john
"sport that requires balls to succeed. Be brave...be bold!" Yes ! but to add: Be Smooth, be predicitable, and no sudden lateral movements (well hold your line...). I personally i have found good leg speed is more important then having balls to suceed in a bicycle race finish pack sprint. I don't think i have ever crashed in a finish, well except once a guy rolled his tubular in the last corner of a crit (imagine 120 corners and it rolls on the last one) and i flipped over him into the grass. and yes to sprinting on a rollers (seated !) unless you have one of those special rollers... Road races are not like PIR, if you not up in the front in the last mile or so, then your race is already over.
*************
The secret to long chain life is to oil only a clean chain. I don't think it matters the sort of super cleaning oil, or super duper chain , if there is grit present, and then oiled, the oil will carry the grit into the chain and the oily lapping compound will quickly destroy the chain.
I have tried every sort of chain cleaning method out there, and in my opinion by FAR, the quickest and easiest and most effective.
1. apply to chain a little engine degreaser (only takes a little), or wd40 followed by dish detergent, or simply dish detergent. (depending on how grungy your chain is)
2. Brush. I use a Grunge brush.
3. Jet spray of garden hose, Spray directly at chain (i aim at bottom). This is the most important step, It will blast and wash away all grit.
4. Might apply a little wd40, Twist the chain back and forth and listen for anymore grit, if there is repeat.
5. get most water off with a dry rag, then re-oil, with light oil, usually something like wd40 or prolink.. I then oil one more time usually the next morning. In winter, i use Phil wood, or motorcycle chain oil..
This usually take all of 3 minutes. So i usually do it weekly, or bi weekly.. Thinking of getting or making a chain guard for my commuter next year. Not to protect my pants, but to protect the chain from grit.
I usually do this on the lawn, but on the driveway would work too, drain to the street sewer. dont' worry the amount of oil is minuscule compared to what drips out of cars. Also small amounts of oil / soap will biodegrade (though i am not an expert on this..)
A couple years ago i thought of an idea to have chain cleaning station, kind of like a car wash. You put you bike on a contraption, pedal, and pedal power powers up a pump that blast cleans your chain.. or something like that.
I never take the chain off the bike anymore. Takes way too much time and it is not any more thorough then my current method.
----- Original Message ----
From: J.Michael Manning
To: Dan H ; r r ; jeff.mitchem@gmail.com; obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Monday, March 3, 2008 11:12:45 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Banana Belt Updates
Dan,
I thought it and you said it. Thanks for a little truth about the nature of our sport. We all should be proud of the fact that we represent a sport that requires balls to succeed. Be brave...be bold!
Mike Manning
From: dan@bicyclerepairman.us
To: bikexcr@hotmail.com; jeff.mitchem@gmail.com; obra@list.obra.org
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 22:25:34 -0800
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Banana Belt Updates
"v",
Races need all kinds of finishes. Up, down and flat. Each type of finish will favor a particular style.
If you want safety, stay in bed. If this race is over your head, stay home. If bunch sprinting is not your thing, that's going to limit your choice of races a lot. Spokes, pedals, derailleurs, bridges, curbs, potholes, gravel, dogs, cars, drunks and riders with faulty equipment are only a few of the hazards I can think of off hand when one chooses to race a bicycle.
Speed doesn't cause crashes, riding sideways does.
Try learning to sprint on rollers. It will greatly improve your chances of survival.
Dan
----- Original Message -----
From: r r
To: jeff.mitchem@gmail.com ; obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 9:49 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Banana Belt Updates
I agree. An uphill finish would be better as far as safety and true competition.
I've been racing the BB's for years, and have seen some (possible understatement) god awful crashes (people ambulanced out and even life-flighted) occur because of this downhill finish in the dip that the line is in. Being in the dip provides just too much speed for the close quarter chaos of the whole pack trying to sprint. Especially in the less experience fields.
Didn't Silverton last year teach us any lesson at all about downhill finishes and safety issues in the peloton at the finish. How many more tragic accidents need to occur before changes are made, in not just the BB's but every race that has a sprint heading downhill to the line. Yes, there was no crash yesterday, but its like an active volcano or fault line, its only a matter of time till another horrible one happens again. Lets make it a more safe finish, and a finish where the stronger riders will truly prevail (which is that not the point of competition; that the stronger and/or more talented athlete prevails). At the BB's, there is optimal scenarios for a finish line, with plenty of wide spots in the shoulder to accommodate the van/tent/camera. It will just mean you may have to ride a WHOLE mile back to the lot instead.
Safety should be of the up most importance in a bicycle race.
V
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 16:37:20 -0800
From: riznob@gmail.com
To: jeff.mitchem@gmail.com
CC: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Banana Belt Updates
Can we at least move the finnish to a hill? Pretty please.
-Rob Anderson
2008/3/3 Jeff Mitchem :
Thank you volunteers, thank you officials, thank you riders for an awesome BB#1. Following are a few updates as we prepare for BB#2.
- Pre-Registered Riders. NO LONG LINE next race. All you need to do is check-in at registration when you arrive.....no paper work, no exchange of $, this will be a verbal check that you are present on race day.
- Un-registered Riders. We will have extra registration staff on hand with multiple lines so you wont have to wait as long.
- Course Direction. Due to really bad road conditions in the outer lane we will maintain course direction and not reverse direction as advertised in the flyer.
- Bicycleattornery.com Men 1/2 Hot Spot Cash. Thank you to the Bicycle Attorney for donating $200 winner-take-all cash money for the Men 1/2 hot spots. BB#1 winners were Evan Elken and ?....not sure yet who won the second hot spot but when I find out, they have $100 coming. Look for more cash hot spots next week....
- Volunteers. Please confirm by replying to this email if you are interested in volunteering for BB#2. I need to know if you are racing and when, and what position you prefer. Compensation is free BB entry or 2 free PIRs + parking fee.
- Field Size. When it comes to pelotons, SIZE MATTERS. So, be aware that all size challenged pelotons (less than 6 riders) will be combined with other fields.
- Comments Welcome. Please reply with comments, questions, recommendations, offers, etc...
stay tuned for more....
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Rob Anderson
riznob@gmail.com
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