Can someone define, for the benefit of bike doofuses, what a rattrap is? Twice in the last week, and never before, I found someone referring to old school toe clips as rattraps. In my significant history, these are rattraps:


Please help me fix the world.

Because.

my take on it: if you've seen spring-loaded traps (bear, wolf, etc.) opened and set, they have a slight resemblance to what this style pedal looks like: teeth at the edges, pivot in the middle...but since this pedal is small it's more like "rat-sized". And rat-trap is easy to say and almost rhymes...sort of.
I think many novices saw toeclips and straps and were frightened at the idea that their foot would get "trapped" if they ever (foolishly) stuck a toe in there, so the slang term for the pedal got transferred to the clip/strap.
But, I agree: the term refers to a pedal, the use of rat-trap to describe toeclips and straps is a mistake...one that persisted. And I should say I have heard it misused many, many times. The first I can recall was when I was a 14 year old boyscout...and that, my children, was looooong ago.

Dunno 'bout that. Freind and I put an engine in a Bug Eye Sprite. . . By hand. Of course this was thirty five years and forty pounds ago, and it was the smaller 948 engine.

My 74 Nishiki International came with a quilted top vinyl saddle. Was the leather saddle on Competitions quilted as well?

^Great. Thanks acoffin & unworhty1 (previously). In that case, zero regrets that mine will soon sport an already-purchased Avocet touring saddle.

Why "toe strap" , when clearly the strap goes around your whole foot?

I need to get a setback post for my dad's Cannondale F900 - I believe it's around a 98' or so. He isn't sure on seatpost size and I'd rather order it now then go over and check. 27.2?

Yeah, that's a good one. Probably came from "toe clips and straps", hence toe straps. Foot straps would sound kinda weird.

And why are clipless pedals called clipless, when you definitely clip in and out? Just to differentiate them from "toe clips"?

I just sold a 13-16-20-26-31 Regina, so at least a 31, probably larger. Don't ask me how they chose 31. I haven't a clue, and I counted the teeth 3 times because I was completely befuddled.

Can old Simplex Delrin front derailleurs be repaired with epoxy when they start to split/crack?

that's a better choice, IMHO, and you already have it so you don't have to scour eBay for collector's items.
I recall that there were both leather and vinyl versions of the quilted-top saddle used on Nishikis, so it was probably a price-point deal. The Japanese saddles were a copy of an Italian (?) original that I also can't recall the brand name for...I think the Italian was slightly nicer but for my butt most of the Avocets were better than any quilted-top I tried.

I wouldn't count on it. In my experience, no glue works well on plastic, even glue that is made especially for plastic.

By the way, does the front derailer on your Gitane have a chrome clamp and a metal cap instead of the red one as on a common Prestige? If so, it's the original and is rather rare. I saved mine by switching parts to an uncracked NOS Prestige body.

Please rerout those brake cables. It spoils the look of an otherwise beautiful bike. You got it right on your Raleigh.

I have done it, but I would not do it for anyone else, for fear that it may break in the future and cause havoc.
Unit plastic must be very clean. Acetone triple clean.
JB Weld.
and the most important element, screws. Brass threaded bolts actually 00-90 sized from a well stocked hobby store.
Plus a 00-90 tap. And a waxed fastener keep the clamp fastener hole clear.
Worth the effort? Lots of time and if you don't have the tools and fasteners on hand not- worth it.

Grand Bois, do you think a rear Prestige is worth $5? I found one at a community bike shop yesterday and thought it might be a good backup for my wifes bike. But then I thought, why not just take it off and put a SunTour on instead.

The 60's Campy Record RDs are marked 13-31 on the back - maybe mates up with those.

Is it ok to use a rear derailleur with a cracked (lower) pulley (can provide a photo later)? It is a Suntour Cyclone GT. I would just ride and see what happens but the bike is in pieces at the moment..wanna obtain a new pulley so it is ready to ride when said pieces are put back together. If it needs replacing, is eBay or a donor derailleur my only option?

It's okay to use it as long as it's just cracked, but when it breaks you'll be walking. So it depends how far you ride; I wouldn't do a century unless I was carrying a spare.

Good point. Suppose once I remove it from the cage I'll see how bad it is.

I'm relatively new here, but I think I can answer a lot of your questions:

Yes, yes, no, yes, it depends, yes, I think so but am not really sure, and 42.

Glad to help out

Caveman, read the thread title. You're supposed to ask a question, not answer them. No one should answer them. Especially not all eight of them.

Why do fools fall in love?

Well there ya have it.

Someone is hoarding all the Bluemels white fenders and playing havoc with the Bluemels white fender market.

Name(s) please.

What is the name of a city in Texas, Alex?