Thursday, August 24, 2006

 

Okay, here's the latest

The chain is on; the brakes are hooked up; DoomSled is running. I've ridden about 7 or 8 miles or so. That's not much, but it's enough to give me an idea of what needs to change.

1. Gearing

I need lower gearing on the front. I'm running 28-42-52 chainrings. The 28 is low enough cause I don't like hills, but the 42 tooth middle chainring is too high cause I'm always using the smallest rear cogs. 28-36-48 should do. This would be a better match for my XT front dérailleur.

2. Handlebars

These come too far back. Id rather have something like theEvo Pro handlebars.

3. The seat

Like I said before, I need to reposition the seat. It's too far right. I'm also thinking of saving up for a Rans seat.

4. Headset

I need some more spacers for the headset. There is a slight bit of play in the front fork.

5. Chain

I need to add one link to the chain and add put on a chain guard for the idler wheel.

Other than that she rides nicely.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

 

lol, I like this thing...

Okay, I got the brakes hooked up. This morning I went out to try some big freakin hills. It's fun, and a bit strange. On this bike you don't turn the handlebars in order to turn; you lean instead. If you want to go left, you lean left. If you want to go right, you lean right. Pretty neat, especially when going down a steep hill. Lean in the direction you wanna go, and the bike goes.

I'll be happy when I finally get the chain on. I had hoped that it would've been finished by today, but the bike needs a longer rear shifter cable: a rear cable for a tandem bicycle. Ordered it yesterday. It should be here my next week.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

 

More Pics...

Once I get the seat properly aligned, I'll use my friend's jig saw to round off the corners. I'm thinking of buying some West System Epoxy to finish the seat. That's the stuff used in making wooden airplane wings. Posted by Picasa

 
I thought I needed new handlebars, but these handlebars work fine. I opted for the preying hamster position instead of the superman position. Posted by Picasa

 
Rans seat mount. It's well made and well worth the money. I never could've made something like this on my own. Posted by Picasa

 
Off center. I'll have to remount the seat. It's about a 1/8 of an inch off at the front, that translates to several inches off center toward the rear of the bike. Posted by Picasa

Monday, August 14, 2006

 

YC-111 Doomsled Team Conducts Roll Test

--DUPESHAM AIR BASE, Ala.--

At 1700 hours Team Funbun began the testing phase for it's new hightourer: the YC-111 DoomSled.

This initial test was done without brakes or a chain. It was a simple roll test. And according to Project Leader Funbun the test was a success:

"It's been a long, hard road. Earlier this morning we got the seat mounted up and decided to run a roll test to get a feel for the machine."

When ask about the safety risks of running a test without brakes, Safety Commissioner Unfbun responded, "Well, there are always risks. But the test was conducted in such a way to keep risks down. We weren't testing for max speed or anything."

"I think it's gonna be a solid bike," said test pilot. "It ain't gonna be a RAAM [Race Across America] machine or nothin', but she felt good. I thought it'd be twitchy like many short wheelbase recumbents. But DoomSled held her own. You see, just coasting gave us a good idea of what the low speed handling would be like. But once the chain and brakes are on, I can to some of that pilot stuff."

That pilot stuff is what we're all waiting to see. Once DoomSled is painted and panniers are designed, we'll all want to see the mileage she'll rack up and the gear she'll haul. When these test are complete, it'll be interesting to see what the YC-111 DoomSled can do.

Associated Phools

Thursday, August 10, 2006

 

Almost there...

DoomSled is finally coming together. Posted by Picasa


Okay folks. Here's the latest:

I just got my frame back. I didn’t think it'd back until Friday, but it came yesterday. Once again, great service.

He changed the dropouts to correct some chain line interference, as well as put the rear brake bosses on top. He also mounted a new seat rail. The first rail was the shorter 28mm Rans seat rail, but I bent it all to crap because I didn't mount it properly. So I bought another one: a longer 37mm seat rail.

Also, he put in a new bolt and nylon spacer for my idler wheel. I didn't expect that. Once again, great service.

Next? Finish mounting the seat braces, buy some chain, and hook up the front brake. Then I'll test ride, w00t (that means happiness and excitement in victory for those of you who don't speak Leet).

Thanks Bentech.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

 

Just Rambling

Okay, I just sent the frame back to the builder. It should be finished soon. He was great about the whole thing. In fact, he emailed me, stating that he had found a couple problems with the frame. So off it went. He contacted me, I didn't have to contact him. That's service :)

Once back, it'll need a chain and cable housing. Then it should be ready to test ride. What color should it be? The fork is gray. So, gray might be a good match.

I'm already thinking of several designs for panniers for the bike. There aren't many companies making panniers for recumbents. So, I figures why not start a bicycle pannier business?

In exploring this option as a career change, I've found that the small manufacturing (cottage industry) is a strong here in America. You'd figure with all the outsourcing to China and other countries that sewn products would never be made in the US. But isn't true.

In the hiking world most of that industry is made of small companies. Take Bryan Frankle of ULA Equipment. He started making backpacks in him home. Now he and two stitchers make some of the highest quality backpacks in the world. They're just 3 person company, yet they have won several awards in Backpacker Magazine over the years, not to mention other awards an honors.

Western Mountaineering was started by two guys with a hole in the wall shop making down sleeping bags, now they're #1 in down sleeping bags, down jackets and vests. Seriously, you read trail journals and most everyone is using some kind of Western Mountaineering product. And they’re still a small company. I think they have about 25 industrial sewing machines or so.

Anyway, I think I was made for this kind of stuff: making things and developing ideas. I wasn't meant for "traditional" work. Being an INFP is exactly the opposite of what many jobs require here in the US. The further you are from the ESTJ archetype the harder it is for you to fit into the “system.”

I’ve tried several types of businesses in the past, but it was always trying the “hottest” thing or the “latest” trend. This time I’m gonna pursue something I want to do. We all have desires, and I think many of those desires are buried because they don’t “fit” the system. We are all told go to school, get degrees so you can this, that, or the other. I wonder how many doctors and lawyers who really wanted to be truck drivers and plumbers, or the number of carpenters and brick masons who really wanted to be pilots or writers?

I love bicycles. I love airplanes. I like making things and developing new ideas. I’m good at finding information and acquiring knowledge. I like shooting at the hip and being laid back. I like doing the right thing.

I hate structure. I don't want someone telling me when to go to work, when I can leave, what to wear; do thing at this time; do that at that time, etc. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind 8 or 10 hours of work everyday. But I want to define that time.

In other words, I want to define my work, not let my work define me.

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