Re: Need 39t ring for old campy crank

=============
I rode across the US on a touring bike with NR brakes fully loaded
with a lot of gear and had no problems -- lots of tours in the Sierra,
too -- Pacific Grade, Ebbets, Sonora, etc., etc. all with gear.
=============

Wimp. I've done fully-loaded touring (big backpack mounted on top of a
real honest-to-goodness pletshcer rack on my Cinelli) with Weinmann 500s
on Pacific Grade, Ebbets & Sonora.

But even fully-loaded I was probably carrying less weight than today,
without anything but myself. 172 vs 133.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com


"Jay Beattie" <jbeattie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8b1c323b-3137-4244-bae4-c89757640fd8@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Sep 2, 9:21 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <Mi...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
==========
I thought NR brakes stopped O.K. -- no death grip required, and I
don't remember people being unable to stop back in the day, but with
that said, I much prefer the feel of dual pivots. They have more
braking power and better modulation. I prefer them to any other type
of rim brake.

-- Jay Beattie.
==========

Jay: "Back in the day" Campy brakes were the best available, and as
far
as we knew, they stopped great! Our expectations, frankly, were far
lower than today. What were the alternatives? Let's see... Universal
61s, Weinmann 500s, Mafac, and later on, Modolo... yeah, great
stopping
power with any of those compared to what we've got today.

You say that dual pivots "have more braking power and better
modulation." Given that there are times when our ability to get out of
trouble may be determined by the stopping power of our brakes
(primarily
front brake; the rear doesn't require much power before the rear wheel
skids), saying that an inferior brake is OK in the context of
discussing
current equipment is a bit misleading. They were "OK" back then
because
we felt we could safely operate a bicycle with them, and did. But "OK"
for then is not good enough for me today.

Besides, it took a lot less stopping power to deal with the "me" of
the
1970s vs today. :-(
<snip>

I rode across the US on a touring bike with NR brakes fully loaded
with a lot of gear and had no problems -- lots of tours in the Sierra,
too -- Pacific Grade, Ebbets, Sonora, etc., etc. all with gear. The
only times I had problems stopping were (1) cantis with road levers
trying to stop a Burley trailer full of kid in the rain, (2) my
beloved discs that I allowed to wear down and forgot to adjust -- down
a sled run out of the West Hills here in Portland, maybe a 25% grade.
That was an eye opener. Otherwise, my problems stopping have little to
do with my brake but rather have to do with tire grip and road
conditions. I got three pairs of NR in the basement and should throw
them on with some new pads and see what I think. I put up with a lot
of stuff back in the day. Again, I much prefer dual pivots -- just
like I prefer power steering.

Totally OT, I was down in your 'hood last week, and while down in LG
decided to do a sentimental journey up HWY 9, Man, what's up with all
the cars? The hill is longer than the ones locally in PDX, but the
grade is less, so the calorie output is not a lot more --- but
gawdamighty, I can no longer handle the heat. I was creeping along
sweating like a pig. And the heat affects the road -- I don't think
I'm imagining it, sort of a waviness to the road surface that takes a
while to get used to when descending. I felt like I was getting
thrown around more than expected from a smooth appearing road
surface. I love the smell -- all the bay trees and eucalyptus and oak
and then non-scented redwood with musky forest smell. I miss that.
Fir doesn't have a smell, although you can get that musky forest smell
around here, too. The only time I ride in such fragrant conditions
around here is when I cut through the 'burbs on laundry day and smell
fabric softener.

-- Jay Beattie.



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Was Runaway Prius Really A Runaway? Or Just A Prank?
    ... so there's no power assist on the brakes. ... just one planetary gear set with the engine/starter/generator on the ... backwards if the gas engine starts. ...
    (sci.electronics.basics)
  • Re: Need 39t ring for old campy crank
    ... "Back in the day" Campy brakes were the best available, ... power with any of those compared to what we've got today. ... a sled run out of the West Hills here in Portland, maybe a 25% grade. ... although you can get that musky forest smell ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: air compressor on new amtrak locomotives
    ... I also noticed the Diesel didn't seem to change speed when the train accelerated, so I'm guessing they run a single engine at 60-Hz synchronous speed all the time, so they can distribute 60-Hz power for air conditioning, etc. to the coaches. ... This locally stored energy is used to APPLY the brakes when desired. ... The brake application is started by REDUCING the pressure in the train-line by opening a "hole" in the locomotive's brake control stand. ...
    (rec.crafts.metalworking)
  • Re: "motorized assist" for steep Ascents!
    ... ride up hill, or long distance. ... Batteries have only limited power, ... If the brakes were strong enough ... introduction of several gears much easier. ...
    (rec.sport.unicycling)
  • Re: Mk2 golf chrome grill + gti badge
    ... Aren't they all woefully lacking in the power stakes? ... the easier the required overtaking becomes. ... I think) and it took a *lot* longer than it takes me in my own car. ... I've always found that stock brakes fade away in a VERY short space ...
    (uk.rec.cars.modifications)