[Sportsandrec] VP 767 Pedals

Mon Jul 20 17:08:19 UTC 2009

Hello,

Kelly says some good things here. However, I would not worry much about the 
pedals, cables, chainrings and the like. Sometimes, bike shops want to do 
stuff to your bike, because they need to pad their pockets, just like car 
dealers. I do not usually change out cables, brakepads, or the like, but I 
pay attention and may have a pilot give me a visual description of things 
for me, so that I know. I also pay attention to how the bike is stopping, 
what sounds it makes, and may ask the pilot if he/she feels confidence in 
the brakes.

Though Keith's bike is old, it may still have less than 500 miles on it. 
There may not be much wear on the gears, etc. Grease does get old and 
varnishes, but it should be fine for now. If you ever have to remove the 
wheels, check the bearings by turning them between your fingers. If they are 
feeling notchy, they may simply be too tight. This is more common than you 
think. Usually, once they are properly adjusted, they can be smooth as silk. 
I have had Shimano clipless pedals that were too tight from the box. They 
are doing fine after thousands of miles.

Never oil anything but the chain, pivot points, and cables. I run my cables 
dry, even. Never use oil on things with greased bearings. You will ruin the 
grease and need to overhaul the component for sure.

If the cables are rusty, it may just be superficial. They may still go for 
years. If you have two brakes on the bike, you still have the other in case 
of a failure on one. For moderately short rides, near home, you should be 
fine. However, I'd keep checking cables for signs of weakening, like 
fraying, or unusually rapid  stretching.

Be mindful of the tire pressure, though. Invest the $30 in a pump that has a 
gage. Your pilot can read it for you as you pump. If the bike has been 
sitting for some time, I like to inflate the tires while there is no weight 
on them. You can hold up one end of the bike while inflating a tire, until 
it is firm enough to hold it up on its own. This way, the tire has a chance 
to center itself on the rim. The wider your tires, the greater chance it may 
get a high spot at the six o'clock position of the rim and a low spot at the 
twelve. In other words, the rim is no longer in the center of the tire. 
Frequently feel the sidewalls for bulges or weakened spots in the sidewall. 
Cracking and discoloration should not be a problem, says Sheldon Brown, an 
internet bike mechanic guru, who died a few years ago of MS?

Much of what I advise in regards to cables and tires should be followed on 
even newer bikes. It is important for the stoker to pay attention, because 
the pilot may not even think of it. I have a lot of pilots. I am the only 
constant on the bike.

Best,

Ron & the conservative, frugal, but careful bears
Austin, TX

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thornbury, Kelly" <kthornbury at bresnan.net>
To: <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2009 3:14 PM
Subject: [Sportsandrec] VP 767 Pedals

: The VP 767 pedals were BMX pedals made by Victor in the mid 80s, usually 
seen on ramp and "vert" bikes. They may have been original equipment on some 
Diamondbacks, but I don't remember. If you are in to nostalgia, hang them on 
the wall as they aren't very common anymore, otherwise you occasionally see 
them on EBay for about a dollar, sought by old BMX bike restorers.
: If you are going to clean up your tandem, swap out the pedals. At that 
age, the bearings are probably dried, corroded, and prone to failure.
: As for the rest of the bike, having not ridden it in a while, and with the 
visible surface rust on the rims, you are probably looking at a minimum a 
major tune-up, to include repacking the bearings in the bottom brackets and 
stem, new cables and housings, brake pads, tubes and tires, chains, maybe 
chain rings and rear cog, and at least have the rims inspected (if the 
spokes are weakened by corrosion, they will be more likely to fail). Sounds 
like a fun project. Certainly can be done for less cost than a new ride, 
especially if you are into doing the work yourself. Steel wool on the rims 
shouldn't be a problem. You can actually use steel wool to clean car 
windshields without scratching it. Avoid the "polish," you don't want the 
surface to be so smooth that the brakes don't create enough friction to 
create heat properly.
: Your next questions should be whether you and your intended captain will 
fit the bike. It sounds like the stoker position will be smaller and the 
captain's larger (more typical of a men's/women's set-up), and you both will 
have a negative experience if neither of you fit the bike properly.
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