The parks get a rest this weekend, as all of the area racing requires either a drive of some duration or knobby tires. Let’s explore, shall we?
Saturday has the Balloon Festival in Cambridge, NY. There is also the Watermelon Crit in Piscataway, NJ
Sunday has the CRCA Bear Mountain Seven Lakes Time Trial, and the obvious-o-tron tells me that’s at Bear Mountain. Up in Bethel, CT, there’s the 3rd Annual Connecticut Coast Criterium. In High Bridge, NJ, there’s the Tour of High Bridge, but don’t confuse that with the NYCMTB All-City XC MTB At Highbridge Park, because you will be showing up to a mountain bike race with your skinny little tires – and that would look silly. And finally, if you’re a pro, get your sponsored keyster to Philly and prove it.
And as a special bonus this week, we have a reader submission -– enjoy.
i had this dream
i was on a bridge
yeh, really really high up and it is windy
and i look up in the sky and a gigantic ballon
it was yellow with pink polka dots and black and white stripes
and falling from the sky towards me
all heavy and slow-like but fast at the same time
i hear a swishing noise and i see water in it
a gigantic waterballoon
i want to run but can’t move
and it bursts
and water water water everwhere
i am sinking in it the water all around me and then it turns pink
and pulpy and there are big black seeds
and i am inside of a watermellon
trapped
and then we are lifted
and huge teeth and paws and fur
and growling
a bear
and i think he was going to eat me but then i woke up
Wrenching riddle: My bike is skipping in the 11, only the 11. It only does it under load so I can’t check it out on the workstand. Limit screw is in the right place, shifting is on for all other cogs. This happened to me a few years ago when I accidentally put a 12 lockring (which is bigger) on an 11 cassette, but that’s not the case this time. It happens with different wheels/cassettes. Anyone with ideas?
If you put a new(er) chain on a worn sprocket – it will skip and usually only under load.
happens w/ diff chains as well?
Sheldon says it might be the cable guide under the BB
http://sheldonbrown.com/autoshift.html
“As you pedal the bike, the frame flexes from side to side. This causes the gear cable to get tighter and looser with every other pedal stroke.”
have your chakra cleansed. it must be sticking somewhere.
Skipping the 11 is a common symptom of a worn out/kinked housing and/or cable (the one at your rear derailleur.) The spring at the RD is not strong enough to pull through the friction b/w the cable and the housing. Hope this is helpful.
-alvin pob
I’ve never let a chain get too worn, so I doubt that the cog is worn. Besides, it’s the 11, how much wear does it get? Chain is new, however, so maybe that is the problem after all. Will grease the cable guide and see how that goes.
My Chakra kinda slimy I think.
that’s not correct – It’s the 11-tooth that is auto shifting. The shifter cable is relaxed in the 11-tooth position. If he said it was shifting in the 23-tooth gear, when the cable is under tension, then I would agree. Of course, you do exert much more force on the frame in the 11 than you do in the 23 just by the nature of gear ratios.
Since it’s the 11, i would start by looking for a mis-aligned rear derailleur or hangar — or something stuck in the derailleur keeping it from ‘relaxing’ to the 11-tooth position.
hanger?
This is happening only under load. The derailer can get to the right spot, so maybe it’s not sticky derailer pivots or cables/housing. Maybe it is a worn cog after all. Just odd that it happens with multiple cassettes.
this is happening to me too right now. we are soulmates.
i think my rear derailleur is bent, not the hanger.
IT could actually be your front derailleur. It might be adjusted too far in and when you start cranking away in the 11, it might just push the chain over.
But it’s not the cassette if you are having the same problem with multiple cassettes.
detach cable completely allowing it to sit on the 11 – that’ll rule out cable no?
Your 11 cog is experiencing abnormal meridian function. I would recommend vibrational healing immediately.
CJ VS SHEN???
place your bets…
If you have a power link connecting the chain, try flipping it. They generally only work on the 11 in one direction. Had this happen several times.
throw the bike in the trash, the chainstay is busted
Wow, great ideas here. Thanks. I’m going to flip the power link, it’s a Wipperman. Checking the FD too.
Me v CJ? That’s easy. I’m putting my money on CJ and sandbagging it. I’m not proud, and there’s a recession.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/05/lance-armstrongs-baby-bor_n_211670.html
Are you using a Wipperman master link? They don’t work…AT ALL… with 11-tooth cogs. the curviture hits the lockring and causes the skip. try a different Master or whatever method the manufacturer suggests. Unless you are using a Wipperman chain. if so, throw that piece of shit away and get a Campy. It will work better anyway.
sure, that’s a normal family…
That makes sense, the Wipperman link has these big protrusions. Thanks.
I’m sure Andy’s troubles are no comparison to the cloud of obscenities being created by the poor mechanic who’s doing my bike swap in NJ.
Great night again at Rockliegh. 42 starters is certainly a record for the A race. Some big guns showed up.
http://rockleighcrit.com/Rockleigh09/start%20A%206-4.htm
What is going to happen to the Cannondale, Schmalz? Is it going directly into the cycling hall of fame? Is there anything left of it? Or did the frame disintegrate from so much POWER being unleashed upon it?
Changing gears here, I always thought the reason Armstrong was able to get away with it in the court of public opinion despite mountains of evidence was that Americans were overwhelmingly behind him and just didn’t want to hear any contrary evidence. But looking at those HuffPo comments…
The hobo Cannondale will return to its former life in food delivery.
And I think I’ve figured it out. The Wipperman link has a fat side and a skinny side, and I had the fat side down where it touched the lockring. Hopefully that fixes it (rollers later will confirm). Thanks to everyone for the help.
You know Andy is lying! He can’t turn the 11…how can he turn the 11 if he can’t even turn the 12 som’n 75rpm?
He wants to control you! Don’t take his 11 story to heart, really! How can you turn the 11 when a sure betcha can’t turn the 12???
? – 10 = zero
2 + 10 = ?
0930 … winner
[how can it ask me one + 10 = and then bark at me when i put two digits in?]
Sorry, Sarah, I can see the 11 from my house.
Huffpo is aimed at the people who live in the 11 square miles of manhattan below 145th. And they are the ones who comment. Go to Phoenix or Sacramento or Minneapolis or Atlanta or anywhere else and you will find the Lance-lovers
i’m keeping the fat side down, that’s why i have problems with my 11 cog.
Andy, I still say your 11 ring is worn, the small rings always wear faster because of more pressure and bigger tooth angles,
Trust me
Dick C.
as if huffy has any standing to comment on normal family life…
she’s a gold-digging p.r. hack who lived a hushed lie for years with her oil-based gazzilionaire republican hubby who was fond of chelsea boys. wasn’t until he was publicly outed that she said oh the horror!
I’m sticking with that diagnosis – if you TT a lot the 11 can get worn, plus on higher end cogsets they are TI which wear faster than steel. Also, they “streeetch” so if you put a new chain on an older cassette the teeth may not look worn, but the gaps in between get stretched out and the tolerances are so tight with 10 and now 11 speed that this can cause the problem.
bike flex will cause it to shift ‘down’ not ‘up’ so I doubt your are turning the frame inside out or that your chainstays are messed up.
I wouldn’t use a quick link either – only carry for emergencies. Cleaning chains is passe. New chains need to be replaced every 1,000 to 1,500 miles, so just wipe it down occasionally and slap on a new one instead of an intense cleaning – much cheaper than buying new cogs/cassettes – the joy of 10/11 speed.
Anyone ride Huffy?
i think that’s exactly her problem….
I like corn on the cog. You?
Corey Booker
I agree it’s not ghost shifting. The cable is slack when it’s on the 11. A roller ride later will confirm everything. I dug up an old wipperman link ’cause I just made a mess of the snap off shimano pin, which I usually don’t have problems with.
Forget Rock n Republic or Hincapie,
http://www.hulu.com/watch/10310/saturday-night-live-bad-idea-jeans
“I race with a lid, but it feels much better without one, besides I’m sterile from chemo”
Perhaps the coolest bike available 20+ years ago.
The commercial with the song “ride like the wind” in the backround was truly classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG3og36HaXU
Why Wipperman?
Junk the Teutonic chain.
I was always disapointed with its performance (mixing with campy drive train) thinking it was the better mouse trap because of price and the promise of Germain engineering. They dont last and if not maintained (clean and lube) are more apt to break.
Just the link, not the chain. Chain’s Shimano.
of being tired. Give my some colustrum mama!
You think that’s a Schwinn?
wipperman’s no good, huh? shoulda known … one exploded into about 5 pieces during a sprint last year, assumed it was a fluke.
wow…replace the chain every 1500 miles? screw that. I get about 3000 out of my chains, and never suffer worn out cassettes. keep it clean w/ light lube and it lasts way longer than 1500. companies tell you that so you keep buying them.
agreed. i get years out of my chains.
it helps that i don’t ride much.
So true on mileage. Just ride the damn things till they stretch beyond shiftable comfort range, and you will almost always get a few thousand or a lot more from them. Same thing as toothbrushes (makers say new one like every 2 weeks!) and razor blades (they recommend what, 7 days? what a joke. Im a first blood guy and 3 weeks isnt uncommon in the least). Dont listen to the man! Jus’ do yur thing.
I only needed to make the mistake once of letting a chain stay on the bike too long and not only ruined the cassette but the chain rings-oddly enough chain did not skip much during this period of low funds. Chain now gets replaced every 1500-2000 miles (score a case of SRAM chains from QBP and be good to go). 20 bucks a chain x 7-8 equals happy bike.
Agreed about Wipperman- SRAM chains are the way to go. Cheap and cheerful. How does not love the ease of use with a powerlink?
At least you are not making the mistake of a Shimano chain…..
Is the way to go – you can be a big shot until flush $1,000+ of cassettes and chainrings down the drain – plus, when you add in the cost of a couple cleanings, time and hassle – its just not worth cleaning ’em.
More shameless self promotion – actually I didn’t know they posted this. Honest
http://hampsten.blogspot.com/2009/05/la-vie-claire-bringing-back-80s.html
ultegra or 105 chains work great on sram red, etc. affordable alternative.
learn something new every day….cheap but I still dont like the whole shimano pin thing.
modrian, ey
err, mondrian
Sweet idea for a paint job.
don’t break it…or it will! Ask Empire at Rockleigh last night!
La Vie Mondrian
1:30–i run ultegra on my red just fine. chain is cn6600. look around you can often find good deals on ’em. the pin thing is fine if you take your chains off often, just pick up a few extras. they’re cheap, easily found on ebay, etc.
Do the fields typically get totally shattered in this race?
i’m surprised the mondrian estate didn’t sue him
http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/192-Spencer-Brooklyn-0308.jpg
at the high res image of the mondrian bike, you’ll notice that the right seat stay goes through the spokes. well, it would make theft more difficult…
+1
If you get dropped they will pull you.
The seat stay design is a new proprietary design, oh hell… I just didn’t want to mask the spokes…
It seems like Hampsten cycles has Moots, IF, and Co-motion provide a lot of their frames.
What’s the business model/idea behind Hampsten? How do they turn a profit if they are outsourcing a lot of their frame building?
However they’re doing it, the bikes are rolling f$%$#@! art. More power to ’em.
It was the Wipperman link. I flipped it around and now it doesn’t skip at all. Thanks to everyone for the help, never in a million years would I have figured that one out, might have even saved me lots of money on new chains and cassettes.
You can see how tight the fit is.
It’s a Boy for Lance Armstrong!
when his new kid’s in his late teens the olsen twins will be cougars.
chew on that!
meow!
damn, and i’ll be in denpends
but hey, testing cost money, so does law enforcement, the police are equally to blame since dudes like you and Papp broke the law when you doped. but since you are a small fry in the big picture they do not care to spend money on you. or some old guys racing for a jersey at master nats
anybody going to Philly tomorrow morning?
shera gas and tolls
call me at 917 334 7205
anyone got any room in there car for extra rider leaving manhattan ? my start time is 9.07 , if anyone has room email me at ppenman@mac.com
would you need an 11T cog? is 12T too small a gear ratio? what’s your big ring, a 46?
For TT’s, you use a 53×11 often.
by definition if you are a masters rider you’re old enough to be aware of your mortality. doubt there are many willing to risk a heart attack to win an amateur bike race. Pretty stupid accusation.
Might be the gear of chioce fot tomorrow
Skip
“choice for”
Skip
DOPERS IN MIAMI.
NOT THAT USADA WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Everybody in the sport knows the United States Anti-Doping Agency is a joke and always has been with their corrupt roots dating back to the days of Dr. Exum.
“I told Travis Tygart to test the group rides in Miami for people using EPO. The ride starts at Sunset place wednesday and friday at 6:30am sharp. Piss test the bigger teams and you will find dopers. I got a report of a cat. 5 racer who raced in our local races in Miami using EPO. I will not say the team because I will probably get sued, but trust me, if you test you will get positives. But of course this will never happen because USADA is a joke, anti-doping in America is a joke and it is all controlled by the drug companies and assholes making money selling drugs. By the way the name of the series is Rosewood. Test there United States “Fake” Anti-Doping Assholes.
USADA doesn’t protect anti-dopers, they suck. I think Europe is cleaner than America, when you have no drug testing ever, and no drug testing at Masters Nationals. It is the old farts who are doping. WAKE UP! They have the most money and they are the ones to be tested. Ohh, I get it MONEY. It is all about money isn’t it, I forgot.”-Matt DeCanio
a)paranoia
2)oh now it’s the masters who are doping for the money
unbelieveable sigh
2)oh now it’s the masters who are doping for the money
They aint doping to make money, they are doping because they can afford it,
and our time
Freedom fries for everyone!
Silly
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/8078456.stm
Cooper Ray
Greg Olsen
young and old;
doing it, doing it, doing it well….
1*1=?
Thanks to all involved in putting the event on today. Beautiful course, results were timely, and the TTT was a lot of fun. Beat the crap out of dodging potholes at Floyd-Bennett. Thanks for making this happen!
DC
Seconded. Thanks again Mike, Alex, Foundation and Axis.
You guys pulled it together big time. I was driving the course at 7:50 and thought that there was no way it going to start on time. I have to hand it to Mike and all of the volunteers. They got things started fast and then it ran like clock work. Great Job!
On another note: I think I lost something at the race today!
Has anyone seen my 50 watts. I had them yesterday. I am pretty sure that I brought them to the race today. But when I went to look for them they were gone. They do have some sentimental value and I would hate to think that they are gone forever. I am pretty generous in nature and if you found them you are welcome to use them until Silvermine but I really would like them back. Thanks!
Skip
you want to test GROUP RIDES? what a fucking idiot.
Skip, I found your 50 watts leaning against your car. Thanks. It’s chained up in my cellar dungeon next to Schmalz’s front wheel.
DeCanio is an idiot
Buhhhhh…id rather spend the rest of my in michael ball’s jeans closet than read another black helicopter-style stolen underground post….tell the doc to switch you to decaf lithium
Great day in the saddle, now we want, we demand pictures of ourselves in our skinsuits in our team time trial, yes we demand pictures or we’ll never do a TTT again.
guy goes pro, guy can’t cut it with doped up riders, guy comes home, smokes doobie, buys a benzo & pimps it up with 19s, soon finds himself living in a van, down by the river, eating government cheese and rolling more doobie, blah blah blah.
that was so mid-late 90’s…
the drugs are much better now. get with the program.
http://velonews.com/photo/92917
Kudos to Mike Green – Is this guy doing it for CRCA or what – we are lucky to have such a dedicated Pres.
Great TT event today! Thanks to all involved in staging it – well done!
Stolen Underground in the meantime is about to give up on the United States.
“If Obama didn’t win I think I would have already moved out of America. Currently I am seeking a European sponsor or team that can support me and other racers from America. USA Cycling is probably the most corrupt organization within the USOC. They have for a fact let Tammy Thomas compete after failing tests for using testosterone. They play me down in the media and do everything in their power to shut me up, get me fired and all of the jack ass lame racers in America are just monkey pawns for the big game scared to back me up. Honestly, I think the only people who will listen are the French. I am sure Lance and Bill Stapleton will be doing everything in their power to keep me from racing with the French. My plan is to race for the French and to tell the French people about how I have been treated and fired for posting articles about Lance Armstrong and the USOC found in From Lance to Landis. I will make the French see that Lance is not welcome in France even if he is part owner of the Tour de France and buddy buddy with the corrupt UCI. This is war against the sport and these fat doping corrupt bastards are going to be taken down by me. I just need one team to get me back on the bike and I will make it happen.”-Matt DeCanio
tune in, turn on, drop out…
decanio sounds like a sponsor’s dream. certainly in no way a liability for anyone looking to put some money into the sport.
thank you for introducing me to the insanity that is matt decanio!
look for witness marks on the spacer in between your 11t and 12t. this is caused by the powerlink and/or possibly the chain itself hitting the spacer between your 11t and 12t.
if you see these witness marks you have some options, keep riding with the powerlink/chain until it wears a depression into the spacer. file just a bit off the rounded edge of the powerlink to reduce the contact to the spacer. use a spacer from an older cassette (if you have one) that already has deep witness marks.