Cyclelicious

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Contest delayed

I got really busy, so give me about a week and I'll get the "Best Blogs" contest going. Sorry about the delay!
Photo info: Snow Bike in LaCrosse, Wisconsin by DewCon.

DVD: Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance

Here's a new instructional video from VeloNews technical editor Lennard Zinn. Zinn takes his maintenance show on the road with this instructional DVD based on his best-selling book, Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance.

The DVD format allows viewers to quickly reference specific steps of a repair. Disc brakes, wheels, forks, pedals, cartridge-style spindle bottom brackets, and rear suspensions are explained with perfect digital clarity. Troubleshoot and fix your bike yourself with Lennard's help. Approximately 4 hours. Buy the DVD from Amazon.com.

If you're anywhere in the Boulder area, Zinn will be at University Bicycles in Boulder on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for a book signing and party.

Cabbie reacts to anti-bike rant

Cabbie slows down for a cyclist in Portland. Passenger rants about cyclists. Cabbie -- a former bike messenger -- responds. From Bike Portland.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Illinois state cyclocross championship

Illinois state cyclocross championship at Montrose Harbor, Illinois.
Photo info: Randy remounts by Luke.

Bicycle iPod charger

Mark @ Geektechnique started with a handcrank charger for his iPod, then modified things some to charge the iPod with a bicycle generator. Some soldering and electronics skill is necessary. Via MAKE.

U.S. Safety Commission investigating quick release levers

This article in the San Francisco Chronicle about the lawsuit against Wal-Mart and Dynacraft for selling bikes with quick-release wheels includes an interesting tidbit of news. According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) spokesman Scott Wolfson, the safety commission is investigating the parents' claims of defective quick-release levers.

If the CPSC is looking at it, it's from the standpoint of the design itself being defective, not improper use of the product. I dug into the CPSC website. In the CPSC 2005 Operating Plan, I found this paragraph.

CPSC has received reports of incidents of front wheels falling off bicycles leading to injuries and deaths. CPSC has reports of seven deaths associated with wheels falling off bicycles, with four of the seven occurring in 2001. Quick release mechanisms are commonly found on bicycle wheels to make the wheel easy to remove for quick tire changes and to break down the bicycle for transport. Other products, such as folding scooters, also use quick release mechanisms. Children and other users with lower strength levels may have trouble properly tightening quick release mechanisms and to assess if a mechanism is adjusted properly. For example, releases may appear to be in the locked position, although poorly adjusted.

Goal: In 2005, staff will complete technical evaluations and prepare voluntary standard recommendations, if appropriate.

Does this mean even larger lawyer lips are on the way, further lessening the utility of quick release skewers?

FSA manager Eric Hjertberg is quoted in the Chronicle article. "A quick release is a pretty sound system when it is correctly installed." Hjertberg notes, "It is extremely reliable. The fact that they are used in the Tour de France and the Olympics shows that they are built using the highest standards. But I would agree that without the instructions, there would be greater risk."

Wal-Mart no longer sells QR-equipped bikes.