tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17970868892540085342024-02-19T22:37:11.919-08:00Lurvely Bicycle!Debunking Bad Bike BloggingMr.McGurthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01161824328597084678noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797086889254008534.post-47779127965940142592012-06-07T02:27:00.000-07:002012-06-07T12:09:42.079-07:00<br />
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<span style="color: #d52a33; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16.5pt;">A Serious
Assertion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Concerning the
post <u>Soma Smoothie Impressionism.</u> This post will correct some
misinformation contained within.<br />
</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></i><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"</span></i><span style="background-color: #f2f4e8; color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The one aspect of the
bicycle's set-up I do not like is the IRD crankset they fitted it with. There
is nothing wrong with the crankset itself, but it is not entirely compatible
with what is otherwise a Campagnolo drivetrain. This causes problems when shifting
from the big ring to the small, throwing the chain unless I press the lever
very gently. "</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f2f4e8; color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">This statement ignores
basic bicycle mechanics. There is no such thing as an incompatible
crankset in the sense being referred to here. All modern double cranks
have roughly the same chainline, meaning that the center line of the crank
(between the two chainrings) is basically the same distance from the center
line of the bike on all bikes and lines up close to the center of the cassette
on all rear wheels. The standard for double road cranks, is about
43.5mm and has been the same from 6spd through 11spd. With this in mind,
all modern front derailers will work with all modern cranksets (assuming you
use the correct shifter). If the chain is being thrown off the inside,
the solution is to adjust the inner limit screw to keep the derailer from
moving far enough to push the chain off the inner ring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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"</span><span style="background-color: #f2f4e8; color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
am still trying to decide what to do about this issue and might try to get a
local bike shop to loan me a Campagnolo Veloce crankset and a suitable bottom
bracket." </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">.</span><br />
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This, as we have seen, is not the most elegant solution. It will work,
but only because the mechanic will likely readjust the limit screws and front
derailer before sending the bike out the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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"</span><span style="background-color: #eef0ea; color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">It
is not about the shifters; it is about the crankset's compatibility with the
rest of the drivetrain. It uses a different BB width than a Campagnolo crankset
would and that is the heart of the issue. A little complicated to go into
beyond that."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eef0ea; color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Actually, it is not
complicated at all. First of all, the “BB
width” mentioned in the quote was a common mistake. All English threaded BB’s (like the Soma)
have the same width, 68mm. This is
determined by the frame, not the crank.
The correct term is spindle length, the length of the spindle to which
the crank is actually attached.. Each company produces cranks using
different measurements. In order to maintain a proper chain line, each
crank must use a bottom bracket with the correct spindle length for that crank.
For Dura-Ace, the last non-integrated spindle was 109.5mm long. For
the Campagnolo Chorus crank of the same age, the spindle was 102mm. Both
put the chainrings on a 43.5mm chain line. Chain line information is
difficult to come by for more modern cranks simple because the standard is set
and it is assumed that every modern double will have a chain line close enough
to 43.5 as to make no difference. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">In an attempt to find a solution in the
comments, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> David asks "</span><span style="background-color: #f2f4e8; color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Have you thought about
using a Chain Watcher or similar device to solve your front shifting issue? I
use one on my all-Campy drivetrain to prevent rare but dangerous missed shifts
on steep climbs.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"<br />
"</span><span style="background-color: #eef0ea; color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">They
included one with the build and I removed it. Those devices have their own
potential dangers and IMO there should be no reason to use one on a
well-adjusted double.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">" The problem
is that the double is obviously not well adjusted. When it is, there will
likely not be a need for one unless the bike is being ridden on rougher roads
or unpaved roads. The later comments concerning the dangers of chain
watchers, that the chain can wrap around them, are largely unfounded except for
anecdotal evidence. Chain watching devices are becoming very common in
the pro peloton and are standard equipment for rougher races like
Paris-Roubaix. If they truly did cause more problems than they solved,
pro teams would be very unlikely to add them to their bikes. </span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">On a less technical
note, there are some issues with the starement " </span><span style="background-color: #f2f4e8; color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> The tires are supple
and feel wider than 23mm; I quite like them.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> " followed by the statement" </span><span style="background-color: #f2f4e8; color: #353535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The wheelset they used is
also pretty nice.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">" and a picture of
some silver velocity rims but no additional information. Is it possible
that the rims are wider than the standard 19mm, causing the 23mm tires to feel
wider? This type of detail is necessary if a reader is to take anything
away from the review.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Aside from minor technical
issues, there is an overarching theme that must be brought to light if we are
to take the assertions of an incompatible crankset seriously. And that is
that the builder of the bike, Soma, assembled and shipped a bike that did not
function properly. If we are to believe that an adjustment will not fix
the issue, then we must assume that the mechanics at Soma either do not
understand basic bicycle mechanics or that they did not care enough to properly
equip and test the bike before sending it out. More than just the
supposedly minor issue of getting a loaner crank from a local shop, this post
lays the claim that Soma employs an ignorant or careless staff, a serious
assertion towards a company who just sent out a free bicycle. And an
assertion that should not be taken lightly. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I personally believe that this is neither fair or true. In my experience, Soma is a quality company who would not send out a bike with incompatible components. They would expect, however, that a bike would be completely and properly adjusted by a professional mechanic as it was being assembled in the receiving end. They would also expect that the customer would question and check that adjustment before assuming that the issue was due to incompatible parts and a bad build. This review of the Soma Smoothie is </span><span style="font-size: 19px;">naive at best and insulting and damaging at worst.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div>
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</div>Lamb Sandwichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17536081758947044391noreply@blogger.com0