My city is OK (hope Danube won't go wild as well), but lots of towns and villages are flooded. Government has handled this in an awfull, disorganized manner, but people are surprisingly supportive and compassionate - when asked for 2000 volunteers in Belgrade, some 20.000 people showed up. Young people made me feel proud these days - old geezers saying things about estranged Facebook generation etc, but I saw loads of youth enthusiastic to go and build barriers, carry and bring aid etc. Wet, cold. It had been raining for days. Now it's getting hot, bodies of dead catle need to be cleaned and destroyed houses rebuilt.


BBC article:



BBC News - Balkans floods: Appeal for aid as rescue continues



Anway, if anyone can and wants to help, those are contacts. Everything matters - canned food, bottled water, food for babies, money to buy those things...

The official gov. page for help:

FLOODRELIEF #SerbiaFloods #SerbiaNeedsHelp




P.S. Haven't ridden the BSO a lot - was on vacation, since I got a baby boy on 4th of May. Lav.
When the floods started, I got to help, but it was raining 24h a day almost, and I was sleepy, cold, so used car - more than in the last 10 years all together.

Going back on vacation this weekend probably, if it all stays OK here. So still no commuting.

excellent news all around!

congrats on the boy!

My mom is from Novi Sad, my dad from Deliblato. We've been doing what we can from here in FL. Sending well wishes your way, friend.

stats:

1731km/1075mi
£509/$807 total
£0.29/km
€0.36/km
$0.75/mi

photos:

stats:

1750km/1087mi
£509/$807 total
£0.29/km
€0.35/km
$0.74/mi

photos:

Now that you've got a decent number of miles in and have reached a reasonable cost per mile how about an assessment? Particularly, we often assume that the single speed is a more reliable bike. It seems obvious, less complex equals more reliable, but that doesn't necessarily hold true. So in your experience with this bike, in the most general sense of the term, has it been a more reliable than your other rides?

I don't think that I've ridden enough miles yet to make an accurate comparison. I think 10,000 km will provide a more accurate reflection.

My current hunch is that the next parts requiring replacement will be:

1. front tire at around 2000km (1300 miles) which is OK for a cheap Kenda tire. Here there is no advantage with a SS bike.
2. chain at around 3000km (1900 miles). here, i believe that chain in under less stress as it always runs in a straight chain line and there's no lateral pressure on it.

I think that the real savings would come in as the chain/freewheel will last longer than a standard chain/cassette combo and will be less expensive to replace.

To be honest, I should get roughly 1 year out of the bike (3000km or so) with only replacing the original tires and possibly the chain.

Let's see what happens!

That is at least encouraging. I also had in mind all the little adjustments that pop up from time to time, a noise that you have to track down, messing with spokes and bearings, that sort of thing. Too soon to tell?

I think that chain is creaking as it's really on it's way out.

Otherwise it's still a great ride but I think the front brakes pads are almost worn out, which isn't so bad after an autumn/winter of English commuting.

Personally, I'm curious how much usage I'll get out the wheel set as well but it would be nice to get 10,000km or about 3 years out of them.

I'm Sure you will report it ....

that's my job.

then people can draw their own conclusions about SS versus multispeed bikes.

stats:

1769km/1099mi
£509/$807 total
£0.28/km
€0.35/km
$0.73/mi

photos:

sorry, was away for some riding in Allgäu

stats:

1789km/1112mi
£509/$807 total
£0.28/km
€0.35/km
$0.72/mi

photos:

That must be some nice riding!

yes and some very nice times with my partner's family

Awesome.

usually looks like this:

argh!

flat front tube overnight ... no tubes at home ... had to take the bus

i think that the front tire is pretty much done after 1800km ... not great but not bad for a 6 USD tire.

will pick up another Gatorskin

ok, found the embedded glass in the wheel. the tread pattern was worn off, so I'm assuming that tire was almost worn out. I saved it as a back-up and switched it out for a Gatorskin in the front as I don't like flats! i assume that the kenda could probably go a couple hundred more miles before the tread is totally obliterated, but now it has a hole through it the size of a ball point pen tip!

the cost of the GatorSkin was 29.99 GBP at the local bike shop

I just factored in the cost 29.99 GBP today is 50.21 USD

stats:

1789km/1112mi
£539/$857 total
£0.30/km
€0.41/km
$0.77/mi

photos:



at least the orange text matches the orange wheel!

new tire is quite nice!

stats:

1808km/1123mi
£539/$857 total
£0.29/km
€0.36/km
$0.76/mi

photos:

In what way? It rides better than the old tire?

much, much better.

i am sorry but i am ashamed that I can't quantify why it is better but it is a much better riding experience.

That's enough, or at least it's a start. I have also found that spending more on a tire can result in a more satisfying experience. I'm a tire maven. I don't care as much about components. They pretty much all work. Tires make qualitative differences more than anything.

I'm an extremely quantitative person and I find this aggravating as I can't quantify. It's similar to driving the Audi versus being a passenger in a Ford that the Brits love.

:ugh: in both respects.