I've been running Trek bikes mostly (when bought new) and what ever
frame I find in empty lots (when used), currently I'm riding around on
a Mongoose frame.
It has been my main transportation day to day as I live near public
transpo for longer hauls, and other than recreational driving, I like
leaving the car at home.
This puts me in the saddle quite a bit so I end up tuning the thing in
these ways:
- Replace most nuts/bolts with Stainless Steel. Example would be the
bolts holding the bike rack to the frame. Rust has its place, but not
on my nuts. (har)
- Replace most nuts with Nylon capture nuts. (See the next entry.)
- Locktite on most threads. I hate rattling thing loose, esp when it
never falls off in the driveway, but way in the outback somewhere.
- Replace most Quick-Release with hex/allen/torx, etc fasteners. I
like to perhaps keep one wheel quick-release, but not both. It helps
when locking the bike up; Quick in/out means just locking through the
frame and the quick-release wheel. Longer times away mean putting the
two wheels together and locking through both. And then there is the
often 'throw it in the Car...' trips.
- Seat comfort. I find I like that gel material, but not enough to
have purchased an integrated seat. I use a slip on cover instead.
Having it look all one piece gets a little tricky but it can be done.
- On that note I dislike frame suspension as too heavy. Instead I have
simple shock in the seat tube. Front forks are currently solid but as
they got damaged I might swap to something with a disk brake mount.
Maybe shocks up front. (Naah, maybe not.)
- I generally find the twist grip shifter pretty useless over the long
haul. Never have I had a component fail on me more, across different
manufacturers. (Except for getting flat tires.)
I like a shifter I can put my thumb on and work while the other parts
of my hands hold on and steer. Frees up brain cells for navigation.
Twisty shifters? Off they go.
Now we start looking at rims and tires.
So far I've been just replacing knobby off-road tires with smoother
treads and gumwall sides with all black rubber. But I've been eyeing
(or have they been eyeing me?) these super-duper kevlar bonded,
kryptonite based, gold plated, moonbeam infused, green tea seeped
bicycle tires.
They all sound great on the back of the package, but I don't do
Centuries, I need to get out and back reliably. I'd like to save
weight but durability and rolling resistance are the two key factors.
Somewhere in there is a lack of flashiness; no red/yellow/neon green
tires need apply.
Also I have been riding around with a rear rim that has a bend to it.
<grrrr> I'd swap it out but I really like the super big 1st gear it
has so I just brake w/ the front end for the most part.
Do double wall rims make for a good choice when fighting potholes and
jumping curbs and so on?
My bike wheel philosophy:
- Strong/Light rim.
- Large Diameter Rim.
- Thorn 'proof' tubes.
- Smooth-ish Tires, all black.
- Inflation on the high side of the range.
- Back rim non-quick release.
OK, dems me thinks,
TBerk
Oh, and for a time I thought _I_ had invented the Hybrid. silly me.