|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Duct Tape reduces vibration!
At a recent race I was oogling a friend's new Merckx Team SC. Gorgeous
blue purple with full Record, including carbon cranks. I asked him about the carbon wrapped chainstays, an advertised feature, and he replied that they were for vibration damping, saying that having the tubes externally wrapped with something did this. He demonstrated the effect by knocking on the top tube to produce a sound, then wrapped his palm around the tube and knocked again, resulting in a muffled sound. I then asked if duct tape wrapped around the bike would have the same effect. Silence. Wayne |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Duct Tape reduces vibration!
Wayne Pein wrote:
At a recent race I was oogling a friend's new Merckx Team SC. Gorgeous blue purple with full Record, including carbon cranks. I asked him about the carbon wrapped chainstays, an advertised feature, and he replied that they were for vibration damping, saying that having the tubes externally wrapped with something did this. He demonstrated the effect by knocking on the top tube to produce a sound, then wrapped his palm around the tube and knocked again, resulting in a muffled sound. I then asked if duct tape wrapped around the bike would have the same effect. Silence. Wayne Did you put the duct tape over his mouth? ... maybe that would explai the silence. I just couldn't resist. I see duct tape wrapped bicycle often, but I assumed it was to cover their identity and make them looo real ugly. Maybe those bicycle messengers just don't tell us about thei vibration reduction solution - |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Duct Tape reduces vibration!
In article , daveornee
wrote: Did you put the duct tape over his mouth? ... maybe that would explain the silence. I just couldn't resist. I see duct tape wrapped bicycles often, but I assumed it was to cover their identity and make them loook real ugly. Maybe those bicycle messengers just don't tell us about their vibration reduction solution. Well I don't know about vibration reduction. But the rationale behind the wrapping of (main triangle) tubes by messengers is to provide protection for the bike. Hastily tossing and (free)locking your bike against a wall or post 50+ times a day mutilates the frame in short order. Never used duct tape though. Cork tape was the preference. luke |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Duct Tape reduces vibration!
Luke wrote:
In article , daveornee wrote: Did you put the duct tape over his mouth? ... maybe that would explain the silence. I just couldn't resist. I see duct tape wrapped bicycles often, but I assumed it was to cover their identity and make them loook real ugly. Maybe those bicycle messengers just don't tell us about their vibration reduction solution. Well I don't know about vibration reduction. But the rationale behind the wrapping of (main triangle) tubes by messengers is to provide protection for the bike. Hastily tossing and (free)locking your bike against a wall or post 50+ times a day mutilates the frame in short order. Never used duct tape though. Cork tape was the preference. luke I've always wondered about messengers and locking bikes. Do they lock up the wheels, or just the frame? I can see that a lot of messenger bikes will have good strong wheels, and some of them will want QR skewers, but I can't see taking the time to pull off a wheel or use a separate cable lock at each stop, so what's the deal? I seem to remember you're in Toronto, so maybe you can give me the local persepctive? As for the OP I really don't think you can compare tubes wrapped in duct tape to tubes gripped by a fleshy hand. This seems a really foolish 'proof' that the tape works. Unless the amount of tape you use weighs as much as an arm.. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Duct Tape reduces vibration!
As for the OP I really don't think you can compare tubes wrapped in
duct tape to tubes gripped by a fleshy hand. This seems a really foolish 'proof' that the tape works. Unless the amount of tape you use weighs as much as an arm.. It was a joke. -- Phil, Squid-in-Training |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Duct Tape reduces vibration!
As for the OP I really don't think you can compare tubes wrapped in
duct tape to tubes gripped by a fleshy hand. This seems a really foolish 'proof' that the tape works. Unless the amount of tape you use weighs as much as an arm.. It was a joke. -- Phil, Squid-in-Training |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Duct Tape reduces vibration!
In article rs.com,
Jacobe Hazzard wrote: I've always wondered about messengers and locking bikes. Do they lock up the wheels, or just the frame? I can see that a lot of messenger bikes will have good strong wheels, and some of them will want QR skewers, but I can't see taking the time to pull off a wheel or use a separate cable lock at each stop, so what's the deal? I seem to remember you're in Toronto, so maybe you can give me the local persepctive? It's important to note that the dynamics of bike use for messengers and - let's say for arguments sake - for commuters, are different. A messenger will leave his bike briefly unattended dozens of times daily in different locales while a commuter's bike will generally remain unattended for an extended period time, often at the same location. Furthermore, the environs of your working messenger are daytime city centers; crowded and active. They along with a hectic schedule usually conspire to limit the means to positively secure a messenger's bike against theft. Consequently, preventing a theft through impregnable security (if such a thing exists) is troublesome at best. Fortunately, IMHO, it isn't required. It's only necessary to complicate a theft in order to thwart it because the constraints of time and conspicuousness are major deterrents in of themselves. While working, I aimed at discouraging the impulsive and opportunistic thief - your typical crackhead or alcoholic looking for funds for the next high - not the patient, knowledgeable pro who knows that Phil is a hub - not a doctor with a TV show. If he wants your bike he'll get it. But, as it impacted me, the threat by the first category was by far the greater. I'm uncertain what you mean by a 'local perspective.' I assume my perspective to apply to other localities as well as Toronto, but I did add an URL that applies to the city specifically. Anyway, here are few observations from an ex-messenger. Firstly: Always lock your bike. "Duh!," you say. Well, surprisingly, through laziness, haste or perceived lack of threat, many couriers don't always follow that golden rule. I know of 3 messengers who had their bikes ripped off (at King and Bay) last summer. All the bikes were left unattended for less than 5 minutes in crowded areas in broad daylight. All the bikes were not locked. Incidentally, once the routine is refined, locking your bike requires minimal time and effort. Most couriers have the key to their bike lock fastened to a retractable cord (wrapped round the wrist) or an elastic bracelet. Once off the bike, the key is literally in your hands: No fumbling in pockets or bags. (I still employ this method when using my bike to tend to errands.) And the lock (in my case) was kept in a large pocket of my 'cargo' pants, located on the side of my thigh, or an external loop located on my messenger bag. I only mention this because the entire process of dismounting and locking the bike rarely took more than 10 or so seconds. It was not a significant cost in time. So there's no excuse for leaving a bike unlocked. How you lock your bicycle falls into two categories; "Free Locking" and locking your bike to an immovable object (utility pole, bike posts). The optimal situation is a passing a lock through the frame and perhaps a wheel to a bike post/pole. It's the method a typical cyclist employs. But, by far, the most common was "free locking" This involves passing the lock through the frame or chain/seat stays as well as one of the wheels - but NOT securing the bike to an immovable object (because none are conveniently available.) If a thief wants to make off with the bike he would literally have to carry it away. And those that tried would often find themselves surrounded by couriers who knew the bike was pilfered or accosted by the bike owner himself chasing him down on foot. This was most typically done at the First Can Place, TD Center etc... within the city core in business hours. Of course, there are bike racks available in the area but if your drop required the use of a service or remote entrance then free locking was generally preferred. I would generally leave the bike as far as practicable from Subway entrances or underground parking areas. If this was not possible I'd lock it to the actual Subway stair railing (I did this North east corner of Yonge and Carlton). Another example: North side of TD tower (55 King St. W) rather than Wellington St side: If free locked your bike could be taken down to the rear underground parking. The object was to A) avoid leaving the bike unattended in an area where one could be alone with it and B) limiting the escape options of a thief. The type of lock - chain or U - is a matter of personal taste. I've used both, but prefer U-Locks because they are stored and handled more easily. As far as the security provided by the two designs; both were adequate enough *for the purpose*. That is, it would require a thief tools, time and a *conspicuous* effort (bystanders would know he was stealing) to liberate the bicycle. As far as individually locking easily detachable components: Again, IMO this wasn't really an issue because of the duration of time that the bicycle was left unattended. Even so, those with QRs would often clamp them closed (using a hose clamp readily available at a hardware store for 50 cents) This, at least required the thief to possess a screwdriver and a few minutes to make off with a QR wheel. I never resorted to this when working, but frequently did remove my front (QR) wheel when locking the bike off hours. My rear wheels employed fixed gear hubs; they were bolted on. Also, my wheels were not your boutique beauties: 3x 36 spoke with single walled rims. Utilitarian, durable and unpretentious. On the topic: most of the messengers, including myself, did not ride exotic machinery. It has a tendency to attract unwanted attention. In fact some of the bikes were *looked like* - as opposed to were - beaters. No Trek OCLVs, Lightspeeds with Ksyrium wheelsets etc... Occasionally, a theft did occur. And the bike courier community is tight knit and nothing infuriates more than a theft; it's tantamount to stealing food from someone's plate. Word of a stolen bicycle spreads like wildfire and most messengers know their colleagues' bicycles by sight. There have been instances of thieves being apprehended by messengers (one was careless enough to ride right by epicenter of courier cultu Spreads @ Yonge and Temperance) and suffering pummellings they'll not soon forget. Adhering to the preceding proved successfull for me (for the 2+ years I rode). You'll note that none of the methods outlined are exceptional. It's important to reiterate that the circumstances of an impulsive, opportunistic theft are different from those involving a patient and determined thief. And because of the quality of messenger bicycle use, a casual or commuting cyclist is often more vulnerable to the latter. So, the working messenger's rationale in securing a bicycle obviously does NOT apply to the majority of cyclists. It is needlessly risky when it's applied to the security of casual and commuter bicycles. Not surprisingly, MOST OF THE THEFTS I KNOW OF INVOLVING THE BIKES OF COURIERS OCCURRED *AFTER* WORKING HOURS. And the dynamics of those thefts mirror exactly the circumstances of bike thefts that occur in the greater cycling community. ie. Leaving a bike unlocked on a friend's veranda (Riverdale), locking of a bike in the evening while attending a BBQ (with a cheap U-lock that was jimmied with a 2x4 @ Bathurst/Bloor)... Here the general precautions for the city apply. - Always lock the bike using a GOOD lock in well lighted, well traversed areas. - Take the bike indoors whenever possible. Always overnight. - If you must leave the bike outside overnight then use a POS (Piece of Sh_t) - Better yet, use the beater in all high risk areas etc... For more of the same, a while back I (pseudonym=linguinee) posted at http://tbn.on.ca/cgi-bin/wwwthreads/...bngeneral&Numb er=487&page=0&view=expanded&sb=5#Post487 Hope that helped Jacobe. Keep riding :-) luke |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Duct Tape reduces vibration!
Luke wrote:
Hope that helped Jacobe. Keep riding :-) luke Yeah, very informative. I'm thinking about doing a stint as a courier, as I've always been curious and I think I would be pretty good at it. Also it's an excuse to build up another bike. By local perspective I just meant that Toronto is notoriously bad for bike thefts. From what you said, it might be in my best interests to make my bike look as cheap as it is (boutique wheels, what're those?) but still identifiable. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Duct Tape reduces vibration!
Luke wrote:
Hope that helped Jacobe. Keep riding :-) luke Yeah, very informative. I'm thinking about doing a stint as a courier, as I've always been curious and I think I would be pretty good at it. Also it's an excuse to build up another bike. By local perspective I just meant that Toronto is notoriously bad for bike thefts. From what you said, it might be in my best interests to make my bike look as cheap as it is (boutique wheels, what're those?) but still identifiable. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Duct Tape reduces vibration!
In article rs.com,
Jacobe Hazzard wrote: I've always wondered about messengers and locking bikes. Do they lock up the wheels, or just the frame? I can see that a lot of messenger bikes will have good strong wheels, and some of them will want QR skewers, but I can't see taking the time to pull off a wheel or use a separate cable lock at each stop, so what's the deal? I seem to remember you're in Toronto, so maybe you can give me the local persepctive? It's important to note that the dynamics of bike use for messengers and - let's say for arguments sake - for commuters, are different. A messenger will leave his bike briefly unattended dozens of times daily in different locales while a commuter's bike will generally remain unattended for an extended period time, often at the same location. Furthermore, the environs of your working messenger are daytime city centers; crowded and active. They along with a hectic schedule usually conspire to limit the means to positively secure a messenger's bike against theft. Consequently, preventing a theft through impregnable security (if such a thing exists) is troublesome at best. Fortunately, IMHO, it isn't required. It's only necessary to complicate a theft in order to thwart it because the constraints of time and conspicuousness are major deterrents in of themselves. While working, I aimed at discouraging the impulsive and opportunistic thief - your typical crackhead or alcoholic looking for funds for the next high - not the patient, knowledgeable pro who knows that Phil is a hub - not a doctor with a TV show. If he wants your bike he'll get it. But, as it impacted me, the threat by the first category was by far the greater. I'm uncertain what you mean by a 'local perspective.' I assume my perspective to apply to other localities as well as Toronto, but I did add an URL that applies to the city specifically. Anyway, here are few observations from an ex-messenger. Firstly: Always lock your bike. "Duh!," you say. Well, surprisingly, through laziness, haste or perceived lack of threat, many couriers don't always follow that golden rule. I know of 3 messengers who had their bikes ripped off (at King and Bay) last summer. All the bikes were left unattended for less than 5 minutes in crowded areas in broad daylight. All the bikes were not locked. Incidentally, once the routine is refined, locking your bike requires minimal time and effort. Most couriers have the key to their bike lock fastened to a retractable cord (wrapped round the wrist) or an elastic bracelet. Once off the bike, the key is literally in your hands: No fumbling in pockets or bags. (I still employ this method when using my bike to tend to errands.) And the lock (in my case) was kept in a large pocket of my 'cargo' pants, located on the side of my thigh, or an external loop located on my messenger bag. I only mention this because the entire process of dismounting and locking the bike rarely took more than 10 or so seconds. It was not a significant cost in time. So there's no excuse for leaving a bike unlocked. How you lock your bicycle falls into two categories; "Free Locking" and locking your bike to an immovable object (utility pole, bike posts). The optimal situation is a passing a lock through the frame and perhaps a wheel to a bike post/pole. It's the method a typical cyclist employs. But, by far, the most common was "free locking" This involves passing the lock through the frame or chain/seat stays as well as one of the wheels - but NOT securing the bike to an immovable object (because none are conveniently available.) If a thief wants to make off with the bike he would literally have to carry it away. And those that tried would often find themselves surrounded by couriers who knew the bike was pilfered or accosted by the bike owner himself chasing him down on foot. This was most typically done at the First Can Place, TD Center etc... within the city core in business hours. Of course, there are bike racks available in the area but if your drop required the use of a service or remote entrance then free locking was generally preferred. I would generally leave the bike as far as practicable from Subway entrances or underground parking areas. If this was not possible I'd lock it to the actual Subway stair railing (I did this North east corner of Yonge and Carlton). Another example: North side of TD tower (55 King St. W) rather than Wellington St side: If free locked your bike could be taken down to the rear underground parking. The object was to A) avoid leaving the bike unattended in an area where one could be alone with it and B) limiting the escape options of a thief. The type of lock - chain or U - is a matter of personal taste. I've used both, but prefer U-Locks because they are stored and handled more easily. As far as the security provided by the two designs; both were adequate enough *for the purpose*. That is, it would require a thief tools, time and a *conspicuous* effort (bystanders would know he was stealing) to liberate the bicycle. As far as individually locking easily detachable components: Again, IMO this wasn't really an issue because of the duration of time that the bicycle was left unattended. Even so, those with QRs would often clamp them closed (using a hose clamp readily available at a hardware store for 50 cents) This, at least required the thief to possess a screwdriver and a few minutes to make off with a QR wheel. I never resorted to this when working, but frequently did remove my front (QR) wheel when locking the bike off hours. My rear wheels employed fixed gear hubs; they were bolted on. Also, my wheels were not your boutique beauties: 3x 36 spoke with single walled rims. Utilitarian, durable and unpretentious. On the topic: most of the messengers, including myself, did not ride exotic machinery. It has a tendency to attract unwanted attention. In fact some of the bikes were *looked like* - as opposed to were - beaters. No Trek OCLVs, Lightspeeds with Ksyrium wheelsets etc... Occasionally, a theft did occur. And the bike courier community is tight knit and nothing infuriates more than a theft; it's tantamount to stealing food from someone's plate. Word of a stolen bicycle spreads like wildfire and most messengers know their colleagues' bicycles by sight. There have been instances of thieves being apprehended by messengers (one was careless enough to ride right by epicenter of courier cultu Spreads @ Yonge and Temperance) and suffering pummellings they'll not soon forget. Adhering to the preceding proved successfull for me (for the 2+ years I rode). You'll note that none of the methods outlined are exceptional. It's important to reiterate that the circumstances of an impulsive, opportunistic theft are different from those involving a patient and determined thief. And because of the quality of messenger bicycle use, a casual or commuting cyclist is often more vulnerable to the latter. So, the working messenger's rationale in securing a bicycle obviously does NOT apply to the majority of cyclists. It is needlessly risky when it's applied to the security of casual and commuter bicycles. Not surprisingly, MOST OF THE THEFTS I KNOW OF INVOLVING THE BIKES OF COURIERS OCCURRED *AFTER* WORKING HOURS. And the dynamics of those thefts mirror exactly the circumstances of bike thefts that occur in the greater cycling community. ie. Leaving a bike unlocked on a friend's veranda (Riverdale), locking of a bike in the evening while attending a BBQ (with a cheap U-lock that was jimmied with a 2x4 @ Bathurst/Bloor)... Here the general precautions for the city apply. - Always lock the bike using a GOOD lock in well lighted, well traversed areas. - Take the bike indoors whenever possible. Always overnight. - If you must leave the bike outside overnight then use a POS (Piece of Sh_t) - Better yet, use the beater in all high risk areas etc... For more of the same, a while back I (pseudonym=linguinee) posted at http://tbn.on.ca/cgi-bin/wwwthreads/...bngeneral&Numb er=487&page=0&view=expanded&sb=5#Post487 Hope that helped Jacobe. Keep riding :-) luke |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Stupid Behavior Caught on Tape | Gary Smiley | General | 7 | September 5th 03 02:11 AM |