All the News

Anybody that comes in and mentions this News Letter will get a free The Bike Stand bicycle hat until we run out.

The SPFAA had a judged show this last month and I got my second blue ribbon in as many years. I was also asked to do a drawing demonstration that I will be a doing May 15 at the Scotch Plains Library. Please feel free come on down and add to my nervousness. Art Demonstration page

     WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Names of Products: InStep "Pathfinder," Schwinn "Run About," and Mongoose "Alley Cat" Trailer Bicycles
Description: The "Pathfinder,” “Run About,” and “Alley Cat” are single-wheeled, children’s bicycles that connect to an adult’s bicycle by a coupler. The recall includes model numbers: 12-PF250, 13-SC250, 13-SC350 and M5101. The model number is located on the lower seat tube of the frame. The affected couplers have welded plates; bicycles that have couplers with cast parts are not included in this recall.
     Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Pacific Cycle toll-free at (877) 564-2261 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit www.instep.net, www.schwinnbikes.com, or www.mongoose.com
     Not to sound all preachy here but I have been saying all along that these are just too cheap to be well made. I do not nor have I ever sold these in my shop. I have also turned away most, if not all, that have come in for repair. I do not want to get my name on these things. When are we all going to figure out that something can be too cheap to be any good? If my memory is right this is the second or third time this has had a recall on it’s coupler. Does that say something? It does to me!

     ST. PAUL, MN —The United States Patent and Trademark office has granted federal trademark registrations to Park Tool Company for its iconic blue color.
     Exclusive rights were granted to Park Tool for the use of the color blue in five categories, including bicycle hand tools, measuring equipment, pumps, cleaning equipment and repair stands.
     Park Tool is the only company in the bicycle industry, and one of the few companies in any industry, to receive federal protection for a color. The U.S. Patent and Trademark office has granted 1,329 federal registrations dating back to 1913, of which 967 are currently active. Similar color trademarks have been awarded to Owens Corning for pink insulation, John Deere for green and yellow farm equipment and UPS for its iconic brown.
     "Park Tool is undeniably tied to the color blue. If you show a blue tool to a bicycle mechanic or enthusiast they will tell you it’s a Park Tool product," said Eric Hawkins, president and owner of Park Tool. "After building a reputation of quality and innovation over the past 40 years, we want to protect that investment and eliminate confusion in the market. A good number of our competitors started to produce blue bicycle tools intent on capitalizing on our reputation and status. In order to end this confusion it was necessary for us to secure federal registrations to better enforce our famous color brand."
      As I look up at the tool wall in my shop I see a wall of blue.

Huffy Recalls Bikes For Crank Failure
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Huffy, yesterday announced a voluntary recall of the 2007 Huffy Howler and Highland Bicycles. Roughly 22,000 of these bicycles were sold. According to the CPSC, the bicycle crank can unexpectedly come off, causing the rider to lose control, fall and suffer serious injuries. Huffy has received two reports of the crank coming off, resulting in one injury. The recall involves multi-speed bicycles with 26-inch, 24-inch or 20-inch wheels. The Howler was sold in black (model K3587, boy's model), blue (model K4587, men's model) and red (model K6587, men's model). The Highland was sold in white (model K4597, women's model) and blue (model K6597, women's model). The name Howler or Highland is printed on the frame of the bicycle, and the name Huffy is on the front of the frame. Model numbers are located on a label on the bottom of the frame where the crank is attached to the bicycle. Sold at Kmart stores nationwide from May 2007 through July 2007 for between $80 and $100. All bikes were manufactured in China. Consumers should stop using the recalled bicycles immediately and contact Huffy to receive instructions on tightening the crank. Visit Huffy’s Web site at Huffy Bikes.
My own thought to this is when are we going to figure out that you just can not get a good, safe bike for that low of money. I also know that I have never had a crank fall off a bike I put together. If they are tightened down correctly the first time, they should not come off. So who put these bikes together?

The old Quick Release is back in the news. Wal-Mart and the importer of Next bikes are being sued because of the Quick Release on the bikes. I believe that this is the most common suit against all bikes. I try and explain the working of the QR to people all the time even if they did not get the bike from me. If you are not sure if you know please come on down and ask we will be glad to help. Other then that a quick rule of thumb is that the QR lever should always curve in to the bike not away from it. Also most modern QR’s have the words OPEN and CLOSED right on the little lever. More information about this suit with Wal-Mart can be found here on this website Stop Hurting Our Kids. Also this is a good time to say please wear your helmet. Take a look at a Box Bike and see some of the ways companies can save money on a bike but I think some of this can take away safety too. Comparing the Box Bike with bike shop bikes. Wal-Mart won the case but I think it was never the actual quick release but maybe the QR was not installed correctly or maybe the customer was never shown how to work the QR. I would venture a guess that only one in ten people that work at most box bike stores know how to work a QR. So do you self a favor and look again at your local bike store they may offer more then you think. I am personally uncomfortable with even working on these box bikes but if you own one please ask some one how these QR's work.

In the bike tech world, there's always something newer, lighter and faster right around the corner. Well this year it looks like it will be the new SRAM red group. I have not got a price on this group yet but it looks like it may be in the Campagnolo Record group price point. But with the weight being lighter then the Record group I see high sales in it’s future. Of course as a mechanic I still like the idea of rebuilding these parts and as of yet I have not seen as many small replacement parts available yet. I understand no one may do as much as Campagnolo with the small parts but that is something I look for. Now with that said I did put a new SRAM force group on my bike and love it. I will have to wait a little for the new red group but I will have to get one and try it out soon.

Widespread Spoke Failures.
      Bike shops are being forced to build hundreds of replacement wheels each week because spokes in stock wheels are failing. The problem is currently found in bikes costing up to $600 from makers such as Fuji, Giant, Jamis, Pacific Cycle, Raleigh, Specialized, Trek and others. The scope of the problem is still uncertain, according to a cover story in the trade magazine, Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. Bikes made for the above companies in various Chinese assembly plants received wheels laced with defective spokes.
     The spokes are breaking in the middle and/or rusting. It's suspected that cost-cutting by a Korean company resulted in substandard wire being supplied to spoke manufacturers. According to the magazine, tests show that the spokes have nickel and molybdenum contents far below normal levels.
     The faulty spokes may have N, Z or S stamped into the round head or no insignia at all. If you have a 2004 or '05 bike in which the spokes begin rusting or breaking, check with the shop where you bought it or come on down and I can rebuild the wheel for you.

Nautilus Shopping Pearl Izumi
VANCOUVER, WA (BRAIN)—Pearl Izumi’s future with Nautilus appears to be in limbo. Because of struggling first half sales numbers, Nautilus has decided to listen to offers for the sports apparel company. “[We’re] shopping [Pearl] at this point, said Ron Arp, senior vice president of corporate communications with Nautilus. “ [There was] less synergy in fitness than we expected.”
Nautilus is laying off about 140 workers, including roughly 80 from its corporate headquarters in Vancouver. When asked how many of those 140 were Pearl Izumi employees, and how Pearl’s business will be affected by this, Arp only responded that Pearl will be “minimally affected.” Pearl Izumi marketing director Geoff Shaffer declined to comment on the possible sale of Pearl Izumi.

     The cycling industry got a significant boost today when the Wall Street Journal published an article touting the joys and benefits of commuting to work on a bike.
     With a circulation of 2.1 million affluent subscribers, the article—"The Cycling Commute Gets Chic"—struck home with the newspaper’s readers noting that “affluent professionals” are leading the charge when it comes to commuting to work on bikes. (Look for it in section D, Personal Journal.)
     The article cites various cities that have improved bikes paths, added bike stations and put more bike racks on buses. All these improvements seem to be encouraging more cyclists to go to work on a bike. And higher gas prices are giving it an extra push.
     Besides data on trends in commuting, the article included a sidebar of six products to help improve the commuting experience. They were Mirrycle’s Big Brass Bell; Planet Bike’s Freddy Fenders; Metal pants clip; A standard light combo; Suit-bag pannier; and a coffee mug and mug holder.

Wald Launches New Web Site
      MAYSVILLE, KY (BRAIN)—Wald’s new Web site is designed to inform both consumers and dealers that such a long-standing company continues to produce quality bicycle baskets, training wheels and other accessories.
      Wald’s new Web site features full-color photographs, installation instructions and links to some of its favorite people in and around cycling. Consumers and dealers can learn about Wald's heritage, current product offerings and also sign-up to receive quarterly email updates from the company.
      Click on the link to see the new site. here.

     The Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC), PTI Sports and Schwinn recalled about 14,000 Schwinn Deluxe Bicycle child carriers that were made in China. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately.
     PTI Sports has received five reports of the bicycle child carriers falling, including three reports of minor injuries, such as bumps and scratches. If the seat is not fully seated on the rack, the plastic guide tabs on the carrier can break. If these tabs break, it could cause the seat to fall off. This poses a risk of serious injury to a child seated in the carrier.
     About 14,000 of the recalled child carriers were sold through mass-market retailers and military exchanges nationwide from September 2004 through November 2005 for about $50.
     The carrier is gray plastic with a blue rubber back and seat pad, a gray headrest and black straps. Model number SW571T is printed on the carrier’s packaging and in the owner’s manual. “PTI” is printed on a yellow warning sticker on the back of the carrier seat. For additional information, contact PTI Sports at (800) 515-0074
     The Bike Stand did not sell these seats nor would we install them. But this is a perfect time to ask what are you thinking. An important thing as a baby seat you would even think of buying at a mass-market retailer. We only sell the CoPilot Limo here and if bought here we will install it for free. Come in and look at this baby seat before you go to that box bike store out on the highway.

Walnut Creek, CA – Rivendell’s Grant Petersen and Taiwanese component maker Tektro have teamed up to develop a deep-drop dual-pivot brake that begins where Shimano’s deep-drop Ultegra and Tioga brakes leave off. Tektro’s brake provides a brake shoe adjustment range of 55 to 73 millimeters below the mounting hole, compared to Shimano’s 47 to 57 millimeters. “I designed the arch shape so it doesn’t squeeze the fender. And the quick release opens extra wide to clear fatter tires without forcing the tire past the brake shoes,” Petersen said. Petersen was shooting for plenty of clearance for a 37-millimeter-wide tire and fender. “I didn’t want it to end up looking like a BMX brake on a road bike and I think it turned out nice,” he noted. Frame builders wishing for a bit more freedom when designing touring or commuting frames have been hampered by limited brake choices. Petersen expects the Tektro R730 to free up frame design and to provide a modern brake to retrofit older bikes. The brake sells for $69.99 and is available from The Bike Stand.

      Cyclist Score Important Victory in Kentucky. In an important victory for cyclists everywhere, the Kentucky Supreme Court struck down a decision blaming a cyclist for being on the road when a passing vehicle hit her. In reaching this decision, the Supreme Court specifically noted that a driver shall not pass a cyclist such as the plaintiff in this case "unless he can do so without interfering with the safe operation of the bicycle, and that if, in fact he did pass the cyclist that he not drive to the right until he was reasonably clear of the cyclist.
      "This decision is important because it reaffirms cyclists' right to the roads. As an appellate decision, it is binding precedent for future cases in all of the courts in Kentucky," said League of American Bicyclists Region 1 director John S. Allen, who has served as an expert witness in bicycling cases. "And we can expect the decision, as it is by a state Supreme Court, to be cited by other courts in future cases throughout the United States."
      The League, with local Kentucky bike clubs, filed an amicus brief in support of the cyclist in March.

The 2008 bikes are in and some of the changes are just great. I see the drift to road bikes has started to really happen. And being a roadie is not considered a bad thing any more. Raleigh has tried to lure the road rider back with bikes like the Cadent designed bikes. With it's upward head tube it will bring back a few riders not looking to bend way over anymore. It will still have the dropped bars to give you all those riding positions just with a little less bend in your back. Take a look at them here.

For all you fixed gear riders The Bike Stand has a new idea for you a double side track cog hub take a look at these track hubs. We do it two ways, one is to take on old road hub that you may already own and cut the left handed treads for the lock ring so you have a real track hub. The second idea is to take a Suzue Track flip flop hub and cut the left hand threads on the side that is meant for a single speed freewheel then you have a two sided track set up. Now ask your self why didn't anybody do this before or did they. Well some one did it and yes we got them now.

Carbon Fiber is still making inroads on to the road bikes. Just when you think that is about as far as they can go some one ups the anti. Carbon Fiber is also come down in price Tektro has a set of Carbon Fiber brakes that are cheaper then Dura-Ace brakes but not as light but way cooler looking.

My favorite author of bike repair book has passed on to big bike shop in the sky. His name is Tom Cuthbertson and the book I am talking about is Anybody's Bike Book which has sold over a million copies since 1971. The book was written for the average home mechanic. No fancy tools just what most people had at home at the time. One of his articles about how to fix a flat started with sit down and enjoy the moment. I loved that way of looking at it and I will miss his wit and insight. .

The web page business has taken off pretty good too I am no way ready to retire but with a few false starts it was fun to see it work. I am learning as I go but all in all it was a fun experience. I got to meet people all over the world by Email that I would never have met any other way. I feel the world is a little smaller with the web.

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