The Bike Hive

This posting is a shortened version of a technical paper I wrote for work. I hope you enjoy, and learn in the process! At one time, all bikes were made of steel.  Steel has been popular thanks to its strength to weight ratio and ease of use.  These factors as well as it’s low cost and availability make it ideal for use in bicycles.  The most common type of steel used for bikes is chromoly , and 4130 chromoly is the most widely recognized.  So what does chromoly mean and what do the numbers 4130 refer to? Steel is an alloy of iron and other metals.  The term ‘alloy’ is commonly used to refer to aluminum but it actually refers to any metal that’s mixed with other elements in order to achieve the desired mechanical properties such as strength, weight, durability, hardness, weldablitly, etc.  ' Chromoly ' refers to a specific type of steel alloy that combines Iron with Chro mium and Moly bdenum (chro-moly, get it?) along with small amounts of oth...

For many years, I've heard older people say that inner tubes don't hold air as well as they used to.  It's usually the same thing - 'I never had to air up my tires when I was a kid.'   Others seem to think that tubes puncture easier now than they did even 15 or 20 years ago.  All of this got me wondering if there really is a difference between the quality of tubes and if it's changed through the years. First, a (very) short history:  Originally tires and tubes were made from natural rubber from the Hevea tree that is grown almost exclusively in Indonesia and Malaya.  During World War II, Japan had invaded these countries and cut off the world’s supply of natural rubber.  This led to a shortage and the need for an alternative.   At the time, German engineers had already been working on a synthetic rubber, but it wasn't until 1942 that U.S. engineers were able to develop it into a useable rubber compound called Butyl.   Butyl synthetic rubber...

Chain lubricant can be one of the most controversial aspects of bicycle mechanics.  It seems like most mechanics you talk to will have their own opinion as to what's best and they will strongly defend their choice.  So what is the difference between the chain lube and why are there so many kinds? Before we begin, let's go over some facts about chain wear. How does a chain wear and what is Chain 'Strech'? As a bike is pedaled, the roller, pin, and bushing parts of a chain are forced together under a high load.  This causes friction between the metal parts, causing them to wear down.  The first picture below shows wear on the pin, the second picture shows wear on the bushing part of the inner link plate (hard to see, it's shown as the lower left part of the hole wearing away).    .    As these parts wear, the pins gradually become farther apart across inner link plates.   This what is referred to as 'chain stretch'  ...

Kashima coating is a feature currently only found on Fox forks and shocks*.  It's easy to spot from it's distinctive dark brown color.  What is it and why do they use it?  First, a quick definition: Anodizing is a process by which a metal part (normally aluminum) is electrically charged and submerged in a chemical bath.  This creates an oxide layer that penetrates the metal and changes the microscopic texture and the crystal structure of the metal near the surface.  After a part is treated, it can be dyed to give it color before it is sealed to increase durability. Hard anodizing is a similar procedure that penetrates further into the metal. This increases the surface hardness of the material making the surface even more durable and corrosion resistant.  It does not make the metal part stronger, it affects the durability of the surface of the metal. Kashima coating is a type of hard anodizing that involves a lubricating treatment as well.  This ...

I began working in bikes shops when I was 16 years old.  Through the years  I've had the pleasure of working with people who made a lasting impression on my career.  This series is about me recognizing those people for their contributions to my development.  Since I attempt to keep my writings here specific to cycling,  in this particular series   I'm only including those who influenced my career in the industry. The posts in this series will not be in any particular order of importance.  It normally takes quite a lot of thought and time for me to finish these posts, and I tend to work on more than one at a time.  I'll post each when I feel I've done my best to explain their importance to my professional life.