Texas - Paging Cuda or any wrench/tinkerer out there.....

http://www.motobecane.com/MOTOWEB_new032.html

I laid my Tarmac down on a ride last weekend and am awaiting a crash replacement for the bar and a few other repairs. Due to the MS150 I won't be able to get it back until after this weekend. My only hope of riding this weekend is if I can figure out how to get this tank that is only used to haul my kid around the block a bit faster.:( Anybody have any idea what kind of stem it has? I am trying to lower the bars but I have never messed with a stem like this before. It has a rubber plug on top and when I popped it off it looks to have an allen nut about 2 inches down. Darnedest thing I have ever seen. Any way I can add an adapter and add a threadless stem? I have slicks on it and can throw my SPDs on it and I think if I can get more aero I can hang. At least it should be a good laugh for my riding buddies. :o

thanks much

You should be able to get a stem with a different amount of rise/reach.

Any decent bike shop should have one that would work.

For that matter, I've got a 1" diameter adjustable stem that's not doing anything. You'd have to come to Downtown Dallas to get it, though, as I don't have a car.

What do you need for your Tarmac to get it back up and going? You mentioned handlebars...I have a couple of spare handlebars laying around that you are welcomed to. One set is brand new in an unopened box. I think I have a one of those threaded to threadless adapters also with a couple of extra stems in my box. I hate threaded forks and quill stems so I just updated the fork on my street fixie and have these parts just sitting around. What size bike do you ride? Shoot me a PM. Let's see if we can get your Tarmac up to speed for the weekend. If you ride a 58cm, you can't borrow my Tarmac but you can borrow my Cinelli:D

Hey Kevin,

As I discovered when I got to PCF yesterday, my get off was considerably more $$$ than I could have imagined. First, I bent a spoke which is not really much of an issue. However the more pressing damage is that my RD shifter cable got caught in the bar-end of a flat bar, basically partially pulling the cable from the housing. It shifts just fine but PCF says it is only a matter of time before complete failure. Also the major point of contact with the road was 1. the left side of my carbon bars, rendering them susceptible to breakage and 2. My Atmos which received a full thickness crack. I only got about 2 inches of the bar but they called Spec and spec was adament about the risk of breakage and they did give me a crash replacement discount (not much but it helps).

So the real wait issue is for the cable replacement. They have a bar they can pull from the rack. My old ride is a really nice Allez steel rig; however I loaned it to a friend in Houston who has decided he might start road cycling. I can't get it back by the weekend.

Anyway I did figure out that I have a quill stem and can replace it with a threadless conversion. My comfort rig has high pressure slicks and I have added a road saddle/seatpost and I can roll at 16-20 mph by maintaining a high cadence. I am going to make it more aero with the new stem. It should be a fun ride with the DBers on Sat. But thanks a bunch for the offer. I am planning on keeping my steel rig for times just like this.

Well, what size do you ride? I've got a 56cm Flyte sitting here not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.

I have a 56 cm Trek 1200 and a larger maybe 58 or 60 steel Falcon that you are welcome to use as well. Click on links in sig for pics.

Is the bike you are trying to modify the cruiser style Motobecane in the link? If so the best thing you can do to make it faster is to remove the suspension fork and run a rigid. Why convert a quill stem and threaded steerer to a threadless? You won't save much weight and it does not change the strength of the set up significantly. It seems to me spending money for no real upgrade, quill and threaded have been used for decades. If you have that radical rise stem that is in the picture I would replace it with a 10 degree rise which you could purchase in a quill format for much cheaper. Any bike shop probablly has several threaded old road forks laying around you could purchase for cheap. I would be glad to swap the fork and stem for you.

On your other bike if all you need is a new cable pick one up from Performance and give me a call. I can put a new cable on in minutes. Note if the cable runs under your bar tape you will need new bar tape as well. Either way we can get you on the road for this weekend. Also take the wheels off your road bike and put them the cruiser this will reduce the weight and give you a much better ride for the weekend.

BTW don't throw that carbon bar away. if the damage to the weave is only on the last couple of inches, we can clip it and flip it and make it into a bullhorn bar.

Ouch! Sorry to hear the $$$ gnomes were at work in that crash.

OK... Helmet definitely broken... Saw that.

Handlebars... hmm... did they at least pull the tape before offering the opinion?

And based on seeing the accident, I'm not buying the shifter cables pulled from the housing story. If there's cable fray, it should be visible. If the housing is kinked... then... well... it's toast... But... Cable & housing can be replaced in 30 minutes or less... Just pick up a kit from Performance or REI. I loaned my good cutters out, so I can't help with that one, sadly...

I have cable cutters that I used on sailboat rigging. I have used them on cables and housing on the Falcon. Ya'll are welcome to them if you need them. PM and we can get together.

I've got a park tool cutter as well. Anything I've got you're welcome to borrow as long as A) you come to me cause I won't be able to drive. and B) it comes back in one piece. ;)

You guys are so great! I bought my Tarmac from PCF in January and they have always shot pretty straight with me. They cut the labor charges pretty hard for me and I am pretty much paying for a wheel true, the cable, bar tape and of course the crash rep bar. They suggested we call Spec when they pulled the bar tape. A pretty good amount of carbon bar came off with the tape and that is when they suggested we call Spec. The Spec guys were pretty adament about a crash replacement, I spoke with them myself as well. My guess is that it had more to do with liability than anything, both on the part of PCF and Spec? I originally said no as it was only a few inches involved but my wife talked me into it (she's gold). I asked for the bar back but they thought with a crash replacement I might not be able to. The cable had two pieces of wire coming through the housing. It was still working OK but it did have a different feel to it. He thought it did have a bend in it (more of a flat area instead of a kink). I wish I had hit you guys up first before leaving the bike! Unfortunately I am a worthless wrench.

After some thought and using my wife's hybrid as a salvage yard last night, i do have a couple of options with what I have in the garage. I do have the Motobecane with slicks and now with an adjustable quill stem that I borrowed from my wife's bike and I have a Fisher 29er Paragon which now sports my wife's hybrid tires (700x32). I am knocking off work early this afternoon and plan to do a little 15-20 mile time trial with each bike. I will probably end up leading the tweener ride as the regular leader is doing the MS150.

Thanks again guys for your suggestions and very generous offers of loaners. For you guys on the MS150 ride be safe and have lots of fun.

SoonerFrisco,
Since we live in the same town if you need loaner let me know, I have 4 or 5 bikes of which
to choose from. I can also assist in repairs or other general help (stand around, drink beer watch you
work) if you need it, let me know. I've been kind of scarce around here lately but I'm always willing.
If you can't find me online give a yell to Cuda he usually knows how to contact me.

Marty

Good luck, Jeff... Think cool, dry thoughts for me while I'm pedaling this weekend. Looks like it's gonna be warm and damp!

BTW... I've ridden my slick tired mountain bike the last couple days as a show of solidarity for your busted ride.

I have a bike shop in my garage and I am a fair wrench. If anyone needs help with mechanical issues give me a shout.