Trunk Time

As the winter rains approach, it is time to add a rain gear trunk to the red tiny Curve. This is a TransIt trunk bag from Performance. It fits well on the rack and when put on backwards adds a caring handle. It is big enough for a rain jacket and some pants.

Tiny Red Bicycle

Behold the tiniest folding bike I could find used in the area. It's a 2008 Dahon Curve D3 with 16" (305) wheels. It is quite fun to ride but the main reasons that I have added it to the stable is:
A: It folds so it can go on BART any time. It is actually small enough to fit between my legs while standing.
B: It has 16" tires which is the minimum allowed on AC Transit bus racks. Plus AC Transit is suppose to allow folding bikes (and strollers) on the bus. I may need to try this if the 2 bike racks are taken.

The 3 in the D3 is presumably because it is a 3 speed rear hub. The gearing seemed good for flat riding up to probably 20 MPH. Which I have got to say is slightly sketchy given the short wheel base and small wheels. However 1 ride around my hilly neck of the woods proved a bit too challenging for my lazy man style. So I got a 18Tooth rear cog to replace the stock 13T. This seems to be much more reasonable in the hills. So accordingly to Sheldon Browns calculator the gears went from ~35/48/65 gear inches to 25/34/46 gear inches. This is slightly off because his calculator uses a 16 X1.5" and the stock tires on the D3 are 2.0". Changing the cog is fairly easy mater of pulling the wheel out of the frame and pulling a lock ring off. Of course a slightly longer chain is required.

The New Deck

The goose gives the deck a one tongue out. However the blinding light at the end of the deck is a little much...

Cross Bike Brake Shush

Uh oh.... the shush shush noise. The classic rhythm of hard earned energy being squandered and helping to speed up the heat death of the universe for no good reason. Here are some quick things to check.

1. Is the back wheel completely in the drop outs? (up into the frame "u"s as far as it can)

2. Are all the cables housings in the correct spots? Not hanging on the edges of the eyelets.

3. Are the brake pads lined up with the wheel rim? Right when the pad touches the wheel it should only touch the wheel and not the tire.

4. Does the brake pad hit the tire during any part of the travel?

5. When you spin the wheel does the wheel rim get closer and further from the pads?

Harleymom, next time you get an itch for a swim, drop by and I will take a look.

Mountain Biking: Squealing Brakes

Hayes Trail disc brakes squealing like a pig? Try bonding the pads on with RTV High Temp silicon gasket maker. This is available at most auto parts stores. Just put a thin coat of the RTV on the back of the pads install and squeeze the levers for 24 hours. Elastic cords or thick rubber bands will hold the levers squeezing the pads. You want the pad bonded to the pistons not the housing. Ride on...