Gotta watch this until the end - dang!!!!!

BMX Flatland - very cool

Keep those components fresh

So my bottom bracket is making a creaking sound. It's an older Campagnolo Record 9 speed bottom bracket, and I've got quite a few miles on it. So it's time for a new one, in fact its past time for a new one.

Now this noise does not happen all the time, just every once in a while. But since it's a sealed unit and I can't really service it, I'm putting in a new one. And until I get a new one in, I'm not riding on that bike in a group. Let me tell you why.

I don't know if anyone remembers the Mavic SSC groupset. It was a really fine component set, and super light. I had a Merckx frame built up with it in the mid 90's. Sean Kelly used the same group set, also Greg LeMond.

 

The SSC bottom bracket was a sealed unit with a hollow, lightweight axle. Well, I put too many miles on this thing. One day in a group training ride we were contesting a "city limits sign sprint" and the bottom bracket sheared in half. Tore like butter. Left me with a fractured collar bone and a friend of mine on the surgery table getting his shoulder repaired.

So now I replace my stuff more frequently. All components have a lifespan - my bottom bracket fatigued and broke. Some components sacrifice weight for longevity. For example, the Pros ride those superlight bikes on mountain stages, but heavier bikes for the cobbled classics. Most recreational cyclists, even some racers, have one, maybe two bikes and might ride one bike all the time. If you have a superlight bike because it's cool to have one, for the sake of yourself and others in the pack, change carbon bars and other vital parts every year. Parts are cheap compared to crashing.

The Virtues of a Frame Pump

I've noticed a trend that has really taken over in the past few years - the disappearance of the frame pump.
I have always carried a frame pump on my bike - it sits right under the top tube. The one I carry is a Silca Imperio with a Campagnolo pump head. The Silca frame pump is the classic frame pump, but very hard to find nowadays. It is tricky to use, but with use it becomes second nature.

The frame pump seems to be a thing of the past - just about everyone I know has dumped the frame pump and is carrying CO2 cartridges instead. Why? I've heard many reasons - "It's quicker" "I don't want to hold everyone up" "They are smaller and lighter to carry".
Okay. But let's think about that. There are several problems with CO2 cartridges.

First, you have a limited amount of gas. What happens when you run out? We've all put in a new tube only to have it pinch and have to start all over. I've been on many a ride where I've gotten a couple of flats. If you run out of CO2 then you are walking home.

Second, you get one shot at filling up the tire. With a CO2 cartridge, depending on the model, it either uses a certain size one shot blast to fill the tire, or a controlled release. Sometimes you have to slowly fill up the new tire to make sure it is seated properly and that is hard to do with a CO2 cartridge. Mess up and you are changing that tire again.

Third, CO2 adds to the cost of a flat tire. Every time you use CO2, you have to go out and buy more CO2. What if you are on a long ride, or a multi-day tour? Are you going to find replacement cartridges in Leakey, TX? Cycling is getting expensive enough, why add to the cost?

That is why I carry a frame pump. It does not matter how many flats I get, I always have air. If a big dog won't leave me alone, I can tap him on the nose with my pump. I don't even notice the pump on my bike, and it is very light weight.
One of the best frame pumps out there is the Zefal HPX ASV Frame Fit Pump. This pump is made of aluminum, is bullet-proof, and very easy to use. You can even get up to 120 PSI if you have to. A buddy of mine has carried the same Zefal HPX for probably ten years and 80,000 miles and it still works like a champ.

Some modern day frames have really funky tubes that won't accept a standard frame pump. In this case, you can get a "mini pump" like the Blackburn AS-1 Air Stik Mini Pump. These take a little longer to pump up a tire because of their size, but they are small and can clip on your bike alongside a water bottle cage or fit next to or even in a saddlebag.

Don't get me wrong, CO2 does have its place. Like in a triathlon where you have to change your own tires during the race. There, every second counts and CO2 certainly does speed things up.
But really, if you are out on a training ride, or an adventure ride, a frame pump makes better sense. You don't have to worry about running out of air, you have less of a chance of getting stranded, and you won't have to shell out $$ for more cartridges in addition to that $50 new tire.

Welcome to The Bike Guy's Blog!

Hi there! My name is Todd and I have been a "bike guy" for more than 30 years. I've used bicycles for racing, commuting, toting groceries, and to pay the bills. I was a bicycle mechanic for many years at various shops, and road raced in the U.S. and in Europe.

Over the years I have learned all sorts of great tips on maintenance, what to take on a ride, emergency repairs, and of course I've got some great ride stories. On this site I will share my knowledge and what I've learned from others through the years. I will also talk about the bicycle components, bicycle tools, and bicycle accessories that my friends and I have used and found worthwhile. Just a warning, though, I am a Campagnolo guy (although I admit I have a Shimano headset on my current race bike). I am also old school and still ride a steel frame, so you will also read an occassional rant about the new carbon stuff.
I hope you enjoy!