Equipment
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How To Extract A Valve Extender From A Zipp Wheel
Posted on September 9th, 2009 1 commentThis story DEFINITELY is not about me, as I would not be as careless and foolish as to lose my own valve extender inside my new Zipp 1080 Deep Rim Carbon Wheel. This story is about my mate….. we’ll say Dan. A few nights ago Dan took his 1080 for a spin and then afterwards he took the wheel off and thought that it would be a good idea to let the tyre down. In order to do this Dan unscrewed his valve extender and used the opposite end to push down the end of the tyre’s valve and let down the tyre. This all worked correctly, it wasn’t until Dan tried to put the valve extender back on that everything went wrong. Realising neither that he’d missed the valve or that the width of the completely hollow deep rim was longer than the valve he kinda just put it in further and further until the point of no return. The valve extender then fell into the wheel and instantly fell sideways along the bottom of the rim.
This is where things got REALLY tricky as it is then impossible to simply shake out and you will never be able to get the value extender to line up with the hole again since gravity and the shape of the wheel will always keen it side on. My first idea was to try and get the end of the valve extender to sit near the hole and to then try to get the small arm of an Allen key into the end of the extender in order to then turn it up in line with the hole. After about half an hour of trying this method I found that it was never going to work because it is also pretty much impossible to get the end of the valve extender to sit 90 degrees to the hole (allowing the small end of an allen key to be inserted) as the wheel is round and so it’s the MIDDLE of the (say 6 inch) valve extender that sits 90 degrees to the inside of the wheel. This means that the end that you can see, when you line an end up with the hole, actually faces slightly away from the hole.
I then read on the internet about people getting other things out of the wheel using a vacuum. Even though I knew that it was pointless, I was desperate and gave it a go. As expected… completely useless.
I then had one more idea and that was using magnets. The idea was that you’d have to find a long magnet, my first place of call was bunnings, and using that you could actually manipulate the direction that the valve extender faced inside the wheel. Hence you could point the end of the valve extender directly at the hole and could then extract it. Unfortunately Bunnings was shut by this time so this plan was never tried. I still think it could be a good idea however.
So here it is, the plan that eventually led to the successful extraction of the valve extender. I have to give my girlfriend credit for bringing my attention to this final method of extraction.
Fishing Line
I created a “lassoo” of fishing line so that it was a big loop going directly in from the hole, covering as much of the wheel as possible. I then shook the wheel so that the valve extender went through the lassoo and then I pulled the lassoo tight. It was once I had successfully achieved this that I finally began to get some hope. As expected, the lassoo was not right at the end of the valve extender however, it was further towards the middle. So I then created another lassoo with which I was going to try to get right on the end. Turning the wheel on its side I carefully lowered the valve extender down inside the wheel until I could see the top. (obviously a bright torch and a lot of patience was required (and in fact had been required for the past 3 hours). Once I could see the top I put the next lassoo in, lifted the vavle extender just the tiniest bit (using the fishing line with the first lassoo) and then, after about 50 attempts, managed to get the lassoo right at the top of the valve extender. Once you are here, unless ur lassoo comes off, you are home free. You then hold only the second peice of fishing line and turn the wheel so that the hole faces straight up. This should get the valve extender almost perfectly straight up. Use the long end of an Allen key to get the valve extender perfectly straight and then CAREFULLY, so that the lassoos don’t come off get the whole lot out through the hole.
Just a quick note… it was a little tricky getting the valve extender with all the fishing line out of the hole so make sure you don’t create massive knotts when making that lassoo or you might run into a whole other set of problems.
Anyways, this is my…. I mean Dan’s story. I hope this helps someone out there because I know when I searched the net on this topic I didn’t find anything helpful.
Thanks,
Dave
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Photos Of The Sprint Finish In Boise
Posted on June 17th, 2009 1 commentThese photos are from Boise where Craig Alexander sprinted ahead to take the win away from a heartbroken Chris Lieto.
I think these photos speak for themselves!
Age Grouper, Australia, Bike, Bike Accessories, Bikes, Brad Kahlefeldt, Chris Lieto, Chris McCormack, Country, Courtney Atkinson, Craig Alexander, Emma Moffat, Emma Snowsill, Equipment, Half Ironman (70.3), Half Marathon, Ironman, Olympic, Run, Sprint, Swim, Training, Triathletes, Triathlon News, USA -
Which Bike? Cervelo P2 VS Fuji D6?
Posted on May 25th, 2009 4 commentsHi All,
I am going to be purchasing myself a new (affordable) time trial bike and it has officially come down to 2 options.1. Cervelo P2 with Ultegra SL (http://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=P22009), or
2. Fuji D6 (with SRAM Rival) http://www.fujibikes.com/Specialty/Triathlon/Aloha10-(2).aspx
So far I am actually leaning towards the Fuji and I have based it upon the following arguments.
For P2:
1. Trusted brand, bike has been proven to do well on world stage.
2. Known to definitely be a very comfortable and responsive ride.
3. (this is actually a negative on Fuji) Brand has not really been tested so it could turn out to be a bit of a dudd although the very few reviews currently out there all seem to say it’s great.
4. (this is also a negative on fuji) Unlike Cervelo, there will be people out there who only go for the big brands and will simply scoff at a brand like Fuji…. I guess they wont be scoffing at any brand of bike that overtakes them on the bike leg though…. and I guess as I go past they can get a real good look at how the D6′s back brake is nicely enclosed in the back forks, hehe.
5. (again negative about Fuji) SRAM Rival has been known to have issues in the past although they’re apparently all good now. So again worse in the reputation stakes than Shimano Ultegra.
For D6:
1. Lighter (but only by 100g so pretty much negligible and weight isn’t too big a deal in time trial bikes)
2. Is SUPPOSED to be more aero… they SAY, although it’s all heresay, that it is supposed to be comparable or even slightly better than the P3 in Aerodynamics.
3. Slightly cheaper.
4. Looks cooler in my opinion.
5. More unique and hence more noticable. (If anyone doesn’t know me, I like to be a bit of a show pony when I can be)
Anyways they are my thoughts and as you can see I am leaning towards the Fuji D6. Please everyone comment, I’d love to hear all of your thoughts!
Dave
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Plasma TT Wins at the Giro
Posted on May 10th, 2009 No commentsTeam Columbia-Highroad riders and the new SCOTT Plasma TT bike have confidently taken the win and the the Maglia Rosa in the opening team time trial stage of the 100th Giro d’Italia.
Scott Plasma 3 TT wins Giro Team Time Trial
SCOTT Bicycles launched the all-new Time Trial (TT) creation, as a prelude to the 100th Giro d’Italia. Developed in collaboration with Team Columbia-Highroad, the new bike was debuted in the team time trial stage by Team riders including Micheal Rogers and Mark Renshaw. The Plasma TT project is dubbed the most advanced R&D project in the bicycle industry, and the product is the fastest bike the world has yet seen.
Scott_Plasma_3_Side
Team members Michael Barry (Can), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Mark Cavendish (GB), Thomas Lovkvist (Swe), Marco Pinotti (Ita), Morris Possoni (Ita), Mark Renshaw (Aus,; Michael Rogers (Aus), and Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Byl) covered the 20.5km course in 21 minutes and 50 seconds, six seconds faster than pre-race rival Team Garmin.
Scott_Plasma_3_Brake
Source: scottusa.com
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Great New Recovery Tool
Posted on April 29th, 2009 No comments
Everyone’s talking global warming these days, but meanwhile, a company out of Glenview, IL is pushing us into a new Ice Age.Chicago-based start up Moji has created a superior alternative to leaky ice cube filled baggies and frozen vegetables, that actually makes the critical act of post-activity icing comfortable, mobile and even stylish with its truly innovative new Moji Knee cold compression (aka “icing”) system.
Being a publication focused on active living and athletics, I’m sure you understand that icing is pretty important. There’s a bunch of research that supports it as well. But surprisingly enough, even though icing is considered one of the most effective and important measures to prevent injuries (let alone rehab injuries), a ton of people who engage in daily fitness pastimes like running, cycling, working out or other popular sports like golf and tennis never ice. This is pretty surprising when you consider that every time we engage in such activities, we experience micro-trauma to our joints and tendons that can, and will, lead to injury, arthritis and a host of other painful ailments along the way. Icing is the single most effective and efficient way to keep ourselves injury free and active as long as possible throughout our lives.
Moji went out and figured out that there were three main reasons people neglected icing after workouts or activity:
1. Convenience – It’s kind of hard to take ice with you without it melting, and who wants to carry an igloo cooler around everywhere. If there’s no freezer nearby, there’s no icing.
2. Messiness – Pretty much every icing method available, from athletic icing products to good ole frozen veggies get wet, and leave a damp and uncomfortable mess. Not to mention, the typical plastic bags and pouches used for icing aren’t exactly what you’d call comfortable.
3. Mobility – (Or lack there of). Icing means you’re basically confined to your recliner or couch for 30 minutes. It’s not like you can get up and get things done while your icing.
After identifying these three primary reasons, Moji took the critical step of developing a solution that eliminates these three barriers to icing. It’s new Moji Knee cold compressions system possesses superior icing capabilities due to an innovative “Cold Cell” design and a gel that stays soft and pliable when frozen and maintains optimal cooling temperature for the duration of the icing process, not to mention that it doesn’t sweat or leak making it completely “mess free.” It’s totally mobile due to a high-tech four-way stretch fabric that’s super comfortable, and totally accommodates full movement for those who want to be able to get out and about while they are icing after an activity. And finally, the Moji Knee looks great! Like any other modern athletic apparel, Moji Knee not only looks stylish and is extremely comfortable to wear, but it’s design qualities make for superior results because it delivers cooling more effectively and maximizes compression to the area, which is critical to effective icing. Finally, they offer Moji To Go – a thermal canister that keeps the Moji frozen for up to six hours and fits conveniently into any athletic bag or backpack. So you can “Moji” anytime, anywhere.