Behind closed doors at Ok Velo

Chuck's Multi Tool

2010-03-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

The boys across the street at Dixon Dudes Metal Werks tacked a Shimano lock ring tool, Shimano BB tool, a Campi lock ring and BB tool, and an ISIS BB tool onto a piece of bar stock for me

Pretty neat, what?

Chuck's Tool Box - Chain Tools

2010-01-01T07:23:00.001-08:00

I'd like think that I have had one of every chain tool that has come down the pike, knot necessarily "true" butt close!

If had to have just chain tool, this wood be it!

An IceToolz (ex Lifu) LF 61UO; what I like about it is that the threaded drilled out back plate will snug up on the inner chain plate and hold the chain link it sans bending when the chain pin is driven out, it will work with chains up to ten (10) speed (have yet to try it on eleven (11) speed chains yet, my guess it that it will work o.k.

(more on chain tools later)

Cardiff Saddle (pseudo Brooks)

2009-12-30T07:13:00.000-08:00

New Saddle At The Shoppe

I'm trying out a "Brooksish" Cardiff Gull saddle on my SomaFab Smoothie ES, it tensions with an allen wrench pretty much like a Brooks, they come in brown and black

This saddle is showing up under different guises, Gyes, Velo Orange, and in several different models, avec springs etc., a' la Brooks

The rail section is quite long which gives it a bit of back-forth positioning

It measures "about" 155mm x 280mm; a bit longer and narrower than a B-17, probably the same saddle as Velo Orange's #6

Intro out the door @ $70

Chuck's Tool Box - Velora BB Tool

2009-12-29T13:30:00.000-08:00

How 'bout this little jewel?

My Swiss Velora UN-* bottom bracket tool

The spring loaded center bolt threads into the spindle and secures the tool in the BB cups and keeps the tool from "walking" in the cups and chewing up the splines (screwed?)

The lever arm can slide through the cup holder/tool body and should more force be required a "cheater" can be slid over the lever arm; I have a four foot (4') piece of 2" square stock that hasn't failed to to get a reluctant BB cartridge or cups out of the BB shell (gonna paint it blue and call it a Calvin Bar

Velo Orange Cartidge Bottom Brackets

2009-12-29T06:15:00.000-08:00

I got a couple of Velo Orange cartridge bottom brackets to try

Note on the top left, right BB, there seems to be a seal in the right unit's left cup (dizzy/confused yet, have a beer!) The observant amongst you readers might note that the right/drive side cup also has a seal

I can't remember the last square taper cartridge BB I saw with a cup with a seal in it, maybe a Real or RaceFace...........whatever

In any case, the fact of "an extra layer of protection" twixt elements and cartridge bearing is a nice feature, Phil W's BB units have been "criticized" for having the cartridge seals exposed!

The other BB unit is a Tange (Japan) that is a bit smoother turning than the Velo Orange and is more $ (this is knot say the Velo Orange unit is rough!)

(more later)

New Repair Stand Clamp

2009-12-28T17:40:00.000-08:00

The top clamp is my old Ulitmate Pro after market clamp that I have been using on my shoppe Park FRS-1 and PCS-1 folding stands

The bottom clamp is Feedback Sports new after market Pro clamp

Feedback Sports "bought out" Ultimate's bicycle storage and repair line; they had a very nice booth/display at Inter Bike this year where/when I ordered the new clamp

I'll keep the old clamp on my PCS and the new clamp on the FRS at the shoppe; the clamp is quite robust and will accommodate bigger tube

Both clamps close on the tube being clamped simply by pushing the outer/movable jaw in and then securing with the knob

The clamp is released by slight left turn of knob and pull back (old clamp) and taping the red button behind the fixed jaw (new clamp)

I have yet to pinch a brake wire running along the top tube with either clamp

MKS M.M. Cube Pedals

2009-12-28T16:49:00.000-08:00

MKS M.M. Cube Pedals

These are probably the best SPD type pedals that folks ain't herd of or tried!

Velo Orange sells them and touts them as being one of their favorite pedals

I've tried quite a few SPDs (and variants) Cranks Bros, Keywin Mudman and the MKS pedals top them all

This pic shows the EZY release crank attachment (like an air hose chuck thingy) which might be a nice feature to have on a spare bike to swap out pedals

These pedals are very easy in and out and have quite a bit of float

Cartridge bearings no less

Mrs D et self have been using these pedals with Shimano and Lake sandals year round; I also have a pear of Keywin Mudman pedals that are nice, Ti spindle and very lite butt $+; the Mudmans are the easiest of any pedal I've tried to get out of!

2010 LHT (from InterBike)

2009-10-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

This is a 2010 26" wheeled 56 or 58cm in the new "Blue" at the Surly booth at InterBike @ Las Vegas last month

Nojuan asked my butt my druthers wood have been to start the 700c wheels @ 52cm and larger frames, my guess is that larger 2010 frame with 26' wheels won't sell as well as anticipated (been wrong before!)

LHT (Truckaccino)

2009-10-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

Got a 56cm LHT set up to ride and use as a demo, Axiom Journey rack on the aft

The fenders are J&B's Sun Hybrid, clears stock tires o.k.

Topeak stand in use

2009-05-27T07:24:00.001-07:00

Got that little 19" 620 in the Topeak stand

The bike "seems" to sit at an awkward angle butt its knot a big deal

That "J" hook that secures the down tube has a three (3) layer of inner tube zip tied to it that cushions the clamp detail and lets the "J" hook hold the bike quite securely

A *feature of a work stand that I am increasingly appreciative of is the ability to turn the bike 360" and knot have to walk around the work!

Andrew M wuz in the shoppe yesterday for some tweaking on his C'dale and we popped it on the TACX Cycle Spider for the requisite tweaking and gave it a *spin or two (2) around!

Bike on stand/stand on bike........whatever!

2009-05-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

The stand that the 620 being rehabed is on is the stand from South Africa, quite a sturdy stand if ya ask moi!

That little vino goblet is one of the many pieces that Mrs D et self commissioned from the late Tulsa potter, Ed Davidson

We had Ed do a one (1) litre + Carafe and four (goblets) set for the Parkers for a wedding presentoment

Shela and I have a similar set as well as some stemmed ceramic goblets that Ed did for us

More drivelment on work/repair stands..........

2009-05-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

I just got a Topeak Prep Stand Max that I'll keep at the house and leave set up; its sort of an "improved" old Blackburn thingy wherein the bb is cradled and a "U" channeled support track goes up the down tube

A screw down clamp secures the dt and there is anti flop front wheel holder

The plus feature with a stand like this is the front wheel stays on the bike while bike is in stand

I had an old Blackburn that wobbled around a bit and wuz reluctant to hold a small road frame like (Mrs D's) securely (swapped a six (6) pack avec Andrew for it.......sucker!)

..........anyway, this stand is quite reasonable $ wise and has a lot going for it for the home mechanic

I'll give it a "better" shake down later, if it will stay still when a BB goes in/out, it will be o.k.; I've just brakes/fd/rd/cranks on stuff on it

I am rebuilding an 1983 Trek 620 and had it perched in the Topeak Stand this afternoon (5/9/09); I really had knot thot about before butt had appreciated the ability of the TACX stand to turn 360' with the bike/frame in it

I have the stand at it's lowest setting and just loosening the up/down QR and it turns 360! Depending on the nature of the available work space that any work/repair stand is used this feature can be useful!

...in the begining (How I Got Started In This Foolishness

2009-04-05T12:15:00.000-07:00

Quite a few years ago I had taken the Shimano EX600 cranks off my first "good" adult bike (Takara) and was putting them on my "race" 531 Raleigh; I was putting a 110 bcd crankset on the Takara and I went over to Lee's when it wuz on 31st ST and asked about them chasing/cleaning up the bb shell on the Takara before I installed a new bb unit

I wuz advised by the tech type (knot Adam) on the other side of the counter that they'd be happy to do it for and to me and I inquired, "how much?"

"$50"

My body language probably communicated something to the effect, (ya write, the * you will" wherein eliciting the response, "oh, butt we use Campi tools" which I overtly allowed that probably was the case

........anyway, I bought my first serious shoppe grade bicycle tools from The 3rd Hand, a pair of English Hozan BB Chasing taps for $35, did the job in about 10 minutes and still have the Hozan tools!

Repair/Work Stands

2009-04-03T05:34:00.000-07:00

Over the years I have accumulated quite a few work/repair stands and have used them enough to get an idea what works better than another, etc. My first (early/mid 80's probably) real work stand wuz an Avocet which wuz knot much more than a bent piece of muffler pipe

It had a vertical mast and a 90' bend that held a crude clamp detail consisting of two plates (top articulated to close on bottom plate) with a fat grooves to hold the bicycle tube to be clamped via a simple screw detail; the clamp detail rotated 360' securing to where ya wanted it via another simple bent "L" rod that threaded into a nut welded on the extension for the mast (the clamp detail tube fit inside the the extension tube)

It actually was dirt simple, cheap $30 (+)(-) and efficient

It goes with saying that the first requirement of any repair/work stand is it has to be stable; if it ain't, no high end multi adjust clamp or bicycle/frame holding devise is gonna work very well

There are basically two (2) styles of work/repair stands; those that hold the bike by a clamp on a tube and those that cradle the bike on it's BB shell and hold front or rear wheel drop outs in a q/r clamp thingy, both types have advantages

I have an old Park consumer level PCS1 with a two position spring linkage clamp which is o.k. for std steel and less than "fat" Al frame tube, you have to be real careful on thin Al and CF tubes!
It is still used quite a bit and I take it on the road with me and the dogs i.e. MS 150, races, etc

I also have Park's "best" adjustable clamp that will work in the PCS1

The real pukka shoppe stand is a Park two (2) armed FRS/RS, that if bolted down, is most secure to do any work on a frame;

Some years back Trek's WrenchForce marketed a stand made by the Ultimate folks, it is essentially the same stand as the current top pro Ultimate stand; the Ultimate Pro Clamp is the easiest to adjust and best adjustable clamp in my opinion

Ultimate also makes an aftermarket "pro" clamp can be used in Park stands that I have and use in my FRS and PCS work stands

......................thus ends my drivelment on "clamp" type work/repair stands

Velo New's L. Zinn had a very readable piece a few years back about pro mechanics working on bikes behind the scenes at the T de F; uropeeon pro bike wrenching types use the bottom bracket cradling type of work stands more than we see here

The two most visible of the BB holding stands in Zinn's article were the Dutch TACX Cycle Spider and the Park PRS-20/21; I got a Park and TACX to evaluate

Both stands can turn the bike 360' which is a really a nice feature to avoid walking around the bike or turning the bike around in the stand; the Park turns from/around the end of the bike mounting arm which can really keep the crowds back!

The Cycle Spider turns 360' around the center of the bike mounting arm and will hit far less "crap" and knock it on the floor!

I sold two (2) Park PRS-20 stands and kept the Cycle Spider, it is not quite as robust as the Park stand butt I like it and use it quite a bit and am surprised how useful it is!

I just got a new bottom bracket cradling stand made in South Africa of awl places that is really sturdy and simply made of of fairly heavy flat bent steel stock and then galvanized, devoid of whistles and bells and just plain industrial looking.......report on to follow

The bottom line for me:

If I had to choose just one of the repair/work stands that I have, and developed some quantum of experience with, it would be my WrenchForce/Ultimate stand

To close, those little (originally a "Persons" stand) "Y" bottom bracket w/ loop over the down tube storage stands thingies can support more minor maintenance and repair tasks than people realize, $12.00 at OK Velo!