Path: ...!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: Getting old is not for sissies
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2025 21:06:34 -0500
Organization: A noiseless patient Spider
Lines: 36
Message-ID: <vq0efb$fo2q$1@dont-email.me>
References: <vpslph$3noh2$1@dont-email.me> <vpsncj$3o02g$1@dont-email.me>
 <gjmwP.3138$SZca.1726@fx13.iad> <vpsrss$3om5n$1@dont-email.me>
 <0jt3sj9iofpo2ru3abmi7ddrt4uk5btc9t@4ax.com> <vpta8s$3rj0t$1@dont-email.me>
 <j2d4sj1ju5h4qj8l64v92jp2pbfg44podl@4ax.com> <vpthh1$3spru$2@dont-email.me>
 <eci4sj1ppvglfuut24ahtdg789fkd2v3mj@4ax.com> <vpv2to$848g$1@dont-email.me>
 <47h6sjdvehovbadru4cv210eha609mospn@4ax.com> <vpvl7m$akr9$11@dont-email.me>
 <oku6sjpg12tdoqdnp1hlep69c2lj6315i4@4ax.com>
Reply-To: frkrygow@gmail.com
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Injection-Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2025 03:06:42 +0100 (CET)
Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="a8066decd4ad11c10a7194848a8504e4";
	logging-data="516186"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org";	posting-account="U2FsdGVkX18pcT8CR4SfOgG0FqpwmatBRJHwlueo+gk="
User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird
Cancel-Lock: sha1:rtg+/qBAvsgsa26zMEh+KLXmyKk=
In-Reply-To: <oku6sjpg12tdoqdnp1hlep69c2lj6315i4@4ax.com>
Content-Language: en-US
Bytes: 3304

On 3/1/2025 4:39 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> On Sat, 1 Mar 2025 13:55:50 -0500, Frank Krygowski
> <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>> IIRC, hydrostatic transmissions are standard features on zero turn
>> mowers. But as you noted, the mechanical efficiency is lousy. That's not
>> a concern if you have a big enough engine and low enough use hours. It's
>> a huge concern for a cyclist.
> 
> True, but the huge concern is mostly for racing.  If you're using the
> bicycle as a moving exercise machine, the added weight and increased
> friction might even be considered beneficial.  It's like the weights
> on barbells where light weight is not a concern.  For competitive
> fixie racing, maybe the governing organization should specify a
> minimum allowable bicycle weight, which might inspire technical
> innovation instead of shaving grams off the bicycle weight.

I think that level of inefficiency would be a concern of most cyclists, 
and very few actually race. It would take a lot of fun out of riding.

I once worked on a bicycle belonging to a friend that had a quite rare 
(at least, at the time) 5 speed Sturmey-Archer geared hub. IIRC, there 
were two shift cables, one going to each side. Anyway, as I remember 
when shifted to its lowest gear it seemed extremely sluggish. Unlike the 
equivalent low gear on a derailleur bike, it really didn't seem much 
easier going uphill in that gear. Instead it just seemed slower. And as 
I recall, that was a not uncommon complaint about that particular hub.

I understand the desire for exercise. But I think almost everyone 
prefers to get their exercise while moving farther or faster, not by 
slogging along slowly. If that were acceptable, we'd all be riding solid 
tires.


-- 
- Frank Krygowski