Hobbit math? (The 925 gets a refresh)

So, does a San Marco plastic ass hatchet cancel out 32mm Paselas,
Nitto Randonneur bars, and Tressostar bar tape? Will be arriving
tomorrow to bring the 925 back to life.

Thoughts:

Redline bikes are a hell of a value.

Vintage Unicanitor clones with alu rails are not meant to be daily
riders for 190 pound six footers.(Note, bike came with a Velo saddle
which was also comfy, and likely much more durable)

Moustache bars are heaven in the city and fantastic for ten miles.If
you need to be upright for 20-30, riser bars with 1-2" hacked off the
end are better. Though I've promoted North Road bars as well, when I
rode them on one of the first Nexus bikes in the US ten years ago
(thanks Rapid Transit!) I eventually came back to flats for urban
control. Keep those elbows in, saw that bar down, and damn if I can't
ride a good fifty miles on the bar I love to hate. That said, I
ordered some rando bars which I haven't ridden since I was a kid in
the 70s.

30mm tires are the new 28s! I put the IRCs from the Redline on the
Kona utility beast that I've been taking long rides on--2mph faster
than the old gummies! They ride great--but still have a kevlar belt,
so I'm excited to ride some 32mm Paselas--and maybe use the patch kit
I've carried around for two years.

I'm putting the Tressostar over some recycled closed cell stuff to try
and get better grip as I'm a beastly sweaty Swede. Wrapping bottom to
top of course, so riding the "curves" doesn't curl the tape. Any hint
on finishing the top that's not cute or hempy--or is electrical tap
enough? Can't remember what I did in the 80s the couple times I used
cloth--it was mostly Bennoto wrapped top down and we spent the rest of
our time designing water bottle bongs.

Chains: an aside, my LBS only stocks the quite ****ty SRAM PC1 single
speed chain. I know ya can use multi speed chains if you have the
right cog width--but I was at a soul-less urban mall today and picked
up a "Diamondback BMX chain" for $8. It's a smooth running nickel KMC
1/8" jobber. Thanks, Dick!

In article
,
landotter wrote:

I'm putting the Tressostar over some recycled closed cell stuff to try
and get better grip as I'm a beastly sweaty Swede. Wrapping bottom to
top of course, so riding the "curves" doesn't curl the tape. Any hint
on finishing the top that's not cute or hempy--or is electrical tap
enough? Can't remember what I did in the 80s the couple times I used
cloth--it was mostly Bennoto wrapped top down and we spent the rest of
our time designing water bottle bongs.

I am a slave to fashion; cannot stand seeing vinyl tape
on the bars every time I look down. I wrap from stem to
end. Much neater appearance. The tape fades and frays
before it curls up, and anyway, it does not matter: badge
of honor. I seem to use a wrapping technique that minimizes
curl-up. Oh, this is with traditional cloth tape on Al
bars.

If you do use vinyl tape, here is a secret unknown at
bicycle shops. After wrapping it tightly take a turn to
and one a half turns of tape that is not stretched at the
end. Tape that is stretched to the end will creep and
leave trail of goo. Eeeyoohhh!!

--
Michael Press

On Apr 24, 6:04 pm, Michael Press wrote:
In article
,

landotter wrote:
I'm putting the Tressostar over some recycled closed cell stuff to try
and get better grip as I'm a beastly sweaty Swede. Wrapping bottom to
top of course, so riding the "curves" doesn't curl the tape. Any hint
on finishing the top that's not cute or hempy--or is electrical tap
enough? Can't remember what I did in the 80s the couple times I used
cloth--it was mostly Bennoto wrapped top down and we spent the rest of
our time designing water bottle bongs.

I am a slave to fashion; cannot stand seeing vinyl tape
on the bars every time I look down. I wrap from stem to
end. Much neater appearance. The tape fades and frays
before it curls up, and anyway, it does not matter: badge
of honor. I seem to use a wrapping technique that minimizes
curl-up. Oh, this is with traditional cloth tape on Al
bars.

I haven't used cloth since the 80s, but I always had problems with
curl. Think we used Cat-Eye back then. The good ole' days--when LBSes
had lengths of various day glow brake housing! Anyway, I'm a bottom to
top man, through and through, the chirality being from the inside over
the top.

If you do use vinyl tape, here is a secret unknown at
bicycle shops. After wrapping it tightly take a turn to
and one a half turns of tape that is not stretched at the
end. Tape that is stretched to the end will creep and
leave trail of goo. Eeeyoohhh!!

I've never had that problem with proper electrical tape--though I know
it does have an ability to 'goo'. Couldn't find any, so I used poultry
trussing string. I had no choice--as I ran out of tressostar 1" before
the bar sleeve, as they always gimp you with those rolls of cloth.
I'll have to stop by the dollar shop tomorrow--can't have this string
AND the poofy Paselas on this fixie--that one guy will see me and roll
his eyes! Not sure who he is yet.

Just took the 925 on a maiden flight over some rough urban terrain to
fetch a half pint of bourbon for the rechristening--$100 worth of bits
gave me a new bike. Holy moly! If these Pasela 32s tend to not flat
more than a few times per year--I want to be buried with them. The
most pleasant riding tire ever, and it doesn't feel dopey, either.
Replacing the fukkin awful PC1 Sram chain with my preferred chrome bmx
KMC should have been done the first time I suffered teh PC1. Not
silent as it's 1/8" on 3/32" teeth, but very very close. Why don't all
shops stock this cheeep and shiny gem? The San Marco ODS gel saddle is
pretty hilarious. I know, I know, it's "gel", but it's a cheap
placeholder. Feels like riding on a breast implant. Not the worst,
we'll see if it gives CPS.

Michael Press wrote:
In article
,
landotter wrote:

I'm putting the Tressostar over some recycled closed cell stuff to try
and get better grip as I'm a beastly sweaty Swede. Wrapping bottom to
top of course, so riding the "curves" doesn't curl the tape. Any hint
on finishing the top that's not cute or hempy--or is electrical tap
enough? Can't remember what I did in the 80s the couple times I used
cloth--it was mostly Bennoto wrapped top down and we spent the rest of
our time designing water bottle bongs.

I am a slave to fashion; cannot stand seeing vinyl tape
on the bars every time I look down. I wrap from stem to
end. Much neater appearance. The tape fades and frays
before it curls up, and anyway, it does not matter: badge
of honor. I seem to use a wrapping technique that minimizes
curl-up. Oh, this is with traditional cloth tape on Al
bars.

What about duct tape? Or better yet, upside down drop bars with no tape
for the DUI cyclist look?

If you do use vinyl tape, here is a secret unknown at
bicycle shops. After wrapping it tightly take a turn to
and one a half turns of tape that is not stretched at the
end. Tape that is stretched to the end will creep and
leave trail of goo. Eeeyoohhh!!

A Hobbit would use shellac and twine.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

landotter Wrote:
Any hint on finishing the top that's not cute or hempy--

How 'bout cutting some collars out of 'heat shrink tubing'
(http://www.action-electronics.com/heatshrink.htm) , slip them on first,
way up to the stem, then shifters, then tape. Once done, push the shrink
tube collars down and hit them with a heat gun. Open flame will do, if
you're careful. Hair dryer can also work.
Or maybe some 'self vulcanizing tape'
(http://www.atomictape.com/atomic_tape_fact_sheet.htm) ?


--
dabac

landotter wrote:
Just took the 925 on a maiden flight over some rough urban terrain to
fetch a half pint of bourbon for the rechristening--$100 worth of bits
gave me a new bike. Holy moly! If these Pasela 32s tend to not flat
more than a few times per year--I want to be buried with them. The
most pleasant riding tire ever, and it doesn't feel dopey, either.

I'll regret saying this. Nonetheless:
Zero flats on Pansela 32s in about 2.5 years of riding.
--
Paul M. Hobson
..:change the f to ph to reply:.

On Apr 25, 8:22 am, "Paul M. Hobson" wrote:
landotter wrote:
Just took the 925 on a maiden flight over some rough urban terrain to
fetch a half pint of bourbon for the rechristening--$100 worth of bits
gave me a new bike. Holy moly! If these Pasela 32s tend to not flat
more than a few times per year--I want to be buried with them. The
most pleasant riding tire ever, and it doesn't feel dopey, either.

I'll regret saying this. Nonetheless:
Zero flats on Pansela 32s in about 2.5 years of riding.
--

Ohhh, ya'll got the swishy version down in At-lanta! Hafta try that
one as well!

On Apr 24, 6:04 pm, Michael Press wrote:
In article
,

landotter wrote:
I'm putting the Tressostar over some recycled closed cell stuff to try
and get better grip as I'm a beastly sweaty Swede. Wrapping bottom to
top of course, so riding the "curves" doesn't curl the tape. Any hint
on finishing the top that's not cute or hempy--or is electrical tap
enough? Can't remember what I did in the 80s the couple times I used
cloth--it was mostly Bennoto wrapped top down and we spent the rest of
our time designing water bottle bongs.

I am a slave to fashion; cannot stand seeing vinyl tape
on the bars every time I look down. I wrap from stem to
end. Much neater appearance. The tape fades and frays
before it curls up, and anyway, it does not matter: badge
of honor. I seem to use a wrapping technique that minimizes
curl-up. Oh, this is with traditional cloth tape on Al
bars.

I couldn't stand the look of the tape for some reason--guess it's all
the ogling at the bike porn sites, so I just wrapped one side top down
over some pretty worn closed cell with just enough to shove in the end
with a chromed plastic plug. Looks very very professional. Got the
brake levers bang on. It's pretty tight, so shouldn't curl compared to
the Cat-Eye we used back in the day, I hope.

Loving the Nitto Rando bars. With the 32mm Paselas at 80psi and the
bars 1" below saddle height, this is such a civilized urban fixed
gear. It's got zero track bike aspirations, and that's the way I like
it.