Problem Solvers - Make It Work

Eccentricity: Our E46 “Instructional” Video

2012-01-27T19:06:16+00:00

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.

Custom Wiring for the QR Nut Light Mount

2012-01-16T14:57:14+00:00

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.

Our Braze-On Adapters in Action

2011-12-27T12:12:58+00:00

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!

Calhoun Cycle’s Dynamo Display

2011-12-15T14:27:52+00:00

http://youtu.be/zycR_dDc5zs

A couple Friday's 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

Geometry’s Influence on Bike Fit

2011-12-12T14:21:15+00:00

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.

New Product Update

2011-11-22T14:30:36+00:00

Some new stuff in stock for y'all to check out:

Our Handlebar Accessory Mount for all those folks out there who love their computers, GPS, lights and mp3 players:

We've added a new Center-Lock Rotor Adapter for converting your Shimano-compatible hubs for 6-bolt rotors:

Alloy BrakeBoss Plugs:

And my personal favorite, the QR Nut Light Mount, which I've gotten a lot of great feedback about:

All are available now from you local bicycle retailer.

The Ultimate Shop Apron

2011-11-14T17:10:04+00:00

I've been a hack mechanic for years, but I think there were two shop items that helped me transition from "bicycle enthusiast w/ tools" to "semi-obsessed garage bike-tinkerer." The first was my Park TS-2 wheel truing stand, the second, my shop apron. It's pretty comforting to know that I've got my Y-wrench in my right pouch, flathead and Phillips drivers on my chest, and all those spare parts for whatever the current project is in the big middle pouch. There are things I wish were different, however. Sometimes the pouches seem too big, I lose little nuts in the corners of the pockets, the strapping system seems overly complicated and uncomfortable. So I ask you, fellow wrenches, what could be imroved about shop aprons? I'd like to design a Problem Solvers version. I've got some ideas, but would like to know what y'all think. My initial thoughts are combining this:

with this:

and one of these:

NiceRide Minnesota: Why Bike Sharing Works for Multi-Bike Owners

2011-11-02T00:03:05+00:00

(Photo courtesy of NiceRide on Facebook)

Last spring I won a free season pass for NiceRide MN through QBP (our distrubutor and big momma) on a Ride-to-Work day. This coming weekend they'll start closing down the kiosks and pack up the bikes for the winter. I figured I'd provide a short review of the service for y'all: it's freaking awesome.

There are a boatload of kiosks, and more are on the way for 2012. Especially in Northeast, Downtown and Uptown Minneapolis, you're hard-pressed to walk more than a few blocks without seeing one. With the season pass ($60.00), you're provided with a bar-coded key. This allows you to walk up to an available bike, stick the key in the kiosk, take the bike and roll. The process takes less than 10 seconds.

But Chris, you already own a bajillion* bikes? Why on Earth would you want to borrow one?

It goes without saying that the NiceRides aren't the most performance-oriencted bikes out there, so when I get pumped about it my cycling friends get confused. In fact, I didn't use the pass for the first two months because I didn't see a use for it. However, after a couple test runs I started using it on a regular basis. I considered the following:

There are stations nearly everywhere I want to go in town
Less commitment to the bike—I could go one way and ditch the bike. With my own ride, I'd be committed to riding it home, locking it up, etc.
Trips under 30 minutes are free. It never took me that long to get anywhere I wanted to go.
"Normal" clothes—I was able to wear pants without rolling up the cuffs
Integrated head and taillights—no worrying about if my blinky's batteries are dead or running back into the house to grab 'em.
Friends—my bikes don't always fit my visitors from out of town. The NiceRides work for anybody.
The bikes are there in a pinch—twice I ended up using a NiceRide to get [closer to] home when the need called. Without my NiceRide key, I'd have been up a certain creek without the necessary implement to maneuver it, know what I mean?
Mobile App—find a station within walking distance with your smart phone

For these reasons, I plan to pony up for the season pass next April when the NiceRide stations return to action. If you've got any questions about how the service works, or how it worked for me, give me a shout. Their website also does a good job of explaining things: https://www.niceridemn.org

*The truth hurts too much to share.

Direct Mount Adapter on Moots Ti Fatbike

2011-10-27T14:01:41+00:00

Out of focus, still awesome.

http://www.bikerumor.com/2011/10/13/moots-building-limited-run-of-frosti-the-snow-bike/

Ride 2 Recovery on CBS News

2011-10-14T13:24:43+00:00