New BSO long-term test!
06-21-17 | 09:05 AM
#1027
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
06-21-17 | 10:04 AM
#1028
Mostly harmless ™
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 243
From: Novi Sad
Bikes: Heavy, with friction shifters
I've tried it - rides lovely and is pretty light.
White arrow - vintage road bike project - Cycle Gremlin
06-21-17 | 10:07 AM
#1029
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
It's getting lots of miles, she loves it.
I've tried it - rides lovely and is pretty light.
White arrow - vintage road bike project - Cycle Gremlin
I've tried it - rides lovely and is pretty light.
White arrow - vintage road bike project - Cycle Gremlin
06-21-17 | 10:07 AM
#1030
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,160
Likes: 6,382
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
I see a rear brake caliper but no lever for it. Is that right?
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
06-21-17 | 10:12 AM
#1031
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
yup, it just holds the fender ... the entire mechanism rusted in the two-year garage hiatus.
so I removed the junk and recycled it with the household waste.
it's really a BMX-style brake and as the chain stretches, the pads can't be lowered enough to reach the breaking surface any longer.
front brake is more than enough for now.
so I removed the junk and recycled it with the household waste.
it's really a BMX-style brake and as the chain stretches, the pads can't be lowered enough to reach the breaking surface any longer.
front brake is more than enough for now.
06-21-17 | 11:41 AM
#1032
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Instant Coffee is a Travesty ..
I brought along an Ortlieb Folding filter support cone, and a re usable Cotton filter, on my British Isles Bike tour.
Vacuum packed coffee, ground, was Adequate, But back in Oregon Fresh Coffee drive thrus are everywhere..
Last edited by fietsbob; 06-21-17 at 11:47 AM.
06-29-17 | 02:55 PM
#1035
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 8,101
Likes: 17
From: Minneapolis
Instant Coffee is under appreciated. It can be used to develop film for example:
Not bike related but one of my favorites:
Last edited by tjspiel; 06-29-17 at 03:38 PM.
07-03-17 | 11:59 AM
#1037
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
episode 197
stats:
3706km/2302mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.155/km
€0.18/km
$0.310/mi
£2.89/commute
€3.29/commute
$3.76/commute
And a few extra of the original floorboards (1909) that we went over with this baby (Makita 9404, it's a workhorse for sure):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/7du/Makit...der/B000056NOA
stats:
3706km/2302mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.155/km
€0.18/km
$0.310/mi
£2.89/commute
€3.29/commute
$3.76/commute
And a few extra of the original floorboards (1909) that we went over with this baby (Makita 9404, it's a workhorse for sure):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/7du/Makit...der/B000056NOA
07-10-17 | 01:10 PM
#1041
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
episode 201
stats:
3727km/2315mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.152/km
€0.172/km
$0.308/mi
£2.82/commute
€3.18/commute
$3.55/commute
stats:
3727km/2315mi
£567.12/$714.63 total
£0.152/km
€0.172/km
$0.308/mi
£2.82/commute
€3.18/commute
$3.55/commute
Last edited by acidfast7; 07-12-17 at 01:05 AM.
07-12-17 | 01:19 PM
#1044
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Aren't you still on Campus riding past ivy covered walls in professorial tweeds? I figured you'd have to buy a dignified english 3-speed cruiser and have to start over.
You're getting into pretty good value now at just over 30 cents per mile
Are you tempted to replace the rear brake though? $30, won't set you back that much, just a bump up to 32 cents.
You're getting into pretty good value now at just over 30 cents per mile
Are you tempted to replace the rear brake though? $30, won't set you back that much, just a bump up to 32 cents.
07-12-17 | 01:48 PM
#1045
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
Aren't you still on Campus riding past ivy covered walls in professorial tweeds? I figured you'd have to buy a dignified english 3-speed cruiser and have to start over.
You're getting into pretty good value now at just over 30 cents per mile
Are you tempted to replace the rear brake though? $30, won't set you back that much, just a bump up to 32 cents.
You're getting into pretty good value now at just over 30 cents per mile
Are you tempted to replace the rear brake though? $30, won't set you back that much, just a bump up to 32 cents.
The front brake is more than enough for now; I'd take the rear brake off but it holds the fender in place.
Seems that my inexpensive spokes are rusting and when flexing are making some noise under stress.
I thought about converting the bike to three speed ... but after the wheels fail
07-12-17 | 02:00 PM
#1047
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Yeah, still on campus but I've given up ivy covered walls for the sunny southern seaside
The front brake is more than enough for now; I'd take the rear brake off but it holds the fender in place.
Seems that my inexpensive spokes are rusting and when flexing are making some noise under stress.
I thought about converting the bike to three speed ... but after the wheels fail
The front brake is more than enough for now; I'd take the rear brake off but it holds the fender in place.
Seems that my inexpensive spokes are rusting and when flexing are making some noise under stress.
I thought about converting the bike to three speed ... but after the wheels fail
The wheels on my own fixed gear BSO commuter (inspired by your example) weigh over 8 pounds which I'm pretty sure I could improve considerably. But no rust or other problems, gives me no excuse to upgrade
07-12-17 | 02:04 PM
#1048
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
It's a matter of perspective, and I kind of questioned that at first, but for where he was purchasing it and what's available there it's legitimately a low end cheap bike. Besides, it's kind of mean to demean someone's cheap bike just because others buy cheaper bikes.
07-12-17 | 02:16 PM
#1049
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 1
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Sirrus
It's a matter of perspective, and I kind of questioned that at first, but for where he was purchasing it and what's available there it's legitimately a low end cheap bike. Besides, it's kind of mean to demean someone's cheap bike just because others buy cheaper bikes.
07-12-17 | 02:18 PM
#1050
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
Also, I think it's important to remember that the UK has 20% sales tax and a low exchange rate now. So, that $700+ includes $150 of tax and $150 of gear (so it's around $400 or so, including nearly $100 in tires with two Gatorskins and a Schwalbe Marathon) ... so the bike is really $300 with a 1.3:1 exchange rate on around a $250 bike (originally £299 with £60 of that being tax).
This exercise has really been for a few reasons:
1. The bike is cheap and has worked well. An expensive bike isn't needed really.
2. The consumable and gear cost A LOT. Lights and locks aren't cheap. Good tyres are very expensive but should last for ever.
3. I'm curious how the bike will die ... I assume theft or maybe accident.
4. I think bikecommuting is more expensive than people think (but also more pleasurable.)