[aka brad]

I thought I’d throw in quiz for your enjoyment. Some of the questions are easy and some are obscure. Most are singlespeed related. You may even disagree with me on an answer or two, which would be really cool.

1.Why are the spanner holes for an eccentric bottom bracket always on the drive side instead of the non-drive side?

2 . What custom bike shop has been producing single speed bike frames the longest and is still in business?

3. How was the original gear inch measured?

4. What mistake did Shimano make in 2003 that eventually led to them losing 20% of the their high end mountain bike market share?

5. What engineer created the first lightweight mountain bike rim and how did he do it?

6. What component maker introduced (and continues to make) the first modern cartridge-bearing hub?

7. The original name of Surly’s cast track end was “sub 11.0”; where did the name come from?

8. True or False; Some high end cross bike manufactures do not include water bosses on their bikes because water bottles are not allowed on the race track.

9. The rule of four is to;
a. Maintain the same gear ratio
b. Maintain the same gear inch
c. Maintain a magic gear
d. Maintain a super dupper gear

10. What component maker introduced the first 135mm freewheel SS hub; and for extra credit, what's the hub’s name?

 

[umarth]

I liked it better when you were still working. I'll lurk until I get all the answers.

 

[Schmucker]

1. To observe chain tension
3. Half pitch. Half as many teeth
9. e. None of the above. It is to maintain the same length chain with approximately the same axle position. There will be movement in the axle. Do the math.

The first two are guesses.

 

[Manicmtbr]

# 4 Dual Control Levers?
#5 Keith Bontrager, he used a road rim, cut it, and re-rolled it to 559 MM
#6 Phil Wood
# 8 True, yet false. Water is not allowed, but folks used to get feeds out on course instead of carrying water
# 11 Paul Components, WORD hub!

 

[aka brad]

1. To observe chain tension
3. Half pitch. Half as many teeth
9. e. None of the above. It is to maintain the same length chain with approximately the same axle position. There will be movement in the axle. Do the math.

The first two are guesses.

Poor guesses and no, the rule of 4 does not necessarily lead to the chain being the same length. The rule of 4 would apply when switching from 32:16 to 32:20.

 

[aka brad]

# 4 Dual Control Levers?
#5 Keith Bontrager, he used a road rim, cut it, and re-rolled it to 559 MM
#6 Phil Wood
# 8 True, yet false. Water is not allowed, but folks used to get feeds out on course instead of carrying water
# 11 Paul Components, WORD hub!

So far so good, but their is a little bit more to the 2003 dual control story.

 

[Natedogz]

8 is "c," maintain magic gear.

The others I kinda guessed and only got like two that everybody else got so far. Eagerly awaiting correct answers, fun and educational.

 

[mtroy]

#4 Rapid Rise?

 

[aka brad]

8 is "c," maintain magic gear.

The others I kinda guessed and only got like two that everybody else got so far. Eagerly awaiting correct answers, fun and educational.

Correct.:thumbsup: The so called "magic gear" is a chainring/ stay combination that allows you use a bike with vertical dropouts, without a tensioner. The rule of four is designed to maintain chain length or increase/decrease it by 4 links (2 above the chain rings and 2 below) using different combinations of chain ring size. Schmucker is right that it is not an exact science, but works for most practical purposes.

 

[aka brad]

#4 Rapid Rise?

Oh, so close. Yes rapid rise and dual controls where the explosives, but what did Shimano do with them that caused all the damage. Here's a clue- XTR..

 

[aka brad]

Giving up already? Come on, this stuff that you need to know..

 

[Singlespeedpunk]

1.Why are the spanner holes for an eccentric bottom bracket always on the drive side instead of the non-drive side?

So you can pop a 4mm allen key in the hole through the spider and turn the crank to tighten it.

2 . What custom bike shop has been producing single speed bike frames the longest and is still in business?

Rock Lobser cycles / Paul Sadoff

3. How was the original gear inch measured?

From the diameter of a penny-farthing ("ordinary") wheel as it was direct drive and gear inces were a direct relation to the diameter

4. What mistake did Shimano make in 2003 that eventually led to them losing 20% of the their high end mountain bike market share?

Err, lots? 9sp drive chain?

5. What engineer created the first lightweight mountain bike rim and how did he do it?

Keith Bontrager - 40h Mavis MA40 into 36h 26" rims

6. What component maker introduced (and continues to make) the first modern cartridge-bearing hub?

Phil Wood

7. The original name of Surly's cast track end was "sub 11.0"; where did the name come from?

Sub 11grams each?

8. True or False; Some high end cross bike manufactures do not include water bosses on their bikes because water bottles are not allowed on the race track.

False - makes it easier to shoulder

9. The rule of four is to;
a. Maintain the same gear ratio
b. Maintain the same gear inch
c. Maintain a magic gear
d. Maintain a super dupper gear

c. magic gear...more or less

10. What component maker introduced the first 135mm freewheel SS hub; and for extra credit, what's the hub's name?

Pauls Comp - WORD = Wacky Off Road Device

I have been around bikes too long!

SSP

 

[biggieP]

So for fun, here's an obscure one:

Who first showed up with an EBB SS on the California race scene? What shop did he work for (it was one of their frames that was modified)? And lastly, what bike inspired the modification?

 

[aka brad]

1.Why are the spanner holes for an eccentric bottom bracket always on the drive side instead of the non-drive side?

So you can pop a 4mm allen key in the hole through the spider and turn the crank to tighten it.

2 . What custom bike shop has been producing single speed bike frames the longest and is still in business?

Rock Lobser cycles / Paul Sadoff

3. How was the original gear inch measured?

From the diameter of a penny-farthing ("ordinary") wheel as it was direct drive and gear inces were a direct relation to the diameter

4. What mistake did Shimano make in 2003 that eventually led to them losing 20% of the their high end mountain bike market share?

Err, lots? 9sp drive chain?

5. What engineer created the first lightweight mountain bike rim and how did he do it?

Keith Bontrager - 40h Mavis MA40 into 36h 26" rims

6. What component maker introduced (and continues to make) the first modern cartridge-bearing hub?

Phil Wood

7. The original name of Surly's cast track end was "sub 11.0"; where did the name come from?

Sub 11grams each?

8. True or False; Some high end cross bike manufactures do not include water bosses on their bikes because water bottles are not allowed on the race track.

False - makes it easier to shoulder

9. The rule of four is to;
a. Maintain the same gear ratio
b. Maintain the same gear inch
c. Maintain a magic gear
d. Maintain a super dupper gear

c. magic gear...more or less

10. What component maker introduced the first 135mm freewheel SS hub; and for extra credit, what's the hub's name?

Pauls Comp - WORD = Wacky Off Road Device

I have been around bikes too long!

SSP

1. No, not even close
2. WINNER!!! (I'd entertain another builder, but Paul is the odds on favorite)
3. WINNER!!!
4. No, but I'll answer this one. In 2003, Shimano made the Marketing mistake of the decade by offering XTR with only Dual Shifter and low normal derailleur. In other words, any one who wanted XTR would be forced to use an entire Shimano drivetrain and in Shimano's choice of configuration.. Their timing could not have been worse. At the time numerous disc brakes systems had emerged and so was a non-Shimano backlash. SRAM started offering 9 speed Impulse trigger shifters and with increased profits, SRAM then purchased Avid and TruVativ in 2004. Realizing their mistake, Shimano immediately re-released XTR independent shifters/ brake levers and a standard derailleur, but the damage had been done. In 2004 Avid's market share doubles with their Juicy Brakes and becomes the market leader. Shimano is left looking arrogant and stupid at the same time. In 2005 SRAM jumps into road racing and the rest is history.
5. Winner (previously posted)
6. Winner (previously posted)
7. No, not even close
8. No, but previously answered correctly by Manicmtb. Both Ridley and BMC are sans water bottle bosses and the UCI has outlawed water bottles in cyclocross races. Ridely is adverting the lack of cage bosses on their X bikes as their commitment to singleness of purpose.
9. WINNER !!!
10. Winner (previously posted)

So you added 3 to the list and I added 1. That only leaves 1 and 7. A clue to 1 is the spanner holes should be on the non-drive side so they are easier to access.

 

[highdelll]

1 - because the EBB was originally designed for tandems?

 

[aka brad]

1 - because the EBB was originally designed for tandems?

WINNER !!! Yes, the EBB has been used to adjust the timing chain of a tandem for over 50 years. On most modern tandems, the timing chain is on the left side, so the spanner (adjustment holes) holes were placed on the right side.

 

[Schmucker]

Poor guesses and no, the rule of 4 does not necessarily lead to the chain being the same length. The rule of 4 would apply when switching from 32:16 to 32:20.

I thought we were talking about up to 4 teeth difference but they must be equal and opposite changes to achieve the same chain length. 36:16 to 32:20

 

[aka brad]

I thought we were talking about up to 4 teeth difference but they must be equal and opposite changes to achieve the same chain length. 36:16 to 32:20

I should have explained this better. First of all the "rule of four" in the FAQ does not really go far enough and is in error that it is only for maintaining chain length. The true rule of four is a rule to maintain the spacing of the magic gear. In other words, Once you have determined your magic gear (combination of gear and cog that tensions the chain on a bike with vertical dropouts with no tensioner), you may want to know how to change gear ratios and still maintain tension without a tensioner. As an example, a Med/Large Bontrager will maintain chain tension with a 32:20. If you want you can change that to a 32:16, shorten the chain by a link, and the tension will be maintained again. If you decide to use a half link then you end up with a "Rule of 2" by adding or subtracting the half link. There really is no point to keeping the chain length the same without regard to what gear ratio you end up with. More important is knowing what gear ratios you can use that maintains chain tension, regardless of the chain length, as long as the chain does not need a tensioner. As far as the FAQ goes it is right; you will maintain the magic gear and keep the chain length the same. So yes, the rule of 4 can be used to keep the chain length the same, however using it to target a gear ratio is a much more robust use of the rule.

 

[aka brad]

Okay, the final answer to the quiz;

7. The original name of Surly’s cast track end was “sub 11.0”; where did the name come from? Back in the early 1990's and just prior to emergence of the Surly brand, QBP designed a cast track end; no one foresaw these would become the darling of the emerging singlespeed scene. For those unfamiliar to velo racing, there is a very fast timed race called the Flying 200. The rider crosses the start line at full speed and is timed for 200 meters. If you are really fast (I mean REALLY FAST!!), you can finish a Flying 200 in less than 11 seconds, IOW, a sub 11.0. Okay, very obscure, but I live for this stuff. Have a Wonderful New Years!