Month: February 2009

Gilligan, the Professor, and the pedal powered raft

Richard MasonerFebruary 9, 2009Leave a Comment

Gilligan builds a pedal powered, shaft driven raft out of coconuts, palm branches, vines and driftwood to get the castaways off of the island and back to civilization. The Professor points out that a chain is the most efficient way to transfer power, and convinces Mr. and Mrs. Howell to stop financing Gilligan’s project until he modifies the plans to use a chain instead of a shaft drive.

Ginger and Mary Ann take Gilligan’s side because they think he’s cute and adorable. The vote among the castaways is evenly split between the Professor’s side and Gilligan’s side. As Captain, you will cast the deciding vote. Do you select Gilligan’s practical yet inefficient shaft driven design? Or will you choose the Professor’s efficient but paper-only chain drive raft? And which laugh track should we use when the raft sinks during Gilligan’s test ride?

Discover which way bicycling author David Rowe chooses when I interview him here on Cyclelicious this TUESDAY. David has published The Ride of Your Life, an electronic book to help you prepare, train for and complete any challenging or long distance ride. I’ve taken a sneak peak and it’s very helpful and motivational material.

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Cyclist shot in East Palo Alto

Richard MasonerFebruary 9, 200913 Comments on Cyclist shot in East Palo Alto

Do you see where the little “A” tag is in the map below? A cyclist was shot there by a passing motorist last Friday morning in East Palo Alto. That major east west road right by that spot? That’s Bay Road, an important cycling route that connects University Avenue with the San Francisquito Creek path that connects to Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve. It also happens to be where I sometimes where I ride my bike on my commute, especially if I want to test how truly bullet proof my Kevlar lined tires are.

East Palo Alto

Amgen Tour of California: Santa Cruz viewing locations

Richard MasonerFebruary 9, 200921 Comments on Amgen Tour of California: Santa Cruz viewing locations

Pro cycling fans will have several choices to view some great cycling in Santa Cruz County during Stage 2 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California on Presidents Day, Monday, February 16.

California Highway 1 at Bonny Doon Road The cyclists will zoom down Highway 1 from Pacifica, past Davenport and then turn left onto Bonny Doon Road to begin the last climb of Stage 2. There’s ample parking nearby for the Bonny Doon Beach (a nude beach). Santa Cruz Metro routes 40 & 42 stop at this intersection. Santa Cruz Metro will operate on a regular weekday schedule on President’s Day. I suggest taking #40 from downtown Santa Cruz at 8:30 AM to Bonny Doon Beach, then return to Santa Cruz on the #42 at 1 PM. Check the weather forecast, pack a lunch, use sunscreen. It’s about 10 miles of wide shoulders along Highway 1 to this point from downtown Santa Cruz.

Highway 1 at Bonny Doon Road

Bonny Doon Road at Smith Grade. You might be able to park along Smith Grade and watch as the cyclists climb Bonny Doon Road at this point. From here, getting back to downtown Santa Cruz in time for the finish might be difficult no matter your mode of transportation. Santa Cruz Metro routes 42 and 41 travel along Bonny Doon Road.

Smith Grade looking to Bonny Doon Road

Pine Flats Road and Empire Grade The cyclists hit the summit of their climb as they turn from Pine Flats Road to Empire Grade. This is a tremendous viewing opportunity if you can get parking or a ride here. Don’t expect to make it to the finish line, though: the cyclists can hit 60 mph on this steep, windy downhill through the redwood forests of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and along the UC-Santa Cruz campus as they zoom into Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz Metro routes 42 and 41 stop at this intersection.

Pine Flats Road approaching Empire Grade

Bay Street and High Street The peloton enters the city of Santa Cruz at high speed and turns sharply right from High Street to Bay Street. This intersection — the main entrance to UC-Santa Cruz — is well served by a number of Santa Cruz Metro routes.

On High Street just before Bay Street

Bay and Mission The route finally flattens out after the cyclists turn left onto Mission Street (California Route 1) from Bay Street. Anywhere along Mission Street between Bay and Walnut should be good for viewing. Emily’s on Mission at Laurel might be a good place to sit and watch as you have something good to eat there.

View Larger Map

Santa Cruz High School Along Walnut Street, the Santa Cruz Local Organizing Committee suggests viewing from the big lawn in front of Santa Cruz High School, which is also conveniently at the top of a hill.

View Larger Map

Front Street Hill Several viewing opportunities are available to watch the cyclists come down south down Center Street make a sweeping left turn up Front Street to the finishing stretch.

Front Street Hill

Stage 2 Finish on Front Street Stage 2 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California finishes at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History where Front and River Streets meet in downtown. Several roads will be closed and parking is very limited in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Front at Cooper

I’ll be at the downtown finish, and I may be at Highway 1 somewhere, either in Davenport or at the Bonny Doon Road turn if I think I can make it into Santa Cruz before the racers. If you plan to be at any of these points, please leave a comment. If you plan to take photos and post them online, give me a heads up so I know to link to them.

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Chain stretch

Richard MasonerFebruary 9, 20094 Comments on Chain stretch

Chains don’t really “stretch” — the insides of the chain wear with use, resulting in parts with more play and an elongation of a length of chain. You measure chain wear (or stretch) by lining the chain against a ruler. Because the links are exactly 1/2 inch long, the measure from rivet to rivet should be on 1/2 inch increments.

You can see in this photo that the top, older chain has about a 1/16″ of wear at one foot. The bottom chain is a brand new, unused 10 speed chain. Click on the photo to see large if you want.

It’s not necessary to remove the chain to measure it — just line a ruler up along a straight part of a chain and measure from the middle of a rivet. If you see more than about 1/16th inch of wear along a six inch segment of chain, it’s a good idea to replace the chain.

Why should I change the chain?

Chain wear is important mostly for bicycles with rear derailleurs. Excessive wear leads to poor shifting, and worn chains increases wear on your cogs which makes shifting even worse. Consider that a 10 speed cassette costs about $75, and spending $30 to replace the chain doesn’t seem too bad.

I’m not an expert, but I think you can get away with a lot more stretch on singlespeeds or bikes with hub gears. First of all, you can use beefier chains. Derailleur shifting performance is not an issue, so worn cog teeth aren’t too big of a deal. Please let me know if I’m mistaken about chain wear for singlespeeds, fixed gears and hub geared bikes.

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Persistence pays off bringing Tour of California to Santa Cruz

Richard MasonerFebruary 8, 20092 Comments on Persistence pays off bringing Tour of California to Santa Cruz

Local business owner and cycling fanatic Matt Twisselman is the Santa Cruz Local Organizing Committee for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. He’s been trying to bring a stage to Santa Cruz since 2005 and finally succeeded for the 2009 race.

Four years after Twisselman, 49, first thought the race might roll through Santa Cruz, he’s actually going to see it happen. On Feb. 16, the 117-mile second stage of the nine-day Tour of California will begin in Sausalito and finish at the corner of Front and Cooper streets in downtown Santa Cruz. It will be one of the largest sporting events ever hosted by the city. And it may not have happened without Twisselman.

More at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Garmin-Chipotle cyclist Svein Tuft will compete in the Tour of California beginning this weekend. This Canadian cyclist has taken a very unusual path to professional sports:

Those who have heard the tale of Svein Tuft have wondered, could it possibly be true?

How he dropped out of school in the 10th grade, lured by the freedom of the outdoors. How he evolved into a barrel-chested woodsman with Paul Bunyan biceps. How he ventured, at 18, from his home in Canada into the wilderness on a $40 thrift-shop bike hooked to a homemade trailer.

They have learned of the way he traveled sparingly, towing only his camping gear, a sack of potatoes and his 80-pound dog, Bear. The way he drank from streams and ate beside an open fire. Or hopped trains across Canada, resting as the land flickered by.

The Myth of the Efficient Car

Richard MasonerFebruary 8, 20095 Comments on The Myth of the Efficient Car

For today’s Sunday homily, I direct you to Alec Dubro’s essay, “The Myth of the Efficient Car.”

Let’s get something straight about green industry: in its basic form it means we all have to buy new stuff … lots of it. As an industrial policy that will create jobs and increase spending, it’s pretty sound. As an environmental policy, it’s largely a fraud.