Post a photo of your Clyde/Athena bike?
#52
Mad bike riding scientist
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Hi @chaadster - You make excellent points - I hadn't thought about poor maintenance and riding habits. Since I am one of those "north of 270#," I'm dismayed to see that very, very few manufacturers give maximum weight limits on their bikes (or parts). I'm diligent and informed about both maintenance practices and best riding habits, but I'm still wary of my parts.
I buy wheels, for example, with the strongest, double-wall rims, four-cross spoke patterns, and LOTS of spokes. I'm careful to ride the largest tires I can and to inflate them to significantly less than the maximum sidewall pressures. I'm diligent about inspecting the handlebars, stem, and seat post for stress cracking or bending. I've chosen a steel frame, rather than a carbon fibre or aluminum one for better durability.
That said, I seem to be in the minority among the Athena/Clyde crowd. So obviously some manufacturers include generous safety margins in their bikes & parts. But there's no way to know which manufacturers these are! I've owned racing bikes before, one with Campagnolo radial-spoke wheels. After breaking some spokes, I promptly decided that these were not the wheels for me. But since the wheels didn't come with any maximum recommended weight, I had to try to see whether they'd hold me or not. Fortunately, their failure wasn't catastrophic, but it could have been...
There really should be some way to evaluate the safety margin of bikes & parts, but as of now, there seems to be no standard. Further, the manufacturers decline to make their limits public because it might impact sales. So the Athena/Clyde becomes the unwilling safety experiment. Caveat Emptor.
Also, maybe it's time to redefine the weight limits for being an Athena/Clyde. For females, maybe 200+ is a fine starting point, but for males, I'd think there would be little or no risk until 250 to 275 was exceeded. Just speculating...
I buy wheels, for example, with the strongest, double-wall rims, four-cross spoke patterns, and LOTS of spokes. I'm careful to ride the largest tires I can and to inflate them to significantly less than the maximum sidewall pressures. I'm diligent about inspecting the handlebars, stem, and seat post for stress cracking or bending. I've chosen a steel frame, rather than a carbon fibre or aluminum one for better durability.
That said, I seem to be in the minority among the Athena/Clyde crowd. So obviously some manufacturers include generous safety margins in their bikes & parts. But there's no way to know which manufacturers these are! I've owned racing bikes before, one with Campagnolo radial-spoke wheels. After breaking some spokes, I promptly decided that these were not the wheels for me. But since the wheels didn't come with any maximum recommended weight, I had to try to see whether they'd hold me or not. Fortunately, their failure wasn't catastrophic, but it could have been...
There really should be some way to evaluate the safety margin of bikes & parts, but as of now, there seems to be no standard. Further, the manufacturers decline to make their limits public because it might impact sales. So the Athena/Clyde becomes the unwilling safety experiment. Caveat Emptor.
Also, maybe it's time to redefine the weight limits for being an Athena/Clyde. For females, maybe 200+ is a fine starting point, but for males, I'd think there would be little or no risk until 250 to 275 was exceeded. Just speculating...
Other than the wheels, there are few components that will fail in general use. Even frames seldom fail. It happens (I've broken 4 out of around 30 bikes) but, in my experience, frame failure is do more to materials problems than usage problems.
Wheels also fail more to materials problems than usage. That's because people make the mistake of concentrating on the wrong part when making a "strong" wheel. The rim has little to do with make a wheel strong. Spokes are the strength members of the wheel. I use very light rims on everything I ride but I use spokes with 2.3mm spoke heads rather than the more commonly used 2.0mm spokes. That 0.3mm of extra metal increases the strength by 50%.
My fleet
Salsa La Cruces commuter/road bike
Specialized Rock Hopper winter/off-road commuter
Moots YBBeat winter/off-road tourer
Fun bike
Dean El Diente go fast
Specialized S-Works Epic off-road go fast
Loaded touring bike
Specialized Stumpjumper Pro which resides at one of my daughters houses
A Cannondale Synapse under a lot of extra paint that resides at my other daughter's house.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#54
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Repairing their rides | People | The Advocate ? Baton Rouge, Louisiana
https://bikebike.org/organizations/FrontYardBikes/
Front Yard Bikes teaching lessons much greater than bicycle maintenance | WVLA NBC33 | Baton Rouge News, Weather and Sports
Front Yard Bikes | Programs - Front Yard Bikes
Front Yard Bikes teaches local children valuable skills - lsureveille.com: Entertainment
Front Yard Bikes | Ride for the Future
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFh9IE1bMkc
Earn a bike - [225]
https://bikebike.org/organizations/FrontYardBikes/
Front Yard Bikes teaching lessons much greater than bicycle maintenance | WVLA NBC33 | Baton Rouge News, Weather and Sports
Front Yard Bikes | Programs - Front Yard Bikes
Front Yard Bikes teaches local children valuable skills - lsureveille.com: Entertainment
Front Yard Bikes | Ride for the Future
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFh9IE1bMkc
Earn a bike - [225]
#55
LET'S ROLL
My bikes:
2014 BMC GF02 roadbike:
2014 BMC GF02 by 1nterceptor, on Flickr
2013 Bromtpon S6L-X folding bike:
100 Miles(160 Km.) on a Brompton by 1nterceptor, on Flickr
2014 BMC GF02 roadbike:
2014 BMC GF02 by 1nterceptor, on Flickr
2013 Bromtpon S6L-X folding bike:
100 Miles(160 Km.) on a Brompton by 1nterceptor, on Flickr
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#58
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I was riding a 1983 MTB, single-speed until I discovered that the rear dropouts have somehow spread out and the QR skewer was warped, I suspect from having to squeeze and clamp the dropouts to the hub. It's currently out of commission until I can get it to a frame builder to have a look.
My backups are a true Frankenbike (it's even green) that is a 700c hybrid converted to 26" wheels and a occasionally a Handsome Cycles Devil. I don't have current photos of any of them. The middle bike has an MTB fork and the blue bike has mostly black components now.
My backups are a true Frankenbike (it's even green) that is a 700c hybrid converted to 26" wheels and a occasionally a Handsome Cycles Devil. I don't have current photos of any of them. The middle bike has an MTB fork and the blue bike has mostly black components now.
#59
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#60
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@Rowan thanks for the compliment! It makes me think that if we could afford to spend the time and money we really wanted to on bikes, the world would be a more beautiful place!
#61
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Here's my Zipp2001 TT Biike, I also have a Zipp2001 Single Speed, a Kestrel 900SL Road Bike, and a Giant Defy 3 Road Bike that I attach a trailer to so I can take my grandson for a ride.
#62
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@ZIPP2001 awesome pic, but I ain't ready for that much snow. Ugh!
#63
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Hey Chaadster that was our first snow of the season the day before Thanksgiving and we got a tad over a foot. After I took the photo I jumped on my trainer that I had in the driveway for a quick frozen fifteen miles.
#64
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here is both of my bikes the white one is the one I ride most often I like it best and this spring I am taking the white one her name is Dakota on a 84 mile round trip camping for the weekend . The green one I put on the trainer and ride it there.
#65
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Specialized Hardrock 29er Sport Disc
[IMG]https://i379.
My Spec Hardrock 29erURL=https://s379.photobucket.com/user/rick458_photos/media/Bikes/IMG_4986.jpg.html]
[IMG]https://i379.
My Spec Hardrock 29erURL=https://s379.photobucket.com/user/rick458_photos/media/Bikes/IMG_4986.jpg.html]
Last edited by rick458; 12-07-14 at 02:44 AM.
#67
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Yea I came across the Boyd's when I started looking for some new wheels for my SuperSix and they were just coming out with the new hubs and Altamont's. I decided to wait for the new hubs to be ready versus going with the Vitesse. Awesome company to deal with and I was lucky enough to get the disc set before they were selling to the public. Super stiff and spin fantastic.
#70
Senior Member
I've found a local bike co-op that has a grant & gets all the unclaimed bikes from the city. They're all stripped for parts. The neighborhood kids come to the co-op, and if they'll put in the effort to build their own bike, they get to keep it for free! The guy that runs it loans them tools & shows them how to work on the bike. At the same time, they get coached on responsibility and how to use what they've learned to help the other kids. I donate all my spare parts to them, and buy the parts I need there too. The kids also build bikes to sell to the public & the money gets recycled back into the co-op. Next time I need a bike, I'll shop there first.
#71
Just Keep Pedaling
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I have 5 currently tho one is going up for sale
My newest: 2015 Domane 5.9 Dura-Ace
My 2014 Bianchi Vigorreli:
My 2012 Madone 4.5:
My 2011 FX 7.2 WSD:
My 1999 Schwinn Mesa GS:
And for fun here is my 2005 Kawasaki ZX6R:
My newest: 2015 Domane 5.9 Dura-Ace
My 2014 Bianchi Vigorreli:
My 2012 Madone 4.5:
My 2011 FX 7.2 WSD:
My 1999 Schwinn Mesa GS:
And for fun here is my 2005 Kawasaki ZX6R:
#72
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My bike stable will be limited to two due to WAF. Current duo includes an OLD Electra Townie coaster brake with fenders and a Kona Unit single speed. IF (and it's a BIG if, at this point), I can get the Kona to fit well, then I may convert it to a Nexus 7. Otherwise, it's gone & I'll look for other options. I'm envious of the lovely bikes youse guys have. I'm a clyde for life at my height & size, so fly-weight carbon racing bikes aren't in my future (but I like to look)!
The Townie, by the way, has been bulletproof and 100% reliable. I can hop it any time & commute, exercise, or just go for a jaunt. There is no maintenance to speak of, and in all the years I've owned it the only thing that had to be replaced was a stretched chain. I'd added a rear rack and front basket, but since I never used the former, I removed it. The basket is Electra's quick-release model, so unless I'm going shopping, I leave it at home. When I bought the Townie, I had grave doubts about the light weight aluminum frame. But despite bumping 300# when I started with the Electra, it never complained. I'm 265 now and trending ever downward, thanks to the exercise that the Townie allows me. For the money spent, it's the best bike I've ever owned. Even if I end up with a multi-speed second bike for longer rides, I'll be keeping the Townie. It is just too good a bike to let go.
FarHorizon
The Townie, by the way, has been bulletproof and 100% reliable. I can hop it any time & commute, exercise, or just go for a jaunt. There is no maintenance to speak of, and in all the years I've owned it the only thing that had to be replaced was a stretched chain. I'd added a rear rack and front basket, but since I never used the former, I removed it. The basket is Electra's quick-release model, so unless I'm going shopping, I leave it at home. When I bought the Townie, I had grave doubts about the light weight aluminum frame. But despite bumping 300# when I started with the Electra, it never complained. I'm 265 now and trending ever downward, thanks to the exercise that the Townie allows me. For the money spent, it's the best bike I've ever owned. Even if I end up with a multi-speed second bike for longer rides, I'll be keeping the Townie. It is just too good a bike to let go.
FarHorizon
#73
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@1nterceptor glad to see I'm not the only clyde on a folder!
My humble (i.e. virtually fully stock!) Dahon Mariner. Definitely fills a role for me.
My humble (i.e. virtually fully stock!) Dahon Mariner. Definitely fills a role for me.