Harris Cyclery» Shop News Archives – Harris Cyclery Blog

Service Instructions available for Shimano Alfine 11 speed hub SG-S700.

kevin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:38:20 +0000

Shimano has released some techincal documents for the new Alfine 11 speed hub and shifter. The new cassette joint is designed to be released with your hand, rather than a 2mm allen key or spoke, which should be helpful for some people. They’ve also extended the length of exposed cable from 101mm to 184mm, and they’ve added a rubber boot to keep it clean. The cable fixing bolt is specific to the new cassette joint, but it’s not clear from the diagrams how it differs from the 8 speed unit.

We’re all really looking forward to this hub. As far as I know, we’re still expecting them sometime in October. I’ll keep you posted.

Alfine 11 Speed Hub Service Instructions
Alfine 11 Speed Shifter Service Instructions
Alfine 11 Speed Shifter Exploded View

10% Off all regular price items until June 9th.

kevin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:49:44 +0000

All regular priced items in our online store are discounted by 10% until June 9th, 2010, use coupon code “MW622″ at checkout. Special orders, labor and parts on sale or closeout are excluded.

We’ve had a lot of positive reviews of our Deore LX/Mavic A319 touring wheelset, you’ll save $26 with the coupon code, bringing the price down to $233.95. An excellent deal for a long lasting, durable wheel set. I’ve been using the Mavic A319 rims for two years on my commuter bike, a Surly Cross Check with upright bars (Upper Cross? Up Check? High Sticking?) and they’ve held up very well, despite a complete lack of maintenance.

We’ve also added quite a few items to our parts on sale list. The Blackburn Mars 4.0 taillight is now just $19.95. It’s extremely bright, and includes the necessary hardware to mount to rear rack reflector brackets. Do yourself and the planet a favor and use rechargeable batteries once the included batteries wear out, this light draws a lot of power for regular alkalines. Rechargeable batteries will last much longer in all modern high power LED taillights.

Jtek Bar-End Shifter for Nexus/Alfine back in stock.

kevin — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:27:42 +0000

The very sensible drop bar shifter for Shimano 8 speed internal gear hubs is back. Thanks Jtek!
Jtek Nexus Bar-End At Harris Cyclery

Google Maps Bicycling Directions

kevin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:03:32 +0000

After years of repeated requests, Google has added cycling routes to Google Maps. After experimenting for a bit, I found that it doesn’t always give the best routes, but it’s pretty good for an automated system. I think they probably optimized it for shorter rides, if you try to get directions for longer rides it gives you an unreasonable number of turns, probably to keep the overall distance shorter. At least it supports alternative routes and waypoints, like the driving directions, so it’s pretty easy to fine tune the directions to keep you on decent roads. It also assumes a pretty low average speed from a long distance cyclists’ viewpoint, but it’s probably in line with recreational riders.

Here’s what it came up with for a short coffee-after-lunch ride in Worcester. There’s an embeddable widget that gives just bike directions as well:

There’s a pretty good blog post from one of the developers with the details about how routes are calculated, and they’re soliciting feedback to improve directions. I’d like to see bicycling directions integrated into the public transit directions.

Just Arrived: TA Cyclotouriste Pro 5 Vis Cranks 165mm

kevin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:24:08 +0000

The modified cranks are now in stock, with some chainrings dustcaps, and outer fixing bolts available. We’re expecting hardware to mount inner chainrings next week. All chainrings are new production, and super shiny. Very nice stuff.

Cranks are only available in 165mm length. $149.95 a set.

Right now, for outer chainrings, we have 42, 44, or 46 tooth available. These are suitable for use as a single ring, and have the bolt holes to attach the inner chainring.
Inner chainrings, 26, 28, or 30.

Coming Soon: TA Cyclotouriste Cranks 165mm

kevin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:48:50 +0000

We recently found a decent sized stash of new old stock TA tandem captain’s cranks. On a tandem, the front cranks have pedal threads opposite those of a normal crank set, great if you want to set up a tandem with a left timing chain, not so great if you don’t have the stoker cranks to match. Without the matching rear arms, they’re pretty much useless.

Except, we had them rethreaded for use as normal cranks. A small machine shop did the work, and they came out good as new:

These are functionally the same as normal new old stock 165mm Cyclotouristes, and they come with the original foil stickers. They will be available only in 165mm length, that’s all there is.

We’ve got a couple of chainring sizes on order, but we’re soliciting opinions on what rings to stock with the cranks. Have you always wanted a new Cyclotouriste crank but couldn’t afford it? What size rings would you buy? A classic compact double at 46-30? A single 42 or 46 tooth ring? We’re looking for input, so please leave a comment if you have any interest. These are genuine TA Cyclotouriste cranks, with the same restrictions on triple front derailleur use as described here.

We expect to have these available with chainrings, chainring fixing hardware and dustcaps within a couple of weeks.

Online Cantilever Mechanical Advantage Calculator

kevin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:25:27 +0000

Benno Belhumeur has just posted this excellent cantilever mechanical advantage calculator, hosted by Circle A Cycles of Providence, RI. The accompanying paper discusses how different cantilever geometries change the way brake setup should be approached, and the effect that geometry changes have on mechanical advantage.

I’ve got a lot of bikes to measure… Thanks to Benno for the great effort.

New Sturmey Archer Three Speed Trigger

Elton — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:25:19 +0000

The Sturmey Archer three speed trigger shifter has gone through a lot of revisions since it was first released in 1938. Until recently, the only new shifter available was designed in 1976, and didn’t really look appropriate on an older bike. The older shifters had a nicer design, even when they switched from printing the label on the body of the shifter to printing on the plastic itself. Finally, Sturmey Archer has redesigned the classic trigger shifter with the same graphics they used from the 1960s to the mid 1970s.

Order New Sturmey Archer Three Speed Trigger from Harris Cyclery.