Xtracycle Build Pt4

With the bike striped down and the Freeradical attached it was time to re-attach the brakes and rear derailleur. I’ve never messed with the derailleur before so I admit I was intimidated by just the thought of adjusting it.

Here is were things got silly. I re-attached my brakes to the free-radical… my breaks are canti’s. That’s a bad thing. It’s not like I hadn’t read that I needed to use “v” brakes but I initially thought the canti brakes were “v”  brakes. [STOP THAT LAUGHING] they look like a “v” and all…

There are a couple major issues with this:

1. being these brakes won’t work with the freeradical [I know because I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to adjust them]
2. I took the super-nifty extra-long brake cable the people at Xtracycle sent me and cut it [way too short]

bummer dude…

I then re-attached the rear derailleur. As I tried to remove the old derailleur cable I pulled my bar end shifter out of the bar end… which tore my shellacked tan bar tape… [are you laughing again?] Once I had neatly ruined the tape I realized I only had to push the derailleur cable backwards to remove it – no need to touch the bar end shifter.

…but wait it gets better…

I ran the cable, cut what I thought was an appropriate amount of cable housing for the derailleur and put the Rollamajig in and slided the cable onto the derailleur – then I drew a blank – I’m not kidding – I couldn’t figure out how the cable was supposed to be “held tight” to the derailleur.

[I would like to pause this ridiculous story for a disclaimer:]
If you have not done ANY of this before, or worked with the above mentioned components then this is all  NEW to you. The directions that come with the xtracycle assume a certain amount of knowledge and most helper web sites out there do the same. I’m in no way knocking them – it would be impossible to give in-depth step by step instructions because of the vast array of bike configurations – I’m just trying to explain my lameness.
[back to the broadcast]

I was disappointed and tired at this point and went to bed, but not before I put the freeloaders on to at least look at what I was supposed to have.

of course I couldn’t sleep and it didn’t take that long for me to remember I had to loosen TWO things to remove the derailleur. I knew I could fix the derailleur and I did but it took awhile to realize I had run the cable over instead of under the freeradical and needed to change it. Once I did that I tightened the cable and the shifter worked great first try. [go figure]

I attached the freeloaders and snap deck and road the thing to work today – Monday – sans rear break.

I have ordered real “v” brakes and brake leavers [I don't want to use the travel agent] and a tandem brake cable. :p

I did get a little discouraged in the middle of this but all in all I only want to learn more about doing my own work, not less. I understand this is pretty basic stuff but it saved me $150 on the install and I gained a greater confidence level regarding my bike’s maintenance. I’m spending an extra $10 on another cable but I don’t care… good times…

Follow the Build

• Xtracycle Build PT1
• Xtracycle Build PT2
• Xtracycle Build PT3
• Xtracycle Build PT4
• Xtracycle Build PT5

it’s coming!

Xtra happy today…

finally…

Waiting on the world to change…

I want my xtracycle! That may sound a little childish but whatever.

• We moved to the city
• I gave my car up to my daughter (just turned 16)
• I started doing all by bike (work, groceries, library, social)
• I quickly realized I needed capacity
• I looked around and decided what to sell to raise funds for an xtra
• I sold and shipped the stuff out

I placed the order on the Xtra site Friday afternoon 10/10 – they shipped that day – it’s due here this Friday 10/17. They are West, I’m East.

• I’m gonna build it out myself…
• I’m gonna ride into the sunset…
• I’m gonna change my life…

Maybe you think it sounds grandiose but that’s what I think the xtra can do if you let it – change the way you live your life.

I want Xtra-life…

I’m no Big Dummy

Although I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wish I was.

Xtracycle Lifestyle

I am all hyped up about getting an xtracycle – and while I’d love it to be a Big Dummy that’s outta my (gosh I can’t afford 2k and we’re not barreling head long into debt… [anymore]) price range.

So I’m thinkin’ Xtracycle. I’m dreaming of heading to the grocery store for my family of four without the fear factor – no, no can’t carry that home… too big… to fragile… too much. I want it all – fruit, eggs, milk, veggies, big and little boxes, whatever – and pile it all in. Ummm beer… ya know.

So I looked around at my stuff and decided what I could live without….

Sold it – packed it up and shipped it out to new owners – and prayed I make enough for a Free Radical Kit.

I sold some nice things… Things I liked really liked to get this. There are not more then a handful of Xtracycles here where I live. (Columbia, SC) I wish there was a larger more diverse cycling community here, but that’s another topic.

I’m putting the free radical on my 20 year old Trek 520. The bike behind the [you guessed it] 2006 Trek 520. :p they’ve been good to me so far…

I ordered the kit on Wednesday but every ones at Interbike right now so I’m waiting until…. Uggghhh*%-@:^& they get back.

Dawsonville, Ga 400k

From the Audax Atlanta Website:

400k’s are sometimes described as psychologically challenging because they are just long enough to require lack of sleep and riding in the dark, and too short to warrant a nap. You can say that this 400k keeps things interesting by sprinkling in hill after hill. With 19,300 feet of climbing over the 250 mile course, you will EARN your bragging rights.

Start Location: Dawsonville, GA.. (map below)

Distance:  250.4 miles
Time Limit: 27h
Entry Fee:  $25
Cue Sheets and Ride Maps:

Cue Sheet (html)	Cue Sheet
Downloadable Cue Sheet	dwsnvl_400_cue.xls
Online Map: Bikely	RUSA-Dawsonville-400k
Online Map: MapMyRide	RUSA Dawsonville 400k

A little dab’ll do ya

Below are some definitions to help familiarize yourself with these type of events.

Randonneuring: (rahn·doe·ner·ing) – Long distance unsupported endurance cycling. This style of riding is non-competitive in nature, and self-sufficiency is paramount. Friendly camaraderie, not competition, is the hallmark of randonneuring.

Brevet (bruh·vay) – Literally, the word means “certificate”, or “diploma” in French. In “randonneuring”, completing a successful brevet (a ride of at least 200k) means one’s ride has been certified and registered in France, and the rider’s name is added to the roll of honor, going all the way back to 1921.

Randonneurs USA (RU·SA) – The bicyclist’s resource for information about Randonneuring in the USA.