Andrew Wilson
Guru
Finally got around to mounting the headrest bottle cage mount along with my CNC’d minimalist rear light mount. Scored a couple of stars and stripes bottles. Now I can fly the Flag without the drag
Flying the Flag without the drag
- Thread starter Andrew Wilson
- Start date
Finally got around to mounting the headrest bottle cage mount along with my CNC’d minimalist rear light mount. Scored a couple of stars and stripes bottles. Now I can fly the Flag without the drag
Andrew Wilson
Guru
Don’t diss the Stars and Stripes.
trplay
Zen MBB Master
Thank you Andrew.
Andrew Wilson
Guru
I had to wait a while to post that, This old Marine's original response would have been much stronger
However, his comments prompted me to order 2 more stars and stripes bottles. They will be all I carry for now on along with wearing one of my 2-3 Stars and Stripes or USMC jerseys.
Update: We discussed this in a PM and I read more into it than was meant. He meant no disrespect. My Bad.
Now... Lets Ride !! It's going to me 60 deg here today
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Andrew Wilson
Guru
oh, oh....now you've done it, given me another mod to work on
billyk
Guru
@Andrew Wilson
I'm glad to see the explicit political comments edited out of this thread. We come here to discuss bicycles, and to learn from each other. One of the best parts of this forum is that there's no need to know or care about each others' strongly-held (or not) viewpoints. "Don't ask, don't tell, don't need to care". Politics is just irrelevant here. In these divisive times such a refuge is most welcome. There are plenty of other places on the web to speak about politics. Let's keep this one about bicycles, thank you.
I'm glad to see the explicit political comments edited out of this thread. We come here to discuss bicycles, and to learn from each other. One of the best parts of this forum is that there's no need to know or care about each others' strongly-held (or not) viewpoints. "Don't ask, don't tell, don't need to care". Politics is just irrelevant here. In these divisive times such a refuge is most welcome. There are plenty of other places on the web to speak about politics. Let's keep this one about bicycles, thank you.
Bill Wightman
Well-Known Member
I think we are spoiled rotten with all the modern bike clothing, bottles, reliable mechanical bike hardware and I am very thankful for it all. A far cry from the gear we were riding in the seventies. On top of all that we have phones in case of any emergency. Just about everything about modern biking is awesome.
bladderhead
Zen MBB Master
In the eighties I went 15000 miles on my Claud Butler before they stole it. Wheels never bent. Not even a bit. I do not remember how many times my Silvio's wheels have been in the LBS. Those old Rigida wheels seemed rigider than these modern ones. I also remember the old days when the only type of BB was square taper. So many types to choose from now, a different one each week. I also like the new pneumatic tyres that never wear or get pierced. That seems like a miracle.
One thing is definitely better than then - lights.
One thing is definitely better than then - lights.
3bs
whereabouts unknown
i guess in a way my joy is more about the converse of @Bill Wightman's joy on advancements in cycling.
i still own a few of my bikes from the 80's, and i have a few bikes older than that, and i have a parts bin stretching back into the 70's, and i still have some apparel from that era, including a three sets of shoes, several jerseys and some wool underlayers.
i enjoy the fact that so much has not really changed. we have seen a lot of refinement, and better materials, but the fundamentals are still what they are. when my son turned 10, i have him my 70's schwinn varsity and when he started wanting more off roadish stuff i pulled out my kuwahara trials bike from the 80's (ironically this bike has become a unicorn. mine is the only one i have ever seen in real life and there is almost nothing on them on the internet.) and there are others in the shop. all of my kids have learned modern bike mechanics on old bikes.
i was super lucky when i was in high school and college that i knew guys who were national level bicycle racers, so i was blessed with many of their castoffs. (in the late 1970's had an Exxon- Cool Gear Graftek, yes, i sold it, yes, that was stupid in retrospect, but they had issues and i needed money as i was headed to college.)
other than my shift to recumbents (which did exist in some forms back then i just didn't ride them) to me the greatest advancement area have been 1. the technological quality devoted to the clincher tire and 2. lighting (@bladderhead )
in the future,
i think cyclist safety has some big advances still to come, as i think automobile avoidance safety is going to advance.
and i think drive train is a place where are still big things to come, not just epower but efficiency.
i still own a few of my bikes from the 80's, and i have a few bikes older than that, and i have a parts bin stretching back into the 70's, and i still have some apparel from that era, including a three sets of shoes, several jerseys and some wool underlayers.
i enjoy the fact that so much has not really changed. we have seen a lot of refinement, and better materials, but the fundamentals are still what they are. when my son turned 10, i have him my 70's schwinn varsity and when he started wanting more off roadish stuff i pulled out my kuwahara trials bike from the 80's (ironically this bike has become a unicorn. mine is the only one i have ever seen in real life and there is almost nothing on them on the internet.) and there are others in the shop. all of my kids have learned modern bike mechanics on old bikes.
i was super lucky when i was in high school and college that i knew guys who were national level bicycle racers, so i was blessed with many of their castoffs. (in the late 1970's had an Exxon- Cool Gear Graftek, yes, i sold it, yes, that was stupid in retrospect, but they had issues and i needed money as i was headed to college.)
other than my shift to recumbents (which did exist in some forms back then i just didn't ride them) to me the greatest advancement area have been 1. the technological quality devoted to the clincher tire and 2. lighting (@bladderhead )
in the future,
i think cyclist safety has some big advances still to come, as i think automobile avoidance safety is going to advance.
and i think drive train is a place where are still big things to come, not just epower but efficiency.
Bill Wightman
Well-Known Member
If you have a safety concern then drag does not matter. Can't beat a big flapping dayglow orange flag for visibility. I know that when I eventually go to a low slung three wheeler recumbent I will design up a simple wind pivoting NACA aero shape hard wing for visibility and put some super bright daytime lights on top. If you do it right with a self trimming tail it can double as a wing sail. That is on the hobby list for the future. For now the V20 is tall enough to be seen with bright day or night lights fore and aft.
BikeGary
Well-Known Member
I have a S30 and wondered about the flag drag too because as a kid I swear I could feel the drag on my old single speed Schwinn. However that flag was a single square and an upright pole. The flag I bought is an aero shape and angled back.
I did a series of from a complete stop to the bottom of a hill with nearly identical weight runs and my top speed dropped from 37.4mph to 36.9mph which is nearly insignificant, but the amount of time on that ride (23 miles) that I was slower with the flag was maybe two minutes. Which is within my daily variation. So I put the flag back on.
I bought a "Purple Sky flag" with a tassel.
https://t-cycle.com/collections/all-purple-sky-products/products/purple-sky-fade-flag
From my sailing experience that tassel is probably the most wind resistance because it disrupts the air flow and it's at the tip. But I can't tell with or without it when I ride, but in a low light conditions it does give a bit of flash to me.
I also put a flashing light on the pole because the pole waves around, and the more movement you can have on a taillight the more visible it is.
https://www.cateyeamerica.com/Rapid-X3-Rear-LM-TL-LD720-R
But then the roads in San Diego are often 55mph with a "shoulder bike lane" so approaching cars do not have much time to react to me. Therefore I want to give them as much time as possible to adjust their lane position before they pass me.
If I was on a race course, I'd take it all off and take my chances. Otherwise I ride with it all on and flashing.
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BikeGary
Well-Known Member
https://www.strava.com/activities/1623417912 With flag,
https://www.strava.com/activities/1653103925 No flag
The segment where I did the test is known as "The Carmel Valley Speed Trap."
https://www.strava.com/activities/1653103925 No flag
The segment where I did the test is known as "The Carmel Valley Speed Trap."
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jond
Zen MBB Master
The old lugged bikes of the seventies are truly beautiful and could compete weight wise with today’s machines. However in every other facet they certainly cannot. I wish bsa was the universal standard for road though there does seem to be a resurgence. Cycling is pretty simple and I’m glad the fundamentals are shared through the generations. Despite huge advances in materials fitment technology and performance cycling remains one of life’s simple pleasures on any budget.
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paco1961
Zen MBB Master
Have to admit, as much as I love the CB and cherish that it allows me to continue riding, I do miss hopping on my stripped down DF singlespeed. Simple track frame. Dura Ace high flange track hubs w cup and cone bearings you can play with and repack every 1000 miles even though you know they don’t need it for another 5000! Simple. Elegant. Not much more to say.
