.
· This first item was my primary source of pain … bicycle tire tubes have stems of different lengths! I never knew that, although about 3 seconds of thinking about the different wheel designs I have seen made it pretty obvious that would be the case. My flat tube’s stem was 1-3/8″ long; the spare tube’s stem … 1-1/8″.
· That missing 1/4″ made it impossible to thread the outside retaining nut onto the stem, which in turn made it difficult to be sure the tire bead was fully seated in the wheel rim at the stem. (I figured out that with the nut loosely in place as a retainer I could have pushed the stem up into the tire while seating the rim, then pulled it back out to tighten and inflate. Easy stuff … with the correct stem length!)
· After getting the tube in place, inflation then became a problem. Bob and I both carry CO2 inflators of different styles, but with the shorter-than-intended stem neither one would seal onto that little stub of stem. (Here’s where I would have been calling home if I’d been alone.)
· Enter the hand pump. This was able to attach to the little bit of stem and air flowed as intended. The one Bob carries is a neat little pump (REI) that threads onto the valve stem. It creates a tight seal that I judge might be hard to maintain with a clip-on style connector. It also has a short flexible hose between the pump and the valve stem that eliminates the movement that would occur during pumping strokes if there were a rigid connection.
So, today I’m off to buy the right tubes, and maybe a pump. Bulging tires, wrong tube stems … I wonder what will be the next cycling thing I learn the hard way.
Ward
Classic Steel
Senor Polleck shares a Bicycling article of classic proportions. There is a niche market in classic steel bikes that includes baby-boomers, generation X-ers, and generation Y, a.k.a. millennials. Nostalgic baby-boomers will scrounge an old discarded frame and spend time and money on a traditional expensive refurbish or younger folk will adapt modern components to their classic iron steed resulting in unlimited and unique iterations. Manufacturers Masi, Bianchi, Waterford (originally the Schwinn family store) have produced small runs of their beautiful old steel racing bicycles and recently the nephew of Ernesto Colnago found a stock of his uncle’s classic lugs in the factory warehouse. http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/previews/how-box-old-lugs-reviving-colnagos-arabesque?cid=NL_BIK_-_09042015_colnago_arabesque
http://theradavist.com/2015/08/marks-black-cat-gatto-nero-grinduro-disc-all-road-derek-yarra/#1
Tube Patch Video
Bill Pollock supposes one can always use more info on patching a tube, especially if one can look at a video at home when convenient.
http://www.bicycling.com/video/how-patch-inner-tube?cid=NL_BIK_-_08282015_patch_tube
Now from the blokes with big blades down under.
SOB 2015 Official Picture
Photo by Tom Andrews
Tread a.k.a. Q factor
What has become known as the Q factor, correct term is “tread”, is the distance between pedals at the inside of the crank arms. Tread or Q factor theory arises from anatomical studies measuring our stance distance when walking and running. Humans tend to place their foot towards the body line center for balance and most efficient force to propel us forward. Most efficient includes less stress to knee joint anatomy.
In order to fit triple chainring cranks without hitting the frame chain stays the BB must be wider setting the chainrings away from the frame; ergo, the “tread”/Q factor is farther apart i.e. 168 mm. Two ring cranks allow for narrower tread, one chainring cranks allow even narrower tread 156 mm among the smallest.
The other related crank number 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 172.5, 175, 180 etcetera, refers to the milimeter length of the crank arm measured from center of BB hole to center of the pedal spindle hole. Again for avid senior riders there is an added benefit of less knee joint stress from shorter crank length, because smaller pedal revolution diameter reduces torque (stress) on the knee joint. Young riders with healthy and strong knees can support larger rotational stress for years.
Lots of anatomy, physiology, and sports studies are available touting crank length efficiency. My personal experience and that of older racing buddies support the shorter crank is definitely less painful for avid senior riders. Aside from the academic research, two weeks ago I listened to another common anecdote that supports efficiency of crank length theory. An avid female cyclist joined us on our Tuesday Off Road GBP excursion. She told us she could not climb steep grades until she had DaVinci make her some 155 mm cranks and viola, her climbing ability improved a hundred percent.
Tread a.k.a. Q factor from Wiki:
The Q Factor of a bicycle is the distance between the pedal attachment points on the crank arms, when measured parallel to the bottom bracket axle. It may also be referred to as the “tread” of the crankset. The term was coined by Grant Petersen during his time at Bridgestone Bicycles.
Q Factor is a function of both the bottom bracket width (axle length) and the crank arms. Bottom brackets axles vary in length from 102mm to 127mm. Mountain bike cranks are typically about 20mm wider than road cranks.
A larger Q Factor (wider tread) will mean less cornering clearance while pedaling for the same bottom bracket height and crank arm length. A smaller Q Factor (narrower tread) is desirable on faired recumbent bicycles because then the fairing can also be narrower, hence smaller and lighter. Sheldon Brown said that a narrower tread is ergonomically superior because it more closely matches the nearly-inline track of human footsteps.
Though it seems intuitive that a narrower tread is superior since a walking person must put their foot more to the centerline of the body to balance, this is not the case when pedaling a bicycle, where the “steps” are so very close together and balance a non-issue.[citation needed]
Scientific research has emerged from The University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom that shows narrower Q Factors are more efficient, likely due to improved application of force during the pedal stroke, as well the potential for reduced knee variability and risk of injury.
New Cycling Apps
From Mr. Bill Pollock Review in LA Times http://www.latimes.com new applications geared for mountain bikers may be promising.
MTB Project iOS, Android, free http://www.mtbproject.com
Produced by Adventure Projects, the same company that produces Mountain Project, MTB Project is the go-to app for mountain bikers. Its user-friendly interface allows you to quickly search for mountain bike trails near you. Once you download an area onto your phone, you have access to maps and photos of bike trails as well as their description, difficulty level and vertical profile. Your location is tracked along the trail so you know where you are and how far you have to go. The social component of MTB Project connects you to a community of mountain bike-minded folks.
Strava iOs, Android, free https://www.strava.com/mobile
https://www.youtube.com/user/StravaInc
With motivation and camaraderie as a goal, the idea behind Strava is outdoor social fitness. The app is geared to runners and cyclists, featuring an easy-to-use interface that tracks your route, time, rate and elevation gain. You can analyze your performance and compare your data with that of friends and professional athletes or with your personal best. Strava ranks you against others who’ve completed a particular route segment, awarding the top scorer with the title “King (or Queen) of the Mountain.” You can find the most popular routes in your area, join a race community or partake in a Strava Challenge.
Introducing the world’s first ‘unstealable bike’ – Telegraph (UK)
Passed on by Sandra Blakeslee. Very cool.
Carbon Bike Lifespan
Below are two paragraphs from the full article to whet the appetite of carbon fiber a.k.a. composite bicycle owners.
What is the lifespan of a carbon frame? by Matt Wikstrom August 1, 2015 http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/08/what-is-the-lifespan-of-a-carbon-frame/
The bicycle industry has embraced carbon fibre in the same way that steel once served traditional manufacturers. Renowned for its high strength to weight ratio, carbon has revolutionized the bicycle industry, but how long can a buyer expect a frame to last? CTech editor Matt Wikstrom investigates the answer by talking with three engineers working in the bicycle industry. Almost three decades have passed since the emergence of carbon fibre and while the material dominates all but the low end of the road bike market, the reputation of carbon fibre still seems marred by the industry’s early efforts. I regularly encounter owners concerned about the robustness and longevity of their carbon bikes while others expect to retire their bikes after just a few years of use.
The impact resistance of carbon composites has improved in recent years to the point where MTBers are now truly embracing the material. The advances are largely due to innovations in resin technology. “We have the materials that are stiff enough,” said Benoit Grelier, “but the goal is now to work with some materials that have strength in case of an impact. We have had some good results by playing with the resin and nano-components.” “Standard resin is like oil and nano-resin is like water,” explained Grelier. “If you throw oil onto a mesh, it won’t go inside because it is thicker, whereas the water will go directly inside the mesh. If I use a nano-resin, it will go deeper into the fibres and the final bonding will be better.”
Cycling to extremes – VeloNews.com from Clare
http://velonews.competitor.
This is a long but very interesting article.
WD-40
Bill Polleck shares an article on some bicyclist’s favorite chain lube.
LA Times http://latimes.com ON THE RECORD Behind WD-40’s slick success
‘Secret sauce’ formula and a worldwide market are key, CEO Garry Ridge says.
BY JAMES F. PELTZ
Never mind smart-phones, biotechnology and streaming video. If you wanted to handily beat the stock market over the last decade, you should have bought WD-40 Co. The San Diego maker of the decidedly unglamorous WD-40 lubricant, rust protector and squeak eliminator keeps growing steadily, notably in foreign markets.
Its stock keeps rising in lockstep with its sales. While the benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 index has gained about 70% in the last10 years, WD-40’s stock is up more than 200%.
Sales totaled $383 million in its fiscal year ended last August. The company also makes 3-In-One oil, Lava soap and other products, but WD-40 remains its dominant brand. So what is WD-40 doing that keeps, well, greasing the wheels?
We asked its chief executive, Garry Ridge, to explain. Here’s an excerpt: What does the name WD-40 mean? It stands for water displacement, 40th formula. It was invented back in the 1950s to stop corrosion on the skin of the Atlas space rocket. The chemists who worked on it tried 39 times to find the right formula and on the 40th time they were successful. The formula remains secret? Yes, it’s locked in a vault in a bank on Rosecrans Street in San Diego. The original formula is actually written in pencil on a notepad. How many employees do you have? We have 101 in San Diego and 427 worldwide. You sell WD-40 in how many countries? 176. Where is the product made? We only blend the concentrate, or the “secret sauce,” in four places: San Diego, Louisiana, the United Kingdom and Australia. Aside from blending the concentrate ourselves, we outsource all of our manufacturing operations. Once the concentrate is blended it is shipped to our fillers, who mix in a few additional ingredients and put the completed formula into the famous blue-and-yellow can with the little red cap.
Many people use WD-40, put it on a shelf and then perhaps don’t buy another can for months or years. So how does the company keep growing? Two ways: Today more than 65% of our revenue is outside the United States. Secondly, it depends who you are as a user. You and I probably use about 41 cents’ worth of WD-40 a year. But those working commercially or in factories are using between $40 and $70 of WD-40 a year. Our heavy-end users, such as artisans, repair-and-overhaul people, construction trades and automotive people, are using many, many cans a year. How is WD-40 marketed? We have a very simple set of questions we ask ourselves: Do you need me? Do you know me? Can you buy me? WD-40 is a big brand globally, but in any particular sales channel it’s not that big. We don’t position ourselves as a lubricant or a de-penetrant or as a water displacer or as a rust-preventive product. We position ourselves as a multiuse product, which means we can go anywhere we want.
You can buy WD-40 in an automotive store, a hardware store, a grocery store, a drugstore. That’s the secret for part of our success. The world and technology change so rapidly, but WD-40 seems to do well by mostly sticking to its knitting. True? Focus is so important. You have to know what you understand and what you don’t understand. A lot of companies like to diversify but we call it “de-worsify,” where you keep looking for that shiny new penny because what we’re doing sometimes gets boring.
We’ve doubled our business in the last 10 years and we know we can double it again in the next 10. All it takes is focus. You were once quoted saying, “We’re everyday folks doing our job and making money for our shareholders.” What did you mean? I don’t take myself too seriously. So often hubris and ego take over from reality. We are everyday folks. We say please and thank you. We respect people. Profit is the applause of doing good work and having engaged employees, and that’s what I’m most proud of. The stock price will take care of itself. Your website lists some strange ways people have used WD-40, like removing a python from the undercarriage of a bus. What’s your favorite story? There was a lady in the Midwest who had a bird feeder in her backyard and squirrels use to run up the pole and eat the bird feed. So she sprayed the pole with WD-40. Can you imagine those little squirrels trying to climb up that lubricated pole? james.peltz@latimes.com Twitter: @PeltzLATimes
Ten Old Cyclists
From a cycling friend…searching for some info about senior sports and ended up at your site.
Having seen http://santafesobblog.com/, I was thinking that maybe you want to see the article we have written about 10 very inspirering senior cyclists:
http://www.icebike.org/10-old-people-who-will-inspire-you-to-never-stop-biking/
Maybe it’s worth a mention on your site?
Thanks,
Mads Phikamphon
Schwalbe tire experience – from Ward
Some of you know I bought Joe’s Fuji GranFondo bike back in May. After I took it for several rides – and changed my mind a couple of times – I bought it. The first thing that needed attention was the gearing, so I went to SpinDoc for a new cassette/derailleur set up. While Kirk was working on the bike, he called me and said the rear tire had a herniation. He added that 3 years ago he discovered the same tire model had identical failures on many customer bikes, and he recalled them all for replacement with different models. Further, he said he returned them all to Schwalbe with every scrap of supporting info he could. (We who know Kirk, know the body of info he sent would not have been trivial!)
After he blew off some steam at Schwalbe in a 2-3 minute rant of supreme frustration, he encouraged an immediate replacement, which I approved, of course. (Ignore Kirk? Umm, No!) Now here’s the fun part … I was hanging up my bike after the En Medio ride, and noticed 2 bulges in my front tire! There’s one on each side about 3-4 inches apart, making a cute little s-shaped wiggle in the tire.
The tires were new when I bought the bike from Joe. I had under 200 miles on the rear when it was replaced, and I doubt I have more than 500 miles on the front now. I don’t think I have had any hard hits on pot holes, and never had a flat. Here’s the full info from my tire side wall … Schwalbe Lugano Active K-Guard 25-622. I’m on Continental Gatorskins now, and I won’t be buying any Luganos. I guess Schwalbe never read Kirk’s memo!!
(For readers not in the Santa Fe, NM area, SpinDoc is one of our local bike shops and a Santa Fe SOB club sponsor. (http://www.spindoc.com) SpinDoc is owned by Kirk and Chandler Rhinehart, and I suspect they know more about cycling and cycling-based fitness than any 30 other people combined. If you are in the area, stop in there and say Hi … great folks.)
Ward
Ward P. Freeman
Ward@WardFreeman.com
Editors note:
Click here for the review of the Schwalbe Lugano from Roadbikereview.com
Interesting Web Site
Bill McGann’s website http://BikeRaceInfo.com includes thousands of pages of cycling and racing information. Complete race results for the Tour de France going back to first 1903, every edition Giro d’Italia, Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders… photos from cycling’s beginnings. Interviews, from Fiorenzo Magni to Greg LeMond, and bicycle artisans like Cino Cinelli and Antonio Mondonico. Articles on bike tech, training, cycling travel, nutrition, rosters of world climbs, real-time race results and photos for races, daily racing news, including women’s events.
Why am I doing this? I love cycling. After high school, I owned a bicycle shop for 12 years. Then I built and owned Torelli Imports from 1981 until I retired in 2007. I couldn’t stay away, so I started http://BikeRaceInfo.com It’s grown to a million visitors a year. If you would like more information, contact me at bill2@bikeraceinfo.com. Enjoy the road, Bill
Accident avoidance – from Judy/Bill
This is a good reminder for all of us:
Santa Fe Road Riders
Robert Mang
June 29 at 5:46pm
In light of last Saturday’s A-Ride accident that resulted in some body damage, and some bike damage, it seemed like a good idea to repost these Group Riding Guidelines. If these were followed, there is a good chance we would have all stayed on our bikes.
Ostensibly, the 4 cyclists went down due to the uncertainty created by a van leaving the freeway onto the 285 just past Café Fina. The intentions of the van changed, and were not clear, which resulted in several riders in our group quickly adjusting their line and pace. This, by and large, resulted in the crashes.
Sure, accidents, by definition, happen, especially when it involves the uncertainty brought on by oncoming vehicles. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t, as a group, do a better job of following some riding rules to mitigate this from happening in the future. If we were more spaced out, none of these crashes would have happened. And as we’re amateurs, keeping space between our bikes should be the main rule.
The guidelines are in the attached PDF:
Off Road Caldera
Off Road mid-season report. With eight rides remaining this year our intrepid dirt riders are considering other venues in addition to the standby Rail Trail, which by the way, will be officially opening the new five mile upgrade segments sometime in July offering Santa Fe almost nine miles each way of class 5 multi-user trail. Also in July the bid to upgrade 1.7 more miles, segment 4 will be posted. Segment 4 crosses through the El Dorado community from Avenida Vista Grande to El Dorado Road. Completion of this segment is expected spring of 2016. The dirt riders have had as many as thirteen Tuesdays riders and as little as three Saturday riders. The first three rides were rained or snowed out.
One optional dirt venue adventure in the works is an outing to the Valles Caldera National Preserve, officially administratively transferred to the National Park Service on October 1, 2015. Distance from El Dorado to the Bull Pen staging area and home is 155 miles. Before an open invite to the club at large is offered, we thought it best to send an exploration party to veni vidi vici the riding realities. It is dang good we did too.This past weekend three senior riders, beginner, intermediate, and experienced stalwarts went a-scouting. They came, they saw, but perhaps did not completely conquer in the traditional sense, but lots was learned on the exciting if somewhat perilous journey. Our beginner, Meriwether Levy, valiant and ballsy scout, reported he walked more than pedaled the uphills, which was half the total recon; however, in the true spirit of outdoor adventure, he was thrilled with the trip and was glad to participate.
Meriwether Levy- “This was not a ride for SOB beginners. Wash outs, lots of rocks, part of the ride on single track, or no trail to speak of. I had an added challenge of vertigo, which is difficult to pedal on the side of a steep hill. Half the ride was climbing which I feel was too strenuous for a newbee. Even though I walked much of the climbing sections I enjoyed it. The scenery was fantastic.”
Meriwether Levy
The nine mile recommended beginner’s loop is not a senior’s beginner’s loop. In IMBA nomenclature it is mostly blue circle, intermediate difficulty, with spots of black diamond, advanced difficulty, climbing, and washout terrain. Sacagawea Martinez, our indomitable intermediate scout, now understands the purpose and value of full-suspension designed mountain bikes stating at trip’s end her body felt every single terrain rock, root, and hole vibration. Sacagawea Martinez- “The terrain was mainly rough and in many places the only evidence of a path was freshly mowed narrow swath of grass. We rolled over rocks and downed trees. There were some sandy areas that caused a small fish tail experience. The switchbacks often were sharp twists and steep in grade requiring rapid fire gear shifting or torture standing out of the saddle. While I am generally good at anticipating steep grade and down shifting, initial experiences proved challenging to watch the immediate challenges of ruts and gullies and upcoming steeper grade. All in all a lifetime experience. Hats off to Steve for organizing. The views are awesome and grand! GoPro directorial debut.”
Sacawagea Martinez with Caldera Recreational Supervisor Lance Weinbrenner.
Expedition perceptions of experienced scout. Beginners would have an exuberant outdoor experience provided their route stays on the main preserve dirt roads a choice of approximately 25 miles, no hazards, minimal climbing grades, and several staging areas or choices for re-groups, or a picnic lunch in the outback or on the porch of a couple cabin structures. Intermediate and advanced level dirt riders would have an unlimited energetic and joyful adventure on endless trails and high country lumber roads, provided they stay within their capabilities. For example, regardless of route, stick to a time limit, perhaps 60-90 minutes out and head for the barn. Fall and its brisk weather would be the best season, September, perhaps as late as October.
Bull Pen, SOB scout staging area 700 or 800 feet below expedition route.
Meriwether Levy and Longmire
SOB Group B- short video Bandolier Loop ride
Video from Ian’s helmet cam June 18th 2015.
Flat versus Drop Bars
Engineer Georgena Terry has been designing women specific bicycles for for thirty years. Twenty-five years ago my wife and I both rode her classic Butterfly saddles, an expensive $60 at the time, on our tandem, and I found that saddle design fit me better than the racing models available, and for years I rode Terry saddles on all my bikes. I wonder what that says about my butt anatomy? Butt that is another story. What I would like to share with you is her four minute video discussing flat bars versus drop bars.
Master age riders who do not maintain spinal flexibility in their cervical, thoracic, or lumbar regions may still find cycling comfort with a bit of bar, stem, and spacer research, to wit the following informative video. Ms. Terry makes valid efficiency points for curved or drop bars; however, most master age avid riders eventually become more concerned with comfort on our bikes versus racing or ergonomic efficiency.
If you are one of us who prefer comfort over speed these days, a couple viewings will give you food for thought. Her example body angle using the same bicycle cockpit length from the horizontal are:
Flat bars spine approximately 52 degrees
Drop bars hands on bar top spine approx. 47 degrees
Drop bars hands on hoods 44 degrees
Drop bars hand in the drops 31 degrees
Four or five degrees may not be much of an adjustment for our 12 thoracic vertebra; however, even two or three degrees do make a discernible difference to only 7 cervical vertebra vis-a-vis supporting 10 pounds of skull and brains, eyeballs, tongue, teeth… as much as 8 to 10 percent of our body weight. Think of it this way. The most comfortable head position is balanced on the spine with eyes looking straight ahead. As the spine angle changes our six very small ocular muscles quickly become strained when the eyes are continually rotated from the level position; ergo, cervical muscles compensate to keep the eyes in a level position. Herein rests the compromise decision between flat and drop bars for master age riders. https://youtu.be/fNNWH2C-Muc
http://www.terrybicycles.com/About-Us
Flat versus Drop Bars
Engineer Georgena Terry has been designing women specific bicycles for for thirty years. Twenty-five years ago my wife and I both rode her classic Butterfly saddles, an expensive $60 at the time, on our tandem, and I found that saddle design fit me better than the racing models available, and for years I rode Terry saddles on all my bikes. I wonder what that says about my butt anatomy? Butt that is another story. What I would like to share with you is her four minute video discussing flat bars versus drop bars.
Master age riders who do not maintain spinal flexibility in their cervical, thoracic, or lumbar regions may still find cycling comfort with a bit of bar, stem, and spacer research, to wit the following informative video. Ms. Terry makes valid efficiency points for curved or drop bars; however, most master age avid riders eventually become more concerned with comfort on our bikes versus racing or ergonomic efficiency.
If you are one of us who prefer comfort over speed these days, a couple viewings will give you food for thought. Her example body angle using the same bicycle cockpit length from the horizontal are:
Flat bars spine approximately 52 degrees
Drop bars hands on bar top spine approx. 47 degrees
Drop bars hands on hoods 44 degrees
Drop bars hand in the drops 31 degrees
Four or five degrees may not be much of an adjustment for our 12 thoracic vertebra; however, even two or three degrees do make a discernible difference to only 7 cervical vertebra vis-a-vis supporting 10 pounds of skull and brains, eyeballs, tongue, teeth… as much as 8 to 10 percent of our body weight. Think of it this way. The most comfortable head position is balanced on the spine with eyes looking straight ahead. As the spine angle changes our six very small ocular muscles quickly become strained when the eyes are continually rotated from the level position; ergo, cervical muscles compensate to keep the eyes in a level position. Herein rests the compromise decision between flat and drop bars for master age riders. https://youtu.be/fNNWH2C-Muc
http://www.terrybicycles.com/About-Us
Santa Fe Installs New Mexico’s First On-Street Bicycle Corral
A partnership between the City of Santa Fe Parking Division, Economic Development Division and the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization helped to further implement the 2012 Metropolitan Bicycle Master Plan by installing a Bicycle Corral along the South Guadalupe Business District.
The Bicycle Corral is a pilot project that will be monitored over the course of a year by the Santa Fe MPO. Safety issues were the primary driver of the location and design, however the purpose of the corral falls in line with a fundamental premise that corrals and other on-street bicycle facilities promote both bicycling and an increase in the economic livelihood of business districts.
Communities that have invested in corrals “have seen considerable economic benefits by attracting businesses, tourism and active residents,” according to Advocacy Advance – a partnership of the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking & Walking.
On the launch of Santa Fe and New Mexico’s first ever Bicycle Corral, Mayor Javier M. Gonzales said, “This is big. First, it’s a meaningful part of our ongoing commitment to lower greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging Santa Feans to hop on a bike before they reach for their car keys. But it also promotes an active, outdoor economy that embraces and supports small, local businesses.”
He added, “Santa Feans should know their city is committed to becoming one of the most bikeable in the country, and initiatives like this send that signal loud and clear.”
The South Guadalupe Street Bike Corral can accommodate up to twelve bicycles, leaving the sidewalks open for pedestrians and sending a positive message to tourists and locals that Santa Fe is a bicycle friendly community. The owners of The Cowgirl BBQ have been supportive and enthusiastic since discussions of the project first began last year.
The City and the MPO will also be testing green pavement markings for bicycle routes along Camino Carlos Rey from Zia to Cerrillos Road this summer. For more information about bicycle corrals and other innovative bicycle investments please visit www.santafempo.org.
###
Trek Quick Release Recall
BBI (Barnett Bicycle Institute’s) E-News http://www.bbinstitute.com
Trek Quick-Release Recall
One of the largest recalls in the history of the bicycle industry was recently announced. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) had Trek Bicycles recall nearly a million bicycles sold between 2002 and the present to solve a potential problem involving quick-release levers getting entangled with disc-brake rotors, causing a sudden lockup of the front wheel.
The bike must be equipped with a disc brake and the lever must be of a design that can open past the inside face of the dropout, officially described as “will open more than 180º,” but all levers actually open slightly more than 180º. The quick-release is installed on the same side of the wheel as the disc-brake rotor.
Some Shimano documents specified the quick-release mechanism should be installed opposite of the traditional orientation, lever on the right side of the bike. BBI repeated Shimano’s instruction about installing the quick-release with the lever on the right side of the bike.
CPSC has deemed this to be an inadequate solution, since the consumer… well, you know consumers 🙂
CPSC is requiring that the recalled bikes be retrofitted with quick-release that meet this criteria, “the lever will not open more than 180º”.
If the recall gets expanded to include other brands, bikes with problem mechanisms would have to be fixed by installing different quick-release mechanisms.
Shimano”s statement regarding this issue says quick-releases that have an aluminum housing… meet the new CPSC requirement, but Shimano levers with a steel housing do NOT meet the CPSC requirement. Shimano… steel-housing models are safe if installed to Shimano specifications to wit the lever should be on the opposite side of the wheel from the disc rotor. Additionally, the quick release lever must end up parallel to the dropout and that force must be encountered through the last 90º of motion before arriving at the fully-closed position.
Technology Wheels Bars Cleats Glasses
From Bill Pollock pollockb@aol.com LA Times http://www.latimes GEAR
By Roy M. Wallack Faster, safer, smarter, and styling
Safer and faster? It sounds like a dream for cyclists, and it might be true with these four stylish new products. They not only claim to help reduce distractions and improve visibility and handling but also deliver better aerodynamics, often the key factor in squeezing more speed out of your ride.
Zipp Firestrike wheels: Super-high-end wheels, popular among Ironman triathletes, claim a smoother ride and better handling and aerodynamics due to an extra-wide, rounded profile with dimples and ceramic bearings.
Likes: Zipp engineers offer wheel aficionados a revelation: Narrow isn’t necessarily more aero. Several years ago, they found that sidewinds flow faster around a rim that has a gradually rounded outside-diameter than around a squared corner. The rim has a silicon carbide surface that they say stops better in wet weather. The wider tires used on this wider rim naturally absorb more shock and are more stable in turns, especially during extreme leaning. Finally, a dimpled surface causes less turbulence (by keeping air attached longer), and ceramic bearings make for less rolling resistance.
Dislikes: The stratospheric price, of course. To save a bit, check Zipp’s Firecrest, which pioneered the round rim shape four years ago. Price: Front wheel, $1,575 to $1,625; rear wheel, $1,925 to $1975.
http://zipp.com/wheels/303-firecrest
Helios handlebars: High-tech cellphone-connected handlebars with a built-in, forward-facing, 500-lumen LED head light in the stem-clamp section and built-in, rear-facing, multi-color LED taillights on the ends of the bars. Likes: Not only are you safer, because you can’t lose or forget your lights anymore, but the integrated lights also don’t degrade your aerodynamics, as regular bolt-on lights do. The headlight provides car headlight-quality illumination. The bar-end LED taillights become blinking five-second turn signals by pressing a button on either side of the stem. A GPS chip embedded in the bars combines with the Helios Connect app on your smartphone to let you track the location of a stolen or misplaced bike with Google maps and receive turn-by-turn navigation cues. Tthe bar ends blink when you need to turn. A fully charged battery is supposed to last nine hours on the brightest setting. Dislikes: None. Price: $279. ridehelios.com
Speedplay Zero Aero Walkable Cleats: These road-biking shoes have a built-in rubberized tread that covers the cleat, allowing a roadie to walk normally without the slip-inducing metal-asphalt contact. The streamlined cleat profile, with a golf-ball-like dimpled surface, is said to improve the aerodynamics of the Zero Pedal System.
Likes: It’s a simple idea and about time. Walking in road-bike shoes, which you must do at every post-ride Starbucks stop, has been an occupational hazard for decades. The rubber tread surrounding the cleat adds traction and greatly reduces the risks. It also protects the cleats from wearing out. It fits all standard three-hole and four-hole shoes and is compatible with all Zero models.
Dislikes: None. Price: $55 (yellow and green colors) to $65 (red). $20 for replacement covers. Plugs for extended walking cost $7.
http://www.speedplay.com
Recon Jet: Polarized sunglasses with a built-in GPS, point-of-view camera and a mini-monitor adjacent to the right lens, just below your normal line of sight. They work with a control button on the right arm and a smartphone-paired app to relay data such as speed, distance, cadence, heart rate, maps and turn-by-turn directions, at a glance.
Likes: Very handy for riding and running, because you can check your stats without breaking form or even turning your head. The simple touch-controls on the arm, a two-sided button and a tiny finger scroll pad make it easy to take still photos and videos and adjust music volume and music selection. The controls and setup are easy to figure out in 10 minutes. Install the Re-con Engage app on your phone, then sync it with Bluetooth. Although heavy at 5 ounces, double or triple the weight of regular sunglasses, it didn’t feel cumbersome.
Dislikes: Although other testers didn’t complain, I had trouble seeing part of the screen and experienced double vision with some of the text. The monitor position should be adjustable so that you can position it to fit your face. Also, while it’s a huge improvement over looking down at a cyclometer or a wrist monitor, it still momentarily defocuses your eyes from the road. Price: $699.
http://www.reconinstruments.com
SOB Cycling Mirror now available
Yesterday, several people asked again about the SOB mirror.
This is the neat “bottle cap” style with the SOB Logo on the front (as worn by Bob Bogart, Ian Norrish and other style leaders in the group)
Here is the link to order:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/177419288/bicycle-rear-view-mirror-bottle-cap-bike
An additional note for those interested in ad hoc rides, please go to the site and request a login. http://www.sobrideblog.cosine-santafe.com
Bike Tail light reviews & Helmets
George Gamble writes: Alan Klein and I had a recent conversation about bike tail lights and he found a very thorough review which I thought would be helpful to other SOBs. The review includes ratings and recommendations.
http://bicycles.blogoverflow.c
http://www.bikelightdatabase.com/faq/ lumens, candela, lux
In a similar vein, I found this review of Bike Helmets:
http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/clothing/helmets/pls_1636crx.aspx
Bike Tail light reviews & Helmets
George Gamble writes: Alan Klein and I had a recent conversation about bike tail lights and he found a very thorough review which I thought would be helpful to other SOBs. The review includes ratings and recommendations.
http://bicycles.blogoverflow.c
http://www.bikelightdatabase.com/faq/ lumens, candela, lux
In a similar vein, I found this review of Bike Helmets:
http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/clothing/helmets/pls_1636crx.aspx
Tubeless or Not
First official Senior’s road ride of the season yours truly flipped a piece of glass into the sidewall ruining a relatively new cross tire and cutting the tube to an extent that the sealant failed. The tire boot worked well enough, but the cut was noticeable, slightly separating, when the replaced tube was inflated.
The first official Senior’s Off Road ride for beginners is in a couple days, and we will spend fifteen or twenty minutes discussing and checking everyone’s GRIP vis-a-vis correct tire pressure for this particular dirt excursion. Those attending please check your minimum and maximum tire pressure rating, on the tire sidewall, and write it down. It will look something like this, min 35 psi max 65 psi. And don’t forget to bring an extra tube to the ride.
The following two minute video from Stan’s NOTUBES how to replace a tube on the trail regardless of tubeless or not tubeless.
https://youtu.be/heqstB6k4r0
http://www.notubes.com/help/index.aspx
One on-going Off Road question among dirt riders is should I go tubeless? We will address this question throughout the riding season gaining from other’s experiences, which will help each of us decide for ourselves. There are three parts or tubeless technologies we should understand. One, tubeless tires have an impregnated rubberized coating covering the inside tire case to help improve sealing the tire. Two, tubeless specific rims are designed with a smaller or shorter box section to help improve sealing the tire bead against the rim bead. Third is the sealant itself. There are at least four companies now making proprietary liquid sealants that gel, harden, and seal the tube, or if tubeless, the tire when punctured. Some sealants use micro fibers to help clog the hole not unlike sticky blood platelets clogging a cut or wound.
Below are diagrams of non-tubeless and tubeless specific rim design. Larger diagrams will be available during our pre-ride lesson Tuesday and we will discuss adapting older rim and tire technology to tubeless for those who may be interested. Note the pink highlights. Tubeless rim bead design captures or traps the tire beads more efficiently disallowing, or is it disavowing, escaping air when the tire is deformed negotiating off-camber trails or popping over rocks, roots, and ruts. This is also called tire burping.
What about tubeless road tires? https://youtu.be/Nit55MSaFJ4
Knees Pedals
Bill Pollock pollockb@aol.com sent us an article from the LA TIMES http://latimes.com about new pedal technology from http://nikolainnovation.com
It may help to review how the knee joint works in cycling, which tells us there is a slight rotation between the tibia and femur during the pedal stroke. Link to the full article is included, but I pulled just a couple paragraphs and underlined the pertinent twisting or rotation sentences.
THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE – VOL 32 – NO. 4 – APRIL 2004
CPT Chad Asplund, MD; COL Patrick St Pierre, MD
http://www.cptips.com/knee2.htm
Bicycling Biomechanics
One complete circular movement of the pedals around the bottom bracket is one two-phase pedal cycle. In the power phase, the cyclist pushes down on the pedal and transfers the greatest amount of energy to move the bicycle forward. The power phase begins with the pedal in the 12-o’clock position and ends with the pedal at the 6-o’clock position. The power phase is followed by the recovery phase, which progresses from 6-o’clock back to the 12-o’clock position.
During the pedal cycle, the knee goes through approximately 75° of motion. The knee begins the power phase flexed about 110° and extends to about 35° of flexion. The quadriceps muscle provides most of the force, with input from the hamstring and gluteal muscles. While the knee extends, it also adducts because of the normal valgus angulation of the distal femoral condyles relative to the femoral shaft and foot motion during the power phase. This motion leads to medial translation of the knee during the pedal stroke while the knee extends.
Additionally, the foot pronates during the power phase, causing an internal rotation of the tibia that increases stress on the medial knee. Also, an increased Q angle, seen in females, may further stress the medial joint. During the recovery phase of the pedal stroke, the knee flexes and moves laterally while the tibia externally rotates to ready the leg for the power phase of the next pedal cycle.
Medial Knee Pain
The normal pedaling motion causes the tibia to internally rotate when the knee is extended. Medial knee pain results when increased stress from improper saddle height, saddle fore-and-aft position, or cleat position (toes pointed too far outward) increases internal tibial rotation. Poor leg flexibility and training errors, such as riding in gears that are too high or excessive hill climbing, increase stress and exacerbate medial knee conditions. Anatomic abnormalities,… tibial rotation, and hamstring tightness, may also exacerbate medial knee pain.
Article from LA Times. http://latimes.com
GEAR Getting set for a quicker triathlon BY ROY M. WALLACK
Can techy new gear buy you more speed? I hoped so when I lined up at the start of the recent La Paz Triathlon in Mexico’s Baja California Sur state with some of the most innovative bike and swim gear I’d seen in a while. When the day was done, I was stunned: I’d made a quantum leap. Feeling remarkably fresh, I blew though the finish line 20 minutes faster than ever, breaking three hours for the first time in my life, finishing fourth place in my age group and even coming in before dark at the world’s only afternoon-start “Moonlight Triathlon.” Was it these breakthrough products that transformed me from laggard to stud? As it turns out, probably not as much as I initially thought. An hour later, a friend informed me that I’d missed a turn and unintentionally cut three miles off of the run course. Most likely, I’d have finished seventh at best in my category. Bottom line: The novel inventions here offer real benefits to triathletes. Who knows? If you train right and pay attention to the route, you might even shave a minute or two off your personal record.
The skate pedal
Nikola Innovations lateral motion pedals: These pedals slide an inch (25 millimeters) sideways through the pedal stroke. The motion reflects Ohio inventor Nick Stevovich’s attempt to create a more powerful and safer, biomechanically efficient movement pattern that combines cycling with the lateral propulsion and joint ease of skating.
Likes: The motion is smooth, enjoyable and efficient, and it feels similar to normal cycling. Nikola claims studies show that lateral motion pedals deliver an average savings of more than two minutes in a 40K time trial and a 7% increase in peak wattage; 70% of users report increased power. Stevovich says that while everyone may not get faster, most will experience easier hill climbing and fewer knee and hip irritations and injuries. I would agree on the hill climbing. An athletic-injury specialist I spoke with, Dr. Eric Tortosa, speculated that the design would increase power due to fuller leg extension while subjecting the medial compartment of the knee to less load and injury risk than regular pedaling. The pedal comes with standard three-hole Look-style cletes.
Dislikes: It’s expensive and heavy. It requires extra care during setup and an oversized 8 mm wrench to install and remove.
Price: $339 for the 502-gram stainless steel model; $549 for the 370 g pair of titanium; http://nikolainnovation.com
Knees Pedals
Bill Pollock pollockb@aol.com sent us an article from the LA TIMES http://latimes.com about new pedal technology from http://nikolainnovation.com
It may help to review how the knee joint works in cycling, which tells us there is a slight rotation between the tibia and femur during the pedal stroke. Link to the full article is included, but I pulled just a couple paragraphs and underlined the pertinent twisting or rotation sentences.
THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE – VOL 32 – NO. 4 – APRIL 2004
CPT Chad Asplund, MD; COL Patrick St Pierre, MD
http://www.cptips.com/knee2.htm
Bicycling Biomechanics
One complete circular movement of the pedals around the bottom bracket is one two-phase pedal cycle. In the power phase, the cyclist pushes down on the pedal and transfers the greatest amount of energy to move the bicycle forward. The power phase begins with the pedal in the 12-o’clock position and ends with the pedal at the 6-o’clock position. The power phase is followed by the recovery phase, which progresses from 6-o’clock back to the 12-o’clock position.
During the pedal cycle, the knee goes through approximately 75° of motion. The knee begins the power phase flexed about 110° and extends to about 35° of flexion. The quadriceps muscle provides most of the force, with input from the hamstring and gluteal muscles. While the knee extends, it also adducts because of the normal valgus angulation of the distal femoral condyles relative to the femoral shaft and foot motion during the power phase. This motion leads to medial translation of the knee during the pedal stroke while the knee extends.
Additionally, the foot pronates during the power phase, causing an internal rotation of the tibia that increases stress on the medial knee. Also, an increased Q angle, seen in females, may further stress the medial joint. During the recovery phase of the pedal stroke, the knee flexes and moves laterally while the tibia externally rotates to ready the leg for the power phase of the next pedal cycle.
Medial Knee Pain
The normal pedaling motion causes the tibia to internally rotate when the knee is extended. Medial knee pain results when increased stress from improper saddle height, saddle fore-and-aft position, or cleat position (toes pointed too far outward) increases internal tibial rotation. Poor leg flexibility and training errors, such as riding in gears that are too high or excessive hill climbing, increase stress and exacerbate medial knee conditions. Anatomic abnormalities,… tibial rotation, and hamstring tightness, may also exacerbate medial knee pain.
Article from LA Times. http://latimes.com
GEAR Getting set for a quicker triathlon BY ROY M. WALLACK
Can techy new gear buy you more speed? I hoped so when I lined up at the start of the recent La Paz Triathlon in Mexico’s Baja California Sur state with some of the most innovative bike and swim gear I’d seen in a while. When the day was done, I was stunned: I’d made a quantum leap. Feeling remarkably fresh, I blew though the finish line 20 minutes faster than ever, breaking three hours for the first time in my life, finishing fourth place in my age group and even coming in before dark at the world’s only afternoon-start “Moonlight Triathlon.” Was it these breakthrough products that transformed me from laggard to stud? As it turns out, probably not as much as I initially thought. An hour later, a friend informed me that I’d missed a turn and unintentionally cut three miles off of the run course. Most likely, I’d have finished seventh at best in my category. Bottom line: The novel inventions here offer real benefits to triathletes. Who knows? If you train right and pay attention to the route, you might even shave a minute or two off your personal record.
The skate pedal
Nikola Innovations lateral motion pedals: These pedals slide an inch (25 millimeters) sideways through the pedal stroke. The motion reflects Ohio inventor Nick Stevovich’s attempt to create a more powerful and safer, biomechanically efficient movement pattern that combines cycling with the lateral propulsion and joint ease of skating.
Likes: The motion is smooth, enjoyable and efficient, and it feels similar to normal cycling. Nikola claims studies show that lateral motion pedals deliver an average savings of more than two minutes in a 40K time trial and a 7% increase in peak wattage; 70% of users report increased power. Stevovich says that while everyone may not get faster, most will experience easier hill climbing and fewer knee and hip irritations and injuries. I would agree on the hill climbing. An athletic-injury specialist I spoke with, Dr. Eric Tortosa, speculated that the design would increase power due to fuller leg extension while subjecting the medial compartment of the knee to less load and injury risk than regular pedaling. The pedal comes with standard three-hole Look-style cletes.
Dislikes: It’s expensive and heavy. It requires extra care during setup and an oversized 8 mm wrench to install and remove.
Price: $339 for the 502-gram stainless steel model; $549 for the 370 g pair of titanium; http://nikolainnovation.com
Bear
Had to share this little flash back with you. This rider is not me. However; this same exciting adventure happened to me one Sunday when I worked at the University of Idaho, Moscow. In my case I was on a Moscow Mountain trail. My bike, Black Schwinn Paramount 26 inch hard tail. My only words were, “Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!” with every revolution. Pretty sure I exceeded well over 100 rpm that day.
Anatomy Awareness
Anatomy awareness
How comfortable are you on your bicycle during a twenty mile ride, forty miles, sixty miles, century? What does tensional integrity have in common between Buckminster Fuller, a bicycle wheel, and one’s anatomy? How does saddle height range change with one’s flexibility limit, and how does pressure mapping help us find our favorite saddle? It is not about the bike… or is it? UC San Francisco produced a Mini Medical School for the Public bike fit lecture presented by Curtiss Cramblett, a professional physical therapist. The hour lecture’s first fifty minutes will help moderate and avid cyclists become anatomy aware as it pertains to their bicycle. I found Cramblett’s warning philosophy apropos for master age cyclists. “The body is cement waiting to harden, and motion is lotion.” By the way, it is about the bike, and it is about the body. Both links are the same lecture. Good viewing.
http://www.ucsd.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=25319&subject=health
Einsteinian Wobble
We could be riding in this.
New York snow does not melt in one day like Santa Fe snow.
Our friend Sandy, President of Cambridge Valley Cycling, sent the following experience with his classic steel bicycle, as he is thinking about a re-furbish project. With our season about to begin, this is a good time to revisit the interesting bicycle shimmy phenomenon, and to remind us, as Sandy says, it is about the fun.
“…bring back to life 1985 Scapin “custom” San Martino (bike model) from measurements made there (Italy) … on my first fast downhill it went into a death wobble that put the fear of all the gods in me. ..thought I would make it hill climber as a fixie. (single cog on the back with no freewheel, like a track bicycle, pedal forward and pedal backwards) No go said my trusted professional. Too heavy, too much flex So, back to my Felt bicycle with a 36 tooth cog on the back and just suffer more. I do gravel grinders either Cannondale or Trek Single Track. Hey it’s for fun, right!”
Was wondering if your Scapin was Columbus steel similar to the above photo? Umberto Scapin’s company, before it ended in the hands of the typical conglomerate had a pretty good reputation. He kept the company small and I’m pretty sure it was his sons who eventually sold the brand. Starting with the bike boom, 1975, Americans developed a love affair with European crafted cycles, French, British, Italian, Swedish, Belgium. Tremendous demand for small hand-production supply. Eventually all the classic builders succumbed to the big money, Faliero Masi was the last of the classic builders to sell his brand.
When I was learning to build frames I managed a shop and had access to several European brands, usually crashed machines which I disassembled and studied. There really fine crafted miters, worked lugs, and superb brazing, and some not so fine. I even found highly prestigious name bikes that were out of alignment, which in itself is not as critical as it seems. Classic builders did not use frame fixtures or jigs until the bike boom demanded mass production. When the Americans started building frames many Europeans, especially the Italians, scoffed at our over-insistence on exact frame tolerances and building preferences. We were definitely considered the annal retentive builders 🙂 I have a humorous story about the time I called the Cinelli factory trying to order a couple of their fully sloped crown forks that I will share sometime. It is neat that American builders became the world steel frame building leaders in design, innovation, and craftsmanship by the nineties, just as the industry was moving away from steel. Win a few, lose a lot, pop used to say.
And by the way, the bike fitting craze is also a bit overrated, again the American focus on minute scientific detail in all things. Even Ben Serotta, the inventor of the bike fitting machine, recently said we rely too much on the many fitting theories. The human body adapts quite well to a range of bike size measurements. Recently he was again convinced of body adaptation when he and his adult daughter on vacation rented a tandem, not his size, and within a few miles they adjusted and had a great trip.
Anyway, back to the Scapin shimmy. It has to do with physics harmonics. (…an object forced into resonance vibrations at one of its natural frequencies, vibrates in a manner such that a wave pattern is formed within the object) The math I do not understand, but bike wobble I do. The head tube twists right and the top tube twists left… very, very fast. Happened to me once coming down Mt. Lemon in Tucson on a small carbon race frame. The phenomenon has been studied over the years by everybody in the industry. Below is an article by Jobst B., an engineer who wrote the Bicycle Wheel. Shimmy can happen with any of the steel frames, Reynolds, Ishiwata, now Keisei, Falk, Columbus, True Temper, Tange, and surprisingly so called vibration-dampening carbon fiber, much to my chagrin and mortification one day.
And with respect to your trusted professional, who may or may not be a master age rider, your Scapin, if you enjoy the ride characteristics, can and should be re-furbished and adapted into anything you wish, hill climber to gravel bike, single or multi-speed. I won a couple state championships on old era circa 70’s designed flexible steel bikes. I loved the frame whip or snap in a sprint as my leg muscles synched perfectly with the frame flex. At our pedaling age no one needs to care about bike weight unless competing for the big bucks.
Subject: Shimmy or Speed Wobble
From: Jobst Brandt
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/rec.bicycles.tech
Date: June 25, 2004, revised February 25, 2005
Shimmy, a spontaneous steering oscillation of the front wheel, usually occurs at a predictable speed when riding no-hands. The likelihood of shimmy is greatest when the only rider-to-bicycle contact is at the saddle and pedals. This position gives the least damping by hands, arms, and legs. When shimmy occurs on descents, with hands on the bars, it is highly disconcerting because the most common rider response, of gripping the bars firmly, only increases it.
Shimmy is not related to frame alignment or loose bearings, as is often claimed. Shimmy results from dynamics of front wheel rotation, mass of the handlebars, elasticity of the frame, and where the rider contacts the bicycle. Both perfectly aligned bicycles and ones with wheels out of plane to one another shimmy nearly equally well. It is as likely with properly adjusted bearings as loose ones. The idea that shimmy is caused by loose head bearings or frame misalignment seems to have established currency by repetition, although there is no evidence to link these defects with shimmy.
Bicycle shimmy is the lateral oscillation of the head tube about the road contact point of the front wheel and depends largely on frame geometry and the elasticity of the top and down tubes. It is driven by gyroscopic forces of the front wheel, making it largely speed dependent. It cannot be fixed by adjustments because it is inherent to the geometry and elasticity of the bicycle frame. The longer the frame and the higher the saddle, the greater the tendency to shimmy, other things being equal. Weight distribution also has no effect on shimmy although where that weight contacts the frame does. Bicycle shimmy is unchanged when riding no-hands, whether leaning forward or backward.
Shimmy requires a spring and a mass about which to oscillate and these are furnished by the frame and seated rider. Unloading the saddle (without standing up) will stop shimmy. Pedaling or rough road will also reduce the tendency to shimmy. In contrast, coasting no-hands downhill on a smooth road at more than 20mph with the cranks vertical seems to be the most shimmy prone condition.
When coasting no-hands, laying one leg against the top tube is the most common way to inhibit shimmy and also one of the most common ways to coast no-hands. Compliant tread of knobby tires usually have sufficient squirming damping to suppress shimmy. Weight of the handlebar and its extension from of the steering axis also affects shimmy.
Shimmy is caused by the gyroscopic force of the front wheel whose tilt is roughly at right angles to the steering axis, making the wheel steer to the left when it leans to the left. This steering action twists the toptube and downtube, storing energy that both limits travel and causes a return swing. Trail (caster) of the fork acts on the wheel to limit these excursions and return them toward center.
To feel the gyroscopic forces involved in bicycle shimmy, take a front wheel, holding it by its axle in both hands, and give it a spin. Manually steering it from side to side generates strong tilting forces always at right angles to the input. These forces sustain shimmy and are the motions one uses to make quick steering maneuvers while riding no-hands, shifting the hips laterally while firmly seated. The same effect as when wheeling a bicycle while holding it only by the saddle.
Shimmy that concerns riders the most occurs with hands firmly on the bars and it is rider generated by muscular effect whose natural response is the same as the shimmy frequency, about that of Human shivering. Descending in cold weather can be difficult for this reason. The rider’s “death grip” only enhances the incidence of shimmy in this situation. Loosely holding the bars between thumb and forefinger is a way of avoiding shimmy when cold.
SOB Waiver
Santa Fe Seniors on Bikes (SOB) Liability Waiver and Release Contract
I understand any bicycle activity includes inherent dangers such as hazards of roads, off road terrain, accidents, actions of participants, and vehicle caused accidents. (INITIAL)
I understand that Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) certified bicycle helmets are required and I agree to wear a helmet. I agree to follow all applicable New Mexico State traffic laws. (INITIAL)
I consent to emergency medical treatment if I am injured while participating in an SOB event. (INITIAL)
I understand that bicycle routes may be challenging, not necessarily the easiest routes and that weather, road, or traffic conditions may make a ride difficult. For safety, SOB reserves the right to remove any rider deemed to be endangering himself/herself or others, or is riding illegally as defined by New Mexico State traffic law. SOB is not responsible for not removing cyclists from the event. (INITIAL)
I accept risks of injury, death, or property damage. I am responsible for my own safety decisions. I agree that NO SOB MEMBER may be held liable for an accident during an event. I RELEASE from all liability and agree NOT to SUE SOB, the board, ride leader(s) (if any), or other volunteers, for any liability whatsoever arising from any event, ride, or education or training class. (INITIAL)
This Waiver & Release Contract is intended to be binding upon me, my family, and my heirs. Any legal action that may arise from my participation in an SOB event will be brought in the courts of Santa Fe County in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I have read and understand that this document is a legal contract, I agree to its terms, and I sign voluntarily without pressure.
(SIGNATURE DATE)
Addendum for minors. Parent or legal guardian must sign for, accompany, and be responsible for all persons under the age of 18; minors ages 16-17 may be unaccompanied with this signed consent and advance permission of a ride leader. I am of lawful age, I am a parent or legal guardian of the minor and I am authorized to sign this Waiver & Release Contract Addendum. (INITIAL)
I authorize emergency medical treatment for the minor and I accept full responsibility for all medical expenses in case of an accident. I RELEASE from liability, and agree NOT to SUE SOB, the board, ride leader(s) (if any) or other volunteers, for any liability whatsoever arising from any event, ride, or education or training class. I have read and understand that this document is a legal contract, I agree to its terms, and I sign voluntarily without pressure.
(SIGNATURE DATE)
Bicycle Inspiration
With Santa Fe winter cycling gods temperature, wind, rain, and snow vying with spring, enjoy the following video clips.
Snow ride, yeah an advertisement, but nice music, nice ride.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLbt-Nu1jyk
Gravel ride, another ad with nice music.
http://player.vimeo.com/video/119279674?color=ffffff&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
Alpine road bike? dirt ride.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8jeSX0b_pE
Five American builders. Bespoke is the British handbuilt bicycle show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7u7xk4K5VQ
Hirose Japanese builder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQHXwivxcY8
How to build a mountain bike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8HAsLURWyo&list=RDV8HAsLURWyo#t=12
How to break a mountain bike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0G2zuOqsRA
Don’t let the smoke get in your eyes, or JP Sartre revisited.
http://player.vimeo.com/video/116277241?color=d63b2f&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
Love story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I8cvkz6OjQ
Injury protocol
Gale Bernhardt past USA Triathlon team coach and World Cup triathlon coach http://galebernhardt.com presents some “revisionist” thinking concerning the previously accepted recovery protocols for bicycle injuries in her latest active.com article. http://www.active.com/cycling/Articles/Is-Using-RICE-for-Recovery-Wrong.htm
Most of us know the Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation protocol for injury; however, some research concludes that “…ice does exactly the opposite: it actually delays the recovery process… an objective of the RICE protocol was to stop inflammation”, which is necessary for repair and recovery. “Icing an injured body part does not stop inflammation; it delays inflammation, which can also impede recovery… Perhaps the most compelling argument to stop using RICE comes from the doctor that coined the term. On Mirkin’s website, he states that anything that reduces the body’s immune response (inflammation) delays muscle healing.”
From Mirkin’s website, “When germs get into your body, your immunity sends cells and proteins into the infected area to kill the germs. When muscles and other tissues are damaged, your immunity sends the same inflammatory cells to the damaged tissue to promote healing. The response to both infection and tissue damage is the same. Certain cells called macrophages rush to the damaged tissue to release IGF-1 which helps heal muscles. Healing is delayed by cortisone-type drugs, nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, applying cold packs or ice, and anything else that blocks the immune response to injury. Now the treatments for an acute injury include Rest (stop exercising), Compression and Elevation (to reduce swelling), but no ice.” http://drmirkin.com/public/ezine111410.html
Tech Helmet Monitor
Bill Pollock shared the following from the LA Times
http://www.life-beam.com/product/lifebeam-smart-helmet-us/#
LifeBeam bio-sensing bike helmet reads your heart rate and provides calorie burn data, eliminating the need for a conventional wrist-top heart-rate monitor with a chest strap. The same technology appears in LifeBeam ski goggles, hats and visors.
Likes: Invisible, comfortable, convenient. A tiny optical sensor contact is built into the helmet’s headband. It connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth or ANT+. The battery (rated to last up to 15 hours) charges via a USB port in the rear, with a 1.5-inch status light-strip glowing blue when charging or turned on by pressing a hidden button. LifeBeam doesn’t come with its own app; it pairs with Suunto, Polar, Garmin and more, and with numerous iOS and Android apps. The helmet, a modified Lazer Genesis, includes the excellent Rollsys adjustment thumb-wheel for a perfect fit. While not light (about 13.5 ounces, heavier than the regular Genesis by 25%), it feels comfortable.
Dislikes: Another thing to remember to charge. You can’t wear a cap under your helmet. You have to return the helmet to Israel if there are problems. It doesn’t do enough; heart-rate watches are loaded with data this doesn’t have. Why not a built-in LED safety light?
Price: $229
Anti-seize Thread-lockers
Preparing my bike for the senior’s new Off Road season I discovered the following manufacture’s warning on my five year warranty flat pedals, which are polycarbonate (high tech plastic) and aluminum with little steel pegs that can be height adjusted. Half of the steel pegs attach to the polycarbonate pedal section and I generally use Loctite 242 on bike parts that have been know to loosen over time. But…
Just so happens Max Moorman of Barnett Bicycle Institute’s recent long newsletter discusses lubes and thread lockers. www.bbinstitute.com Long story short, oil, grease, and anti-seize products are oil with additives. Oil diminishes with evaporation, and washing. Grease, oil stabilized with wax reduces with heat, because wax and oil tend to separate. But the semi-solid grease better resists displacement by water. Anti-seize is grease with lots of wax and chemical additives. Additives reduce corrosion by neutralizing the exchange of ions between two dissimilar metals; otherwise, dissimilar metals become chemically bonded by ion exchange and the creation of a mortar-like compound between the two metals. Ion exchange pits or textures smooth metallic surfaces allowing for a superb chemical bond a.k.a. galvanic corrosion. Galvanic corrosion only occurs between dissimilar metals, so using anti-seize between two pieces of steel, two pieces of titanium, or two pieces of aluminum is not different than just using grease. Anti-seize does degrade over time, and Max writes properly used liquid thread lockers provide the ultimate corrosion resistance and better stability over time.
1. Lubrication reduces friction and thread galling. 2. Friction reduction allows thread fitting to turn further at a given torque increasing tension that keeps the part from unthreading. 3. Lubrication resists moisture causing corrosion and galvanic corrosion.
More information from Mike Shannahan at Loctite http://www.reliableplant.com/Read/24136/anaerobic-adhesives-threadlockers
Anaerobic adhesives remain liquid until isolated from oxygen in the presence of metal ions, such as iron, copper, and aluminum. Typical nut-and-bolt assemblies have as little as 15 percent metal-to-metal contact, and a few drops of liquid threadlocker fills the remaining air voids between the threads and cures to thermoset plastic cross-linked polymer chains that impregnate every thread imperfection providing a 100 percent unitized (single unit) assembly until the user wants it to come apart. The adhesive fills all microscopic gaps between interfacing threads to seal threaded assemblies, preventing lateral movement, and protecting the joint from corrosion that can result from moisture, gasses and fluids, and ion exchange.
How exercise keeps us young
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/07/how-exercise-keeps-us-young/?_r=0
Mitochondria Master Age Riders
Not quite adapted to our cold weather yet and being a bit physically under-active, remiss, and negligent, I have been catching up on sports related mitochondrial information to share with our master age riders. As usual in the précis are offered as briefly as possible. I do include information origin for those who want to explorer full articles. Warning, there is a sad conclusion to my recent research, two actually. One, this holiday I must cut my caloric consumption a minimum of twenty percent at each meal, and two, I need to get back on the bike this afternoon, as soon as this is posted, even if it is only for an hour dirt ride. Well, the riding part is not sad… just cold.
Four definitions.
Biogenesis is the production of living matter parts, cell walls, DNA, enzymes, proteins, fats, etcetera.
Intramyocellular lipids are fats stored in droplets in muscle cells. An important muscle energy source.
Histological staining in vastus lateralis biopsies… Study of mitochondria involves removing a chunk, a very little chunk, of our largest quadriceps muscle, twice. Drop your hand down along side your leg, that muscle is the vastus lateralis. The muscle chunk is separated into all its parts, stained with different dyes to identify each part, and counting those parts, before testing and again after testing. One mitochondria, two mitochondria, three mitochondria, aw man, who bumped the table? One mitochondria, two mitochondria…
Mitochondria are responsible for the production of energy derived from the breakdown of carbohydrates and fatty acids. Mitochondria oxidize or “burn” carbohydrates, amino acids and fatty acids to create ATP, Adenosine Triphosphate, the cellular energy to, pump your heart, power brain neurons, contract muscles, exchange lung gases, extract nutrients from food, regulate body temperature, and everything else. This paragraph from an easily understood article with pictures is from a lifestyle and fitness organization, Fitstar. http://fitstar.com/high-intensity-exercise
Following snippets are from the Journal of Aging Research, Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 194821, 20 pages, Article Skeletal Muscle Mitochondria and Aging: A Review, Courtney M. Peterson, Darcy L. Johannsen, and Eric Ravussin, Department of John S. Mclhenny Skeletal Muscle Physiology, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA, Received 23 March 2012; Accepted 21 May 2012, Academic Editor: Holly M. Brown-Borg Copyright © 2012 Courtney M. Peterson et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jar/2012/194821/
…independent of exercise training, simply living an active lifestyle may have a significant impact on mitochondrial function… strong evidence exercise training can improve mitochondrial function in elderly adults… Short et al. found that 4 months of aerobic exercise in older adults increased protein synthesis, mitochondrial enzyme activity, and biogenesis to levels similar in younger adults… Exercise has also been shown to increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes and heat shock proteins… decreasing the potential for mitochondrial oxidative damage thought to occur during aging.
Despite significant differences, most data show that some impairment remains… chronic exercise did not completely restore mitochondrial proteins, DNA content, and other factors to the levels of younger subjects, suggesting a persisting, independent effect of age. (Darn it, comment by me.)
Caloric Restriction (CR) which typically involves consuming 20–40% fewer calories than normal, also preserves mitochondrial health… CR is recognized as the most robust intervention that retards age-related deterioration due to negative lifestyle behaviors. Calorie restriction lowers energy expenditure by producing mitochondria that consume less oxygen yet are able to maintain normal levels of ATP production.
Finally, a few conclusions from a couple other footnoted research articles. Effects of Exercise on Mitochondrial Content and Function in Aging Human Skeletal Muscle. Journal Gerontology, … exercise enhances mitochondria activity in older human skeletal muscle… increases in mitochondria biogenesis… elicited mitochondrial adaptations that enhanced fatty acid oxidation capacity.
Subjects completed a 12-week exercise-training program… first 4 weeks, they exercised for 30 minutes at a heart rate corresponding to 50–60% of maximal aerobic capacity VO2max. For the next 4 weeks, they increased exercise time to 40 minutes at the same intensity, and for the last 4 weeks they increased the intensity to 70% of VO2max for at least 40 minutes per session.
Exercise Training Increases Intramyocellular Lipid (IMCL) and Oxidative Capacity in Older Adults. American Journal Physiological Endocrinol Metabolism, …exercise training increase both IMCL and the oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle in older (67.3 years), previously sedentary subjects… increased capacity for fat oxidation.
At baseline, participants were overweight but not obese, and were sedentary… improved physical fitness (VO2max) significantly by 15 ± 4% and without a change in body weight or % body fat… assess physical activity upon muscle mitochondria in elderly men and women… substantial mitochondria improvement, at least 50%.
Hydration Seniors Winter Reminder
With more seniors riding year-round this post is a winter hydration reminder.
No matter what our age, we all dehydrate faster in cold, dry weather. Regulating sensors react to fluid levels at the body’s core. As blood flow to cold extremities drops, blood volume could decrease without triggering thirst. Drink a bit more water than you feel you need if you are riding in the cold. Several studies have demonstrated over the age of 50 years, the body’s thirst sensation reduces and continues diminishing with age.
Poor hydration is one of the most common causes of hospitalization among people 65+. Aging fiddles with the body’s thirst sensors, making us less likely to drink even when our body needs hydration. Australian researchers studied what happened between men in their twenties and men in their sixties were given saltwater to make them thirsty. Older men tended to drink less, and brain scans taken during the study showed areas of the brain that respond to thirst stayed active longer in the younger crowd. As we age, it takes less water to switch off thirst sensors, causing our body to miscalculate how much water it needs.
Researchers do not know if this is caused by nerve cells not sending thirst signals to the brain or if the electro-chemical mechanism that translates these signals breaks down with age. Regardless, the production of essential hormones that regulate thirst and water volume declines. The brain’s hypothalamus senses rising mineral concentrations in our blood and secretes hormones that slow our kidneys and conserve fluid. The hypothalamus also signals the brain cortex to stimulate thirst. Other sensory cells in the heart and major blood vessels increase the production of fluid-regulating hormones when blood pressure falls and slows hormone release when blood volume rises. Balancing water retention and water intake prevents hyponatremia, an electrolyte imbalance caused by low blood sodium levels. Either hyponatremia or dehydration could have fatal consequences.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) includes water as a macronutrient in its dietary reference values. Recommended intake volumes in the elderly are the same as for younger adults (2.0 L/day for females and 2.5 L/day for males), about eight cups a day depending on activity levels. Despite our lower energy consumption, water requirement is increased due to a reduction in renal concentrating capacity.
Nutrition Products
Club riders preparing for extended cycling events half-century or longer could benefit from nutrition supplements, but which ones? Exercising uses different macronutrients depending on level of effort. “…going your fastest, you are using mostly carbohydrates, a limited fuel in your body. When you slow the intensity a bit and add some duration, you are using mostly fat, an unlimited fuel source in your body. When you really add the distance and duration, you begin to use some protein for energy too. We have a lot of this macronutrient in our body, but not as stored fuel. We get this fuel from breaking down ourselves – cells, tissues and organs. This explains why we have sport nutrition products with different calorie sources…they can be used at different times…”
An extensive current review of available sport endurance supplements is available on our blog. A valuable addition included in each review is a brief explanation for the supplement purpose i.e. “Unique for its improved muscle buffering by mitigating the effects of lactic acid build up, more efficient energy production, better recovery through decreased muscle damage and better mental acuity by delaying central fatigue.”
Author Sunny Blende, M.S., Sports Nutritionist, http://www.eat4fitness.com kindly sent her review article to Santa Fe Seniors on Bikes with permission to include it on our blog. It was originally printed in the July 2014 issue of UltraRunning magazine. http://www.ultrarunning.com…
Click here to view the complete article.
Ride Leader Manual 11-19-2014
Ride Leader Manual 11-19-2014
Judy C rides the wild bird
Check out the short video here:
Carbon rim technology
Chimayo Autumn 2014
Pictures courtesy of Bill Pollock:
Lubricants Chain, Cable
Re senior club member MarcoPolo’s observation that some cyclists recommend lubing chain twice, I do not think it is necessary if one uses a proper viscous product that will completely coat the inner roller, bushing, and pin. For many years I have made my own mixture of WD-40 and and sewing machine oil. Last year I heard that sewing machine repair centers were using Tri-Flow, because it does not become sticky and it flows easily coating the moving chain inside components. That said some reviews have said if you let Tri Flow build up it does become sticky. Why would a smart mechanic let any lubricant build up and turn into gunk? I use the drip bottles applying only two drops to each chain link roller. The lubricant quickly is drawn into the link. Don’t forget to shake the bottle before using, especially in cold weather. I’ve been using Melody’s two ounce drip bottle for six months and it is almost empty. I wash and lubricate my chain once or twice a week if necessary.
Tri Flow is Mineral Oil and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, has numerous applications. Best brand name of PTFE-based formulas is Teflon by DuPont Co who discovered the compound. PTFE solid high-molecular-weight compound consisting of carbon and fluorine. PTFE is hydrophobic, disperses H20. One of the lowest coefficients of friction against any solid. Used as a non-stick coating for pans and other cookware. Lubricant reduces friction and wear. Also commonly used as a graft material in surgical interventions.
CORROSION PROTECTION Salt Spray Test (ASTM B 117) – 5% Salt spray for 100 hours. Excellent water displacing characteristics and stability.
Company Ronseal is a subsidiary of international paint manufacturer, Sherwin-Williams Company based in Cleveland, Ohio and is the world’s largest coatings company. Ronseal is based at Thorncliffe Park in Sheffield in the UK and Dublin, Republic of Ireland, which allows them to skip out on US corporate taxes… shame on them.
Walmart, REI, Amazon…
http://www.amazon.com/Tri-Flow-TF21010-Superior-Lubricant-Bottle/dp/B0002ITTK2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO64suG_pAA&index=4&list=PL2B0A500BFCEDB1A7
Musculo-skeletal injuries
Sonja M. Thompson, MD, Colonel, MC, US Army, Chief of Surgery Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Fort Hood
“This monograph is an excellent reference for lower extremity and back injuries, and contributes significantly to understanding the differences between women and men in the rate and distribution of musculoskeletal overuse and traumatic injuries sustained by our military members. This publication sheds light on the nature of the biomechanics differences between women and men, and how these differences result in notable changes in injury patterns that impact the length of healing time and ultimately impact the readiness of the unit. Drs Springer and Ross have provided us with an excellent tool for addressing the unique challenges healthcare providers face in providing the best possible care—both therapeutic and preventive—to our women military members.”
endocrine system plays a vital role in bone health. Male and female competitive endurance athletes with abnormally low sex hormone levels are predisposed to stress fractures. The “female athlete triad”—which refers to the combination of amenorrhea, osteoporosis, and disordered eating— may predispose a female to stress fractures. In attempts to minimize body fat to further increase athletic performance, a female may find herself in an estrogen-deficient state leading eventually to decreased bone mineral density and increased risk of stress fractures. Although not specific to military women, amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea are common findings in competitive female distance runners.
Durango Loop Tour 2014 Judy C.
Let’s see, where do I begin? It was great!! You would have loved it – we just kept climbing and climbing to the top of every pass. We were challenged everyday. The two passes from Durango to Silverton – Coal Bank Pass and Molas Pass were especially hard as we were basically climbing from Durango straight to Molas and then, a very quick ride down to Silverton, where we stayed at the Grand Imperial Hotel. The day had been gorgeous and the sun was shining.
My favorite pass was Red Mountain out of Silverton. It was the perfect pass, a lovely road with a nice shoulder all the way to the top, plus there was almost no traffic! The view from the top was gorgeous. And the ride down into Ouray was epic, through winding roads surrounded by red mountains, ending at Mouse’s Coffee and Chocolate shop in Ouray. But then, that afternoon, things changed. A head wind (35 mph) blew up and made the climb up Dallas Divide a nightmare. The relatively easy climb when there are no winds turned into a climb of epic proportions. I was never so glad to see the top. And, then, rain clouds rolled in and the rain hit not far after the turnoff to Telluride. I was glad to have a support vehicle pull me in to drive to town. I only did 63 miles that day.
Telluride was a typical ski town, with its mining history buried in the mountains around it. We had a great dinner that night in a brew pub. In the morning we left Telluride and headed straight up out of town. Telluride sits in a river valley and the only way to leave is up. It was tough with no real warmup. At least the day was calm and sunny. We finally reached the top of the plateau above Telluride and then, started the climb to Lizard Head Pass. It actually seemed easy after the haul up from Telluride. At the top of the Pass it was basically all downhill to Cortez! However, going downhill for miles and miles gets a bit tedious after a while and I started to long for a little climb. We passed through the little town of Rico where there was a delightful coffee/lunch place and gorgeous flowers everywhere. We did stop and then, continued our downhill jog. Finally, I got to Dolores and knew there were only 8 or 9 more miles – I can do it! Except there was a “little” hill right out of the town being repaved. They let me ride up the shoulder and from the top was a straight shot to Cortez on newly paved wonderful shoulders. I flew those last miles and got to the motel so fast my hair was on end! I did 76.5 miles that day.
Our last day was beautiful. The road was great with shoulders. We passed Mesa Verde as the sun hit the top and made it red. The road was interesting with a couple of big climbs, but not steep. We hit the small town of Mancos and stopped for coffee and locally grown plums. After Mancos the road began its serious climbing. It went on for many miles, but flowed somehow. I got to the little ski area of Hesperus and one of our group said it was the top. I said I don’t think so, and I was right. We had another mile or two of climbing, but then, the down to Durango was incredible. I never used my brakes. We all met at our original motel, packed up our cars, went to lunch in Durango and drove back to Santa Fe. We did the DEATH RIDE and lived to tell the tale, and as far as I know, no one had a flat the entire trip!
2014 SOB Photo
Santa Fe Seniors on Bikes 2014 Group Photo: (click image to enlarge)
