咖啡时间 －－ e-reader里的单车读物

<<the complete book of road cycling & race>>. 是公路车骑行的完全手册。覆盖了单车的选购，维护，如何有效骑行到如果训练比赛。本书图片丰富，容易阅读。是进入公路车世界的必备读物。

<<bicycling science>>.
如果没读此书，你不会想到单车的背后会有这么丰富的研究课题, 不会想到单车技术的背后会有这么深奥的学术性。
        本书的开篇与结尾对单车历史和发展有很深入的综述和展望，中篇通过物理学的方法，积累学术界的成果，对单车的动力和速度，单车的空气动力，滚动【胎与轴】，刹车，转向与平衡，机械能量传递，材料与压力等作了专题研究，各专题后都给出了清晰的结论。在众多的单车读物中，这是不可多得的严谨的学术书籍。

<<cycling --philosophy for everyone>>.

<<cycling europe --budget biek touring in the old world>>.

<<obsessive compulsive cycling disorder>>.

Quebec link

ontario-bicycle-route

编轮的＂艺术＂： 3. 自编轮

to be continue...

编轮的＂艺术＂： 2. 幅条编织模式分析

         

        车轮编织设计中，一旦选定车轴和轮框，幅条的质量和编织模式对车轮的性能和耐用度起着决定作用。编织模式需提供车轮强度所需的张力和由车轴传递给车框的扭力。大体概念上幅条编织方式上可分为：

直拉模式：

                 幅条从车轴到轮框由放射状拉伸，于车框的切线点垂直。放射模式能提供较高的车轮强度的张力，但幅条边框的切线分力，因而无法提供扭力；

斜拉模式：

               幅条从车轴到轮框向前或向后一定斜度拉伸，提供车轮强度的张力， 同时对边框的切线分力提供扭力，以带动车轮转动。根据幅条轮框边穿孔的跨越个数，一般有1x1, 2x2, 3x3等模式。

然而，并非前后轮都需要扭力带动车轮，甚至后轮的不同边也具有不同扭矩作用。非盘刹前轮不需要扭力，后轮可分为：

动力边----即车链条与齿轮边，和 非动力边---- 即无齿轮的一边；

                                          

传统认为，最经典的模式为所有边都为3x3的斜拉模式最为可靠，《自行车轮》中直接宣称100年来的各种幅条编织模式的尝试最后只是证明了这一模式的经典和那些奇异模式一次次的重蹈复辙。   然而经典不一定就代表完美，反而为现在车轮设计提供改良的空间。3x3模式的问题之一后轮中非动力边与动力边的幅条拉力不均匀，动力与大部分张力全由动力边的幅条提供。因而对当今市场上优秀车轮幅条编织模式的考察则让人对当代车轮进步更深入的了解。

      前轮不需要扭力，除能轻微节省一点重量外，因为视觉上有美观效果，常设计为放射模式。

        《自行车轮》中定量分析了后轮的受力情况，认为几乎全部扭力实际由动力边提供，非动力边只提供轮框张力和两边张力的平衡作用，而动力边车轴法兰盘高于非动力边的法兰盘时，车轮两边的幅条能有更接近的角度，非动力边不需扭力采用放射式，动力边采用斜拉，进而产生更均匀的张力而编织出更有强度的车轮。

        法国Mavic 反其道而行之，将提供扭力的斜拉模式放到非动力边，而将动力边采用放射式！！这将如何工作？  

将Mavic车轴参数用《自行车轮》的方法重新计算发现，Mavic的车轴提供了更高的刚性而将扭力传到非动力边而带动车轮转动。这一方式能提高两边幅条的拉力，进而提高整个车轮的刚性。

Mavic的创新无疑是成功， 不仅成为当今市场上倡销的高性能车轮之一，也引来其他厂家的效仿。

编轮的＂艺术＂： 1. 阅读随笔

       趁着闲暇，带着一点对自行车车轮构造的兴趣和疑惑，反复研读了手工编制自行车车轮的著名读物《编轮的艺术》(The art of wheel building)和《自行车轮》 (Bicycle wheel)。这两本书不约而同地试图解决怎样才能编制一对完美车轮的问题，我则需要从中找到为什么要手工编轮和什么才是完美车轮的最佳答案。

     《编轮的艺术》是瑞士的一位40年专业编轮工艺匠人的经验荟萃，作者同时也是自行车竞赛的业余爱好者，因此对自行车及其工艺有着极大的热情。行文让人感到一位完美主义的老工艺匠人在面前絮絮叨叨地讲述自行车轮组成部件车轴（hub),幅条（spoke),轮框（rim)的每一个细节和原理，又娓娓道来那些编轮的工艺流程, 编制过程中遇到的问题和解决方法。

       文中收集了一些编轮部件的厂家技术参数和编轮经验公式，联同对编轮步骤最详细的描述使得该书具有一定的参考作用。

       同时，该书随时穿插了作者与当时交往的一些世界级自行车赛手和自行车技师传奇故事，传达了一种对细节和完美无尽追求的职业精神。是这种对手工艺的热爱，用钟表般构造的精密，达到完美的性能，使手编自行车轮这项正在流失的工艺，演绎为曾经的艺术。

   
       尽管编轮依赖经验，并且编轮大师的手编轮更加完美并更具个性，然而，手编车轮不应该是艺术； 车轮的背后应有它的科学原理，其结构应能建模进而定量分析。若能将其背后的理论加以揭示，即使不是大师，掌握技术，优化工序，利用验算测试手段，也能编出理想车轮。Jobst Brandt正好作了这样的尝试，并著作了这本《自行车轮》。

        因而，与《编轮的艺术》行文不同，《自行车轮》 作者隐身，传奇消失，真理试图浮现。

      作者借鉴了材料力学为基础的的工程原理和有限元分析方法，以分析车轮静态和动态受力状态，进而通过独立的观察分析，解释失败车轮的不同原因，车轮强度的各种要求，车轮组件的各种特征，水到渠成地到达车轮的设计。行文从普遍到特殊，从原理到实现，逻辑环环相扣地完成理论篇。随后的实践篇--车轮的手编与维修--也翔实具体，似乎达到手把手相教的效果，给新手以实践的信心。最后的公式与计算部分可以看作是本书的附录，也是对理论篇强有力的背书。综合起来该书不愧为深入了解自行车车轮的宝典。

       然而，大师难免也有犯迷糊的时候，如果单独考察书中的某些论段，偶尔也能发现一些令人困惑，或值得商磋的结论。

Jobst Brandt

例如，在分析车轮是如何支撑车体时，作者摒弃车轴上部幅条受力的悬挂模型，而以桥梁桥墩预挤压而能提供更强支持力作类比，认为是车轴下部幅条预拉伸而产生了支持力，但因预拉伸与支持受力方向不一致，似乎不是让人十分信服。而再用更复杂的电子学的偏流作进一步类比解释时，反而感觉有些忽悠。 又如在分析车轮动力传动时，作者同意共识，即由后轮右边向后斜拉的幅条拉动轮框滚动，但同时宣称同边向前斜拉的幅条因张力释放提供推力，然而细想在没有外力将幅条再度拉紧的情况下，这一论断没法解释在匀速中怎样持续提供推力？ 因为内力不作功。... ...

     当然，这些丝毫不能震撼大师高山仰止的地位，反而只会增加本书阅读的趣味性，而本书的价值的不在于这些无关紧要的结论，而是其分析方法，以及原理，设计和制作之间畅然关联的逻辑性。


    从两本书中我想我找到了想要的答案。

•        既然手编轮的性能不低于厂家车轮，而耐用性，可维护性远好过厂家车轮，如果能，为什么不使用自己量身编制的高性能手编车轮呢？

•       那些最合理的设计，选用了最优良的部件，用最高精度编出的最强，最硬， 合理轻量的手编车轮，才是完美车轮， 它将象工艺品一样，随岁月流传。

编轮的＂艺术＂： 2. 幅条编织模式分析

Build a versatile performance bike: 3. a touch of retro.

Sometimes lovely bicycles evoke feeling of freedom, independence or/and even nostalgia for whatever memory awaken. It connects emotion rather than be a purely utilitarian.  Moreover, the vantage frame carries the  traditional style and classical handicraft thank to it's flat top tube and lug joint. It can be an unique, refined and chic alternative to just road rage or race machine.

Hence a minimalism, elegant and retro style is a natural choice for this bike building.

A handcrafted leather saddle is almost the symbol of  traditional bike, not only it has been existing the same  way for about one hundred year, it's still considered the most comfortable solution for a long distance riding.

All those old school silver colour seat post, stem, handle bar and even the Campagnolo Veloce brake calipers contribute a touch of retro. 

note the seat far higher than the handler bar, it keeps a aggressive position to ride according to my own riding habit. It should be an athlete in casual suit. 

The small stainless front rack not only gives a classical looks, it's also the best utility of carrying casual stuff for daily use.

The whole bicycle is still at fairly light about 19 LB.although there is some weigh penalty for it.

Build a versatile performance bike: 2. frame and wheels

The performance mainly comes from bicycle's frame and wheel set. The frame's geometry and material both play importance role in it's performance. 

the geometry of the frame can be described in the last photo in the post. the seat tube length(D) represents the size of the frame. usually Head tube angle(A), seat tube angle(B) and stay length determines if the bike is aggressive or leisure style. other size changes proportionally.  Roughly, more straight seat tube ( say 75 degree angle) and shorter rear wheel to the seat tube distance, more efficient riding due the designed riders position and resulting bike's stiffness. more comfortable other wise.

The geometry of this frame usually can be seen in the entry level race bike, and the material of the frame, which is chromoly steel , is stiff enough also supposed to provide more comfortable riding. 

the wheel consists of white industries oversize hub laced with Mavic open pro rims.  The hub was designed for rough condition such as touring and unpaved road usage but with race hub's lightness and ultra smoothness. the rims are also strong and light. the wheel set is versatile enough to be training or touring wheels. Hub is 8-9 speed compatible, while I configure it as single speed for daily use.


Based on this frame and wheel set,  the idea is to get ride of all none-sense to achieve the simplicity, elegance hence the performance. if needed, with cassette and bar end shifter, it can be easy converted to the multi-geared touring bike for long distance.  

A   Head Tube Angle
B   Seat Tube Angle
C   Top Tube Length
D   Seat Tube Length              
E   Chainstay Length              
F   Bottom Bracket Drop  
G   Fork Offset
H   Total Fork Length    
I    Head Tube Length              
J   Wheelbase

Build a versatile performance bike: 1. repaint the frame.

The cycling season just finished,  the ski season has yet 1 or 2 weeks to start. Now it's just the time to rebuild my versatile performance bike. Having checked the weather forecast, it would be a warm week since this Sunday, which  makes a perfect opportunity to repaint the frame in the following  days.

It's actually a late 80's Fiori Modena triple butted and lugged chromoly steel frame.  The Fiori bike and its frame is rated in a decent middle level  category. Comparing to the high end race steel frame such as made from Columbus, Reynold  tube which are about 2000- 2500 g, this  frame weights above 3000 g. Compromising some lightness, it's  still a excellent candidate for city , light touringbike  due to its stiffness and geometry and decent build quality.

Most importance, the 54 cm is right my size and the 80's steel frame is almost the only option for the modern retro-style bike building( or rebuilding). Based on this frame, will build a versatile all around for city commuting, light touring or touring when full loaded performance bike.

Thanks to paint stripper spray, it took about 1 to 2 hours to remove the old coat and painting and sand for completly clean. I actually have been done  2 day ago.  Today sprayed  the primer as the first layer covering and for rust proving  as well. after several fine sanding and re-applying ,  the  frame is ready to paint.

I chose the "recreational white" color for retro and clean looking. leverage the precious warm weather , will paint it in garage and then heat it to dry beside the fireplace.

As expected,Sunday is warm and also a little windy for ventilation, good timing to do the job.

(click to enlarge)

Sprayed  the fork first, but  since did too fast,it generated some bubbles and spots on the surface. So the result is not ideal, need  sand it after it dry and repaint the 2nd layer. seems need more patient to achieve mirror flat result.


Patient does work!  Carefully sprayed little by little and let it dry, apply over and over, it's done and it does look clean and simple.  Thought it twice, instead of further apply the final clear coat, I just leave it as it. I prefer it home made style rather than a commercial product alike.


Having installed a race bike wheel set, It demonstrates the start point of my concept.

Insight the bike

This post is to keep the index of the bike knowledge from internet. and  keep updating 

(All the pictures and links are from internet )

=========================== bike hubs ==============================

Most of time, when people buy the first bike, more attention paid on the frame material and the level of the component, and take it for grain that all the wheel is the same, just rolls. Therefore, almost all the entry to "intermediate"  which cost $1000 to $2000 bike, equipped very basic wheelsets.  However , wheel sets, which only consist of hub, spoke and rim, plays an very importance role of performance of the bike. It's said for recent 40 years history of bike, the performance maily gains from the improvement of the wheel sets. The intermediate to high end wheel sets can easy priced more than $1000, even hubs itself can cost more than $200 each.

   What is the difference?  How a hub can enhance the performance through the material, structure and maintenance?  The 28 hub's review Hubs review give an insight of 28 popular high end hub.

How the things work

white industries front hub adjustment

white industries rear hub adjustment

========================== Frame material =============================

  What's really make a difference of the bikes?  Stiffness, Lightness and Riding quality.

  For a frame,  Better one can be stiffer so that transfers the power more efficient,  lighter for more responsive and easier to ascend, more importantly ,   more comfortable to ride with.  And of cause also aesthetic, cost and maintenance  etc. are other issues need to take into consideration.

 The steel , the traditional material,  considered better riding quality with a little weight penalty.  The lugged steel frame has traditional aesthetic. the cost can be low or bloody high based on what type of steel tube used and who built it.

The titanium is consider similar attribute with the steel and just better due to the lightness and stiffness. titanium usually exclusively build the high end bicycle.

Aluminium, now become the low cost material for the bike frame, it can be light, but not always, it;s considered not have the high riding quality.

Carbon fiber is a better material due to its stiffness, lightness and ride quality but expensive and not easy  to repair when damaged.

here is the basic knowledge to understand the bike frame material.

========================== wheel building ===============================

It's said, you wouldn't fundamentally understand the bike until you build the wheel by yourself.

 The resource how to build a wheel set.
 And the book           the art of wheelbuiding.
                                  The Bicycle Wheel
 Some popular race wheel sets review        best road wheel upgrade from bikeradar.com.

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crankset review   (Scotch-Weld™ DP-460)