Spinnaker, couldn't think of the word 'clipless'. Back about 1990 I was into biking, just for fun. The guys at Bike Nashbar talked me into the clips, and they did make a difference. Don't know if they are still in business but they were just starting to get big back then.

 

Shortbus,

So you remember the Nashbar store front I wish they would have let that reamin open.

 

Make sure you get a better lock than the bike I parked next to today. It's the type of wire that is supposed to be used to hold up lightweight curtains, maybe 1.5mm steel.

 

Shortbus,

So you remember the Nashbar store front I wish they would have let that reamin open.

Yeah, they were just starting to put ads in the magazines when I was going there. Was cool to see the stuff in person before buying it, and they would tell you if it was worth the money, or just hype.

 

Yeah, they were just starting to put ads in the magazines when I was going there. Was cool to see the stuff in person before buying it, and they would tell you if it was worth the money, or just hype.

They still do sort of have a store. Performance has some shops and they are the same company. There is one on the other side of town. I often take a ride over there to check it out.

 

(re oval front sprockets)
I've never heard of that. something like this?

That's the thing. Mine is much more oval (ellipsoid?) than the one on your link photo. They normally don't bother on large front sprockets because they are for light leg loads and higher speeds.

But for the small front sprocket, especially for mountain bike or trailer use (high leg loads, low leg speed) an oval sprocket is very handy, because your leg leverage is poor when your foot is at the top and knee is bent, and leg leverage gets really good near the bottom of the stroke when your leg straightens out.

Mine is not quite as pointy or deformed as these;

//brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/xogival-oval-shaped-bicycle-chainrings02-600x244.jpg

But that gives you some idea.

Also, the smallest front sprocket can be more oval as it means less change in chain tension, it's harder to get a large front sprocket as oval as a smaller one can be.

 

I have put new tires and handle grips on the schwinn; about a $70 investment in a $30 bike, and I think that I have something that is much better than what I can get at Walmart for $100. It is probably as good as as anything I would pay $500 for at the bike shop - or at least no difference that I would appreciate. I am happy with it. I see no reason why this could not be a my permanent and bona fide touring bike.

I am riding daily or every other day, >10 miles, >10MPH, pulling 2 kids in the trailer. It is a good work out! I have lost 8lbs in the past 2 weeks, with no diet.

In other news, me and my kids were almost run over today by some a-hole in a 4000LB SUV as my wife watched. She cried on the way home. There is only one street we have to cross to get to the bike trails, and that's where it happened. Now she says she doesn't want to go biking any more or let me take the kids biking. I am working on a compromise to take the family in the truck to the park and unload the bikes there so we can use the bike trails without having to cross the street. I'm sure she'll come around; she's just emotional right now.

 

If you cycle regularly, you are going to get nearly run over pretty often, and hit by cars every now and then. I've been in hospital a couple of times, fortunately nothing too serious, just broken bones. To be honest, parks aren't much safer, the main risk is dogs running out across the path, I've hit two and a squirrel. Small dogs are OK, but I wouldn't want to hit a big one.

 

...
I am riding daily or every other day, >10 miles, >10MPH, pulling 2 kids in the trailer. It is a good work out! I have lost 8lbs in the past 2 weeks, with no diet.

That's a big positive.

...
In other news, me and my kids were almost run over today by some a-hole in a 4000LB SUV as my wife watched. She cried on the way home.
...

And a negative.

You can buy strobe taillights for bicycles at the sporting shops, these are exremely effective for making brain-dead motorists actually notice you. I would buy a few and stick them on your bike and kid trailer so you strobe from all angles.

The cost is low and the safety aspect is big, it might even be of help to ease the worries of your wife.

 

If you cycle regularly, you are going to get nearly run over pretty often, and hit by cars every now and then. I've been in hospital a couple of times, fortunately nothing too serious, just broken bones. To be honest, parks aren't much safer, the main risk is dogs running out across the path, I've hit two and a squirrel. Small dogs are OK, but I wouldn't want to hit a big one.

I don't go very fast; I maybe hit almost 20mph (32KM/H) going down hill with the wind at my back, but most of the time not much faster than 10mph. I slow when I see dogs or people; I feel fairly confident that I have enough response time should something run in front of me. This is in contrast to my friend who is training for a triathlon; he posted this earlier on facebook:

Just did 25 miles on the bike in 1:22:30, just 2.5 minutes over my goal time. Then I continued to complete 50.5 miles in just under 3 hours. Hit a new max speed too, 41 mph. Legs hurt, going to have a good sleep tonight. CT has some crazy hills. Especially Grass Hill Rd.

He did 25 miles in nearly the exact same time I did 13.3 miles today. If a dog were to run in front of him while going 41mph, I can see a lot of carnage in his future.

 

You can buy strobe taillights for bicycles at the sporting shops, these are exremely effective for making brain-dead motorists actually notice you. I would buy a few and stick them on your bike and kid trailer so you strobe from all angles.

The cost is low and the safety aspect is big, it might even be of help to ease the worries of your wife.

Good tip. Will do; however, that would not have helped today. This guy was not simply unobservant, he was malicious. He was upset that the car in front of him was yielding to me when the light was green; he sat behind the other car for a couple of seconds with his aftermarket train horn depressed, before spinning his tires as he passed the car in front and aimed his truck straight at me and my kids. He drove straight at us until the last possible second before swerving to miss us. He was less than 6" from clipping my front wheel.

 

I still predict you are going to at least have a few near misses, I slow down when I see them too, but sometimes it's just unexpected. The first one just appeared out of a bush a few feet in front of me. The second one was almost funny, there was a woman and a dog about 30-40 feet from the bike path and I thought nothing of it, but she threw a tennis ball straight over the path and the dog took off like a rocket straight for my front wheel.

 

Good tip. Will do; however, that would not have helped today. This guy was not simply unobservant, he was malicious. He was upset that the car in front of him was yielding to me when the light was green; he sat behind the other car for a couple of seconds with his aftermarket train horn depressed, before spinning his tires as he passed the car in front and aimed his truck straight at me and my kids. He drove straight at us until the last possible second before swerving to miss us. He was less than 6" from clipping my front wheel.

Maybe you should have got straight on your cellphone and called the cops and reported his license plate, if you think he was maliciously or negligently endangering you and your kids with an angry driving attitude.

If enough people did that the a-hole would no longer be driving. Then when YOU are driving... you can watch out for him riding a bike!

 

Good tip. Will do; however, that would not have helped today. This guy was not simply unobservant, he was malicious. He was upset that the car in front of him was yielding to me when the light was green; he sat behind the other car for a couple of seconds with his aftermarket train horn depressed, before spinning his tires as he passed the car in front and aimed his truck straight at me and my kids. He drove straight at us until the last possible second before swerving to miss us. He was less than 6" from clipping my front wheel.

If you ride on the road it is going to happen. You need to be constantly aware. At intersections, I try to look the driver right in the eye to make sure he sees me.


My favorite is when they pass they make a right turn immediately in front of you.(reminder to some of our non us friends we drive on the RIGHT side of the road not the wrong side )

Or similar, they pass you then immediately slow down in front of you to make a left.

The first being far more dangerous.

 

If it were the right side of the road then it would be right, not left.

 

Make sure you get a better lock than the bike I parked next to today. It's the type of wire that is supposed to be used to hold up lightweight curtains, maybe 1.5mm steel.

Locks only deter the casual grab and run thieves. If you live in a major urban area, such as LA - there is NO lock that will protect your bike. Thieves go around in vans with power tools. Jacks can be used to break U-locks, the right tools can even be used to just unbolt a bike rack from the ground.

With gas prices so high, there is a huge market for stolen cheap bikes. It used to be if you had a "beater" your bike was safe.

Of course you could always add a motion detecting alarm, or even a "call home" device given the electronics know how. I'd like to have an alarm that instead of making a shrill noise, has a sample of child's voice going:
"Mister STOP TOUCHING ME THERE, LEAVE ME ALONE, HELP I DON'T WANNA GET IN YOUR VAN!" - I think that would be more likely to bring help then a Bloop! Bloop! Bloop! alarm.