Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Need translation into English please?

I suspect the following reply written to me on another forum is a very good reply. Would one (or more) of you be kind enough to slowly and carefully break all of this down into English so that I might actually understand it?

Basically, I need some custom parts built, and he goes on to outline what exactly he believes I should have done. But, I would like to learn! So I am hoping one of more of you will be kind enough to explain what all of these different terms actually mean? Possibly, others that read these forums do not yet know, and would like to learn as well? Thanks in advance for all the hard work!

Peter :thumb:

<snip>
I manage a bike shop in ABQ, NM ...
the NUMBER ONE THING YOU NEED TO KEEP IN MIND IS THIS -- It would be WISE for you to have a handbuilt rear wheel custom laced for you. Probably 4 cross .. DOUBLE WALL, FREEHUB, not FREEWHEEL. I would recommend a fully RIGID bike NO SUSPENSION. You should probably look for full cartridge bearings (hubs, headset, cranks). this is not absolutely necessary, but highly recommended. but the MUST is the custom laced REAR WHEEL ... Yes it's possible. with a 31" inseam you should look for a 20 or 21" Frame size. good luck dude.

<snip>

Basically he is telling you that you should have hand made wheels, not the stock wheels. 4 cross just means the pattern of the spokes, double wall refers to the rim. Basically us big guys and gals need to pay attention to the wheels on the bike. for example I have Deep V, 36 hole wheels with triple lace...very strong. Fully rigid just means no front or rear shocks on the bike; and the inseam is basically used to measure your stand over height on the bike.
Hope that helps...

Take a look at the wheels on my bike

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/cohophysh/IMG_0645.jpg

freehub/freewheel (http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ca-g.html#cassette)
Cassettes and freehub are the standard now, Freewheels are older/ cheaper quality


Custom laced wheel (hand built) when built properly means you get a wheel with perfect tensioned/trued spokes so it will last for ever. The other option is machine built which has less quality control.

Just built this one!:D...3X spoke pattern, crosses spokes in 3 places.

Outlline green spoke crosses 3 other spokes at 3 points (marked with pink)...farside spokes known as 'driveside".

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/3967667043_42ee17ffd6_o.jpg

Agree with almost everything.

4 cross? Not necessary. 3 cross handbuilt should be fine for all but the most extreme cases.
Cartridge bearing? Heck no. Loose ball and cone FTW. (It's an ROI decision: cartridge bearings can't be serviced without replacing the entire expensive bearing assembly. Loose ball you can buy grease, bearings and even a new cone for pretty cheap if you need it.)

custom laced-basically the term referred to for placing spokes into the wheel
4 cross- I am glad someone answered that as I didnt know either
DOUBLE WALL- it basically means there are 2 rims an inside wall and an outside wall for way more strength (look up rims and look at cross section diagrams) http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=563
FREEHUB, not FREEWHEEL- again I'm glad that was answered
fully RIGID = NO SUSPENSION.
full cartridge bearings (hubs, headset, cranks) some bearings are "free" the balls just float inside the races, these are together as a unit race and bearings together..
custom laced REAR WHEEL- again reference to a hand built wheel
31" inseam - the height of your pubic bone from the flat ground with your feet 10 inches apart (determines frame size)
20 or 21" Frame size- a measurement from center of crank to top of seat tube (vertical pipe that the seat post sticks into)

The only thing that I can add to this discussion is to make it clear that in bicycle terms, as RZH pointed out, the inseam is measured from the ground to your pubic bone. It's not the same as the inseam measurement that a tailor would give you for your pants. Stand with your feet about ten inches apart and your back against a wall. Jam a book as high into your crotch as possible and mark the height of the top of the book on the wall. Measure how high that mark is from the floor.

Hmm, it's hard to judge by the local dialect but I would guess this particular person is speaking some lax form of Mandarin.

Loosely translated I think it's a warning that the edge of the can of oranges is sharp and may contain lead.

Cute - very cute... :notamused:

:crash: :crash: :crash: :crash: :crash: :crash:

Do you know you are only allowed 10 images in a message? Go figure!

/sigh


I guess I opened myself wide open for that one huh??