Just an update

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Well so far my gall bladder removal is healed well. Kinda ruined my summer plans so far but eh.

Have been out cycling. Finally made the custom axles and nuts for my hybrid raliegh. Front quick release is gone and now has a solid axle and nut, good thing too one section was somehow getting worn. Gonna have to give it a service so I’ll replace rear then too. Next job will be to replace the one on seat.

Why do I want to get rid of quick release? Simple they are dangerous to begin with, they can pop off on you and it makes it much easier for people to steal your wheels and stuff. I am also not a fan of piss thin metal supporting the front wheel on my bicycles. Yes I have seen people get seriously hurt because of those things. If maintained and checked regularly they are fine, or if you’re racing it’s a must. Casual riding and running to stores and back…not so much.

My anxiety is pretty bad. Seems to be getting a little worse each year and many of the meds have serious side effects for me.

Bills bills and more bills, have to do roof on house, my older sister has developed some issue we are still not sure about. Have many projects I must finish….problem is I keep finding more. Most people have one maybe two push mowers.. I have like eight. Neighbours throw them out. I grab for parts…fix them instead and use them. I find one or two every year.

Was given three bicycles so far and I have another one on the way. Old ten speeds, one I’m not sure about, and an old bicycle that was made for a local store that closed back in 1990. It was a five speed Womens bicycle, 26 inch mountain bike rims, chrome, fenders and stuff. I’ll probably change a few pieces to make it a 12 speed for grocery getting. Still deciding on weather to upgrade brakes to a cantilever setup, chromed, I salvaged from another bike I’m sorta working on as well.

Put. New chain on my old training bike that is heavy and takes quite the effort to ride. I think I added an extra link by miscounting.

As for writing..I get ideas from time to time but I need to fix my computer to get back at it. I have the parts and it is on the list of stuff to repair just not a priority at moment.

Comments

Glad

Maddy Bell's picture

You are feeling better

Why would you downgrade your bike in such a way, solid axles are the worst possible option, the rear in particular is prone to bending and even snapping- that was something I learnt very early in my cycling career.
Hollow axles are much stronger and if you can’t operate properly or want more security than quick release gives, there are all manner of options you can use with a hollow axle.

But hey, Engineers always know best, or not (snigger)

Anyhoo, hope your recovery is swift


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Madeline Anafrid Bell

Axles

These were not available to buy so I custom made them from scratch with good steel. Like I said previously the hollow one for front was wearing away weirdly and was in danger of snapping. Wear spot was inside the races where nothing should be touching it but the threading was gone.

But mostly it is for security. Around here it is not uncommon for people to take off with bicycle parts from a bicycle in the rack if they have quick release. So I make it so they can’t easily take off with my bicycle parts. I really like my detour 1 hybrid. Light aluminum alloy frame, shimano shifters, gears, not crasy about the ergo grips I prefer gel.

The cartrige unit for pedals should be fun when I go to service it. Have tool not looking forward to it. Rear has the older good Shimano seven with mega range 32 gear instead of 28. I like it. Btw choices for gearing here is sunspot,ick, shanimo(China knockmoff Shimano), real Shimano, and another one I can’t remember but is higher quality but isn’t campaq. Or ev bikes which I think is cheating.

Winnipeg Manitoba is an interesting place to live. Spare parts come in the form of trashed bikes( not much left but some good components) abandoned old bikes because they got new, or spare parts literally thrown out(rims,with tires, good tubes). All I have to do is go for ride down back lanes and look near trash/rubbish bins. Occasionally I get a bike that needs repair to be useable and I go through my collections of spare parts. A lot of cleaning, some grease and new cables and or chains make them useable. Bent or bad rims are not an issue and I custom made my own rack for truing up rims. As long as I can get them to within a 1/16 of an inch of side to side movement they won’t rub brake shoes and glide pretty well.

Around here it is not

Around here it is not uncommon for people to take off with bicycle parts from a bicycle in the rack if they have quick release. So I make it so they can’t easily.

People were taking standardly-connected parts. I switched to quick-release front so that I could remove it and D-lock it with everything else.

Can’t

They are yours. But you can have back all of your germs.