Nuts

American Classic’s new Argent Road Tubeless is one of the latest entries into the new school of road wheelsets. They’re light, they’re wide, and, as the name suggests, they’re also tubeless compatible. Add in a sturdy build, a good ride quality, and a fairly reasonable price and the result is an excellent choice for everyday riding or racing.

American Classic founder Bill Shook might object to this sort of analogy but the Argent Road Tubeless rims are essentially the road equivalent of Stan’s NoTubes’ venerable mountain bike hoops.?

The internal width is unusually generous at 19.4mm (Mavic’s latest Cosmic Carbone 40 C is still just 15mm across), the effective diameter is slightly larger than the usual ETRTO-regulated 622mm, and the bead hooks are lower and thinner than usual.

As a result, any tire you use will measure considerably wider than it otherwise would on a more conventional rim, while tubeless models will inflate more readily (and seat more securely).?

The Argent Road Tubeless rims require tape to be airtight

We tested the Argent wheels with a familiar pair of Bontrager R3 TLR tubeless-ready road tires, which are labeled as 25mm wide but measured more than 27mm across once installed – and we inflated them with a floor pump, too.

Armed with such volume and girth, it’s no wonder that ride quality is impressively smooth, with a sublime glide over broken tarmac and still a reasonably composed feel when we hammered the Argents across Belgian pav?.?

Cornering performance is confidence inspiring, with the broad contact patch offering up heaps of reassuring traction and the wide rim providing excellent casing support at more extreme lean angles.

More conventionally sized tires obviously decrease the volume and cushioning, but we the Argents still ride well.

Durability has been very good, with just a slight touch-up required after the Argents made a trans-Atlantic journey stuffed in a Ritchey Breakaway case. Thanks to half a scoop of Stan’s NoTubes sealant, we’ve rarely had to pump these up, either; nor did we suffer any flats during testing.

American Classic doesn’t make any specific aerodynamic claims with the Argent Road Tubeless, and if there are any measurable gains over a box-section rim, they were tough to discern. That being said, crosswind stability is good, with a stiff Belgian spring crosswind generating just a modest tug on the bar.

American Classic includes ultralight aluminum valves of its own design?

The Argents are admirably light – especially so when you consider the generous width and medium 30mm depth. Claimed weight is 390g for the bare rim or 1,372g for a complete wheelset. At an actual weight of 1,400g for our test set (with tubeless tape pre-installed), the figures are very believable.

With the reasonable spoke count (18 front, 24 rear), two-to-one rear lacing pattern, and thick bladed stainless steel spokes they’re fairly solid, with minimal flex under hard cornering and quick reflexes when you lay down the power.

Part of that fantastically low weight is due to the Argent’s unusually thin aluminum extrusion. As a result, Shook prefers an older-style pinned rim joint over a welded one, saying the latter introduces heat-related shape changes that then have to be corrected afterwards.

The Argents’ sidewalls thus aren’t machined, either, but braking performance was still excellent in both wet and dry conditions. We did, however, notice some brake pulsing on the front rim due to a slightly imperfect seam. However, just like in the old days, it eventually went away as things wore down a bit. While we’d prefer this issue didn’t exist at all, it’s at least a temporary one (the rear one was fine).

American Classic seems to have exorcised the demons from its innovative rear hub design as we had no problems with the clever cam-actuated, six-pawl mechanism. It engages securely, coasts with just the slightest buzz, and is easy to service when required.?

The rear hub features differential spoke flange diameters to improve bracing angles

We do wish American Classic would switch to angular contact bearings, though. The adjustable preload feature on the rear hub is very welcome but the conventional radial cartridge bearings aren’t that tolerant of axial loading, so it’s critical to get this just right.

Likewise, we support the company’s position of placing the front hub bearings very far apart in the hub shell, for maximum support. In fact, we can’t think of any front hub with better bearing spacing. That said, Shook does so at the expense of supplemental weatherproofing, as the bearings are pushed so far outboard that their seals are actually in direct contact with the elements.

Shook contends that he’d rather his bearings be left more exposed than less, so that any water that gets in can drain out. However, the forces that tend to push water in, such as pressurized spray and capillary action, don’t work in the opposite direction. We’re therefore skeptical of such a view – and once water gets inside a cartridge bearing the latter is usually as good as dead.

In fairness, we didn’t succumb to any bearing failures on our test set. But, then again, we had little opportunity for wet weather testing.

Our final gripe is with the included quick-release skewers, whose external-cam design works alright but requires regular maintenance to stay that way.?Otherwise, there’s much to complain about and an awful lot to like.

????

American Classic’s new Argent Road Tubeless is one of the latest entries into the new school of road wheelsets. They’re light, they’re wide, and, as the name suggests, they’re also tubeless compatible. Add in a sturdy build, a good ride quality, and a fairly reasonable price and the result is an excellent choice for everyday riding or racing.

American Classic founder Bill Shook might object to this sort of analogy but the Argent Road Tubeless rims are essentially the road equivalent of Stan’s NoTubes’ venerable mountain bike hoops.?

The internal width is unusually generous at 19.4mm (Mavic’s latest Cosmic Carbone 40 C is still just 15mm across), the effective diameter is slightly larger than the usual ETRTO-regulated 622mm, and the bead hooks are lower and thinner than usual.

As a result, any tire you use will measure considerably wider than it otherwise would on a more conventional rim, while tubeless models will inflate more readily (and seat more securely).?

The Argent Road Tubeless rims require tape to be airtight

We tested the Argent wheels with a familiar pair of Bontrager R3 TLR tubeless-ready road tires, which are labeled as 25mm wide but measured more than 27mm across once installed – and we inflated them with a floor pump, too.

Armed with such volume and girth, it’s no wonder that ride quality is impressively smooth, with a sublime glide over broken tarmac and still a reasonably composed feel when we hammered the Argents across Belgian pav?.?

Cornering performance is confidence inspiring, with the broad contact patch offering up heaps of reassuring traction and the wide rim providing excellent casing support at more extreme lean angles.

More conventionally sized tires obviously decrease the volume and cushioning, but we the Argents still ride well.

Durability has been very good, with just a slight touch-up required after the Argents made a trans-Atlantic journey stuffed in a Ritchey Breakaway case. Thanks to half a scoop of Stan’s NoTubes sealant, we’ve rarely had to pump these up, either; nor did we suffer any flats during testing.

American Classic doesn’t make any specific aerodynamic claims with the Argent Road Tubeless, and if there are any measurable gains over a box-section rim, they were tough to discern. That being said, crosswind stability is good, with a stiff Belgian spring crosswind generating just a modest tug on the bar.

American Classic includes ultralight aluminum valves of its own design?

The Argents are admirably light – especially so when you consider the generous width and medium 30mm depth. Claimed weight is 390g for the bare rim or 1,372g for a complete wheelset. At an actual weight of 1,400g for our test set (with tubeless tape pre-installed), the figures are very believable.

With the reasonable spoke count (18 front, 24 rear), two-to-one rear lacing pattern, and thick bladed stainless steel spokes they’re fairly solid, with minimal flex under hard cornering and quick reflexes when you lay down the power.

Part of that fantastically low weight is due to the Argent’s unusually thin aluminum extrusion. As a result, Shook prefers an older-style pinned rim joint over a welded one, saying the latter introduces heat-related shape changes that then have to be corrected afterwards.

The Argents’ sidewalls thus aren’t machined, either, but braking performance was still excellent in both wet and dry conditions. We did, however, notice some brake pulsing on the front rim due to a slightly imperfect seam. However, just like in the old days, it eventually went away as things wore down a bit. While we’d prefer this issue didn’t exist at all, it’s at least a temporary one (the rear one was fine).

American Classic seems to have exorcised the demons from its innovative rear hub design as we had no problems with the clever cam-actuated, six-pawl mechanism. It engages securely, coasts with just the slightest buzz, and is easy to service when required.?

The rear hub features differential spoke flange diameters to improve bracing angles

We do wish American Classic would switch to angular contact bearings, though. The adjustable preload feature on the rear hub is very welcome but the conventional radial cartridge bearings aren’t that tolerant of axial loading, so it’s critical to get this just right.

Likewise, we support the company’s position of placing the front hub bearings very far apart in the hub shell, for maximum support. In fact, we can’t think of any front hub with better bearing spacing. That said, Shook does so at the expense of supplemental weatherproofing, as the bearings are pushed so far outboard that their seals are actually in direct contact with the elements.

Shook contends that he’d rather his bearings be left more exposed than less, so that any water that gets in can drain out. However, the forces that tend to push water in, such as pressurized spray and capillary action, don’t work in the opposite direction. We’re therefore skeptical of such a view – and once water gets inside a cartridge bearing the latter is usually as good as dead.

In fairness, we didn’t succumb to any bearing failures on our test set. But, then again, we had little opportunity for wet weather testing.

Our final gripe is with the included quick-release skewers, whose external-cam design works alright but requires regular maintenance to stay that way.?Otherwise, there’s much to complain about and an awful lot to like.

????

From the May 15 issue of BRAIN SANTA FE, NM (BRAIN) — Some Lapierre models this year can be had with its computer-controlled shock system called e:i. Though the system was developed with RockShox, Lapierre holds five patents on the technology and retains exclusive use of the system. In a nutshell, Lapierre’s e:i analyzes data measured at the front wheel to adjust the rear shock’s compression setting before the bump travels to the rear wheel—less than a tenth of a second

I was a bit harsh on the Cyclist for loosing this years Rush Hour race, but he seems to have done pretty well considering. I have done a lot of urban races, and I can say that following all the rules it for sure going to slow you down. Also remember as a cyclists if you jump off your bike you become a pedestrian…will open more possibilities for you next year racers!

Check out these awesome photos of his ride!

Register for the 2013 Bike-A-Thon and set-up your fundraising page

Photo By: Wayne Chinnock

There is still plenty of time to register for the Bike-A-Thonon June 2nd! With about three weeks to go, the individual fundraising goal of $150 is easily attainable, especially with our online fundraising system.

All riders who reach the $150 minimum will receive a free BNB t-shirt. And, if you raise $500, $1,000 or $2,000, you’ll get a gift certificate to the Bikes Not Bombs Bike Shop. We also have a special prize for the top individual fundraiser!

Tips for a successful fundraising page:

• Write some text on your page that is about you personally so that people will feel connected to your ride.
• Enable the thermometer and honor roll.
• Add a picture of yourself.

The Bike-A-Thon is our largest event of the year and it’s tons of fun! We will have free breakfast in the morning, snacks at the rest stops, and free lunch at the finish line from Amir’s Natural Foods, Vanguarden Farm and Boloco. Plus, the After Party will be hopping with music, yoga, and face painting for the kids! Don’t hesitate – register now!

If you have more questions, please contact our Information Technology Manager, Sean Madsen, at617-522-0222 x111 or sean@bikesnotbombs.org.

Photo By: Wayne Chinnock

Like all BNB programs, the Bike-A-Thon wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers.

We need volunteers on June 2nd to help with rider check-in, to assist with rider communication, and to help staff the BNB info table.

If you’re interested and available, you can sign up online. A BNB staff member will be in touch with you soon after about specifics.

Have a tent like this? Consider loaning it to BNB for the Bike-A-Thon! Photo by: Gloria Carrigg

Can we borrow your water dispensers, coolers, folding tables, or pop-up tents?

For our Bike-A-Thon on June 2nd, we will need more folding tables, pop-up tents, water dispensers, and coolers! Do you have access to these? Would you be willing lend them to us, or donate them?

Folding Tables: ideally, 6 or 8 feet long thick plastic tables with fold-out legs. Other varieties/sizes may be useful too.

Pop-Up Tents: must be free-standing, should be at least 10 feet square, heavy-duty preferred.

Water dispensers and coolers: let us know what you have.

It would be super helpful if you are able to lend or donate supplies to us! Contact Arik Grier atarik@bikesnotbombs.org or 617-522-0222 x100.

Come eat ice cream in support of the BNB Youth BAT Team!

For the second year in a row, the BNB Youth Bike-A-Thon team will be holding a water-gun squirting, ice cream scooping fundraiser! On Friday May 24th, starting at 4PM, swing by the Stony Brook T stop, for a scoop of JP Licks, and a chance to soak some folks with water guns! Every dollar collected will go towards Team Swerve’s goal of $4,000!

If you can’t make it, but still want to support the BNB Youth Team, you can sponsor them online.

Register for the 2013 Bike-A-Thon and set-up your fundraising page

Photo By: Wayne Chinnock

There is still plenty of time to register for the Bike-A-Thonon June 2nd! With about three weeks to go, the individual fundraising goal of $150 is easily attainable, especially with our online fundraising system.

All riders who reach the $150 minimum will receive a free BNB t-shirt. And, if you raise $500, $1,000 or $2,000, you’ll get a gift certificate to the Bikes Not Bombs Bike Shop. We also have a special prize for the top individual fundraiser!

Tips for a successful fundraising page:

• Write some text on your page that is about you personally so that people will feel connected to your ride.
• Enable the thermometer and honor roll.
• Add a picture of yourself.

The Bike-A-Thon is our largest event of the year and it’s tons of fun! We will have free breakfast in the morning, snacks at the rest stops, and free lunch at the finish line from Amir’s Natural Foods, Vanguarden Farm and Boloco. Plus, the After Party will be hopping with music, yoga, and face painting for the kids! Don’t hesitate – register now!

If you have more questions, please contact our Information Technology Manager, Sean Madsen, at617-522-0222 x111 or sean@bikesnotbombs.org.

Photo By: Wayne Chinnock

Like all BNB programs, the Bike-A-Thon wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers.

We need volunteers on June 2nd to help with rider check-in, to assist with rider communication, and to help staff the BNB info table.

If you’re interested and available, you can sign up online. A BNB staff member will be in touch with you soon after about specifics.

Have a tent like this? Consider loaning it to BNB for the Bike-A-Thon! Photo by: Gloria Carrigg

Can we borrow your water dispensers, coolers, folding tables, or pop-up tents?

For our Bike-A-Thon on June 2nd, we will need more folding tables, pop-up tents, water dispensers, and coolers! Do you have access to these? Would you be willing lend them to us, or donate them?

Folding Tables: ideally, 6 or 8 feet long thick plastic tables with fold-out legs. Other varieties/sizes may be useful too.

Pop-Up Tents: must be free-standing, should be at least 10 feet square, heavy-duty preferred.

Water dispensers and coolers: let us know what you have.

It would be super helpful if you are able to lend or donate supplies to us! Contact Arik Grier atarik@bikesnotbombs.org or 617-522-0222 x100.

Come eat ice cream in support of the BNB Youth BAT Team!

For the second year in a row, the BNB Youth Bike-A-Thon team will be holding a water-gun squirting, ice cream scooping fundraiser! On Friday May 24th, starting at 4PM, swing by the Stony Brook T stop, for a scoop of JP Licks, and a chance to soak some folks with water guns! Every dollar collected will go towards Team Swerve’s goal of $4,000!

If you can’t make it, but still want to support the BNB Youth Team, you can sponsor them online.

Hubway had a good year last year, with half a million trips before shutting down for the winter.

They reopened the service April 2, and as of May 7th had already logged 85,000 trips. If they keep up this pace the system should hit 1 million plus trips this year. See the email they sent me below.

We’ve made it! Another winter is under our collective belts and the miles are starting to pile up on the Hubway fleet. Did you know that since we reopened the system on April 2, riders have logged more than 85,000 trips? That’s right, Hubway is #RealTransportation.

Hubway is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with Bicycle Benefits, your single source for discounts at local businesses throughout metro-Boston and beyond, available to you simply by riding your bike and wearing a helmet. Beginning May 1, every Hubway member will receive a Bicycle Benefits sticker in their new member packet! Affix the sticker to your helmet and you’re ready to enjoy exclusive savings at great local businesses! Already a Hubway member? Follow Hubway on Facebook and Twitter to learn when we’ll be out and about around town. Show us your Hubway key fob and your helmet, and we’ll hook you up with your own sticker! Visit http://www.thehubway.com/bicycle-benefits for a list of participating businesses and to learn more about this great program.

And don’t forget that May is National Bike Month and here in Massachusetts, May 11th-19th is Bay State Bike Week. There are dozens of great events to choose from so get on a bike and ride!

?

85,000 trips during April (an admittedly cold miserable month) rivals some of the busiest months the system had last year, one can assume that once the weather is really nice the trip counter is going to smoke it goes up so fast.

One can hope that the success of the program will allow them to expand the system into Dorchester, and other under-served neighborhoods. These areas could really benefit from such a reliable and cheap form of transportation.

I personally have seen more Hubway riders in the last couple weeks than ever before, the streets are thick with them during commute times, and on the weekends. I love it, long live Hubway!

Its as if someone finally realized there is no difference between a double wide stroller, a wheel chair, a bunch of bags of groceries, and a bicycle. Its still not full access but hey its a start. Lets hope they will see that bikes are easily accommodated on the trains (also if you are going to take your bike on the train don’t be a dick head).

——————
from the email: (thanks John)

Newburyport/Rockport Line
Pilot Bike Program
Effective Monday, May 13th
A pilot program permitting bikes to be transported on peak period trains
between specific stations will begin on Monday, May 13th.
Passengers with bikes must board at the mini high platform.
Passengers with bikes will get off the train first or as directed by a train
crew member.
Preference will always be given to wheelchair passengers. If there is not
enough room for wheelchair passengers and passengers with bikes, the
passengers with bikes will not be permitted to board the train with their
bikes,
This pilot program will apply to the following stations:
Rockport Line
Bikes will be carried, as specified above, between Rockport, Gloucester,
West Gloucester, Manchester, Beverly Farms, Prides Crossing and Montserrat
stations.
Inbound peak service trains: 102, 104, 106, 108 and 110
No bikes will be allowed to go beyond Montserrat Station.
Outbound peak service trains: 127, 129, 131 and 133
Newburyport Line
Bikes will be carried, as specified above, between Newburyport, Rowley,
Ipswich, Hamilton/Wenham and North Beverly stations.
Inbound peak service trains: 152, 154, 156, 158 and 162
No bikes will be allowed to go beyond North Beverly Station.
Outbound peak service trains: 177, 181, 183 and 185

From LivableStreets:

———-

With the warmer weather, the bikers are out, and with them the bike news.  Here is a roundup of local bike news.

———–

Harvard gets award for being bike friendly:

As the number of cyclists on Harvard’s campuses continues to grow, so too does the infrastructure to support them.  New bike racks and repair stations are being set up, expanded bicycle benefits for commuters have been rolled out, and the University has made a major investment in the Hubway bike-sharing network by supporting the installation of 12 stations in Boston and Cambridge. The national advocacy organization League of American Bicyclists has recognized that progress by naming Harvard a silver-level Bicycle Friendly University.

Bike advocates push for more use, safety in Newton:

An effort is underway to make cycling a more appealing alternative to driving in Newton.

Advocates and city officials, who see cycling as a way to improve the health of the population and reduce road congestion, are working on plans to better enforce existing laws for sharing the road and to extend bike lanes throughout the city.

Building new infrastructure is key to getting more people to get out of their cars, according to Andreae Downs, chair of the Transportation Advisory Group.

“Unless Newton is the outlier, once you start building bike infrastructure you get more cyclists,” said Downs.

Boston man to cycle from London to Brussels for children’s charity:

THE efforts made by paralympians last summer have inspired a Boston man to take part in a bike ride from London to Brussels.

Paul Maddison was also inspired by his son Nick to take part in the 340-mile cycle challenge for a charity that helps children with disabilities, A Smile for the Child.

Connolly: Let’s Talk About Bike Infrastructure and Safety
The mayoral candidate is calling for a public hearing to discuss the future of city cycling:

As the warm weather slowly begins to creep back to Boston, more bikes will begin popping up along the roadways and paths connecting various city points, which makes it a perfect time to start discussing bike safety once again.

City Councilor and mayoral candidate John Connolly has filed a request to convene a public hearing to talk about Boston’s bike infrastructure and how it can be improved. According to Connolly, the purpose of the hearing will be to devise a long-term strategy for planning, funding, and implementing projects to expand the current cycling infrastructure. In a statement, he said that the city’s budget for bicycle infrastructure is “insufficient to fully implement all essential new projects,” including cycle tracks on Malcolm X Boulevard and around the Boston Public Garden.

How to protect cyclists HSPH team stresses data collection in meeting with city councilors:

How do you make Boston bike-safe? First you find out where it’s unsafe.

Answers to that and other key questions would provide the foundation for effective policy, a team of four Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) students told Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley on Wednesday.

The four — Aaron Pervin, Temitope Olukowi, Claire Albert, and Marie McIntee — were the winners of an annual spring exercise at HSPH in which student teams examine a health policy issue and devise recommendations on how to address it. Professor of Health Policy David Hemenway and doctoral student Dahianna Lopez advised the team.

In their presentation, the students told Pressley that dealing with Boston’s bike-safety problem — made apparent by a string of fatal accidents last year — is especially difficult because information on ridership, common routes, and even accidents is scattered among reports by the Boston Police Department, ambulance teams, emergency rooms, and a variety of city departments.

Justice Breyer Has Shoulder Surgery After Bicycle Accident:

According to Supreme Court spokesperson Kathleen Arberg, Associate Justice Stephen Breyer underwent reverse shoulder replacement surgery for a proximal humerus fracture at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital on the morning of April 27th.

The fracture was sustained in his right shoulder after a fall from his bicycle on the afternoon of April 26th, where he was taken to the hospital by an ambulance.

This is the third biking mishap for Justice Breyer. Two years ago, he fractured his right clavicle (collarbone) after he fell near his home in Cambridge, Mass.