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Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

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Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#281

Post by loeg »

semi-extrinsic wrote: post #280
loeg wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The great thing about 10/11 speed cassettes is that you can go single on the front end. I did that three years ago, and man is it better. Well, maybe if you live somewhere pretty flat. Or are willing to give up some high-end range (>25 mph). 10/11 speed cassettes generally only have a few teeth wider range than a ~7 speed, for example (e.g., you can get a 13-28 7-speed and the bigger 11 speeds are 11-32 (road)) . M…

Yeah, I don't know about road bikes, I run a 10 speed 11-34 MTB cassette in a low-end downhill rear derailleur (Shimano Zee). My area is not exactly flat, I guess I make up for it by being an old squats addict. It's good enough for light trail use for me, even with two kids in the bike trailer.

Yeah, 11-34 is a bit wider and you probably aren't trying to push 25 mph on a MTB :-).

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#282

Post by emiliobumachar »

Symbiote wrote: post #217
emn13 wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would a bike in storage deteriorate that much more quickly than one in use? You do need to store the tires inflated, but I use one set of tires for years, and I keep the bike outdoors in all weather and use it daily. I do get the impression bike tires have gotten better over the years, because I don't remember tires being that robust in my childhood (but, well, memory and all...).

Tyres may be left in a garage or shed, where they're susceptible to direct sunlight and/or ozone.

Ozone? Could you please elaborate? What's with storage that increases ozone exposure?

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#283

Post by collyw »

xapata wrote: post #100
collyw wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its also a good way to go over the handlebars if you only use a front brake.

Breaking at similar speed on the rear brakes will cause a fishtail and slide rather than brake. I'd rather endo (flip over my handlebars) than ride in front of a car.

Never had that happen to me in over 35 years of riding bikes. I do go over the handlebars occasionally. I have had the front wheel slide from under me a few times as well (my least favorite way of falling). I even ride with a low tread back tyre so I can slide the back wheel around a bit on trails.

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#284

Post by seattle_spring »

SixSigma wrote: post #106
kpozin wrote: post #75

IKEA's disclaimers are more apt than ever. > WARNING - Serious or fatal crashing injuries can occur from furniture tip-over. To prevent this furniture must be permanently fixed to the wall.

That was required from the exact tip-over happening too often

On a bike?

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#285

Post by xapata »

collyw wrote: post #283
xapata wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Breaking at similar speed on the rear brakes will cause a fishtail and slide rather than brake. I'd rather endo (flip over my handlebars) than ride in front of a car.

Never had that happen to me in over 35 years of riding bikes. I do go over the handlebars occasionally. I have had the front wheel slide from under me a few times as well (my least favorite way of falling). I even ride with a low tread back tyre so I can slide the back wheel around a bit on trails.

Maybe you instinctively apply appropriate pressure using the front brake.

If you slam on the rear brake only or simply much harder than the front brake, the rear wheel locks up before coming to a stop. The bike will continue forward with the front wheel rolling and the rear wheel sliding. If there's slight braking on the front wheel, the rear starts sliding around the front, twisting the cyclist.

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#286

Post by legodt »

sleavey wrote: post #99
legodt wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like your brakes had no modulation or you weren't using them safely. Modern disc brakes eliminate the modulation issue. Bike brakes aren't a binary system. You can adjust your touch on the brake levers to apply varying levels of friction against the braking surface to shave off speed.

Maybe I just don't know what modulation means, but I figure it's when you pump the brakes to prevent skidding. How do disk brakes eliminate the need for it?

HN wouldn't let me reply yesterday so I edited my response into the parent comment.

Bike brakes aren't a binary system. You can adjust your touch on the brake levers to apply varying levels of friction against the braking surface to shave off speed. Hope this helps!

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#287

Post by thinkling »

johnny99 wrote: post #157
aluhut wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have question for you. Before my actual bike, I had a mountain bike for something around 15years. I never changed or did anything to the chain. It was perfect. Now I bought a new one. After 2 years I went to the shop to have it checked. They had to change the chain. When I told them my story with the old bike they told me: "that's how it is today. Chains are not what they were". I'm still in disbelieve. Can you con…

Depends on the bike, but can be true. Fifteen years ago you might have had 7 cogs in the back, and today you can have 10 or even 11. Which means chains are a little thinner, to accommodate the extra gears. Also, depends on mileage not years--an old, unridden bike will be fine. You can usually get ~3k miles from a chain without having to change the cassette (the cluster of gears in the back). If you let the chain go t…

> Which means chains are a little thinner

As I understand it, chain stretch is not due to the links stretching. Instead it happens because the rollers wear down and get thinner. And I don't see any reason the rollers need to be different on 10/11/12 speed chains. So if newer chains wear faster, isn't it something else like materials?

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#288

Post by dragonwriter »

dpark wrote: post #250
revelation wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, not you? The receipt typically has the frame number and it's your proof of ownership. You should keep it just so you can get your money back from insurance if it is stolen..

I never even registered my bike for insurance. It didn't occur to me and I'm not sure it really crosses the threshold of value/hassle for me. The bigger point is that it's unreasonable to paint all people who buy used bikes without papers as supporting bike thieves. Anyone buying my bike would not get paperwork with the sale, but the bike is not stolen.

> The bigger point is that it's unreasonable to paint all people who buy used bikes without papers as supporting bike thieves.

It's absolutely accurate to portray them that way; sure, there are some used, no-papers bikes that are not stolen, but people willing to buy such bikes are what creates financial support for bike thieves, since all stolen bikes sold meet that description, and if people weren't willing to buy bikes in that condition stolen bikes couldn't be sold.

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#289

Post by dragonwriter »

abrax3141 wrote: post #276
Lexarius wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's like asking "Why are people still manufacturing bikes, you'd think everyone who wants a bike would have one by this point". Bikes generally have shorter lifespans than people, and we're also making new people-who-want-bikes all the time.

I'm guessing that it's more like people are getting them stolen regularly. What I don't get is why the bottom of the pyramid (cf other branch of this thread) doesn't fill up.

Because people who possess stolen bikes are just as vulnerable to bike thrives as everyone else. If only non-stolen bikes got stolen, the pool of people willing to buy stolen bikes would probably not support any significant level of theft for very long, but that's.not how it works.

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#290

Post by revelation »

dragonwriter wrote: post #288
dpark wrote: post #250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never even registered my bike for insurance. It didn't occur to me and I'm not sure it really crosses the threshold of value/hassle for me. The bigger point is that it's unreasonable to paint all people who buy used bikes without papers as supporting bike thieves. Anyone buying my bike would not get paperwork with the sale, but the bike is not stolen.

> The bigger point is that it's unreasonable to paint all people who buy used bikes without papers as supporting bike thieves. It's absolutely accurate to portray them that way; sure, there are some used, no-papers bikes that are not stolen, but people willing to buy such bikes are what creates financial support for bike thieves, since all stolen bikes sold meet that description, and if people weren't willing to buy…

I've had a bike stolen where the frame manufacturer offers a simple online service to report a bike as stolen. There is zero excuse for anyone buying it to not check the number that is engraved onto the frame, not to mention with police who similarly have the serial number in a database.

Imagine if people had to drive around in creaking beater cars with leaking roofs because you couldn't store anything nicer anywhere but a garage with surveillance, and even then if someone finds out you have a nice car in a garage, there will be a breakin. That's pretty much the situation with bikes, and police simply shrug at what in most cities is very much organized crime and a huge quality of life issue.

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