Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Dumb stuff you've read

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Dumb stuff you've read

Old 05-11-09, 09:44 AM
  #1  
Who farted?
Thread Starter
 
Ka_Jun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,287

Bikes: '06 K2 Zed 3.0, '09 Novara Buzz V

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Dumb stuff you've read

I was reading - Bicycling magazine's 1,000 all-time best tips : top riders share their secrets to maximize fun, safety, and performance / edited by Ben Hewitt, the other day.

One of the hints to riding in traffic was something along the lines of, "Be wary when you hear a car behind you approaching playing loud rap music."

Personally, if I hear someone blaring heavy metal, new country, Rush Limbaugh/Michael Savage, or hell, Wagner's Ride of the Valkries, I'm going to be wary. Loud rap music, though, that's when you really have to be vigilant. Thanks Bicycling! *sarcasm*
Ka_Jun is offline  
Old 05-11-09, 10:28 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 3,811
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Bicycling's probably helpful for beginners--I subscribed for awhile when I started riding years ago--but it bogs down after about a year. There aren't enough serious cyclists for it to make money doing esoteric stuff, so it has to repeat the same old lame tips and warnings on about an 18- to 24-month cycle for beginners, who get excited about them. In doing that, though, they lose the old subscribers.
Actually that's a problem in all kinds of "enthusiast" journalism. I've been a magazine and newspaper writer and editor for 35 years, and I literally can't even guess the number of stories I've done on getting better gas mileage, making your car last forever, growing better tomatoes or making your kitchen look fresh on a budget (slow down, change your oil, use lots of mulch and paint the cabinets).
Bicycling faces the same problem: Some editor said, "let's do 1000 hints for better riding," then the staff had to come up with them. I'd bet 975 of them have been in the magazine before, and all 1000 will be there again.
Velo Dog is offline  
Old 05-11-09, 11:17 AM
  #3  
Uber Goober
 
StephenH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Dallas area, Texas
Posts: 11,758
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 190 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 32 Posts
Yeah, I'd say that was one of the less useful tips. Maybe "Ride of the Valkries" was one of the other 999 tips?
__________________
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
StephenH is offline  
Old 05-12-09, 03:17 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Nermal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Farmington, NM
Posts: 2,308

Bikes: Giant Cypress SX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 79 Post(s)
Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts
Another from Bicycling's tips; tighten the knurled nut on the presta valves with a pair of pliers. Never mind that some take off the knurled nut and through it away, if you use pliers to tighten it, you darn well better have a pair of pliers along if you need to fix a flat. Just trust me on this.
__________________
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Nermal is offline  
Old 05-12-09, 06:59 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Retro Grouch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times in 363 Posts
Originally Posted by Nermal
Another from Bicycling's tips; tighten the knurled nut on the presta valves with a pair of pliers. Never mind that some take off the knurled nut and through it away, if you use pliers to tighten it, you darn well better have a pair of pliers along if you need to fix a flat. Just trust me on this.
If you use a pair of pliers to tighten the valve stem nut there's a greatly increased chance that you are going to be fixing another flat very shortly.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Old 05-12-09, 08:08 PM
  #6  
Uber Goober
 
StephenH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Dallas area, Texas
Posts: 11,758
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 190 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 32 Posts
I haven't read this advice, but riding a single-speed, have been informed that I'll blow out my knees by spinning too fast and by mashing too slow.
__________________
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
StephenH is offline  
Old 05-12-09, 08:52 PM
  #7  
In the right lane
 
gerv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 9,565

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
I wouldn't get too concerned unless the car approaching from behind was playing Bartok. Then I would be very concerned.
gerv is offline  
Old 05-13-09, 09:52 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Herneka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Quad Cities, Iowa
Posts: 98

Bikes: Schwinn Traveler Fixie, Fuji Berkley commuter, Specialized Sirrus road rig, ++ many more

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Besides collecting old bikes, i collect old bike books and repair manuals. Some of the advice is pretty interesting:
In regards to finding a place to stay on a cycling tour - Filling station attendants, grocers, village loafers and small boys on the street can tell you where to find cabin camps. Usually they are glad to give information because that entitles them to ask questions too.

The same book also recommended against derailleurs and exposed gears, since they are exposed to dust and moisture.

Another book recommended against triple chainrings, since they were unnecessary and heavy, and that a standard 10-speed was more than adequate for any riding situation.
Herneka is offline  
Old 05-13-09, 09:54 AM
  #9  
Who farted?
Thread Starter
 
Ka_Jun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,287

Bikes: '06 K2 Zed 3.0, '09 Novara Buzz V

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by gerv
I wouldn't get too concerned unless the car approaching from behind was playing Bartok. Then I would be very concerned.
What about Chopin? If I heard this blasting, I might have to pull over and take a snack break/breather.
Ka_Jun is offline  
Old 05-13-09, 06:01 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Commando303's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 618
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
To the original poster, agreed, that really is s dumb point; if it's a joke, it's simply stupid.
Commando303 is offline  
Old 05-13-09, 06:05 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Nermal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Farmington, NM
Posts: 2,308

Bikes: Giant Cypress SX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 79 Post(s)
Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by Ohno Notyou
To avoid a slipping seatpost the same genius suggested to put your seat post all the way to the bottom.

Sure sounds effective to me, but. . . .
__________________
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Nermal is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.