Messages

1

The Lounge / Re: My plans are to move to the LA area in under two years.

« on: August 16, 2018, 08:33:33 PM »

Culver city is alright but next to some major shitholeage.

Will you be working over there?

2

The Lounge / Re: My plans are to move to the LA area in under two years.

« on: June 22, 2018, 11:42:14 AM »

Some thoughts,

I moved from NJ to Orange County CA about 8 years ago, with nothing but a backpack full of clothes and a Job Offer. It was definitely no cake walk, but I do enjoy my decision to move here as working full time at a bike shop is difficult when there is only business for 7-9 months of the year. Additionally there are many BMX and MTB brands located here so I was able to get my foot in the door in an engineering position and get out of the bike shop.

Overall if you can get a job transfer, are good by yourself for some periods of time and are willing to work hard, you will be happy with your decision. However, I do miss the seasons as we only have temperatures between 65-95 here, so its really just a long spring/summer combo. There are no trees with leaves that change colors, no rain, sandy trails but TONS of nice concrete outdoor skateparks.

Now that I have been here for almost 10 years I want to move to colorado next. Life is an adventure, why live just one place?

3

The Bike Shop / Re: ebike Bmx commuter

« on: June 22, 2018, 11:34:54 AM »

I have been thinking about doing something like this for a while.

My main options were something like this BB mounted motor and a battery pack that goes in the triangle.

https://lunacycle.com/bafang-bbs02-750w-middrive-kit/


https://lunacycle.com/triangle-48v-panasonic-ga-18650-17-5ah-pack-high-power-long-range/


You would have to figure out what chainring will clear the frame or modify to fit, but I beleive with one of these setups 35-40mph is easily obtainable and seems to bewithin your budget.
PS: the bike will be well of 50lbs.

4

The Lounge / Re: 15 Years on the forum

« on: July 28, 2017, 07:35:02 PM »

June 25 2004, just over 13 years of the little blue site with the shadiest bunch of people on the internet. Bikeguide needs a revival.

Edit:Going through super old PM's and got back to some pretty in depth things with Brian Itzania. Shame that guy left the way he did. He used to work for Masi bikes, and it turns out years later I'd be working to distribute them. BG works in mysterious ways.

Yeah its crazy to think about how many people from here Ive met and ridden with over the years... Brian being one of them. Unfortunately all things, both good and bad, will come to an end. I enjoyed the so called "hayday" of bike guide and I'm sure a lot of others here did as well and to me it will be something I never forget! This place pretty much got me working on my own bike and eventually to the place I am in today.

5

The Lounge / Re: 15 Years on the forum

« on: July 24, 2017, 11:41:07 PM »

July 29, 2004, 10:00:00 AM

Closing in on 13yrs. Some of my closest friends I met thru here as well.

At exactly  10:00:00.

6

The Lounge / Re: 15 Years on the forum

« on: July 10, 2017, 03:34:18 PM »

Truly a bummer that the site is so dead...
August 24, 2006, 11:41:00 PM

I had an account before this one that I forgot the login so I think Im at about 13 years. I miss the green boxes, and TAH... Pre Bluemeate days were pretty solid IMO.

7

The Bike Shop / Re: T1 Cyclops Stem

« on: December 06, 2016, 08:53:13 PM »

Sick to see it done.

Too bad its nearly 5 years too late =/

8

The Lounge / Re: how do i pay my taxes?

« on: December 01, 2016, 07:03:46 PM »

If you're asking for tax advice on bg, you're gonna have a bad time.

1234

9

The Bike Shop / Re: Need a super strong front disc hub.

« on: October 28, 2016, 12:42:28 PM »

Like stated above you will not find large bearings in a 20mm hub, but if you are looking for strength I would probably say Shimano Saint or ZEE hubs will be the strongest as they are forged rather than CNCd so the material properties should be advantageous. The centerlock disc mating system will give you great options for small strong heat resistant rotors aswell.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/shimano-saint-hub-front-m820/rp-prod82556
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/shimano-zee-front-mtb-hub-m640/rp-prod82444


If you dont want shimano I would look at Hope would be the next stong cheap option.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/hope-pro-4-mtb-front-hub-20mm-axle/rp-prod145293

10

The Bike Shop / Re: Bladed spokes on a freestyle bmx

« on: October 18, 2016, 08:35:28 PM »

Bladed spokes have been proven to help provide more lateral support to wheels however, 20 inch wheels are inherently stiff because of the short spoke lengths an heavy duty rims so the benefit would be negligible... Even the lightest bmx rim is more solid than many heavier 700c rims. More importantly while the Rays are very strong because they are entirely forged they lack the cross-sectional strength of a 2.0 or 2.0/1.8/2.0 Double Butted spoke, so they are more likely to fail because of contact with a ledge or someone elses pegs.

You may be able to find CX rays in sub 200mm lengths but you will more than likely have to either wait a few months to get them direct or hunt somewhere that has built some 20 inch handcycle wheels with them. I have only built 24 inch wheels with bladed spokes.

You can only cut bladed spokes where they are round so about -10mm can be taken off of them.

Rays will fit in a standard bmx hub as they are 2.2/2.3mm wide and hubs are drilled to 2.5+.

 I would say that unless they are going on some race bike with carbon 20s its not worth the while...

11

The Bike Shop / Re: Wheel building question

« on: October 13, 2016, 05:56:39 PM »

Best way to check tension on a small wheel is to listen to the tone that the spoke makes when you pluck it like a guitar string.
Not the most scientific, but after a while you will notice where the lower tensioned spokes are located because their tone is lower.

As fedtom said the park tool will not fit on a 3x 20 inch, and I have not seen a tensionmeter todate that would fit, although someone may have modified one?

12

The Bike Shop / Re: S&M Speedballs slippery?

« on: August 18, 2016, 05:41:09 PM »

Waxy residue is called "mold release" and should wipe off with a rag and some warm water.
In a lot of road tires that is part of the qc process and someone will wipe the tire as they QC it.

13

The Bike Shop / Re: Sprag Clutch?

« on: November 29, 2015, 07:11:23 PM »

True Precision Stealth Pro race hubs use essentially the same mechanism and their hubs can be seen on any of the top pros bikes.
I have built up more than a few sets and have had nothing but compliments on their reliability.

14

The Bike Shop / Re: Chain breakers

« on: November 29, 2015, 07:06:09 PM »

I cannot recommend the park ct3.2 enough.
Breaks any chain
Has a replaceable pin

I have been using mine for the past year in shop use. breaks 6-10 chains a day...

15

The Bike Shop / Re: MOTHAFUCKINBACOJAM!!!

« on: October 01, 2015, 12:23:52 AM »

I thought cursing and all things cool were banned here along with TAH