Kuwahara Fork Problem

I've suspected that my Kuwahara fork is bent, and I figured out a way to prove it tonight. I put the fork, forward-facing up on a board, and pushed the drop out end of the fork and the fork side up against a board I placed square to the side of the board on which it's laying.


I then drew a line on the board on which the fork is laying, extending the line from the side of the head tube. I then pushed the fork over to the other side of the board like I did above. I extended the line from the side of the head tube again. It is now easy to see I have a problem. No wonder the bike wanted to pull severely to the right.

The right side of the fork is bent inward and slightly backward.


I placed tape on the fork where it bends inward.

This camera angle shows how the right side is also bent backward.
This photo doesn't show it very well, but the right drop out is also very slightly twisted. Notice the two holes for bolts on each drop out. I assume the front side is for a bike rack, and the back side is for fenders.

I don't have a vise for my workbench, but I plan to bolt the fork directly to the workbench and use something, maybe a bar or a piece of galvanized pipe to bend the right side back to where it needs to be. As Jon, of Two Wheels has said, I'll need to have the drop outs twisted back to parallel.

New Riding Buddy

Michael, of Ear to the Breeze blog, was up in Fort Wayne yesterday. He contacted me to see about riding, so we decided to ride the Huntington Bicycle Challenge Scenic Tour. If you want to see some beautiful photography, check out his blog. He takes some of the most beautiful landscape photos I've seen.

Here is Michael at work on the bike. Obviously, the photo he is taking here will be one of his poorest photos.


The start is the only part of the ride I didn't like. We were lined up behind the USA Cycling categorized racers and behind the corporate challenge riders. We weren't allowed to start until well after the other two groups had left. We were standing, with our bikes, at the start line for over 1/2 hour, while the ride organizers blathered into their Mr. Microphone. Otherwise the ride was very well supported and very scenic.

After the halfway point, we turned into a stiff east headwind. Micheal and I took turns pulling each other for about 12 miles. We maintained a decent pace despite the wind, but it wasn't until we had finished that we both realized we were going too fast for either's comfort (i.e., I was too proud on the bike to admit that I was sucking air, BIG time!).

Michael is a very strong rider, with great leg strength for wind and hills. It was fun to ride with him and look forward to many fun rides ahead.

Happy riding!

Stripped down Tricross

I temporarily uncommuterfied my Tricross Saturday night so I could ride the Hancock Horizontal Hundred in Findlay, Ohio on Sunday (yesterday).

I took off the fenders (actually just the rear fender and the very little bit of the front fender that hadn't yet broken off), my rack, and my 20 pound rack trunk. I forgot how light this bike used to be! I also did a thorough cleaning, replaced the bottom bracket and put on a new chain.



As for the ride, I was able to complete all 102 miles, making this my 5th century of the year. I rode with two different groups of people with grey hair like mine. We averaged 19-20 mph for most of the first 50 miles. The second 50 miles was very lonely, as most folks split off and took the short route back to Findlay for the 64 mile loop.

My goal is yet to find folks around here who want to ride in pace lines, but not at 24 mph. All of the folks I rode with Sunday were from various parts of Ohio. It was SOOO MUCH FUN riding in the pace lines with experienced and courteous bikers.

The weather again was beautiful with a cool, gentle breeze. Another great day to be on the bike.

Happy riding!

Back from up north

Well, we made it back home from a very enjoyable trip to Door County, Wisconsin. We stayed at a small place in Epraim, 3/4 of the way to the end of the peninsula. On Saturday, we rode over to Peninsula State Park, about 16 miles of biking. On Sunday, we rode across the peninsula to Baileys Harbor and back, about 35 miles total.

Here's Baileys Harbor:


Sunday night, just after sundown, looking across Eagle Harbor, at Ephraim:


The weather was PERFECT. I can't remember a weekend with such nice weather.

Back to a week of commuting now. Fall is coming and the weather is great!

Happy riding!

When the light goes out

My headlamp burned out Monday morning just as I was about to leave for work. I have to leave by 6:00 am, since it takes 1 1/2 hours to bike to work, stow the bike and change clothes. Since the sky doesn't begin to get light until after 6:30, I couldn't wait and then leave. So, another driving day to work. My local LBS didn't have a bulb in stock, but I ordered one.

Here's my NiteRider light...


Monday night I discovered that a cheaper 10 watt, 6 volt halogen bulb fits my lamp base really well. Except it wobbled in the base because the reflector isn't as deep as the original.

Original on left, cheapo bulb on right. Notice, the cheapo bulb doesn't have a lens over the bulb.

I used the cheapo bulb until the proper replacement came in on Wednesday. The cheapo was just as bright, but since it wobbled in the base as I rode, the light flickered when I hit bumps in the road. I really got worried when I approached intersections with cars stopped and waiting to cross. I wasn't sure if they fully saw me coming. Desparately I tried to fiddle with the lamp as I approached the intersections, but the light kept flickering anyway.

The replacement bulb works great and I don't have to worry about the flickering issue anymore. I did toss the cheapo bulb in my rack trunk, along with an allen wrench in case the new bulb burns out, I can use that until I get another replacement. Yes, I'm a saver. I had to really cram the spare bulb into the trunk. Some day I'll have to clean that out...

Not tonight.

On the travel front, Alex and I are headed to Door County, Wisconsin, to spend the weekend biking. Looks like it's going to be a great weekend weather-wise.

Happy riding!

Bike Therapy

It's been a slow week bicycling for me this week with a sick kid (flu) and lots of stuff to get done at work. On top of that heavy fog and rain several mornings this week made me not want to ride to work. This is the first week in 16 weeks I haven't ridden to work at least one day. On top of that, it's staying darker later in the morning.

I realize all of those are pretty lame excuses for not riding, but tonight after supper I hopped on the trusty Tricross and rode 20 miles in the rain. Similar to Mike, I had been feeling pretty grumpy until I got on the bike and out about a mile from home.

The familiar wind in my ears, the passing scenery, and the comfort of balancing on two wheels once again worked its magic. Here's a photo of my friend on the iron bridge.


An update on the Kuwahara - I've gotten the bike ridable again but the bike wants to pull to the right. I suspect the fork might be slightly bent, but I'm not sure. I've tried several different wheels on the front, so I know it's not the wheel. For some reason, I have to really pull the fork apart to get the wheel in the wheel mounts. If anyone has any ideas on what to do, I'd appreciate your thoughts.

If I can't figure out why the bike pulls to the right, I'll probably just clean the bike really well and make sure it's safe to ride, then sell it.

Happy riding!

Kuwahara Update

I rode 50 miles pretty hard on Saturday and didn't feel like doing too much after I got home (not enough water or food). Anyway, I didn't work on the Kuwahara until tonight (Sunday). I replaced the rear derailleur with another I had, trued the rear wheel, took off the rusty chain.

I adjusted the saddle and coasted down the driveway several times. I really like the geometry of the frame. When I put a new chain on, I'll get a better idea of the feel of the bike.

Here's the basic to-do list to get it operational:

-new brake cables
-new chain
-new tubes
-new tires

After I get the items above on, and if I like the bike, then I'll look for:

-wider handlebars
-different saddle (would like a Brooks B-17 eventually (but then, wouldn't we all?))

The bike needs a really good cleaning, but there is very little rust on the derailleurs, or on the hub skewers, so this bike was kept in a garage at least. The tires are weather checked with age, but the tubes held air!

This bike is quite light, but I don't think it is as light as my Trek:


Anyway, I'm pretty excited about this new bike. It'll give me some more wheels, and if I don't care for it after I do the basics, I can sell it.

Happy riding!