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From: Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: resistance unit for rollers
Date: Tue, 14 May 2024 20:54:29 -0400
Organization: A noiseless patient Spider
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On 5/14/2024 6:26 PM, Ted Heise wrote:
> On Tue, 14 May 2024 17:08:11 -0500,
>    AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
>>  
>>   Fans are very effective resistance and cheap, but loud, which
>>   many riders find annoying. OTOH some fans include a shroud to
>>   direct a fresh breeze toward the meat machine (you).
> 
> I generally take out my hearing aids when riding (when they start
> buzzing from the sweat I get concerned!) so the noise prolly isn't
> disqualifying.  On the other hand, I sometimes want to listen to
> podcasts or watch old racing videos, so I do need to be able to
> hear that stuff.  I also often run a box fan, so am used to a fair
> bit of noise.

For simplicity, I'd stick with the mag unit if I wanted more resistance 
than the rollers themselves. (I seldom wanted more.) Cooling is 
important, though. If I were doing what you're doing, I'd shop for a 
quiet pedestal fan, which is (literally) plug and play, plus useful for 
other purposes. Like keeping mosquitoes away when sitting on our patio.

>>   Mag units are quieter and offer a wide range of resistance
>>   levels as you report.  Polymer degradation after 25 years is
>>   not at all unusual. I'd consider just making a new mount- YMMV.
> 
> Ironically, the mount I cobbled together (includes a section of
> old rim to fill a gap) is still workable.  Rather, the plastic
> piece that broke off was about a third of the circumference of
> one side of the pulley that the v-belt rides in.  I tried gluing
> it back on, but it's not going to hold up.

Can you link to a photo of the broken pulley? Do you know what type of 
plastic it is? Gluing plastic is problematic, but I've had good results 
from welding various types of plastic. And I wonder if it's possible to 
find or make a replacement pulley, or otherwise reinforce the existing one.

-- 
- Frank Krygowski