Tandem Cycling - tandem@hobbes question

Perhaps a little off topic but 100% tandem. I continue to soak up all I can about tandems from those who have been doing this for many years. The Burely Duet was awesome this weekend with a very quick 30 mile club ride where we pulled the singles just as fast as they could go. A Cat3 racer cought up to us as we were pulling a constant 25 and as he pulled up beside us said his PowerTap 400 watts. When he drafted it saved him 100 watts. Cool to put one on a tandem huh? Anyway....

My question. I have subscribed to the digest version of Tandem@hobbes. I get 1 to 3 digest emails per day depending on discussion volume. But I find it hard to "digest" if you will. For example, we are moving to New Hampshire this fall and I have a dream of doing the Mt. Washington Hill Climb on our Tandem in 2007. For whatever reason this forum has had no info on it but there is a smattering of info on Hobbes....if you are willing to read through each and every digest email. And, it's not easy to see the ask/reply/comment/reply thread since they are ordered by date/time.

Ok, so I am spoiled and lazy? Perhaps I am a caveman and there is a better way to absorb the Hobbes listserve info? Any of the 8 tandem teams here on this forum? Guess I need to learn Hobbes and be truly adventerous and figure out how to post my MW questions there.

Any suggestions how to best use the Hobbes forum welcome!

Thanks!

Jud & Liz
MATTERS - Memphs Area Tandem Teams, Everyone Rides Strong

MW results (http://www.mtwashingtoncenturyride.org/hillclimb/results_06/tandem.txt)

I've found that the best way to manage Hobbes is to use an Email program that allows users to set up rules or filters to handle incoming Email, e.g., Outlook, etc.

Using that program, set up a separate folder for 'Hobbes' (or something like that) and then set up a rule/filter that (1) identifies all incoming Email with the words [T@H] in the subject line and then, (2) moves it to the 'Hobbes' folder. This will separate all of the T@H message traffic from your other Email and queue it for your reviewing pleasure in its own folder where you can sort it by subject, author, time received, etc.

As an added benefit, using folders to manage individual Emails from Hobbes will allow you to receive the Hobbes postings as close to "real time" as the Hobbes server and your ISP will allow, which is sometimes nice. Once the messages are separated from the rest of your Email in their own folder you can easily delete the messages with subjects or authors that you aren't interested in reading. It also makes it easier to respond to individual Hobbes postings since you'll no longer need to cut and paste from the Digest compilation into a new Email.

Once you've mastered this first rule/filter you can then get fancy and create "Kill Files" which are rules that identify Email by key characteristics (subject matter, author, key words) that you don't want to bother with and have them moved direct to your 'Trash' or 'Deleted Item' folders.

I just read the topics at the top and scan down to find the numbered messages that I'm interested in. If you ask for the time on Tandem&Hobbs you will first get detailed instructions on how to make a watch followed by a long list of posts arguing the relative merits of digital or mechanical watches and several scathing posts to say that Bill McCready didn't really invent the watch.

The easiest way I've found to follow entire threads of discussion is to go out to the archive and sort the entries by subject. For example, the August, 2006 archive is found at: http://hobbes.ucsd.edu/tandem/hypermail/200608_Aug06/. I've even unsubscribed from the list to keep my e-mail volume down, but the downside to doing that is that it's not as easy to chime in on a discussion.

RetroGrouch:
Bill was not around when the watch was invented; he goes Beyond that! Surmise he does build the best watch ever (at least for now)!

I have one with a PT. We are using it as part of a research project; we also have a SRM crankset for the stoker and captain. A secondary goal of the project is to characterize the power of the captain and stoker. We are currently working on the manuscript and will submit it to the Journal of Applied Biomechanics in the near future.

The primary aim is to use a tandem as a "forced-exercise" intervention for Parkinson's disease. I am submitting an NIH grant for Oct. 1st so that is taking up most of my time for the next month or so.

When I finish the grant I will post a summary of our laboratory and on the road findings with the PT and SRM systems. I just posted a pic of the bike to: www.pedalingforparkinsons.org The major adjustment to the bike was to utilize the inner chainring of the two SRM cranksets as the timing chain. We eliminated the left side timing chain; so it is only a 9-speed, but it still has enough range to do some climbing.

In the interim, write your congressman (or woman) and tell them to increase the NIH's budget :-)

Jay



[QUOTE=AD-SLE]Perhaps a little off topic but 100% tandem. I continue to soak up all I can about tandems from those who have been doing this for many years. The Burely Duet was awesome this weekend with a very quick 30 mile club ride where we pulled the singles just as fast as they could go. A Cat3 racer cought up to us as we were pulling a constant 25 and as he pulled up beside us said his PowerTap 400 watts. When he drafted it saved him 100 watts. Cool to put one on a tandem huh?

asu qt:
Have had the privilege (and fun) of training with a "parkie" stoker for the short option (30+ miles) for El Tour de Tucson a couple years ago.
She had never ridden tandem and after 3 months of weekly training with me, she did just great! She was a -whooping as we crossed the finish line!
Great experience for both of us! Good luck weith your research and grant!

I currently own a 2006 Team Nobium that is well equipped. It has 1100 miles on it, a WinZip disc brake, Shimano Sweet 16 wheels, Ultegra, MSA Carbon Crank, and other Santana equipment. It is all black.

I am seriously considering selling it soon to buy a Calfee Tetra Tetra. I am very interested in the carbon bike for ride and handling. My wife and I have been doing a lot of riding this summer and enjoying it very much. I continue to hear that a carbon ride is more comfortable.

Pls. comment if you have moved from a Santana to a Calfee and whether you are pleased. In addition, I would appreciate suggestions on what to sell my Santana for.

Thanks for your advice.
Counselguy