Mark, you were under the impression because you voted for and coined the term “racing Platypus”! 🤣 And I *jokingly* went along with it, but who can tell over text? No, I always planned for my 2nd bike to be lighter and not meant for hauling (but I still think of it as a racing Platypus, though I’ve taken to calling it The Rowdy Platypus since it doesn’t always behave). BUT, the thing is, it’s tough not to have carrying capability. I wanted to shed my puffy down vest the other day and was forced to sweat in it all the way home because the Platy had nothing to take it from me. I can think of times I’ve been on a date with JP in my MIL’s little lake town, and if I wanted to bring something home from a boutique or restaurant, how would I do that with no bags? I don’t want to be limited to my Clem for most of my rides, though I adore it.
So, I’m compromising. I’ll get the light R51 rack and use it to support a Small Saddlesack in gray grid, which arrives today. Little things like keys can go in the Banana Sax in front and items like a hand bag or u lock can go in the Saddlesack. Adventuring and exercise = Platypus. Shopping, commuting = Clementine. Sent from my iPad > On Dec 7, 2020, at 12:16 PM, Mark Roland <absolutegal...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Yes. The impracticality starts to come back though, when, after the second > bike, you convince yourself you need a third, then a fourth, fifth, six, etc. > Now no matter how simple the setup, you are in for some maintenance... > > I was under the (mistaken) impression that the Platypus would be a > no-nonsense racing bike, sans fenders, rack (we'll give you lights, since > night riding is a big thing for Leah). Definitely all that stuff increases > the likelihood of having to diagnose mystery noises. > > Like a toothache, these unwanted sounds tend to get worse, not better, if you > try to ignore them, though I have had occasional success with this approach > (with bikes, not teeth.) Recently my fully equipped El Clem started emitting > a weird, high pitched squeak. It was intermittent and irregular, and it took > be the better part of a week or two (of not trying terribly hard) to realize > it was the left pedal that needed some lubrication. Unfortunately just > squirting it with Boeshield did not do the trick, so I replaced them with > silent pedals and put the offending pair in the To Be Repaired box... > > I have a love hate with building up, repairing, and maintaining my bike > fleet. I like thinking about builds and I like the satisfaction of having > fixed something. And once I'm in the groove of doing, that's fun, too. > > I've been tinkering with my bicycles since I stripped down my > Bridgestone-made C.ITOH in my basement, circa early 1970s. And I do mean > stripped--I took the paint off with toxic remover and a razor blade, right > next to the oil burner. I recall having a few small parts left over, and it > never rode quite the same again, but on the plus side it was now a lime green > just like Janet M.'s Schwinn Continental at the end of the block. > > I've learned a few things over the years, and can get most jobs done and > completed to my satisfaction, but I would not claim to be anything > resembling a master mechanic. But even the possibility of just about anyone > being able to wrench is another thing I love about bicycles. Although this > coming year my plan is to build up the remaining projects in my queue and > then start to make some tough decisions and pair down the bicycles and > bicycle parts and focus a bit more on just ride. Good luck! >> On Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 10:54:35 PM UTC-5 George Schick wrote: >> These paragraphs from Paul contain some of the best overall advice >> associated with owning and riding bicycles I've seen in a long time. I've >> practiced what he says over the years - especially the last decade or two - >> without ever realizing the practically of what I was doing. Well said! >> >> >>> On Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 9:38:03 PM UTC-6 Paul Brodek wrote: >>> None of this is intuitive, so you shouldn't feel bad about not knowing >>> stuff. The more you learn, the less dependent you'll be on mechanics. Most >>> of the mission-critical stuff on a bicycle is right there to see, hear and >>> feel, so observation and inquisitiveness go a long way. Most diagnostics >>> are easier than you think, but some are always stupidly complex. Who'd >>> think a clunk you think you feel in the pedal is a creaky stem, or your >>> shoelace tip, or shoe? >>> >>> A workstand will be a huge help. Lifting your bike up/in/down will build >>> muscle and character. >>> >>> With all that homily stuff outta the way, to hopefully give you a little >>> encouragement, I've got maybe two concrete-ish thoughts to offer. >>> >>> You're doing a lot of mileage, very commendable, on just a couple bikes. >>> That means things will wear quicker, go out of adjustment, maybe loosen up >>> and rattle. Getting into a regular habit of a very quick check before you >>> ride is a good thing. Pick up the bike an inch or two and drop it a couple >>> of times---how does it sound? Everything tight, or some stuff rattling? >>> Spin the wheels, watch the rim at the brake shoes. Rims true, no rubbing?. >>> How do the tire treads/sidewalls look? Tire pressure OK? Lock the front >>> brake and rock the bike a little---headset tight? Push down hard on the >>> bars to make sure it's not slipping. Trap the front wheel between your legs >>> and give the bars/stem a little twist---shouldn't turn. Squeeze/release the >>> brake levers, make sure everything feels right. Then head out the door. >>> >>> Once every few rides, once/wk, coupla weeks, whatevs, regularly and >>> relatively frequently also checking all the nuts/bolts is also a good >>> thing. >>> >>> I get the impression that both of your bikes have relatively complex/full >>> builds. Fenders, racks, dynamos, I dunno what else. One of the benefits of >>> multiple bikes is potentially setting one up a little simpler, so there's >>> less maintenance required, less to go wrong. If you don't have a lot of >>> rain, mud, etc, maybe one bike with fenders and one without? Tires can't >>> rub fenders, and fenders can't come loose, if you ain't got fenders. This >>> may not be practical in Las Vegas, where you ride, etc, and aesthetics also >>> come into play, but it may be worth thinking about. >>> >>> When I only had one bike, it had to do everything. Once I had two, one had >>> the fenders/racks/etc for commuting/hauling/raining, the other was >>> less-encumbered as the go-fast bike. Even though I didn't/couldn't go fast. >>> I could still commute on it in nice weather, just couldn't take as much >>> stuff with me. The go-fast needed a lot less attention, less muss, less >>> fuss. That's maybe not the current Riv ideal, and nobody who thinks a >>> well-appointed bike should have all the stuff is wrong, because, it's like, >>> their opinion, man. But I like the simplicity of also having one without a >>> lot of stuff. >>> >>> Paul Brodek >>> Hillsdale, NJ USA >>> >>> >>>> On Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 8:12:41 PM UTC-5 Joe Bernard wrote: >>>> Hehe, 2019 was the year I discovered I have arthritis at the base of my >>>> thumbs. I could tell because every ride I could hear a noise, it was me >>>> shouting "Ouch!" >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> On Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 4:54:27 PM UTC-8 Brady Smith wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I concur with all the advice about getting your own work stand. I bought >>>>> a basic Park Tool stand a few years ago and went from relying on the shop >>>>> for everything to doing everything but wheel builds on my own. Entirely >>>>> worth it. >>>>> >>>>> I’m also a stickler for noises. A few weeks ago I started up my long >>>>> local climb and heard an audible click every time I turned the pedals. I >>>>> spent a few hundred yards switching between pedaling and not pedaling, >>>>> remaining seated and getting out of the saddle, only to locate the source >>>>> of the problem—a creaky left knee. 2020 is officially the year I’ve >>>>> started to feel old. >>>>>> On Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 6:37:15 PM UTC-5 Joe Bernard wrote: >>>>>> I'm just confessing I DIDN'T check. Because Joe Bernard, Master Mechanic >>>>>> Who Knows All The Things, is kinda not smart! 🙃 >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 3:31:46 PM UTC-8 Bicycle Belle Ding >>>>>>> Ding! wrote: >>>>>>> Guys, it’s NOT it. I know this because I use to cause it with my shoe >>>>>>> too close to the where the pedal connected to the crank on my old >>>>>>> Clementine, you know I checked. But that’s not it on The Rowdy >>>>>>> Platypus. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sent from my iPad >>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Dec 6, 2020, at 3:28 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Dude, that's a good call. I've had the "rubbing clothes on things" >>>>>>>> issue before, and it was the LAST thing I thought about after checking >>>>>>>> every freaking nut and bolt and pad and chainring on the bike. This >>>>>>>> could be it! >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 3:19:45 PM UTC-8 Matthew Williams >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> If the noise occurs while you're on the bike but not while it's on >>>>>>>>> the stand, maybe you're the cause of the sound! >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Let me explain--recently, my bike had a "click, click, click" sound I >>>>>>>>> heard only while I was pedaling--I couldn't figure out of it was a >>>>>>>>> pedal bearing, the bottom bracket, something stuck in the chain, or >>>>>>>>> something else. Then I watched carefully as I pedaled, and saw my >>>>>>>>> pant cuff was bumping against the derailleur cable end. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> In your photos, I noticed you're wearing a pair of brown leather >>>>>>>>> boots--could your boot heel, side, or cuff be bumping the fender as >>>>>>>>> your foot returns around the crank? >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Dec 6, 2020, at 2:20 PM, Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com> >>>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Hi Friends! >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Well, you tried. And I read every suggestion - including one an iBob >>>>>>>>>> sent to Patrick Moore to send to me; thank you, iBob guy! - and took >>>>>>>>>> them to the shop with my two bikes. The guy who greeted me looked >>>>>>>>>> rather surprised to see me again and immediately called out, >>>>>>>>>> “NNNIIIICCCCCOOOO!” >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> “Oh, hi, Leah!” said Nico, who now, embarrassingly, remembers me by >>>>>>>>>> name. “What’s going on now?” >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> “This is a rowdy Platypus,” I said. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> 1. Platypus. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I could not make that bike create the rub for love nor money! I had >>>>>>>>>> the video, which proved I’m not a crazy person looking for excuses >>>>>>>>>> to visit Nico at the bike shop. When he could not determine the >>>>>>>>>> cause, I read him your lists of guesses as to the origin of the >>>>>>>>>> sounds. He checked everything - everything! - and not one thing was >>>>>>>>>> rubbing. He made sure everything was tight (it was.). Cables and >>>>>>>>>> wires were situation correctly. Bolts were not interfering with >>>>>>>>>> moving parts. The rear fender is close to the chainstays, but the >>>>>>>>>> paint was unmarred so, doubtful. He put a clear sticker there to see >>>>>>>>>> if it gets scratched, but then did me one better and crimped the >>>>>>>>>> fender away from the stay. He rode it aggressively in the parking >>>>>>>>>> lot and The Rowdy Platypus behaved like a champ. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I decided that I’m going to ride this thing regardless and hope that >>>>>>>>>> mechanical parts have a tendency break in and straighten out. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> 2. Clementine. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> “You brought the blue bike back, too? What’s wrong with it now?!” >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I played the video (thank goodness I had proof) and Nico said it >>>>>>>>>> wasn’t a brake pad. He confirmed this on the stand. It was a little >>>>>>>>>> bit of a mystery but he dropped both wheels and allllllll the fender >>>>>>>>>> bolts were loose under there. Like, LOOSE. This reminds me that >>>>>>>>>> someday I’m going to open a bike and coffee shop we’ll call The >>>>>>>>>> Wiggly Fender, because I have a history of this, but I digress. >>>>>>>>>> Nothing else was found to be wrong with the Clem, so we’re hoping >>>>>>>>>> that takes care of the noise. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I took The Rowdy Platypus and the Clem back home and I put that >>>>>>>>>> Platypus through its paces. 17.1 miles, I took it, because that’s >>>>>>>>>> the exact mileage I needed to make my 3,000 mile goal for 2020. >>>>>>>>>> That’s for another thread. The bike mostly behaved itself with >>>>>>>>>> minimal rubbing sounds on 2 occasions. There’s no friction or >>>>>>>>>> resistance as I pedal, so I guess that’s good. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Thanks for helping me along. ♥️ >>>>>>>>>> Leah >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPad >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> On Dec 6, 2020, at 1:10 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> The most maddening noises for me are the ones like Leah's current >>>>>>>>>>> conundrum, where it only appears while on the bike and riding. I >>>>>>>>>>> have a bike stand and know most of the adjustment tricks on a >>>>>>>>>>> bicycle, but this does me no good if I can't make the noise in the >>>>>>>>>>> stand. It's the home mechanic equivalent of taking your car to the >>>>>>>>>>> shop and it won't do the thing there that it's been doing >>>>>>>>>>> EVERYWHERE ELSE 😠🤦 >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> On Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 8:34:03 PM UTC-8 Joe Bernard >>>>>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>> I've been there, embarrassingly so. Years ago I bought a Dahon >>>>>>>>>>>> folding bike all decked out with fenders, racks and a dynohub..the >>>>>>>>>>>> first dyno I'd ever even seen live in person. The dang thing made >>>>>>>>>>>> a heck of a racket and I finally decided this can't be normal and >>>>>>>>>>>> I was beside myself about what to do about it. Then I gave the >>>>>>>>>>>> front wheel one more spin with my hand. The tire was rubbing a >>>>>>>>>>>> fender stay. Pulled the stay away from the tire, problem solved. >>>>>>>>>>>> Joe Bernard, Master Bike Mechanic Knows All The Things 🤦 >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> On Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 8:09:37 PM UTC-8 Bicycle Belle >>>>>>>>>>>>> Ding Ding! wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>>> All I want to do is just ride my raspberry Platypus. I have >>>>>>>>>>>>> goals, a 3,000 mile one for 2020, in fact, and I am 17.1 miles >>>>>>>>>>>>> from reaching it. But instead of basking in that, I have been >>>>>>>>>>>>> riding around stressed out by all the new sounds/ticks/rubs/whirs >>>>>>>>>>>>> that my new bike is making. Add to that the extra stress of not >>>>>>>>>>>>> having the capability to fix things myself, which means a 40 >>>>>>>>>>>>> minute drive across town to the bros at the shop, who now know me >>>>>>>>>>>>> on a first name basis. Embarrassing. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Let me be clear - Rivendell built the perfect frame. It’s getting >>>>>>>>>>>>> all these parts and wiring and fenders and gears to work, that’s >>>>>>>>>>>>> the problem. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> I tell you, I remember this with the Clem, too. I could tell it >>>>>>>>>>>>> was a great bike, so much fun to ride, not that I was having much >>>>>>>>>>>>> fun... I was riding around, swerving, with my head cocked >>>>>>>>>>>>> analyzing foreign sounds and vibrations coming from this strange >>>>>>>>>>>>> beast beneath me. Maybe the shop installed stuff wrong, I’d think >>>>>>>>>>>>> (which was the case more than once). Maybe something has come >>>>>>>>>>>>> loose and the bike is about to fall apart beneath me, I’d think. >>>>>>>>>>>>> But the Clem got all ironed out and became perfect and now here I >>>>>>>>>>>>> am at ground zero again with this pretty Platypus. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Today I went 22 miles, but not without complications. Both the >>>>>>>>>>>>> Clem and the Platypus have something rubbing. I rode around on >>>>>>>>>>>>> the Platypus in bad form leaning my ear to hear - “Is that one >>>>>>>>>>>>> sound or two sounds?” “Is that rubbing or a strange vibrating?” >>>>>>>>>>>>> “Is this what the Schmidt dyno hub sounds like? I don’t think my >>>>>>>>>>>>> Shutter Precision makes this sound.” “Maybe it’s the fender.” >>>>>>>>>>>>> “What if the tape is coming off the dyno wiring?” “I think that >>>>>>>>>>>>> screw is too close!” Lastly, the stem started clicking when I >>>>>>>>>>>>> apply light pressure to it. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> And this game has been going on since the Friday after >>>>>>>>>>>>> Thanksgiving when I assumed custody of this rowdy Platypus. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> All I want is to stop playing this game. Ride my bike in peace, >>>>>>>>>>>>> which means listening to the familiar whirring and humming as I >>>>>>>>>>>>> pedal. I want to feel how nice the ride is, instead of being >>>>>>>>>>>>> distracted by sounds that could be indicative of doom. I don’t >>>>>>>>>>>>> want rubs, clicks, or anything janky going on. I want familiar! >>>>>>>>>>>>> It has me completely bummed out; a heaviness of heart, that’s >>>>>>>>>>>>> what I’m having. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> What I want to know if if the rest of you experience this agony. >>>>>>>>>>>>> It’s not easy to admit, for fear of looking ungrateful. Fact is, >>>>>>>>>>>>> I am wholeheartedly grateful for this bike, and it is one of the >>>>>>>>>>>>> few good things to happen to me in 2020. But will this >>>>>>>>>>>>> long-awaited bike ever get straightened out? >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> So, who else can relate and what stories do you have? It would >>>>>>>>>>>>> feel nice if this was normal, instead of being unique to >>>>>>>>>>>>> mechanically-challenged me. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> In the next post I’ll include a video what the bike was doing to >>>>>>>>>>>>> me today. Name that sound! >>>>>>>>>>>>> Leah >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in >>>>>>>>>>> the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/NxxUYLKcgoc/unsubscribe. >>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>>>>>>>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/1bf31898-c2c9-49e8-9e8b-1a033ea1ee7cn%40googlegroups.com. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>>>> send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/DA351E2F-447F-46A5-B5E2-907CA6E2BCF0%40gmail.com. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>>>>>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/NxxUYLKcgoc/unsubscribe. >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>>>>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/22374108-a05e-4459-ad22-fbee3995e1a0n%40googlegroups.com. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google > Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this topic, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/NxxUYLKcgoc/unsubscribe. > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b02971ac-f5a5-4c4f-864a-c1de2f28b231n%40googlegroups.com. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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