[GoLUG] [offtopic] Bicycles: was: No graphics browsers

[Steve Litt]

Wayne said on Thu, 4 Sep 2025 13:23:47 -0700

>I've built several 3-cross and 4-cross wheels in the '70s. Learned how
>to do it from my neighbor Tom Cutherbertson (Anybody's Bike Book). 

For those not familiar with old school bicycling (the "bike boom"),
learning to build a wheel from Tom Cuthbertson is like learning Linux
from Linus.

From 1968-1971 I bicycles for transportation and touring (Chicago to
Cleveland to Jackson Michigan in 1970, Chicago to LaCrosse Wisconsin in
1971. In 1972 I decided to become a bicycle mechanic instead of a
factory worker, so I read (you guessed it) Cuthbertson's "Anybody's
Bike Book", knocked on a bunch of doors, and became the mechanic at
Pedal Power Bicycle Shop on Devon and Wayne (named after you probably)
in Chicago. 

From day 1 that book saved my but, because it's one thing to know how
to fix your own bike: It's quite a different thing to know how to fix
any random bike that rolls through the door. Thanks to this book, I was
able to take apart and reassemble Sturmey Archer three speed hubs.

Even though I promised to keep this post offtopic, it needs to be
mentioned that this book had plenty of illustrations that made
otherwise inscrutable instructions self-explanatory.

> I
>also had a business designing bicycle frames for custom frame
>builders. 

For those not familiar with the details of bicycles, designing and
building frames is a real science: Metalurgy, brazing, strength of
materials, and lots more. The stiffer your frame, the more of your
power you transmit to the ground instead of that "stepping into a
plumb" feeling, but if your frame is too stiff, a lot of road vibration
gets transmitted to your body, where it's consumed as wasted energy.
Some frame designs work well with frequent sudden turns, while other
designs bestow extreme stability so your mind and reactions can be on
things other than keeping the bike stable.

I never built a frame or owned a bike with a custom frame, so I know
very little about frames, other than the fact that my stiff aluminum
Mangusta bike sprang into action the second you punched the pedal,
unlike all the rest of my bikes, even when they had brand new chains.

>Was an avid cyclist back then. Too old now.

I'm familiar with the concept. I bike 10 to 15 miles a week. In the
early 1970's I'd ride 15 miles just to get to school or to get to work.
And then 15 miles back home again.

I'm really envious of you, living next door to Tom Cuthbertson. Your
post made me very happy. Thanks!

SteveT

Steve Litt 

http://444domains.com