Shouldn't I be happier?

[Rex Kerr]

Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness. I've had many good
miles on that bike, and now I'm just going to put it in storage!

Maybe one day I'll run across some old parts that'll get it running
again without dropping too much cash.

On the positive side... the Nishiki came to life at the expense of an
old mountain bike... I'll probably take the parts back and get that
one on the road again since I've got 6 road bikes and no mountain bike!

[Fred]

"Rex Kerr" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
> Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
> wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
> old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness. I've had many good
> miles on that bike, and now I'm just going to put it in storage!
>
> Maybe one day I'll run across some old parts that'll get it running
> again without dropping too much cash.
>
> On the positive side... the Nishiki came to life at the expense of an
> old mountain bike... I'll probably take the parts back and get that
> one on the road again since I've got 6 road bikes and no mountain bike!

I shouted myself an expensive new touring bike a few months ago, but I just
can't give up my old one. In fact I prefer it - not even sure why I bought
the new one now.
>

[Pat]

>
> I shouted myself an expensive new touring bike a few months ago, but I
> just can't give up my old one. In fact I prefer it - not even sure why I
> bought the new one now.

I had a bona fide touring bike for years that was perfect--if I were about 6
feet tall. It had a 23" frame, which makes it, what, 59 cm? It was always
'way too tall for me, but I didn't know any better. Now that I have one with
a smaller frame, I still didn't want to give up the old one!

Pat

[[email protected]]

Rex Kerr > wrote:
> Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
> Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
> wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
> old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness. I've had many good
> miles on that bike, and now I'm just going to put it in storage!

Chronic crowding in my garage (five bikes [1] and one car) has just
about persuaded me that it's time to toss my veteran 1973 Astra 10-speed.
I've had that bike through thick and thin, ridden it in places from El
Paso to Edmonton, towed my first trailer with it, had all kinds of fun on
it.
But next time the city puts one of those big open-top dumpsters out in
my neighborhood, "Henry" [2] is going. What finally persuaded me that his
time had come was riding the other two bikes, and then getting aboard the
old warhorse and comparing condition, fit, and handling. I'll miss the
old steed, but the new bikes will ease the pain.


Bill


[1] Three mine, two my kids'.

[2] My bikes are named after American conservationists: Henry is named
for Thoreau, and commuter bike Waldo for Emerson. I had intended to name
my newest bike Leopold, after Aldo. (Aldo and Waldo being just a little
too close.) But this bike is so--zonal--with its silver paint and black
accessories, that I ended up naming him Ansel.

[The Historian]

wrote:
> Rex Kerr > wrote:
> > Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
> > Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
> > wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
> > old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness. I've had many good
> > miles on that bike, and now I'm just going to put it in storage!
>
> Chronic crowding in my garage (five bikes [1] and one car) has just
> about persuaded me that it's time to toss my veteran 1973 Astra 10-speed.
> I've had that bike through thick and thin, ridden it in places from El
> Paso to Edmonton, towed my first trailer with it, had all kinds of fun on
> it.
> But next time the city puts one of those big open-top dumpsters out in
> my neighborhood, "Henry" [2] is going. What finally persuaded me that his
> time had come was riding the other two bikes, and then getting aboard the
> old warhorse and comparing condition, fit, and handling. I'll miss the
> old steed, but the new bikes will ease the pain.
>
>
> Bill
>
>
> [1] Three mine, two my kids'.
>
> [2] My bikes are named after American conservationists: Henry is named
> for Thoreau, and commuter bike Waldo for Emerson. I had intended to name
> my newest bike Leopold, after Aldo. (Aldo and Waldo being just a little
> too close.) But this bike is so--zonal--with its silver paint and black
> accessories, that I ended up naming him Ansel.

Do people often name their bikes? A friend of mine is restoring a 1978
Volkswagon Vanagon, which he has named "Brooke." And I call my car "The
Neilmobile", which is close to being a name, although it's more
properly a title. But I've never heard of naming your bike.

[Will]

Rex Kerr wrote:
> Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
> Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
> wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
> old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness.

My son had a Trek 7000-series ATB which we racked and fendered, put
slicks on, and in general, made a good city commuter out of. We traded
it on an excellent, vintage Trek 613 last summer and he was pretty sad
for a while too. The 613 was very different, being a lugged, steel
sport-tourer not a citified aluminum trail bike. But he figured it out
soon enough. There's no sorrow these days. For Christmas it's getting
one of Peter White's generator/LED light systems. Your 520 will be an
old friend soon.

[GaryG]

> wrote in message
...
> Rex Kerr > wrote:
> > Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
> > Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
> > wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
> > old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness. I've had many good
> > miles on that bike, and now I'm just going to put it in storage!
>
> Chronic crowding in my garage (five bikes [1] and one car) has just
> about persuaded me that it's time to toss my veteran 1973 Astra 10-speed.
> I've had that bike through thick and thin, ridden it in places from El
> Paso to Edmonton, towed my first trailer with it, had all kinds of fun on
> it.
> But next time the city puts one of those big open-top dumpsters out in
> my neighborhood, "Henry" [2] is going.

If "Henry" is not completely broken, please consider dontating it to one of
the organizations that recycles bikes and sends them to Third World
countries (e.g., http://www.bikesfortheworld.org/ ). Or, Google "donate
bicycles", or ask your local bike shop. With any luck, Henry can provide
service to someone else, rather than winding up in a landfill.

GG

> What finally persuaded me that his
> time had come was riding the other two bikes, and then getting aboard the
> old warhorse and comparing condition, fit, and handling. I'll miss the
> old steed, but the new bikes will ease the pain.
>
>
> Bill
>
>
> [1] Three mine, two my kids'.
>
> [2] My bikes are named after American conservationists: Henry is named
> for Thoreau, and commuter bike Waldo for Emerson. I had intended to name
> my newest bike Leopold, after Aldo. (Aldo and Waldo being just a little
> too close.) But this bike is so--zonal--with its silver paint and black
> accessories, that I ended up naming him Ansel.
>
>

[Werehatrack]

On 24 Dec 2006 12:12:48 -0800, "The Historian" >
may have said:

>Do people often name their bikes? A friend of mine is restoring a 1978
>Volkswagon Vanagon, which he has named "Brooke." And I call my car "The
>Neilmobile", which is close to being a name, although it's more
>properly a title. But I've never heard of naming your bike.

I used to name things like that, but I don't anymore. When they get
stolen, or destroyed, or become the object of hatred of another for
irrational reasons, the loss is reduced.

I don't think the rest of the world is out to get me, but I've learned
not to invest too much in anything, because the chances are that I
won't have it for long...be it material or otherwise.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

[Ozark Bicycle]

wrote:
> Rex Kerr > wrote:
> > Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
> > Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
> > wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
> > old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness. I've had many good
> > miles on that bike, and now I'm just going to put it in storage!
>
> Chronic crowding in my garage (five bikes [1] and one car) has just
> about persuaded me that it's time to toss my veteran 1973 Astra 10-speed.
> I've had that bike through thick and thin, ridden it in places from El
> Paso to Edmonton, towed my first trailer with it, had all kinds of fun on
> it.
> But next time the city puts one of those big open-top dumpsters out in
> my neighborhood, "Henry" [2] is going. What finally persuaded me that his
> time had come was riding the other two bikes, and then getting aboard the
> old warhorse and comparing condition, fit, and handling. I'll miss the
> old steed, but the new bikes will ease the pain.
>
>
> Bill
>
>
> [1] Three mine, two my kids'.
>
> [2] My bikes are named after American conservationists: Henry is named
> for Thoreau, and commuter bike Waldo for Emerson. I had intended to name
> my newest bike Leopold, after Aldo. (Aldo and Waldo being just a little
> too close.) But this bike is so--zonal--with its silver paint and black
> accessories, that I ended up naming him Ansel.

Surely, "Henry" deserves a better fate than a dumpster ride to the
landfill! Someone, somewhere can offer "Henry" a home and a new life.

[Werehatrack]

On 24 Dec 2006 12:12:48 -0800, "The Historian" >
may have said:

>Do people often name their bikes? A friend of mine is restoring a 1978
>Volkswagon Vanagon, which he has named "Brooke."

Picking a small nit, the Vanagon model designation was not used in the
US in 1978; that year, the model available was just a Van. (The
Vanagon model has the flatter nose, the non-torsion-bar front
suspension, the relocated fuel tank which allowed the rear area deck
to be lower than the Van's, and eventually was fitted with the
absolutely awful "waterboxer" engine that I renamed "the popcorn
motor" not long before I left the VW dealer system.)



--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

[The Historian]

Werehatrack wrote:
> On 24 Dec 2006 12:12:48 -0800, "The Historian" >
> may have said:
>
> >Do people often name their bikes? A friend of mine is restoring a 1978
> >Volkswagon Vanagon, which he has named "Brooke."
>
> Picking a small nit, the Vanagon model designation was not used in the
> US in 1978; that year, the model available was just a Van. (The
> Vanagon model has the flatter nose, the non-torsion-bar front
> suspension, the relocated fuel tank which allowed the rear area deck
> to be lower than the Van's, and eventually was fitted with the
> absolutely awful "waterboxer" engine that I renamed "the popcorn
> motor" not long before I left the VW dealer system.)

You can see Brooke here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/chesshistorian/TheIncredibleShrinkingHistorian

Go to the end of the photo album. Ignore the fat bicyclist in front of
her.

[Pat]

>
> Chronic crowding in my garage (five bikes [1] and one car) has just
> about persuaded me that it's time to toss my veteran 1973 Astra 10-speed.
> I've had that bike through thick and thin, ridden it in places from El
> Paso to Edmonton, towed my first trailer with it, had all kinds of fun on
> it.
> But next time the city puts one of those big open-top dumpsters out in
> my neighborhood, "Henry" [2] is going. What finally persuaded me that his
> time had come was riding the other two bikes, and then getting aboard the
> old warhorse and comparing condition, fit, and handling. I'll miss the
> old steed, but the new bikes will ease the pain.
>
>
> Bill

HEY! Bikes belong in the dining room, not the garage! I thought everybody
knew that. And, don't dump the bike--donate it to your local bike recycling
group.

Pat in TX

[bfd]

"Ozark Bicycle" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> wrote:
>> Rex Kerr > wrote:
>> > Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
>> > Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
>> > wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
>> > old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness. I've had many good
>> > miles on that bike, and now I'm just going to put it in storage!
>>
>> Chronic crowding in my garage (five bikes [1] and one car) has just
>> about persuaded me that it's time to toss my veteran 1973 Astra 10-speed.
>> I've had that bike through thick and thin, ridden it in places from El
>> Paso to Edmonton, towed my first trailer with it, had all kinds of fun on
>> it.
>> But next time the city puts one of those big open-top dumpsters out in
>> my neighborhood, "Henry" [2] is going. What finally persuaded me that
>> his
>> time had come was riding the other two bikes, and then getting aboard the
>> old warhorse and comparing condition, fit, and handling. I'll miss the
>> old steed, but the new bikes will ease the pain.
>>
>>
>> Bill
>>
>>
>> [1] Three mine, two my kids'.
>>
>> [2] My bikes are named after American conservationists: Henry is named
>> for Thoreau, and commuter bike Waldo for Emerson. I had intended to name
>> my newest bike Leopold, after Aldo. (Aldo and Waldo being just a little
>> too close.) But this bike is so--zonal--with its silver paint and black
>> accessories, that I ended up naming him Ansel.
>
> Surely, "Henry" deserves a better fate than a dumpster ride to the
> landfill! Someone, somewhere can offer "Henry" a home and a new life.
>
Agree. If you're in the S.F. Peninsula or South Bay, you can donate your
bike here:

http://www.mtcc.us/

Don't throw it out!

[Bill Sornson]

Pat wrote:
> HEY! Bikes belong in the dining room, not the garage! I thought
> everybody knew that.

Well, /road/ bikes, anyway. Mountain bikes are content in the garage.
(Although both of mine need work to be rideable :( )

Bill "actually rode the 'rain bike' Friday -- the pavement had a few wet
spots" S.

[The Historian]

Pat wrote:

> HEY! Bikes belong in the dining room, not the garage! I thought everybody
> knew that.

Do you really keep your bike in the dining room? I've heard of being
attached to it....

[peter]

GaryG wrote:
> > But next time the city puts one of those big open-top dumpsters out in
> > my neighborhood, "Henry" [2] is going.
>
> If "Henry" is not completely broken, please consider dontating it to one of
> the organizations that recycles bikes and sends them to Third World
> countries (e.g., http://www.bikesfortheworld.org/ ). Or, Google "donate
> bicycles", or ask your local bike shop. With any luck, Henry can provide
> service to someone else, rather than winding up in a landfill.

Agreed, but if it's too much trouble to donate it at least leave it
propped up near the street with a "FREE!" sign in plain sight for a few
days. Chances are it'll quickly find a new home where it'll be ridden
or at least provide some spare parts to keep another bike ridable.

[[email protected]]

Ozark Bicycle > wrote:

> Surely, "Henry" deserves a better fate than a dumpster ride to the
> landfill! Someone, somewhere can offer "Henry" a home and a new life.

In order to be a decent, safe ride again, Henry would need numerous
repairs. First and worst, the bottom bracket is shot. I hear sometimes
that there is a way to deal with this problem, which is actual wear to the
(steel) frame, but it sounds difficult and expensive. Additionally, I'd
have to replace the entire drive train and both wheels (parts might be
tough to find, this bike is a '72 or '73 model). Add in some minor stuff,
like all new cables, brake shoes, handlebar tape, and a seat.
Kind of like the mechanic I once heard tell somebody that he needed to
jack his gas cap up and install a new car under it. (Couldn't think of a
bicycle analogy -- it's way late.)
Do all these extensive, expensive repairs, and at length I, or the new
owner, would have a beat-up looking, outdated ten-speed with the shifters
on the down tube and my name engraved into the paint in a couple of
places.
So, somebody who has experience with recycling bikes, does this still
sound like a bike worth saving? It doesn't sound particularly economical
to fix to me. OTOH, it WOULD beat a dumpster ride to the landfill.


Bill


__o | Conservatism makes no poetry, breathes no prayer,
_`\(,_ | has no invention; it is all memory.
(_)/ (_) | --Ralph Waldo Emerson

[catzz66]

Pat wrote:
>>I shouted myself an expensive new touring bike a few months ago, but I
>>just can't give up my old one. In fact I prefer it - not even sure why I
>>bought the new one now.
>
>
> I had a bona fide touring bike for years that was perfect--if I were about 6
> feet tall. It had a 23" frame, which makes it, what, 59 cm? It was always
> 'way too tall for me, but I didn't know any better. Now that I have one with
> a smaller frame, I still didn't want to give up the old one!
>
> Pat
>
>

My first good road bike was just a hair too big, also. Can't make
myself get rid of it. Even though I have a new bike, I still split time
with the old one. I've been tempted, but not enough.

[catzz66]

The Historian wrote:
> Pat wrote:
>
>
>>HEY! Bikes belong in the dining room, not the garage! I thought everybody
>>knew that.
>
>
> Do you really keep your bike in the dining room? I've heard of being
> attached to it....
>

If you have a tolerant spouse, you can get away with nonsense like that.
Mine's in the living room most of the time, though it is temporarily
displaced to the den on account of the Christmas tree.

[Ozark Bicycle]

wrote:
> Ozark Bicycle > wrote:
>
> > Surely, "Henry" deserves a better fate than a dumpster ride to the
> > landfill! Someone, somewhere can offer "Henry" a home and a new life.
>
> In order to be a decent, safe ride again, Henry would need numerous
> repairs. First and worst, the bottom bracket is shot. I hear sometimes
> that there is a way to deal with this problem, which is actual wear to the
> (steel) frame, but it sounds difficult and expensive.

It depends on the extent of the damage. If someone with the interest
and skills were given the bike, they might first try an inexpensive
"fix" with something like JB Weld.


> Additionally, I'd
> have to replace the entire drive train

Do you mean freewheel and chainrings? Or are you saying the FD and RD
must go, as well?

> and both wheels

Why do the wheels need to be replaced? Last year, I "resuscitated" a
pair of ~25 year old, 27" wheels. It was all just labor, save for new
bearing balls and grease. And two cheap but decent 27" tires (From
Nashbar, @ $8 ea.) If the rims aren't damaged in some way, yours can
probably be made ridable again.

>(parts might be
> tough to find, this bike is a '72 or '73 model). Add in some minor stuff,
> like all new cables, brake shoes, handlebar tape, and a seat.
> Kind of like the mechanic I once heard tell somebody that he needed to
> jack his gas cap up and install a new car under it. (Couldn't think of a
> bicycle analogy -- it's way late.)
> Do all these extensive, expensive repairs, and at length I, or the new
> owner, would have a beat-up looking, outdated ten-speed with the shifters
> on the down tube and my name engraved into the paint in a couple of
> places.

Might just be the ideal urban commuter, no one will steal it and it's
already "ugly", so damage from being locked up outdoors is moot.


> So, somebody who has experience with recycling bikes, does this still
> sound like a bike worth saving? It doesn't sound particularly economical
> to fix to me. OTOH, it WOULD beat a dumpster ride to the landfill.
>
>
> Bill
>
>
> __o | Conservatism makes no poetry, breathes no prayer,
> _`\(,_ | has no invention; it is all memory.
> (_)/ (_) | --Ralph Waldo Emerson

[[email protected]]

Ozark Bicycle > wrote:

> wrote:
> > Ozark Bicycle > wrote:
> >
> > > Surely, "Henry" deserves a better fate than a dumpster ride to the
> > > landfill! Someone, somewhere can offer "Henry" a home and a new life.
> >
> > In order to be a decent, safe ride again, Henry would need numerous
> > repairs. First and worst, the bottom bracket is shot.
<snip>

> > Additionally, I'd have to replace the entire drive train

> Do you mean freewheel and chainrings? Or are you saying the FD and RD
> must go, as well?

For some reason "FD" and "RD" aren't ringing a bell this morning.
Front and rear what?
I'd expect this bike to need every part in the drive train: pedals,
cranks, bottom bracket bearings, chain rings, chain, rear sprockets
(bike's too old for a "cassette" as we now know it). And as long as I was
at it, I'd want new bearings in the rear wheel, if not a whole wheel, see
below:

> > and both wheels

Front has hit one too many potholes (I ride fast in the dark on my
daily commute) and is very badly bent up. I had to use channel lock
pliers to reduce rim damage enough that I could even ride home the day of
the mishap. Use the front brake these days, and it feels like you're
pounding the bike, or your braking hand, with a hammer. Rear wheel might
be salvagable, but given its age I wouldn't vouch for the bearings or the
spokes. Tires, oddly, are possibly the best parts left on this bike. I
put new ones on and rode the bike for a couple of weeks before I bent the
rim and decided I'd caught the bug and needed a whole new, and much
sturdier, ride. (Henry's replacement on the commute has double-strength
rims, shocks, and armored tires.)

> Might just be the ideal urban commuter, no one will steal it and it's
> already "ugly", so damage from being locked up outdoors is moot.

You keep talking, and I might just keep Henry and hand him over to my
son who's off to college in a year or so. Still very uncertain about that
bottom bracket, though.


Bill

-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Real e-mail: , minus the letters w/ tails.|
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Ozark Bicycle]

wrote:
> Ozark Bicycle > wrote:
>
> > wrote:
> > > Ozark Bicycle > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Surely, "Henry" deserves a better fate than a dumpster ride to the
> > > > landfill! Someone, somewhere can offer "Henry" a home and a new life.
> > >
> > > In order to be a decent, safe ride again, Henry would need numerous
> > > repairs. First and worst, the bottom bracket is shot.
> <snip>
>
> > > Additionally, I'd have to replace the entire drive train
>
> > Do you mean freewheel and chainrings? Or are you saying the FD and RD
> > must go, as well?
>
> For some reason "FD" and "RD" aren't ringing a bell this morning.
> Front and rear what?

Oh, sorry. Front and rear derailleur.


> I'd expect this bike to need every part in the drive train: pedals,
> cranks,

Are the pedals and crankarms damaged in some way?

> bottom bracket bearings, chain rings, chain, rear sprockets
> (bike's too old for a "cassette" as we now know it). And as long as I was
> at it, I'd want new bearings in the rear wheel, if not a whole wheel, see
> below:
>
> > > and both wheels
>
> Front has hit one too many potholes (I ride fast in the dark on my
> daily commute) and is very badly bent up. I had to use channel lock
> pliers to reduce rim damage enough that I could even ride home the day of
> the mishap. Use the front brake these days, and it feels like you're
> pounding the bike, or your braking hand, with a hammer. Rear wheel might
> be salvagable, but given its age I wouldn't vouch for the bearings or the
> spokes.

Bearing balls are cheap. Check to see if the cones are usable. If the
spokes aren't breaking, they're probably okay?

BTW, how many miles on this bike?


> Tires, oddly, are possibly the best parts left on this bike. I
> put new ones on and rode the bike for a couple of weeks before I bent the
> rim and decided I'd caught the bug and needed a whole new, and much
> sturdier, ride. (Henry's replacement on the commute has double-strength
> rims, shocks, and armored tires.)
>
> > Might just be the ideal urban commuter, no one will steal it and it's
> > already "ugly", so damage from being locked up outdoors is moot.
>
> You keep talking, and I might just keep Henry and hand him over to my
> son who's off to college in a year or so. Still very uncertain about that
> bottom bracket, though.

Is it the right side of the bottom bracket shell has the damaged
threads?
>
>
> Bill
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> |Real e-mail: , minus the letters w/ tails.|
> -----------------------------------------------------------------

[Werehatrack]

On 24 Dec 2006 17:05:02 -0800, "The Historian" >
may have said:

>
>Werehatrack wrote:
>> On 24 Dec 2006 12:12:48 -0800, "The Historian" >
>> may have said:
>>
>> >Do people often name their bikes? A friend of mine is restoring a 1978
>> >Volkswagon Vanagon, which he has named "Brooke."
>>
>> Picking a small nit, the Vanagon model designation was not used in the
>> US in 1978; that year, the model available was just a Van. (The
>> Vanagon model has the flatter nose, the non-torsion-bar front
>> suspension, the relocated fuel tank which allowed the rear area deck
>> to be lower than the Van's, and eventually was fitted with the
>> absolutely awful "waterboxer" engine that I renamed "the popcorn
>> motor" not long before I left the VW dealer system.)
>
>You can see Brooke here:
>
>http://picasaweb.google.com/chesshistorian/TheIncredibleShrinkingHistorian
>
>Go to the end of the photo album. Ignore the fat bicyclist in front of
>her.

Ah! A Westphalia camper. Yes, that's based on a Van, not a Vanagon.
Be glad. The older vehicle had many years of refinement behind it,
and for all that it had a plethora of faults by comparison to some
others, in my opinion it was superior to its successor in most
durability-related respects, even by comparison to the air-cooled
Vanagon. (I will politely decline to discuss the ill-fated Vanagon
Diesel, a vehicle that should never have been made.)

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

[Pat]

>
> Pat wrote:
>
>> HEY! Bikes belong in the dining room, not the garage! I thought everybody
>> knew that.
>
> Do you really keep your bike in the dining room? I've heard of being
> attached to it....

Well, you first have to get rid of that annoying table and chandelier, but,
yes, once those are gone, the dining room is an ideal place. You do know
that tires and tubes don't belong in the garage (at least in the Texas heat)
and I had a saddle where the foam just disintegrated after being in the
garage for a year or two. So, there's your reason: it saves money to keep
the bikes indoors, although Bill does have a point about the mountain bikes
being happy in the garage.....

Pat
>

[Mike A Schwab]

Browse http://www.freecycle.org , drill down to your local area, join
the yahoo group, and offer to give the bicycle away.

Ozark Bicycle wrote:
<deleted>
>
> Surely, "Henry" deserves a better fate than a dumpster ride to the
> landfill! Someone, somewhere can offer "Henry" a home and a new life.

[Solvang Cyclist]

"Rex Kerr" > wrote in news:1166948034.492703.142930@
48g2000cwx.googlegroups.com:

> Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
> Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
> wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
> old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness. I've had many good
> miles on that bike, and now I'm just going to put it in storage!
>
> Maybe one day I'll run across some old parts that'll get it running
> again without dropping too much cash.
>
>

First: congratulations on the new ride!

As for the old one, my solution when I got my new bike this year was to
completely disassemble the old one and I've been slowly polishing,
lubricating and reassembling it. While the new bike is getting all the
miles right now, the old one is getting lots of TLC and will look and
ride like new before too long.

Cheers,
David

[Al]

"Werehatrack" > wrote in message
...
> On 24 Dec 2006 17:05:02 -0800, "The Historian" >
> may have said:
>
> >
> >Werehatrack wrote:
> >> On 24 Dec 2006 12:12:48 -0800, "The Historian" >
> >> may have said:
> >>
> >> >Do people often name their bikes? A friend of mine is restoring a 1978
> >> >Volkswagon Vanagon, which he has named "Brooke."
> >>
> >> Picking a small nit, the Vanagon model designation was not used in the
> >> US in 1978; that year, the model available was just a Van. (The
> >> Vanagon model has the flatter nose, the non-torsion-bar front
> >> suspension, the relocated fuel tank which allowed the rear area deck
> >> to be lower than the Van's, and eventually was fitted with the
> >> absolutely awful "waterboxer" engine that I renamed "the popcorn
> >> motor" not long before I left the VW dealer system.)
> >
> >You can see Brooke here:
> >
>
>http://picasaweb.google.com/chesshistorian/TheIncredibleShrinkingHistorian
> >
> >Go to the end of the photo album. Ignore the fat bicyclist in front of
> >her.
>
> Ah! A Westphalia camper. Yes, that's based on a Van, not a Vanagon.
> Be glad. The older vehicle had many years of refinement behind it,
> and for all that it had a plethora of faults by comparison to some
> others, in my opinion it was superior to its successor in most
> durability-related respects, even by comparison to the air-cooled
> Vanagon. (I will politely decline to discuss the ill-fated Vanagon
> Diesel, a vehicle that should never have been made.)
>
> --
> My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
> Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
> Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

I always feel like a bicycle or a car should be named something appropriate.
My road bike is "the brown squirrel," and my car "the screaming cashew"
(1983 subaru station wagon). Another friend of mine named his bike "the
pink fury" and my dad's car was called the "quahog" because it looked like a
big clam (1992 chrysler lebaron).
A side note on the water boxer VWs. I've seen websites that sell conversion
kits to install a subaru motor in those vanagons. My soob has something
like 270k miles on it and still runs very well with none of the head-warping
issues of the early VW watercooleds. anyone done this?
Al

[D Wells]

On 24 Dec 2006 12:12:48 -0800, "The Historian" >
wrote:

>
wrote:
>> Rex Kerr > wrote:
>> > Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
>> > Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
>> > wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
>> > old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness. I've had many good
>> > miles on that bike, and now I'm just going to put it in storage!
>>
>> Chronic crowding in my garage (five bikes [1] and one car) has just
>> about persuaded me that it's time to toss my veteran 1973 Astra 10-speed.
>> I've had that bike through thick and thin, ridden it in places from El
>> Paso to Edmonton, towed my first trailer with it, had all kinds of fun on
>> it.
>> But next time the city puts one of those big open-top dumpsters out in
>> my neighborhood, "Henry" [2] is going. What finally persuaded me that his
>> time had come was riding the other two bikes, and then getting aboard the
>> old warhorse and comparing condition, fit, and handling. I'll miss the
>> old steed, but the new bikes will ease the pain.
>>
>>
>> Bill
>>
>>
>> [1] Three mine, two my kids'.
>>
>> [2] My bikes are named after American conservationists: Henry is named
>> for Thoreau, and commuter bike Waldo for Emerson. I had intended to name
>> my newest bike Leopold, after Aldo. (Aldo and Waldo being just a little
>> too close.) But this bike is so--zonal--with its silver paint and black
>> accessories, that I ended up naming him Ansel.
>
>Do people often name their bikes? A friend of mine is restoring a 1978
>Volkswagon Vanagon, which he has named "Brooke." And I call my car "The
>Neilmobile", which is close to being a name, although it's more
>properly a title. But I've never heard of naming your bike.

I had a black and blue VW Beetle, maybe a '67, named The Bruise. A
friend of mine had a VW that was a Type 3 named Claire (the name was
painted on it when he got it.)

I have an almost 20-year old Schwinn Worldsport. The other day at the
Schwinn Shop I had it weighed and with the rack on the back and the
pump and kickstand it came in at almost 35 pounds. Even before this I
called it "The Mighty Schwinn," and now the title seems to fit even
more.

[Ron Wallenfang]

I named two bikes in the 1968-69 era - the "Old Nixon" and the "New
Nixon", which conjured up a variety of images at the time - probably
many fewer now. I've long since quit the practice.

The Historian wrote:
> wrote:
> > Rex Kerr > wrote:
> > > Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
> > > Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
> > > wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
> > > old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness. I've had many good
> > > miles on that bike, and now I'm just going to put it in storage!
> >
> > Chronic crowding in my garage (five bikes [1] and one car) has just
> > about persuaded me that it's time to toss my veteran 1973 Astra 10-speed.
> > I've had that bike through thick and thin, ridden it in places from El
> > Paso to Edmonton, towed my first trailer with it, had all kinds of fun on
> > it.
> > But next time the city puts one of those big open-top dumpsters out in
> > my neighborhood, "Henry" [2] is going. What finally persuaded me that his
> > time had come was riding the other two bikes, and then getting aboard the
> > old warhorse and comparing condition, fit, and handling. I'll miss the
> > old steed, but the new bikes will ease the pain.
> >
> >
> > Bill
> >
> >
> > [1] Three mine, two my kids'.
> >
> > [2] My bikes are named after American conservationists: Henry is named
> > for Thoreau, and commuter bike Waldo for Emerson. I had intended to name
> > my newest bike Leopold, after Aldo. (Aldo and Waldo being just a little
> > too close.) But this bike is so--zonal--with its silver paint and black
> > accessories, that I ended up naming him Ansel.
>
> Do people often name their bikes? A friend of mine is restoring a 1978
> Volkswagon Vanagon, which he has named "Brooke." And I call my car "The
> Neilmobile", which is close to being a name, although it's more
> properly a title. But I've never heard of naming your bike.

[[email protected]]

Ozark Bicycle > wrote:

> > > > Additionally, I'd have to replace the entire drive train
> >
> > > Do you mean freewheel and chainrings? Or are you saying the FD and RD
> > > must go, as well?

> > bottom bracket bearings, chain rings, chain, rear sprockets
> > (bike's too old for a "cassette" as we now know it). And as long as I was
> > at it, I'd want new bearings in the rear wheel, if not a whole wheel, see
> > below:
> >
> > > > and both wheels
> >
> > Front has hit one too many potholes (I ride fast in the dark on my
> > daily commute) and is very badly bent up. I had to use channel lock
> > pliers to reduce rim damage enough that I could even ride home the day of
> > the mishap. Use the front brake these days, and it feels like you're
> > pounding the bike, or your braking hand, with a hammer. Rear wheel might
> > be salvagable, but given its age I wouldn't vouch for the bearings or the
> > spokes.

> Bearing balls are cheap. Check to see if the cones are usable. If the
> spokes aren't breaking, they're probably okay?

> BTW, how many miles on this bike?


> Is it the right side of the bottom bracket shell has the damaged
> threads?

Not really sure how many miles on the bike. I rode it, sometimes
regularly, sometimes very intermittently, for many years. It really does
have a rickety feel to it now that I have a new bike to compare it to.
I talked to a bike tech about the bottom bracket once, and he seemed to
think my bearings would have worn grooves or ruts into the bracket itself,
the part that is integral with the frame. You can hear a "clunk" every
time the pedals make a revolution. That's why I was thinking of giving up
completely on the bike. I don't know what condition the shaft itself it
in, and the crank arms themselves would only have to be replaced if needed
to fit with new parts further inside. Pedals that old I'd want to change
out as a matter of course.
The derailleurs on this bike, incidentally, are by Huret. How long
since you heard that name in this age of Shimano? The front still works,
but the rear has never shifted onto the largest/lowest gear reliably.

Would you, and maybe Mark and anyone else on the group who actually
works in a bike shop, mind doing me a favor? This bike needs these
things,

DEFINITELY
Replace front wheel
Replace chain and all gears
Do something about bottom bracket
Replace brake shoes and all cables
Replace pedals
Retape handlebars

POSSIBLY
Overhaul or replace rear derailleur
Replace rear wheel (just on account of its age)

I'd appreciate it if you could look over that list and give me a
wild-eyed, ballpark, high-low guesstimate as to what kind of bucks it
would cost me to get this bike back into safe, efficient condition. By
coincidence, I suddenly find that I have a potential home for it, if it
won't cost more to fix than to replace.


Thanks,
Bill


-----------------------------------------------------------------
| The surest way to become a pacifist is to join the infantry. |
| --Bill Mauldin |
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Zoot Katz]

On 27 Dec 2006 19:39:59 -0800, "Ron Wallenfang"
> wrote:

>I named two bikes in the 1968-69 era - the "Old Nixon" and the "New
>Nixon", which conjured up a variety of images at the time - probably
>many fewer now. I've long since quit the practice.

I've a friend who is riding the same bike now as then (1973).
His bike's name is Nish.
--
zk

[Zoot Katz]

On 24 Dec 2006 12:12:48 -0800, "The Historian" >
responded:

>> [2] My bikes are named after American conservationists: Henry is named
>> for Thoreau, and commuter bike Waldo for Emerson. I had intended to name
>> my newest bike Leopold, after Aldo. (Aldo and Waldo being just a little
>> too close.) But this bike is so--zonal--with its silver paint and black
>> accessories, that I ended up naming him Ansel.
>
>Do people often name their bikes? A friend of mine is restoring a 1978
>Volkswagon Vanagon, which he has named "Brooke." And I call my car "The
>Neilmobile", which is close to being a name, although it's more
>properly a title. But I've never heard of naming your bike.

My motorcycles and cars had names too.
What they were more often called was something entirely different.

My bikes are all named. It's my shorthand instead of a description.

These bikes were built up from new/used parts:
joe-bike = 1985 Norco MTB city bike
Ellie = Ellis Briggs
Lopop = Maruishi MTB polo bike
Squishy = Diamond Back MTB loaner/back-up polo/donor bike
Scot = Scott MTB/Xtracycle (this rig hasn't earned a name.)

Foundlings revamped and ridden regularly:
Redneck = Knect red fixie
Yorick = 20" Norco kids bike/art-bike chopper/quick tripper
Binny = Norco cruiser frame aero-chopper

Whit = Witcomb (all new semi-custom)

There are two bikes without names; a Raleigh I've never considered
"mine" and a Miyata I've not yet made "mine".

Most of our chopper collective has named their bikes.
"Count Chopula" was renamed "Calegula" at my expense.

It doesn't matter what you call a bike. . . . it's not going to come
anyway.

You have to ride it.
--
zk

[The Historian]

The Historian wrote:
> wrote:
> > Rex Kerr > wrote:
> > > Well, I did it... I bought the Trek 520 that I've been talking about at
> > > Chain Reaction to replace my tired commuting bike... I'm excited, can't
> > > wait to go for a ride... but when I got home and parked it next to my
> > > old Nishiki I just felt this overwhelming sadness. I've had many good
> > > miles on that bike, and now I'm just going to put it in storage!
> >
> > Chronic crowding in my garage (five bikes [1] and one car) has just
> > about persuaded me that it's time to toss my veteran 1973 Astra 10-speed.
> > I've had that bike through thick and thin, ridden it in places from El
> > Paso to Edmonton, towed my first trailer with it, had all kinds of fun on
> > it.
> > But next time the city puts one of those big open-top dumpsters out in
> > my neighborhood, "Henry" [2] is going. What finally persuaded me that his
> > time had come was riding the other two bikes, and then getting aboard the
> > old warhorse and comparing condition, fit, and handling. I'll miss the
> > old steed, but the new bikes will ease the pain.
> >
> >
> > Bill
> >
> >
> > [1] Three mine, two my kids'.
> >
> > [2] My bikes are named after American conservationists: Henry is named
> > for Thoreau, and commuter bike Waldo for Emerson. I had intended to name
> > my newest bike Leopold, after Aldo. (Aldo and Waldo being just a little
> > too close.) But this bike is so--zonal--with its silver paint and black
> > accessories, that I ended up naming him Ansel.
>
> Do people often name their bikes? A friend of mine is restoring a 1978
> Volkswagon Vanagon, which he has named "Brooke." And I call my car "The
> Neilmobile", which is close to being a name, although it's more
> properly a title. But I've never heard of naming your bike.

I have now. Aside from the posts to this thread, there's the case of
Frances Willard to consider. She named her bike Gladys:

"Gladys was no more a mystery: I had learned all her kinks, had put a
bridle in her teeth, and touched her smartly with the whip of victory."

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5038/

[The Historian]

Zoot Katz wrote:
> On 24 Dec 2006 12:12:48 -0800, "The Historian" >
> responded:
>
> >> [2] My bikes are named after American conservationists: Henry is named
> >> for Thoreau, and commuter bike Waldo for Emerson. I had intended to name
> >> my newest bike Leopold, after Aldo. (Aldo and Waldo being just a little
> >> too close.) But this bike is so--zonal--with its silver paint and black
> >> accessories, that I ended up naming him Ansel.
> >
> >Do people often name their bikes? A friend of mine is restoring a 1978
> >Volkswagon Vanagon, which he has named "Brooke." And I call my car "The
> >Neilmobile", which is close to being a name, although it's more
> >properly a title. But I've never heard of naming your bike.
>
> My motorcycles and cars had names too.
> What they were more often called was something entirely different.
>
> My bikes are all named. It's my shorthand instead of a description.
>
> These bikes were built up from new/used parts:
> joe-bike = 1985 Norco MTB city bike
> Ellie = Ellis Briggs
> Lopop = Maruishi MTB polo bike
> Squishy = Diamond Back MTB loaner/back-up polo/donor bike
> Scot = Scott MTB/Xtracycle (this rig hasn't earned a name.)
>
> Foundlings revamped and ridden regularly:
> Redneck = Knect red fixie
> Yorick = 20" Norco kids bike/art-bike chopper/quick tripper
> Binny = Norco cruiser frame aero-chopper
>
> Whit = Witcomb (all new semi-custom)
>
> There are two bikes without names; a Raleigh I've never considered
> "mine" and a Miyata I've not yet made "mine".
>
> Most of our chopper collective has named their bikes.
> "Count Chopula" was renamed "Calegula" at my expense.
>
> It doesn't matter what you call a bike. . . . it's not going to come
> anyway.
>
> You have to ride it.

Agreed. I decided to name my bike Excelsior, because I am fond of the
Longfellow poem by that name. The word is Latin for "ever upward". I
figure it will help with hills. I hope Excelsior and I avoid the fate
they suffer in the poem, however.

The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice,
A banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!

His brow was sad; his eye beneath,
Flashed like a falchion from its sheath,
And like a silver clarion rung
The accents of that unknown tongue,
Excelsior!

In happy homes he saw the light
Of household fires gleam warm and bright;
Above, the spectral glaciers shone,
And from his lips escaped a groan,
Excelsior!

"Try not the Pass!" the old man said:
"Dark lowers the tempest overhead,
The roaring torrent is deep and wide!
And loud that clarion voice replied,
Excelsior!

"Oh stay," the maiden said, "and rest
Thy weary head upon this breast!"
A tear stood in his bright blue eye,
But still he answered, with a sigh,
Excelsior!

"Beware the pine-tree's withered branch!
Beware the awful avalanche!"
This was the peasant's last Good-night,
A voice replied, far up the height,
Excelsior!

At break of day, as heavenward
The pious monks of Saint Bernard
Uttered the oft-repeated prayer,
A voice cried through the startled air,
Excelsior!

A traveller, by the faithful hound,
Half-buried in the snow was found,
Still grasping in his hand of ice
That banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!

There in the twilight cold and gray,
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay,
And from the sky, serene and far,
A voice fell, like a falling star,
Excelsior!