Why not do the century with the fat tires?

Because attempting 100 miles on a folder sounded like fun, but attempting 100 miles on a folder with 70-psi tires didn't.

Just a vent.

I can't get the Dimension Trekking Bar from Dynocoaster onto the Swift because the Allen bolt holding the Dual Drive shifter to the old bar is stripped and won't come out.

Why is NOTHING EASY!?

(Goddammit...)

Given the way the 6061-T6 alu Swift seat-stay is welded to the seat-tube, my recommendation would be to find something other than an alu Swift for towing a tot-trailer. Turns could place significant lateral stress on the stays, and the stay is weakest in the immediate vicinity of the welds. A steel Swift ought to serve this purpose. Here's what CATOREGON.ORG says:Regards
T

You're like me - I always seem to strip screws!

On the century ride yesterday someone stripped their seatbolt thread (had one of those theft prevention bolts - sheared right off). Had to ride for a while with the seatpost all the way down.

Go to a hardware store and get an easy out. You may have to drill thru the center of the bolt to get the easy out in. I had this happen on a grip shifter recently and that is what I did.

No argument, just looking for clarification:

I'm not able to visualize this lateral stress from turns. The point of attachment is at the axle nut, and includes a connector that allows the bike to swivel, turn, or even fall down without perturbing the state of the trailer.

Turning, the hitch swivels/flexes and the trailer follows the bike along a curved path, so I wouldn't expect significant lateral forces at the stays the way I would with, for example, a rigid connection. Can you explain further? Thanks!

Yeah, I know, I know. Or I may just drop it off at the bike shop and let them deal with it.

Either way, it's annoying.

I'm assuming that the connection between bike and trailer is strong enough to transmit force to the trailer rod, even though it's not rigid metal. And the torsional stresses would be reciprocal: the mass and inertia of the trailer transmit stresses back to the bike. The rear axle is the fulcrum. Here's a Gedankenexperiment:

Turn your bike on its side so the wheels are parallel with the ground. Flip the tot-trailer over too. Remember to take your kids out beforehand.
Now hoist the bike up with a winch to the second storey of your brownstone manse, level with the balcony where you brought your Bösendorfer in, and bolt the top-tube into the balcony floor, so the rear of the bike is hanging off the edge of the balcony. Let the tot-trailer dangle from the rear axle.

Any stresses being placed upon the rear triangle?

Regards
T

Language, mister! Language!

Sure. But are significant lateral stresses being placed there when the trailer's not hanging 90° off a balcony?

There are certainly some significant non-lateral stresses. Rearward, for sure.

One relevant question might be: Are those really welds, or are they brazes?

Good question about the braze/weld. Don't know the answer.

With the momentum of the trailer when it's being towed, you could end up with more lateral stresses than meet the eye. I'll submit the question to LLNL. :)

Regards
T

I expect the Large Hadron Collider will settle it before those bozos even finish figuring out the instructions for the force gauge.

Tomorrow is a Big Day. "We’re finishing a marathon with a sprint," said LHC project leader Lyn Evans.

Regards
T

They'll be sorry when the monsters come.

Here's the first pass at setting up the new handlebar. (Yeah, I got the stripped bolt out.) The photos are a little oversharpened, but I apparently have lost the ability to hold a camera steady.

http://homepage.mac.com/noteon/Sites...9_08/swift.jpg
The handlebar really should be polished aluminum, but if I like it that much, we'll get there. This is my basic commuter setup. That's the Arkel Bug on the Crossrack, with the color-coordinated bungee holding it off the rear tire. (And check out my new Grip Kings. I am style.)

http://homepage.mac.com/noteon/Sites.../dimension.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/noteon/Sites...09_08/stem.jpg
Gee, I dunno... think I need a different stem?

Man you can put 5 lights on the front part of that bar. Looking good!

Nope you need a different camera. Are you taking snaps of your family with that POS as well? You'll be sorry later... :)

(Not sure if you need this tip or not - if not no worries)

Hold your non-shooting arm out straight in front of you. Bend your arm and grab your opposing shoulder. Rest the camera on your elbow. Shakeless shots 95% of the time (unless you have to struggle with the clicker) :)

The camera is on its last legs, but the main thing is that I hate flash. In our apartment, that means a one-second exposure time. I would have shot these again with the flash, but I was too lazy. I mean, it's just you guys...

With the kids, usually I gamble on a steady camera a few times and then grab a few with flash (and redeye, and sharp shadows, and no warmth and lousy skin tones) as backup.

Air, I didn't know that one, thanks.

That's what I've been waiting for. That's the setup. And, of course, that bar is nowhere to be found, correct?

Well, how do you like it?

I lucked out because Dynocoaster had one he wanted to sell. Before that, I wasn't able to track any down.

Haven't ridden it yet. This is my first chance to get any writing done in about a week, so I'm doing that. But soon...

I picked my boys up from the new preschool in the bike trailer today.

I love this handlebar.

Looks very cool.

After my post yesterday, a did a frustrated Google and found a black one @ a place called airbomb.com. They've confirmed the stock and shipping and told me I should have it in hand next week! I'm geeked!

Cool!

Credit where credit is due:

http://www.myspace.com/xootrswift

And now comes the critical question of bar plug color...