'This is the bike for Chicago'

The worst winter in decades inspired a design firm and frame builder to fashion a bike tough enough for this town.

http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/minimal-method-bicycle-concept...

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 30, 2014 at 12:49am

I had a Fiero and the headlights were the least of the issues with that car.   I found it was not very hard to keep the headlights working correctly.  Then again, I'm an electrician, and a mechanic.   No big deal.  The parts to fix the issues are easy to acquire and install. 

I finally gave up with the retractable antenna mast on my '94 Camry. It's really a simple job to replace it and the part is only $21 on Amazon.  But in the city here, it seems to only last a year or so before some jackass messes with it when it is parked on the street.   I'm sick of replacing it every year and it works OK to pick up WBEZ in town anyhow even when it is messed up and stuck halfway up and down with a bend in the middle of it.   So I just haven't replaced it in the last 5-6 years.   I should do something soon though, because the last year the poor thing grinds and grinds on for 30 seconds after I shut off the car as it confused as to why it is not coming down and stopping.  I don't drive it much anyhow.  I'm lucky to put 4-5k on it in a typical year and most of that is longer trips to wisconsin to visit my parents or camping trips. 



Jeff Schneider said:

Bikesnob also dislikes integrated retractable anything, for the same reasons I do.  He mentioned this:

 "Even the automotive industry has realized retractability is stupid, which is why you no longer see power antennas and pop-up headlights--though presumably everyone involved in the production of this bike is too young to have seen all those Fieros with only one open headlight pathetically winking at everybody back in the '80s."

I had one of those...

James BlackHeron said:

Bikesnob doesn't disappoint.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 30, 2014 at 2:00am

I've found that GM doesn't have an answer to anything worthwhile.  I've owned my share of them, as well as Fords and Chryslers over the years. 

Never Again.

These days, if I'm going to buy any car, it's going to be a Toyota or a Honda, and the first letter of the VIN is going to start with the letter J.

Duane Waller said:

GM's answer in the 70s to the retractable antenna was that useless windshield-embedded antenna. Sorta looped around the outer edge of the windshield, picked up few, if any, FM stations. And only the strongest of the AM stations.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 30, 2014 at 3:45am

*snerk* ALmost sprayed tea out of my nose while reading. Priceless. Should know better than to drink anything while reading Bikesnob.

James BlackHeron said:

Bikesnob doesn't disappoint.


Lisa Curcio 6.6mi said:

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 30, 2014 at 5:52am

I'm leveraging this post to effectuate even more exposure to BikeSnob's continued lambasting of the Vanmoofy designer douche chariots. 

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on July 30, 2014 at 6:14am

Riding home around eight last night I did wonder if anyone's worked at adapting a small (maybe LED) motorcycle headlight for bikes.  Most bike lights are neigh-useless for anything but irritating people and/or so faint no one's going to see them, particularly with a dimmed rear view mirror.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on July 30, 2014 at 6:20am

It could easily be done with battery power, but why? There are a number of nice dyno lights on the market that give plenty of light for speeds from 5-30mph. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 30, 2014 at 6:27am

My AXA Luxx 70 (70lux) is pretty darn bright for a bike light powered by the hub dynamo. 

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on July 30, 2014 at 7:01am

You mention two things - do you want a light to see the road, or a light to be seen?

I use a Bontrager Ion 1; it's not really bright enough to ride on dark unfamiliar streets or anywhere with loads of potholes, but I attached the bar mount to the top of my helmet and adjusted the light so I can both direct it where I need it and also direct it (and "pulse" it) to oncoming traffic. I've found it useful to communicate with those drivers who think they can best help cyclists see at night by turning on their high beams. Most get the idea, after having it directed at them, and switch to low.

We rented a pair of bikes in Germany which were equipped with AXA dynamo lights, meeting German government standards for bicycle lighting. They also make battery lights. While we weren't out at night, we did have a couple of long underpasses where they proved useful. They're on my wish list.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 30, 2014 at 8:04am

I've got Busch & Muller dynamo powered lights on one of my bikes - awesome!  My Lumotec Lyt Senso Plus (30 lux) is bright enough to light up street signs and license plates 1 block away.  It also shows road imperfections very effectively.  Combined with the Toplight Line Brake Plus light, I've had no trouble being seen at night.  Bonus - for a few extra bucks, I got a sensor function on each light that turns them on automatically if I enter a dark area (viaduct, shadow of building or tree, etc.), then turns them off again when I return to brighter light. They also turn on in overcast conditions. Great stuff.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on July 30, 2014 at 8:27am

I've got a rear B&M battery light which looks pretty bright for two LEDs (granted they're hitting a reflector) and a Lumentrail front light that works pretty well, but I still think something that looks a little farther ahead and doesn't put so much light into the air (or other people's eyes) would be nice.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 30, 2014 at 8:49am

That's the nice thing about the AXA, it really puts the light where you need it in front of you, not leaking out everywhere to the sides.  That's the Germans for you and their strict dyno lighting rules on lenses and not blinding other road users. 

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on July 30, 2014 at 8:53am

Yeah. Gee. Sort of like the rules that the US should have about "fog lights", "driving lights", etc., etc.

James BlackHeron said:

That's the nice thing about the AXA, it really puts the light where you need it in front of you, not leaking out everywhere to the sides.  That's the Germans for you and their strict dyno lighting rules on lenses and not blinding other road users. 

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