Texas shout out!

dallasbikr

Anyone in DFW area frequent these forums? I saw a Houston thread WAAAYY down there...

I'm up north of Denton, but might start driving into Dallas for decent group rides as I get back in shape...

Sound off if we're neighbors

DallasBikr

Jakebrake

Distant neighbors, Austin here.

dallasbikr

Hey there...what is a JakeBrake? I see signs in small town that have ordinances against using them...

Jakebrake

See how infamous I am? Small cities all across this great country have passed ordinances against my use.

Actually, "Jakebrakes" are compression release engine braking systems. They are called that because Jacobs Vehicle Systems originally made this kind of braking system for big rigs.

Have you ever heard a tractor slowing down, and then all of a sudden you hear a loud noise that kind of sounds like "BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"? Those are jakes being engaged.

For the technical answer on how these work ......

The basic idea behind a Jake Brake is to use the engine to provide braking power. If you own a stick shift car and have ever downshifted to provide braking, you understand part of the idea. When you brake a car by downshifting, you are using engine vacuum to slow the car down.

A Jake Brake goes a step further, and actually turns the engine into an air compressor to provide a great deal more braking power. If you have read How Car Engines Work, then you know that the engine goes through a compression stroke. Compressing the air in the cylinder takes power. If the engine's drive shaft is turning the engine to brake the truck, the power used to compress the air is braking power. However, that power is stored in the cylinder, so if you let it, the compressed air simply pushes the piston back down. Therefore, you don't really get any braking at all from the compression stroke on an unmodified engine.

A Jake Brake modifies the timing on the exhaust valves so that, when braking is desired, the exhaust valves open right as the piston reaches the top of the compression stroke. The energy gathered in the compressed air is released, so the compression stroke actually provides braking power.

The main advantage of a Jake Brake is that it saves wear on the normal brakes. This is especially important on long downhill stretches.

dallasbikr

I figured it was something along those lines....but what do some areas have against them? Noise?

Jakebrake

Yep, noise ordinances, they are quite loud.

Throw in the fact that some communities might have a well travelled route running through their town and one or two steep graded hills coming in or out and trucks driving through all hours of the day, I guess I can understand people not wanting to hear Jakes barking out at 2 A.M.

hughes

John here, I`m in FT.worth.There are several regular rides from this area. Chk. Ft Worth bike club,Bikes Inc.Loanstar rd.Club.

dallasbikr

HI John...I used to ride with Richardson Bike Mart "No Drop" medium speed group, but its been years. Do you have a preference of the groups you mentioned?

adamallstar

h-town represent

pcdallas

I live in Plano and have been looking to start going on a few group rides myself. There seems to be some pretty decent 30-40 mile routes not too far from here that might be worth checking out!

dallasbikr

http://www.planobicycle.org/ I haven't been with these guys, but they are close to you. Richardson Bike Mart used to do a moderate pace 30 mile ride on Saturday mornings that was a pretty decent run.

pcdallas

Thanks for the website! I checked out a few others like www.bicycletexas.com where they have posted some organized rides. I have been cycling since July and would like to meet some people to ride with on occasion as I normally train by myself. (still only around 16 to 17 mph on the 30 mile rides)

szbert

I'm in McKinney.

__________________
Titanium frames soothe saddle sores.

dallasbikr

There was a page on local cycling routes in today's Health Lving Section of the morning news if anyone needs a new route