LOL. Compared to sitting on a 10F portapotty seat, bike
stuff is pretty boring. To avoid having to go out there, I'm
sure to get lots of practice exercising control of certain
muscles over the next few weeks.
Today I was glad for the transit strike. I'm the driver of
my neighborhood carpool so NO standing outside in frigid
temps. Our blast of winter was only a one-day thing. We
return to 35F tomorrow, up to the mid-40sF over the weekend
and extending into next week.
I did mention on the phone with the owner today that I chose
to patronize his shop for the very reasons you cite. He
seemed to appreciate the comments, but... We'll see. If he
keeps hiring high school kids to run the shop in his
absence, he needs to do a better job of training.
BINGO! You found a picture of my front brake. I think the
left side of the black accordion brake boot is supposed to
fit into the slot on the quick release mechanism, but I
can't make it fit. That's what I need this guy to show me. I
also need help getting the seat in the right position and at
the right height.
OK, that's as much thinking about this stuff as I can handle
for tonight.
I'm indebted to you for all your assistance.
On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 19:21:13 -0800, Fred
<
[email protected]> wrote:
>I will skip the boring bike stuff and go right to the
>portapotti at 10F!!!!! Yes, reminds of winter camping and
>why I do it so infrequently (g)
>
>Yup, I would not want to ride in that either. Rarely these
>days below freezing even - very rarely.
>
>Good luck with THE OWNER. I think that I would also
>emphasize when you do see him that you purposely went with
>the small local place expecting some personal service.
>Maybe he will remember that, emphasize it with his
>employees and also help with future tuneups.
>
>Best getting full satisfaction and going above 32F again
>sometime before July! (G)
>
>Here's a pic of a v brake and frankly, it gives me no clue
>(G)
>
>
http://www.bikesmart.com/index.cfm?menu=browse&cid=BRK&ssi-
>d=PAOHADGIDFGFJHAK&ap=39.99&StartRow=1
>
>I see there are various models with the same design. If I
>can get to a bike shop tomorrow I will see what I learn (G)
>
>On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 18:03:17 -0600, Prairie Roots
><
[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Wow. More thanks to you.
>>
>>I'm out the door in the morning before the full crew
>>arrives to hack at my house. None of the bike riders I've
>>talked to at work are familiar with the Shimano V brake
>>I've got. I called the bike shop today and asked to speak
>>to the owner. I came up with that idea on my own without
>>the prior benefit of reading suggestion below. <G>
>>
>>I told the shop owner (Dan) what happened last night,
>>explained that I'm new to biking and bikes, and then asked
>>if perhaps his shop prefers customers who are experienced
>>cyclists and racers. If so, I'd be grateful for a referral
>>to another bike shop willing to cater to a novice. No, no,
>>he assured me that he appreciates my business and will do
>>whatever is necessary to make me happy. He couldn't
>>explain over the phone how to reconnect my brake, but he
>>told me enough that I know I'm doing something wrong. Dan
>>told me to come in either tomorrow before 6 p.m. or
>>Saturday any time and to ask for him. He'll walk me
>>through all the parts of the bike and make sure I
>>understand everything about it. I'll see how it goes. I'll
>>bring my receipt and all the stuff I bought just in case I
>>need to return everything.
>>
>>We've returned to winter for a bit -- it's 10F -- so I'm
>>not in any hurry this evening to be riding around the
>>block on a bicycle. Shoot, it's too cold to be going
>>outside to use the portapotty. Sometimes, though, a person
>>just has to suck it up and do the hard thing.
>>
>>Again, thank you so much for your assistance. Some of the
>>links I'd found on my own. Nice to know I was on right
>>track. I've bookmarked them all for future reference. No
>>doubt I'll have more questions.
>>
>>On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 06:50:11 -0800, Fred
>><
[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>Maybe there is a bikie where you work or in the building
>>>or at least someone mechanically inclined. How 'bout one
>>>of those brawny workmen
>>>- motorcycles, perhaps (G)
>>>
>>>Good luck. I would ask to speak to the shop owner (unless
>>>that is who you dealt with already). Clearly, they may
>>>think you will not be buying another bike and so don't
>>>really care but most shops want the loyalty since there
>>>are all kinds of accessories one may come back for. I
>>>know this may be unwanted advice, but you can be honest
>>>and explain you have not had a bike in years and really
>>>do need help in understanding how it works - calipers and
>>>cables and latches (there really are a number of ways of
>>>"loosening" the brakes around the rim and even I had to
>>>figure it out on my newest bike where the lever that did
>>>it was well-integrated and not all that obvious. Some are
>>>on the brake lever (the handbar thingie), some are on the
>>>calipers (the part that tightened at the tire) and some
>>>use the "Y" cable and just slip out of a fitting also
>>>near the wheel rim.
>>>
>>>On the lever area - move the lever and look it over -
>>>there may be something that moves in or neaer the slot
>>>between the moving handle and the brake body by the
>>>handlebar. On the caliper, also a little sliding part on
>>>one arm or the other on the caliper (can be well-
>>>camoflarged). The Y cable is more easy to spot.
>>>
>>>And, yes, there may be a turning barrel but that allows
>>>slight adjustments and tweaking if the brakes squeak or
>>>as the pads wear down a bit.
>>>
>>>On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 06:26:17 -0600, Prairie Roots
>>><
[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Many many thanks for your replies. My bike has different
>>>>brakes front and back so no help there. F: Shimano V
>>>>brake / Shimano Nexus lever;
>>>>R: Shimano Nexus / Shimano AutoD dual control lever.
>>>>
>>>>I think I've got it figured out but I'll look at the
>>>>sites you found and also follow your advice about calmly
>>>>ranting. I paid by check--it cleared last week--so no
>>>>recourse there.
>>>>
>>>>I'm not up on the terminology of brake parts, but I've
>>>>got the cable hooked into the right slot, but there's a
>>>>"rubber" accordion thing covering the cable that I
>>>>thought also fit into the hook. But I can't make it work
>>>>that way.
>>>>
>>>>So I'll take my hard-won owner's manual with me to work
>>>>today, study the book, study the links you found for me,
>>>>call the bike shop, look for some alternative bike
>>>>shops, and give it another go tonight. Pics online if I
>>>>have to.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks again. I really appreciate the effort you made
>>>>to help.
>>>>
>>>>Linda P
>>>>
>>>>On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 20:19:46 -0800, Fred
>>>><
[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Sorry about the delay but I have been searching for
>>>>>sites that might help.
>>>>>
>>>>>First, do you have the link for you bike model again?
>>>>>That might have info on the brake type. Or at least a
>>>>>pic of it.
>>>>>
>>>>>Here's one link - page down and see if your brake looks
>>>>>like the 2nd picture??? (see below)
>>>>>
>>>>>
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cantilever-adjustment.html
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Also, usually the front and rear have the same type so
>>>>>look at the rear one and see if you can figure it out.
>>>>>
>>>>>There are generally two types of brakes. One has a
>>>>>pretty rigid metal caliper stuff and the release is
>>>>>might be at the brake level (handle bars) or a small
>>>>>clip like thing down by the brake shoes (rubber pads).
>>>>>
>>>>>The other uses a "Y" cable type of arrangement and the
>>>>>release is just a small BUMP on the end of the cable
>>>>>that slips into a slot/fitting on the metal caliper.
>>>>>You need to squeeze the pad holders to the wheel to
>>>>>slip the cable's bump into the fitting. In that web
>>>>>site's pic, the words "anchor bolt" overlay the end of
>>>>>the wire/cable where the bump fits into the brake.
>>>>>
>>>>>Now, I would call the shop and RANT CALMLY. Did you use
>>>>>a credit card? Suggest you might withhold or challenge
>>>>>the payment unless they give you some additional
>>>>>support. They should also generally include one free
>>>>>checkup since cables stretch a bit.
>>>>>
>>>>>I really am sorry this is not turning out terrific.
>>>>>
>>>>>Also here's a Minn bike link. Some thing there may
>>>>>offer some info:
>>>>>
>>>>>
http://www.mikebentley.com/bike/states/mn.htm
>>>>>
>>>>>More questions?
>>>>>
>>>>>It really is hard in text like this - hey, digital
>>>>>camera? a quick pic? On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 20:34:11 -
>>>>>0600, Prairie Roots <
[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>I picked up my bike today. I love it, but I'm more
>>>>>>than a little irritated with the shop where I
>>>>>>purchased it. No help whatsoever. "There's your bike,
>>>>>>thanks. Bye." I had to ask for an owner's manual. No
>>>>>>offer to show me anything, or to help me get it into
>>>>>>my van. Nothing. Nada. One of the customers who was
>>>>>>leaving the store right behind me saw me struggling
>>>>>>and came over to help. He showed me how to take the
>>>>>>front tire off by releasing the lever on the front
>>>>>>fork. He also showed me how to release the brake
>>>>>>cable. Apparently I can learn only one thing at a
>>>>>>time. I got the tire back on but I can't figure out
>>>>>>how to reconnect the brake. I think it's a sidepull or
>>>>>>centerpull type.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>So here's my question. Do you know of any Web sites
>>>>>>with clear and easy instructions for how to reconnect
>>>>>>my bike brake? I've been Googling but not coming up
>>>>>>with anything. My owner's manual isn't much help.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Thanks for any pointers. Linda P
>>>>>>232/159.6/WW goal 145 joined WW Online 22-Feb-2003
>>
>>Linda P
>>232/159.6/WW goal 145 joined WW Online 22-Feb-2003
Linda P
232/159.6/WW goal 145 joined WW Online 22-Feb-2003