Type 2 Clydesdale Cyclist

Dinnotte: great customer support

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 03:19:00 +0000

I had a really great customer support experience with Dinotte. I have a Dinotte tail light which came with a generous supply of mounting brackets for the seat post, but I needed to mount it on the rear rack.

I called customer support, spoke with Steve, who said he thought he could 3-d print something that would meet the need. I received it in the mail in short order. I was really impressed. My expectation was that when you spend bucks on a gadget, the non-standard mounting bracket you need should be low-cost, and that's generally an OG mindset, but they just mailed it to me. These Dinotte folks earned my loyalty forever.

Also, it's my first real-world use of a 3-d printed piece.

Hazardous Air Quality along the GAP Trail (Great Allegheny Passage)

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 20:18:00 +0000

This is a story of today, the story of 2019, the story of the 1948 Donora Smog, the story of Big Money vs Public Health that's been going on for a very long time. And to be honest, it's a story about privilege and It's All About Me.

In today's Post-Gazette, Chris Briem describes the economies of the Mon Valley. It's a brilliant article. Instead of "why did we lose steel", the writer starts with "why did we have steel?" and then moves into the economics of the loss.

Don't just take my word for it. Ashleigh Deemer, co-Director at Penn Environment, tweeted:

This is the most reasonable, level-headed, non-emotional thing I've seen written about steel in the Mon Valley...maybe ever.
— Ashleigh Deemer (@AshleighDeemer) June 7, 2021

2019

In the winter of 2018-2019, US Steel's Clairton plants had a fire which knocked out several polution-control devices at the Clairton plant. The Allegheny County, PA Public Health Department published several alerts warning of high emissions of sulfur dioxide and other contaminents.

One problem is there's a multitude of tiny municipalities in the warning area, and people don't always have a good sense of the geography and the implications when warnings are provided in words and text, without imagery.

On Jan 18, 2019, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette published this graphic of the areas with air quality concerns affected by US Steel's Clairton plant:

The first thing I'd offer is that the graphic is sort of a geographic Venn diagram - the areas of air quality concerns are all in Allegheny County, and none are in Pittsburgh, PA. So this is an Allegheny County problem and quite obviously not a Pittsburgh problem. To bring it into accountability and individuals, this is an Allegheny County Executive problem and not a Pittsburgh Mayor problem.

The second thing that jumps off the graphic to me is a statement of my own privilege: I look at that map and say, Hey my fave bike trails are in this area where they're telling people to avoid being outside? Why aren't I hearing more about this from the Trails people?

It's my own privilege to focus on the Trails implications of the ongoing Clairton air quality issue. There are old people who will die early, young people who will develop respiratory issues, and middle-aged people who will see their real estate values stay constant because of this pollution. But if it's All About Me, I want to talk about Trails.

This shows the Montour Trail and GAP Trail (Great Allegheny Passage) and the Clairton pollution footprint.

2021

But back to today and my own privilege. Allegheny County actively persuades people to ride the Montour and GAP trails as a matter of economic policy. If you fly into the County-run PIT airport, intending to ride to DC, the baggage claim area offers a workstation for you to re-assemble your bike, and they've built a wonderful airport connector route that takes you to the Montour Trail and thence the Great Allegheny Passage. You can fly in and ride out, straight into the Clairton air pollution zone.

On some days, a different branch of Allegheny County government advertises that people should avoid exertion and avoid being outside in the exact same area. This is a Venn diagram of complete overlap. There's a complete dissonance in the County's activities.

A related anecdote: Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh used to advertise the Pittsburgh Triathalon, which includes a swim in the Allegheny River. On certain days, the County Sewer Authority (ALCOSAN) would flush untreated sewage into the river and advertise that swimming, fishing, boating were unhealthy in the exact same area where the County-City Triathlon was sending people swimming. At least one particvipant was hospitalized.

Fortunately, and in my perspective due to the work of S. Quesen PhD, the river quality is now evaluated daily before Triathalon swimming events.

If the County (appropriately)encourages people to engage in an activity, then the County has an obligation to provide real-time info to participants.

If the County Health Department publishes Air Quality Warnings affecting the Montour Trail and the GAP Trail, the County has an obligation to inform trail users. Signs saying, "air quality warning", or "avoid strenuous activities" would be a great start.

Bike Towing Boat, Alden 18 foot scull

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Fri, 28 May 2021 01:33:00 +0000

I tried to build a bike towing arrangement to move my recently obtained Alden 18foot ocean scull from my house to the lake about a mile away.
For the back of the trailer assembly, I used a two-wheel cradle that's actually a boat dolly used to move the scull around a dockyard. I thought it would do well to carry the bike at low speeds.
For the front of the towing assembly, I used a Bob Trailer I already have, and cut up a box that looked a lot like a postal carton to cradle the bow. The Bob Trailer connects normally to my Surly ECR.
There were two problems. One, when the rear wheels catch any kind of friction or resistance, they tend to just slide off the stern. Not desirable.
Problem Two: the one-wheel bob trailer banks right-left as the bike turns. This induces a rolling force to the boat hull. The back of the hull is strapped into a two-wheeled trailer that follows the surface of the road. This flexy in the front, rigid in the back outcome is not conducive to keeping the hull in the trailer.
It completely failed the road test. But it looked good.
The next plan is to use a two-wheel kids trailer, that's independent of the bike frame banking, on the bow of the boat. Also I'll use some small railings to keep the straps from sliding off the boat.
Parts on order. We'll see.

Coffeeneuring 2020 Complete!

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 00:46:00 +0000
See my 2020 Coffeeneuring Report for documentation of the rides. Thanks to MG for conceiving of the challenge and administering the process every year for ten years!

Coffeeneuring Time of Year

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 16:26:00 +0000

It's that time of year again: Coffeeneuring! It's fun! It's painless! It makes sense during an insane time.
The back story, from many years ago and passed down orally, is that there's a bike activity called randoneuring. Randoneuring is riding bikes for distances, self-supported, within a set of rules. Trust me, it's big in France.
Coffeeneuring is an attempt to
expose people to the randoneuring concept
keep people riding at a time when some put their bikes 'away'
support local coffee shops
demonstrate the importance of bicycle shoppers
and these are all good causes.
Just like most cults, Coffeeneuring has evolved over the years. Now there's merchandise - patches for those who complete the challenge, even the occasional order or coffeeneur-themed sock! At one time the rules were complex, and then very complex, and now they've gotten way simpler with a new emphasis on the Spirit of Coffeeneuring. Draw any parallels you will.
Coffeeneuring is apolitical. It is neight rural or urban. It is international. It is gender inclusive. Here's a link to details.
I hope you enjoy Coffeeneuring in 2020!

Rivnuts - where have they been my whole life?

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 16:28:00 +0000

I have a rear rack on a bike. Eventually, one of the bolts that connect the rack support to the seat tube fell away. When I looked at the whole, expecting to see threading for a bolt, there was just a hole, a bit bigger than I expected.
I took it to a guru who said, Yep you need a RivNut. Click here for Park's view. A RivNut is a rivet that you put into a hole on a bike frame, and when you tighten and deform the rivet, you end up with a smaller threaded hole you can put a bike bolt into.
Absolutely genius.

Coffeeneuring 2019-7, Empire Blvd to Sit & Wonder, Washington Ave and St. Mark's Place

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 08:19:00 +0000

We were unexpectedly out of town, but Brooklyn NYC has bike share so we completed the challenge on a nice day. We checked out two NYC bikeshare bikes, and they were sturdy utilitarian tanks.

All the drivers played nice, and in fact it was a copacetic ride. We each had cold green teas. Total mileage a little over 2 miles.

2019 Coffeeneuring Challenge Complete!

Coffeeneuring 2019-6, Fort Cherry to Walden's in Burgettstown

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 00:47:00 +0000
Coffeeneur 2019-6, week3, w/ Karen Quig along with RC & DC on Panhandle Trail from Ft Cherry to Burgettstown at Walden's at 1709 Main Restaurant. We both had coffee, I had pie and ice cream, she had an omelette. Excellent place, ample bike parking, very friendly.
16 miles.

Coffeeneuring 2019-5, Ambridge to Sewickley

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:50:00 +0000
Coffeeneur 2019-5 with Karen Quig, Ambridge PA to Crazy Mocha Sewickley, 8 miles. Moroccan mint green tea and raspberry hibiscus tea with pound cakes. Bike parking outside.

Coffeeneuring 2019-4, Vanport PA to Cafe Kolache

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 00:21:00 +0000
2019-4, 3 miles, week2, Vanport PA to Cafe Kolache in Beaver PA w Karen. Cold brew coffee and peach iced tea. Cream cheese kolache and spinach/ fetta kolcache. Good wifi, bike racks outside.

Coffeeneur 2019-3 : Fountainhead Cafe

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 16:07:00 +0000
Sunday Oct 20. Coffeeneur 2019-3, Week 2. 3 miles.

Karen and I rode around Monaca and stopped at Fountainhead Cafe. She had an Imago Dei and I had a Turkish coffee. A Turkish coffee and an Imago Dei. Plenty of bike parking, big space, outdoor seating. A John Galt sort of place.

Coffeeneuring 2019-2: Cherry Valley Organics

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 16:14:00 +0000
‎Ride 2019-2, 8 miles. Week 1. October 19 with Karen Quig.

Bulger to Burgettstown PA on paved Panhandle Trail. Stopped at Cherry Valley Organics.

I had an Americano, she had a Tulsi Tea. Two slices of home-made organic cranberry-apple pie. Trailside cafe is adjacent to Walden's at 1709 Main Restaurant. Ample bike parking.

Coffeeneuring 2019-01: Anchor and Anvil

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 16:07:00 +0000
Ride 2019-1, Week 1, October 18, 2 miles.

Rode from Park and Ride to Anchor and Anvil Coffee Bar (Coraopolis, PA).

Coffeeneuring 2019-01 w/ Karen Quig at Anchor and Anvil Coffee Bar She had a Smokestack, I had a Parking Chair, we split a fresh apricot scone. Bike friendly, excellent space, wifi, parking out front.

Surly TV Tray

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 16:41:00 +0000
I"ve just put a Surly TC Tray rack on my legacy Surly front rack. I really like the major platform.

Previously I'd used a Specialized(?) Pizza Rack, but I found the space between the top platform and the upper crossbar you'd mount a pannier on was insufficient.

E-Trike with Doggy Sidecar

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 18:19:00 +0000

I just love this bike. Perfectly suited for the rider and her companion canine (who weighs about 50 pounds)

Front view:

Side view, with doggy platform visible:

Side view, with drive wheel visible:

2019 Coffeeneuring Info Posted

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 16:30:00 +0000
Mary G has posted the dates and policy for the 2019 Coffeeneuring Challenge. It's not a competition, no wagering please.

Curious Fuji Mixte

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 18:05:00 +0000

Encountered this Fuji Mixte, and the flowing third tube in the rear triangle and the way it extends from the seat tube to the down tube seemed unusual and effective - presenting a hand-hold affordance to a person carrying the bike inside, etc.

1964 Sears Bike

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 18:00:00 +0000
Oldest bike I've ever worked on. The customer who brought it in was the original owner, she'd received it for her 13th birthday in 1964 and it's spent decades in her barn's rafters. Beautiful bike. Single speed, coaster brakes.

Seen: Skirt Guard

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 17:53:00 +0000

Saw this Giant manufactured Liv bike, the model is called Suede. It's a Dutch wannabee. I love skirt guards. They virtue-signal for the whole bike: upright position, chain guard, fenders, rear rack, usually a front basket but the owner took it off.

Lite Beer, Fat Bike

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 17:50:00 +0000

I think this must have been a marketing bike, maybe an award in a sales challenge. Low-end components.

Inside a Bafang drive wheel

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 13:36:00 +0000
CAVEAT: Do not try this at home because it will invalidate your warranty and they'll never talk with you again.

This is a photo of the interior of a Bafang ebike drive unit. The diameter is about 10 inches. Spokes come out of this unit and lace to a wheel rim.

To me it's somewhat reminiscent of a radial engine that you'd see on a 1940 aircraft.

Hybrid Tandem Ebike - Pino by Hase

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 00:33:00 +0000
This is a tandem. It's a traditional bike. It's a recumbent. It's an ebike.

It's a Pino by Hase Bikes.

EZ Tri Classic with Bafang E-Bike Kit

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 00:39:00 +0000

This is Maureen's new bike, an EZ Tri Classic with a Bafang e-assist kit installed by Confluence Cyclery.. A long-time rider, a stroke left her with left-side weakness and balance issues but the e-bike kit got her back out on the trail and riding again.

Pittsburgh Ghost Bike for Tom Haykins on Route 28

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 15:53:00 +0000
Tom Haykin was a frequent, proficient cyclist who often rode to work along Route 28. On the morning of Aug.29th, per press reports, Tom Haykin was riding in the right lane. A van who was attempting to pass him hit Tom in the head with his passenger-side, rear-view mirror. Tom was knocked off the bike and onto the pavement, where he was run over by a second van.

It bears mentioning that of the 17 recent cyclist fatalities, 13 were on roads owned by PennDot. As we see in many of these deaths, this was not a joy ride or an exercise routine, this was a local person riding to work - which is the purpose of public roads.

Pittsburgh Ghost Bikes have evolved a tradition that we support if (and only if) it's consistent with the family's preferences. First we start with a Ghost Bike. Tom Haykin's ghost bike was prepared by David Work and his children, and we thank them very much.

Then at the Funeral Home, grievants are asked to write a message, a hope, a prayer, or a thought for David's ghost bike on a brightly colored ribbon. This is a sample of message-ribbons from a January 2019 ghost bike:

This is Tom Haykins' ghost bike at the funeral home, along with the ribbons from his loved ones and from area cyclists.

The concept has a few layers. The grieving loved ones get to write their thoughts down and their message is attached to a public artifact of the deceased. That's pretty powerful. Then the bike and messages are put on public display very close to the scene of the crime. This is a visual reminder that local drivers will see for years. Finally, in about two years, some of the ribbons will fuse together in the hot summer months, and the ink will fade and be blown by the wind to the four corners of the world, in a manner similar to Tibetan prayer flags.

This is the ghost bike installed on Route 28. Major thanks to Jim Logan and Jon A. Webb for rising to the occasion and making this happen.

Mark the date: on Sept.29th at 1 pm there's a memorial ride along Route 28 and the scene of the crime.

Burley Coho Bike Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Vannevar) — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 01:06:00 +0000
While camping at Paddler's Lane Campground (highly recommended) in Confluence, PA, came across this Burley Coho XC bike trailer.

Key point: it's a single-wheel trailer which is essential for the C&O Canal Towpath.