Customer Feedback #1: Monica

This is Monica.

Monica had me tune up her Specialized S-Works (and her husband's Stumpjumper). She was referred to me from another customer of mine. Her bike was bought used which seems to be fairly typical for my customers, and had been pieced together with quite an array of parts. Rolf front wheel, Mavic Askium in the back, and a mishmash of Shimano drivetrain components. Beautiful S-Works frame from before the carbon boom of the last 7 years. The Rolf wheel had to go however due to a broken spoke (my fault) and loose bearings (typical of these wheels). It was replaced with a nice Reliable Shimano 500 front wheel with all normal parts and spokes with it. Anyway, real nice ride for her triathlon aspirations.

Monica started doing Triathlons this year. Her first was supposed to be at Shawnee Mission Park, but it was rained out. Next chance she had was at Lonestar Lake (7/19) where she placed 15/70 in the women's short course (58/207 overall short course men and women).

The next race she let me know about was again at Longview Lake where halfway through her 12 mile bike ride, she slid and wrecked. From her email to me:

"I was in another tri on Aug19 at Longview Lake that I ended up totally wiping out on my bike about 1/2 way through the 12m bike course. I ended up w/severe road rash on my left hip, elbow, left fingers, and left wrist. Also got 1 stitch in my left wrist. I was out of training for 2w so I was a little rusty (and terrified once I got back on my bike on 9/12!) for my last race."

The pictures she sent me are from her most recent race on September 12th were she placed 42/302 overall (7/45 in her age division). Pretty tough person I would say, especially doing so well just under a month later from a nasty case of road rash.

I just wanted to wish her continued luck in the triathlons and showcase her success here.

If any other past customers want to share any stories please just send me an email and let me know how it is going.

Shop Update and Useful Bike Related Items Found on the Web

First off I would like to say that I luckily didn't need a skin graft, but my right hand is still healing. Despite whatever I may have said, it will probably take 2-4 weeks before I can wrench bikes again. I can still give advice and I have been thinking of offering 2 hour sessions with any individual on bike repair instruction for $60 or so. I can cover whatever people want to learn, but I won't be able to really get dirty (I have to prevent infection). I should note that a two hour session won't make you an expert but it certainly can give you the knowledge tools to start. I am just throwing it out there if anyone is interested.

That being said I have been glued to the computer for a couple of weeks looking for parts and such for a touring bike that I have been thinking about building up. None of these items I have bought but rather, just think they are quite ingenious.




Bar none, the coolest item I have found on the web are Phil Wood's "Riv" hubs made for Rivendell Bikes. What makes them so cool is that they are high flanged and the rear hub is centered. First off the benefits of high flanges are that they create a stronger built wheel, due to shorter spoke length. New road hubs these days have a small flange radius and thus longer spokes which at times can cause for wheels to come out of true more easily. Also the rear hub is meant to only have a 7sp freewheel often found on older that 1990 or so bicycles. What it allows for however for the flanges to be centered on the hub, thus allowing for the need of only one spoke size and no dish needed in the rear wheel. Again this makes for a strong long lasting rear wheel that should not come out of true. The front and rear hubs share flange widths and flange radius' so a common spoke size can be had for all the spokes in the front and rear wheel. Thus the touring bike rider would only need to carry a single size spoke as back up for their tour instead of three. Very trick, very brilliant, very expensive. I hope that wasn't too bike nerdy.




Next, have you found an old french Peugeot that that you wanted to update to new parts, but have been told the bottom bracket is french threaded and a replacement is hard to find? Well VeloOrange stocks a well priced ($48) Grand Cru replacement bottom bracket that can allow for you to use a more modern crank.

Like to see some other brands that make bike tools besides Park or need some specific tool that no ones seems to stock? Head over to BikeToolsEtc.com for a vast selection of tools, odd ball replacement parts, and more lubes and grease for bikes than Napa. I have on several occasions spoken with the owner/customer service who is extremely knowledgeable and very willing to find and stock something that he may not have. Definitely worth a visit if you a tool nut.