I had an idea to make an instructional video that wasn't boring, and to do it on the cheap. In true DIY fashion, we started with one concept and ended up with something completely different. Let's put it this way, the intro sequence is half of the entire video. Here is our install guide for our Eccentric 46 bottom bracket:

Eccentricity from Problem Solvers on Vimeo.

Full instructions here.

I love me some generator hubs and lights. I wanted to use my Alfine hub and Planet Bike headlight with our new(ish) QR Nut Light Mount, but the close proximity of light to hub left me with a boatload of excess wire (apologies for the fuzzy phone pics):

I could've zip tied the excess to the fork blade, but that would've been mucho feo. Also, I was liking the idea of being able to take the wheel out without disconnecting the light from the hub. So, putting caution to the wind, I cut:

Did some rewiring:

And voila:

Admittedly, I probably went a little too short. When I pop the wheel out, the light causes the QR axle to spin in the hub, putting a little stress on the wire. I'll strengthen with a little electrical tape. But otherwise, I'm putting this project in the "win" column. 

Sometimes it's almost as if we know what we're doing. We recently updated our braze-on front derailleur adapters from a single bolt-hole to a slotted version for greater adjustability. Not more than a few weeks after we got them into stock, Ed emailed us:

"I am upgrading to Dura Ace 7900 components with a compact crankset. Problem: the clamp band of the Dura Ace 31.8mm front derailleur will be on top of the lower water bottle boss when it is anchored in the correct position. I cannot tighten the clamp in this position for fear of cracking my carbon fiber frame. If I raise the front derailleur above the boss, it will be too high to function properly.Will your Braze on Front Derailleur Adapter allow me to attach a braze on derailleur higher on the down tube (avoiding the water bottle boss)?"

In short, the answer was yes:

Enjoy your new ride, Ed!

A couple Fridays ago it was my privilege to visit Minneapolis' Calhoun Cycle. They specialize in bikes for transportation—folding bikes, commuters and cargo bikes. While there, the owner Luke pointed out a custom display one of the mechanics had made:

This mini bike showcases how a dynamo front hub system works.

The cranks drive the front wheel of the display. At first I thought it was silly—all anyone had to do to power the lights was give the front wheel a spin. Luke explained that pedaling while turning the lights on and off gives tangible feedback about how much pedal-power the dynamo uses. Smart.

When I took a closer look at the front wheel drive, I spotted a Problem Solvers Center-Lock Rotor Adapter.

Kind of hard to see what's going on here, but from left to right: the freewheel is mounted to a hub body that's been chopped off at the flange, which has been drilled to that it can be bolted to the Center-Lock adapter (complete with Presta valve nut spacers), which is mounted to the dynamo hub. Ingenious! 

Thanks to Luke for the good pictures (the poorly composed, out-of-focus picture is mine, of course), which he's also put into a brief slideshow on YouTube: http://youtu.be/zycR_dDc5zs

Bike Tinker made an animated .gif of the below image that's kinda mezmerizing. It drives me nuts when I try to recreate the fit of a bike I love on a new frame of the same size and can't get it quite right. This helps to explain why:

Thanks to JimmytheFly for creating this.