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.

Why the shop is down...

(do not scroll down if you are squeamish, you have been warned)

click to make bigger...

So that is the picture this is the story. I drove down south to the Blue Valley spot of the Overland Park-Lenexa-Olathe Megatropolis area to an appointment I had made with a purveyor of a two year old Specialized Tricross Sport.

This is a bike that I thought was out of my price range when I was looking for a replacement of my old odd blue Raleigh titanium road bike. I consequently purchased a Jamis Aurora touring framing and have been slowly putting the parts together to put that bike together.

This guy had a good price on it, though it is well ridden and I wanted to go check it out. I thought maybe I buy it, maybe not. If I do I would only keep it until the Jamis is built up, blah, blah, blah. Nice guy, we talked a while and I asked if it was okay if I take it for a ride.

I hop on, ride up the block, shift through the gears, and think, it seems okay. I decide to shift down, stand up, and mash on the pedals. The rest is a flash, some how shifting up I dropped the chain. I was thrown into the front handlebars after I lost my balance, the front wheel and all turned to the right 90 degrees, and acted as the brake. I had enough time for two things: 1) Say the word, "F*ck!" and 2) Turn my head to the side so I wouldn't take the impact head on.

I flipped, smashed, grinded, and then saw the bike go over head. I remember thinking, "I'm okay I think," and "What a eff'ing nightmare." Which I said many times over the next 30 minutes. The bike owner came and checked me out, to his accord he cared about how bad I was, which was pretty bad at least bloody wise. Meanwhile I surveyed that I had messed up his bike.

He helped wash me off, spray on some disinfectant, and dab dry. We talked for too long, I saw that the bike wasn't as bad as I thought (bent bars and front wheel only), and I left to get cleaned up and go see a doctor.

Needless to say I am buying the bike and will get it all fixed up. I don't know if I will keep or sell it but either way it is costing me time and money. I don't feel like I made the right choice.

So be careful while riding, you could get hurt any time by a car, by yourself, or by accident. I don't know what would have prevented this other than me being more careful and not pushing a bike so hard. Ride safe...

The Garage is Now Open...Again...

Well I am back from my 2 week sabatical and have returned for any repairs that you may have. I probably won't post my Craigslist ad until next week so I can catch up on a few things around the house. Namely, I want to get the garage better setup to handle more bicycles and want to get stuff ready for a garage sale that I want to have a week from this weekend.

But if you are a past customer or simply find me here from the world wide web get in touch and I will help.

Thanks,
The Management

P.S. to see what I was up to go here:

http://dunkinontheroad.blogspot.com/

Also if you haven't seen this already:

Schedule from 7-2-2009 to 8-9-2009

I am going to take the craigslist ad down tonight and if you haven't already brought a bike in or have contacted me previously for work, then I'm sorry I won't be taking any more bikes for the next two weeks. I will be busy after Thursday next week and probably only will be available via email after.

Feel free to get in touch however and I will see what I can do. See you at El Torreon tomorrow. Have a good two weeks.