Category Archives: Becoming a bicycle

Why to shift gears without electricity

Posted on February 22, 2023 by 16incheswestofpeoria

The way I understand it, pushing a button to initiate a wireless gear change is like squirting ketchup out of a plastic bottle: the signal travels between shifter and derailleur in a straight line. My understanding, of course, is based … Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming a bicycle, bicycle, Equipment, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Wherein the person awheel comes dangerously close to dissing all that was holy and good. 30 days of biking, #28

Posted on May 1, 2022 by 16incheswestofpeoria

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” —1 Corinthians 13:11 __ When I rode seriously, I … Continue reading →

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Shimano Dura Ace 7400 crank, tubeless tires and the art of deception

Posted on February 23, 2020 by 16incheswestofpeoria

“You think to yourself, ah, now this will be a bike. And you’re not wrong. But it may not be the bike you’re expecting.” Continue reading →

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Standing up for single speed

Posted on February 11, 2020 by 16incheswestofpeoria

Another winter bicycle project. Look, Ma: No derailleurs. Continue reading →

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The Invention of Nothing

Posted on September 24, 2019 by 16incheswestofpeoria

If you like to ride road bikes and you’ve been paying attention to them for a few decades, you’ve noticed quite a bit of change, especially on the high end. In the 1980s, indexed shifting replaced the need to manually … Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming a bicycle, Equipment | Tagged , , | 1 Comment