So we bought the tandem

In article usFjc.33560$YP5.2716031@attbi_s02, cpetersky@mouse-
potato.com says...

....

Jim) do that. I like riding the bike -- messing with its mechanism is
b-o-r-i-n-g.

To each his/her own. For me, I would guess that about a third of the
fun of cycling is messing with the mechanicals.

.....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 07:45:11 -0400, David Kerber
wrote:

In article usFjc.33560$YP5.2716031@attbi_s02, cpetersky@mouse-
potato.com says...

...

Jim) do that. I like riding the bike -- messing with its mechanism is
b-o-r-i-n-g.

To each his/her own. For me, I would guess that about a third of the
fun of cycling is messing with the mechanicals.

I can really see this. It's almost like stereo buffs and PC buffs doing
components and knowing -everything- about their hobby; being able to build
a PC on their own.

It's too bad that local Community Colleges don't offer more course like
'beginning bike maintenence' and stuff. (Maybe some do?).

If you know 'a little' about the bike mechanicals, it's quite easy to "mess
up" your ride. If you only have one or two bikes, then you risk that day's
ride. So, for me, there's that "anxiety factor". Fortunately, the LBS will
get be back up and running in a couple hours, for 20 bucks, and has all
this inventory, and a bike stand and stuff.

Me? I got bifocals and a bad hip. So if I have to do it, it's a struggle.
But sure, I bet most of us would -love- to be able to do it. ;-)

-B

In article ,
Zoot Katz wrote:

Tue, 27 Apr 2004 22:54:40 -0700, ,
(Tom Keats) wrote:

In article usFjc.33560$YP5.2716031@attbi_s02,
"Claire Petersky" writes:

I like riding the bike -- messing with its mechanism is
b-o-r-i-n-g.

It can also be icky when you'd rather have clean hands.
And as soon as ya get bike goop on your hands, the phone
rings.

Pick it up with a rag, paper towel, hunk of junk mail, etc.

I discovered that using a couple squirts of that green BioCycle
cleaner from MEC on my hands and then working it in until it's dry
_before I start working_ makes for an easy quick clean up with water.

What, doesn't everybody buy surgical gloves for shop work?

I don't have to wash my hands of my work,
--
Ryan Cousineau, http://www.sfu.ca/~rcousine/wiredcola/
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

In article ,
says...

....

I discovered that using a couple squirts of that green BioCycle
cleaner from MEC on my hands and then working it in until it's dry
_before I start working_ makes for an easy quick clean up with water.

What, doesn't everybody buy surgical gloves for shop work?

No, I buy vinyl ones GGG. But they work just as well.


--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

Zoot Katz wrote:

I discovered that using a couple squirts of that green BioCycle
cleaner from MEC on my hands and then working it in until it's dry
_before I start working_ makes for an easy quick clean up with water.

Hmm, I'll have to try that sometime. Do you know if that stuff is similar
to Simple Green (already have some)?

--
Benjamin Lewis

Marriage is a great institution -- but I'm not ready for an institution yet.
-- Mae West

Benjamin wrote:

Hmm. I've never ridden a tandem, but I don't seem to have any intuition
that these are good reasons to be captain. Does riding a tandem really
work better if the captain is stronger? Wouldn't it be nice to have the
*shorter* rider in front, to improve visibility for the stoker? Wouldn't
it be good to have the least experienced rider doing the job that would
increase his or her experience the fastest?

Counterpoint/Viewpoint.
HTH
--Karen M.

Cathy wrote:
....
Method II: stoker mounts, keeps feet on ground. Captain mounts by
swinging leg over front handlebars. Remainder as above.

If you can do method II on your single I see no reason you couldn't
do it on a tandem. Have you tried clipping in one foot and throwing
your leg over the handle bars? I'm not that coordinated.

The John Wayne throw-your-leg-over-as-you-shove-off is an
unbalanced way to start on any bike. And how does your captain not
kick you in the face?

....
It is much simpler to have the stoker on, clipped in, and ready
to go, which is why it is taught that way to inexperienced teams.
And once you are experienced, why change.

I once captained for a *very* experienced cyclist who had never
ridden a tandem. All the helpful know-it-alls told her to clip in (toe
clips; this was a while back) first. Every time I leaned the bike a
couple of degrees to start us off, she'd panic. It worked a whole lot
better to have us both start with one foot clipped in and shove off
together.
That's always the way I've pushed off with any stoker. Of course it
implies that there's a degree of teamwork, as opposed to Daddy driving
and the stoker sitting passively.
HTH
--Karen M.
who used to own a tandem with three brake levers, two in front...

Ryan Cousineau wrote:
What, doesn't everybody buy surgical gloves for shop work?

I don't have to wash my hands of my work,

back in the day when i was doing more unix admin work i used to get my hands
dirty moving raid and network racks, stringing cable around, wringing user's
necks, crimping the odd cable, etc. now i mostly write code and while the
work is often dirty that's all on my conscience and tho i still wring user's
necks that's just blood.

i like dirt on my hands, damnit.
--
david reuteler

Chalo wrote:

Actually, most of the times a couple charge resolutely into a comical,
foolhardy situation as if they know what they are doing...the man is
steering.

BWAHAHAHHAHAHHA!!!
If I go to the MTR this year I'm wearing that on a t-shirt.

--Karen M.
on my Counterpoint where the scenery always changes

Ryan Cousineau wrote:

What, doesn't everybody buy surgical gloves for shop work?

Ugh. Maybe I could get used to them eventually, but I'd rather get dirty
hands. I'm not sure what it is that bugs me so much about them -- perhaps
it's a form of claustrophobia.

--
Benjamin Lewis

Marriage is a great institution -- but I'm not ready for an institution yet.
-- Mae West