Paradise Cycling

12/24/2025

New bike for Christmas = new helmet for Christmas. Be smart!

Many children receive bicycles for Christmas and there is a spike in head and brain injuries the week after Christmas. That is why I decided to post this message.

Bicycle helmets save lives and reduce brain injuries. This is especially true for children. Most states including Georgia require children to wear a helmet while bike riding. The Georgia code also includes specific rules about helmets: riders under 16 must wear protective headgear that meets standards set by ANSI or Snell Memorial Foundation (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-296).

As a parent or caregiver, you are the one who may be criminally charged, fined or sued if a child is not wearing a helmet. This could be compounded and result in more serious criminal charges if a child suffers a head injury while biking.

AND, helmets also protect adult riders too!

Just a PSA(public service announcement).

https://nortonchildrens.com/news/prevent-bike-injuries-concussion-tbi/ #:~:text=How%20to%20prevent%20brain%20injury,wear%20bright%20colors%20while%20biking.

Summer is the biggest time for bicycle accidents. Follow these steps to reduce the chance of bike injuries.

03/10/2025

Isn’t it amazing how some things survive the passage of time?

This old Japanese Medai pump is at least 35 years old (if not older). It still pumps as well as it did brand new. I used to laugh when people would say how much better things used to be made Well in many cases that is true. I have tools, pumps, and bicycle components more than 50 years old that still perform like new.

On this old pump, I have performed maintenance from time to time including replacing the diaphragm twice and the hose once. For those who may not know, the diaphragm is a rubber or leather seal in the body of the pump. That is another aspect of older designs I love: they often took into account future repair. This pump is easy to disassemble facilitating cleaning and lubricating the sliding parts.

The only other thing I have done periodically is polishing the plastic lens with toothpaste. You read that right—toothpaste. For plastic lens cleaning, toothpaste is amazing. I have found that the Pronamel whitening works best.

06/23/2024

Every time I use Tri-Flow l**e, it takes my mind back to the Two Wheeler Dealer in Wilmington, NC. The shop I previously worked at did not use Tri-Flow. When I joined Jim Mincher’s team at Two Wheeler, they used Tri-Flow quite a bit. Although I only worked there breifly, that smell is forever linked in my brain to the Two Wheeler.

Yes, we have a bike stand. The vice handle is simply a quick rack for minor tweaks…

06/13/2024

Got to love these north Georgia roads!

Fun ride. Took the Landshark road bike out for the first time in a while. Toured the Chickamauga Battlefield Park and the quaint little town of Chickamauga, Georgia. Somewhat warm so didn’t push it too hard.

05/27/2024

Check out my ride on Strava.

09/03/2023

A friend who can no longer ride passed along this basically brand new Specialized Hardrock. Although the bike is approximately 10 years old, he never really road it. He said there was strange “popping noises” and other issues with the bike. Then he said, “Good luck. I took it to a bike shop a couple times and it never went away.” Okay, challenge accepted.

Pretty much everything was due to poor assembly practices. Proper assembly is critical to the ride and enjoyment of any bike. In fact, setting a new bike up correctly has more impact on the performance of the bike than the brand!

Here is a partial list of issues found during tune-up:

1. Pedals not properly tightened and no grease or anti-seize applied to the threads.

2. Hub bearings adjusted too tight which would kill the bearing’s longevity. While adjusting them, the bearings grease seemed runny and inadequate. All bearings were cleaned and re-packed with fresh grease.

3. Discs (rotors) bolts not tightened.

4. Bottom bracket lock rings loose. This was the last item I checked and as it turns out, the source of the annoying popping.

5. Left crank arm bolt not tightened.

6. Wheel quick release skewers not greased.

7. Rear derailleur hanger not properly torqued.

8. Seat post inserted dry.

9. Loose seat cradle bolts.

10. The headset bearings were loose and “wobbly.”

Frankly, all this was somewhat surprising. This bike came from a bike shop—not a department store.
I have no idea which shop sent this bike out but when buying a new bike check around and find the most reputable shop in your area.

After basically Re-assembling the bike, it rides great. And as quiet as possible.

06/22/2022

Too good not to share:

04/12/2022

Nothing like new bar tape on a vintage classic!

03/03/2022

Safety reminder:

If you like us, spin on the stationary trainer during cold and inclement weather, please check the trainer/bicycle connections before every spin!

This morning Bill nearly broke his fool neck when his bike disengaged from the trainer.

09/14/2021

Love old celebrity on bikes photos!

08/18/2021

Another old fart on a bike…

Harrison Ford, 78, looking awesome last week in UK, where He's shooting Indiana Jones 5. Pictured with his Colnago bike He got at Helen's in Santa Monica ♣️

08/03/2021

“After” pictures of pump gauges. Unfortunately, I did not take the requisite”before” pictures.

These two pumps are both 30 plus years old. The Silca pump’s gauge lens was cracked and so yellowed, I could not even read the gauge. The Meidai wasn’t quite as bad. I removed both lenses and polished them with whitening toothpaste. Super happy with the results.