Bike project 1: Design continues

I've continued to work on the design.  After some false starts I've done a redesign based on the Robinson 2x4 design.  I bought the plans a few weeks ago and decided to derive off of the 26" design.  There are a couple of errors in his measurements but some work with sketchup sorted those out and I've now got a reasonable next cut at the design.

Here you can see the Robinson design in the background.  Notwithstanding Robinson's notes the actual wheelbase is around 52" not 48". This moves the front fork assembly forward and reduces the angle from the rear axle to the base of the headset improving the overall design.  I've also adopted his seat profile.  In this design iteration I've moved it back 6" or so and lowered it to make mounting and stopping easier.  I'm still experimenting with frame profiles but the general idea is shown here.

Christmas blizzard 2010

Had over a foot of snow in the Christmas 2010 blizzard -27th & 28th December.  Chris, our plow guy came so we had no issues with getting around.  Our old reliable Toro snow blower worked like a champ but even so there was considerable shoveling with the decks and steps.  All and all though a nice white Christmas holiday.

Bike project 1: Still working on the seat

It seems like the seat should be a relatively simple thing.  Not so.  As the design has progressed the seat issue has become rather central.  First, a bit of measuring of several other recumbents based photos shows that the seat height should be somewhere in the 20" range to allow a seated rider to reach the ground.  It turns out that this has a significant impact on the overall design including the wheelbase. 

While working on the seat issue I've encountered some considerable difficulty with the front wheel assembly.  It turns out that my initial sketchup model has an error so that the component center line was not aligned with either the wheel or the steering head.  Not good.  So I've had to go and redo the front wheel assembly.  Here's what it looks like now:

In the process I've become rather better at placing components in sketchup.  It's really an interesting and useful 3D surface modeling system.

In the process of working on the seat I ran into some difficulty with curves.  Sketchup's standard curve tools are a bit limited.  A bit of searching, however, lead to SketchUcation.  This is a great sketchup site with, among other things, a package of Bezier extensions for sketchup.  You need to join to access them but it's free and the site really seems to have much to offer including many advanced training videos. 

At any event here's the new seat:

With both the revised front wheel and seat in hand I can return to the frame.

White Christmas

We've had a couple of snows this week so we'll definitely have a white Christmas.  Of course I've had to do a bit of shoveling and the like but it is just lovely.  Click on videos to play.

From 2010-12-23 christmas

From 2010-12-23 christmas

Of course the pugs are doing the pug thing.

From 2010-12-23 christmas

Great sketchup video series

Happened on this sketchup video series.  VERY useful.  Also available on youtube under "sketchup show" search.  Note that not all the series seems to be available on youtube.  Here's the first one I watched which helped a lot.

One of the training videos led me to this ruby plugin page.  There are many plugins several of which might be useful in my design work.

Bike project 1: Finished overview design

I've finished the overview design.

Generally the overall design looks good.  The rider can reach the ground reasonably easily while seated using 26" wheels.  However, the frame width is an issue as the crank assembly interferes.

Likewise there are issues with the chain interfering with the front wheel, seat, and rear dropout.

Clearly, the frame needs to be redesigned. 

The issue with the chain routing will require an idler in line with the front steering tube.  It will also likely be necessary to reduce the wheelbase to ease chain routing.

Bike project 1: Seat and rider

Finished seat and added rider to overview design.

Bike project 1: Frame and seat design

Got improved frame design and seat profile in sketchup.

Bike project 1: Continue documenting bike dimensions and work on design

I've been working on the design using Google Sketchup.  It's an interesting 3D design package.  While a bit quirky in places it seems to be enough to work through the design.  So far I've got good dimensioned Sketchup designs for the front and rear wheels, and the front fork.



Along the way I've had to make additional measurements to get good drawings.  I've updated those in the previous blog entry.

Boston Globe - YOU'RE FIRED

Sometimes I wonder, I really really wonder about companies and what they might be thinking when it comes to dealing with customers.  Herein a true account of the Boston Globe and why I finally broke down and fired them today.

First a bit of prologue.  I've been reading the paper since I was 9 or 10 years old.  I'm now 66.  It's fair to say it's a lifetime habit.  BB and I enjoy getting up a bit late on Sunday and sitting in the living room in front of the fire reading the paper.  Summers we go out on the deck.  It's all a bit of a ritual.  Very relaxing and very enjoyable.

Of course, it all depends on their being a paper.  If the paper doesn't come then we have to go to the hassle of calling and getting one sent.  That's not, of course, relaxing and it rather spoils the experience.

So here's what happened.

It all started about a month or so ago though I didn't know it at the time.  It seems that the Boston Globe in what is certainly in my case a completely misguided effort to save money has decided to include their bill in the paper.  I can't imagine that this works especially well as who knows where in the paper it might be found of if the subscriber actually happens on it.  But hey, the Globe saves postage, the cost of an envelope, and the cost of stuffing the bill.  I'm not entirely sure how much it amounts to but something around $0.50 or so would be about right.

So anyway the Globe puts the bill in the paper.  I, of course, don't get it.  Not surprising since I'm not looking for it.

Move to Sunday Dec 5th. No paper.  Call the Globe.  They send one out with a courtesy copy of the Metro West Sunday paper.  All is marginally ok.  I did at least get the paper even if it was several hours late and our Sunday mourning ritual was disrupted.  Rough cost of redelivery of the paper something on the order of $4 or $5.  Globe is now behind $3.50 against cost of mailing the bill.

Now move to Friday Dec 10th.  I get an automated call saying there is an issue with the account.  Call offers to let me speak to a representative.  No problem lets talk.  Globe agent says bill sent with paper and $31.50 will make the account current through Dec 16th.  The agent emails me a copy of the bill.  Not a problem I like the paper and will gladly pay.  Rough cost of automated call and conversation with agent something like $8.  Globe now behind $11.50 against cost of mailing bill.

Like about 35% of US banking customers I pay my bills online.  So I go online and issue a payment to Glove for $63 to bring the account current and pay for another 4 months or so.  Turns out the Globe doesn't accept EFT transfers so bank has to cut check and mail it.  Bank says payment will arrive Monday the 13th.  Now I'm concerned about getting my Sunday paper on the 12th.

In an effort to avoid another disruption of the Sunday ritual I call the Globe again.  Explain situation to agent.  Agent is clearly NOT a native English speaker.  It takes a long time to sort through the matter but in the end the agent assures me not to worry the paper will come on the 12th.  Rough cost of long call with agent who's English is doubtful something like $12.  Globe now behind roughly $23.50 against cost of mailing bill.

Sunday the 12th comes.  No paper.  Call Globe again.  Deal with busy signal since the weather is a bit bad and lots of papers are late.  Six or so attempts later finally get through to automated system.  Ask for paper.  Ten AM comes still no paper.  This is the second week in a row and now I'm unhappy with the Globe.  Call again.  Speak to agent.  Explain using simple words involving no more that four syllables that they have a choice; a) get my paper in the next 40 minutes or so, or b) cancel subscription.  Agent apologizes, don't they always, and reassures me that paper will be sent over by cab.  Rough cost of another lengthy call $12.  Globe now behind roughly $25 against cost of mailing bill.  Customer now pissed.

Paper never shows.

Monday mourning the 13th the paper arrives!  Now I'm really hashed.  It's tantamount to adding insult to injury and since it's no longer Sunday it doesn't even matter.  Mind you, I'm really ambivalent about canceling since the payment has now been issued and BB and I both enjoy reading the Sunday paper but the Globe is now rather more trouble than they are worth.

Call Globe to cancel.  Takes 4 attempts to get through.  Wade through automated system to get to an agent.  Explain in very simple and direct words that I want two things: 1) cancel the subscription, and 2) refund for unused portion.  Agent really really really doesn't want to loose customer and insist on knowing why.  I'm not interested in discussing the situation and explain that in very direct language.  Agent insist.  I ask to speak to supervisor.  Am put on hold.  Agent returns.  No supervisor present.  Now I'm really getting angry since I've seen this game played before.  Explain to agent that I want the subscription canceled.  Agent offers to explain advantages of Globe subscription.  I insist that all I want is to fire Globe's sorry ass.  Agent suggest I call another number to deal with issue.  I insist that all I want is to fire Globe and get my money back and suggest that agent's options are now to either cancel and refund or I'll file complaints with Better Business Bureau and State AG's Office, then drive down to Framingham district court and file small claim to recover my money.  Agent finally agrees to cancel and refund.  At this point I wouldn't deal with the Globe if it was free.

Rough cost of this call is something around $20.  Globe now well underwater to to tune of $45 or so with no hope of ever recovering since the last agent has managed to irritate me to the point of distraction.

One can only wonder why the Globe thinks this is OK.  I know that the Globe, like most large newspapers is in financial trouble.  But really it doesn't make sense to spend $45 to save $0.50, never mind loosing yet another customer?

So no more Sunday paper at our house.  We'll read and not have to deal with the Globe's nonsense.  I'll miss the funny papers, book section, and front page but I'll learn to cope.  Even so, I'm saddened to see the Globe act in such an irresponsible way and hasten their own demise.

Max and HB here for a visit

HB and Maxwell were here this weekend for a visit.  Good time.  Max loves the pool table though he prefers Calvin Ball.  What's really funny is that he doesn't understand that it's a joke.  Good fun with a six year old.  We went out geocaching at Wayside Inn Saturday and had a nice time.  Stopped in the inn for a hot cider.  Here are some of the photos.

Technology exorcism

Another $100 and the technology evil demon exorcism is completed!  Bought a commercial grade 24 port switch after deciding that cheap isn't worth the pain of failed gear.  It went in easily but sadly did not fit my rack as the switch was over deep for the shallow rack!  So it sits but it WORKS and the network is once again well behaved.

While I was moving things about I brought a printer down stairs and installed it in one of the unused bedrooms.  It's much more convenient and saves wear and tear on my old knees.

So for this round I've two failed switches/hubs and one failed cable modem all within about a week.  Wonder why it is so?  Sadly it seems so.

Technology is evil

For the most part technology around here runs just fine.  It's there, we use it, we benefit by it, and all is well except, of course, when it isn't.  Then technology is evil, very, very evil.  Today was one of those evil days.

It started with an inability to access the printer.  A bit of investigation showed that the printer definitely worked at least in so far as it printed just fine.  Unfortunately, it couldn't be seen on the network and thus couldn't be used.  In the process of diagnosing that issue internet connectivity dropped.  A good deal of investigation and over an hour on the phone with Comcast (don't you just love dealing with technical support with English as a second or perhaps third language talking to you over a net connection with clipping and dropouts) revealed that the cable modem had died.  Off to Staples to get new modem.

New modem seems like it shouldn't be much of a chore.  It's one of the new autoconfiguration modems.  Things start well then go really really sour.  Trouble starts when Comcast wants my account number.  Unfortunately, directions for entry are not clear (shouldn't enter spaces) and site doesn't provide way to reenter account number.  Not to worry, it downloads some software and proceeds to muck about with internet settings before deciding that I need to log into my Comcast account.  Sadly, Comcast and I don't agree on my user name or password.

Now things get worse.  Call Comcast customer support.  First call is dropped by Comcast for reason's unknown.  Second call is eventually answered but sadly tech can not hear me.  Third call is dropped by my cell phone with a dead battery.  Fetch charger and call again.  Get nice lady who's English is marginally better than original call.  She says I should have called to register the mac address.  Seems uninterested that their site doesn't tell me to do so, but what the hey, I'm only the customer.  Registers the mac address.  When I suggest that she file a problem report with respect to the Comcast auto configuration screen she seems both uninterested and somewhat offended.  Unfortunately, by now the evil Comcast configuration software had configured proxies for my connections.  Not to worry, just follow the directions in your browser to put it right.  Sadly there are directions for IE 6 and 7 but not the current version 8.  Likewise older versions of Firefox.  Not even a hint for Google Chrome.  Wade through that and finally reestablish internet connectivity.

Good news new cable modem is noticeably faster than old one.

Bad news, printer still off line.

Further printer investigation reveals a bad hub.  Can't really complain as it's about 15 years old and was salvaged from an old network.  So tomorrow it's back to Staples for a hub/switch.

Don't you just love technology on evil days.

Bike project 1: Donor bike part 2

 Before cutting the donor bike apart I took measurements to use as references during the design.  Here they are.  All measurements in inches.

Wheels	Front	Rear
Radius	13.00	13.00
Tire width	1.98	2.19
Tire height	1.71	1.73
Skewer length with nuts	5.75	7.19
Sekwer diameter	0.19	0.19
Hub
Flange diameter	1.86	2.13
Radius	0.93	1.06
Flange thickness	0.13	0.14
Non-flange diameter	1.09	1.30
Radius	0.55	0.65
Exterior length	2.82	2.24
Interior length	2.58	2.01
Axle length	4.25	5.71
Half	2.13	2.85
Length less engagements	1.83	2.55
Axle diameter	0.34	0.39
Radius	0.17	0.19
Axle engagement
Cluster side	0.15	0.21
Non-cluster side	0.15	0.19
Axle end to wheel enterline
Non cluster side	2.09	2.91
Cluster side	2.09	2.84
Average	2.09	2.88
Axle flange exterior to axle end
Non cluster side	0.67	1.53
Cluster side	0.67	1.98
Axle from outside non-cluster to cluster side	Exposed axle; lock nut; Dust sear;Bearing nut; assembly is symetric	Exposed axle; lock nut; dust seal; bearing nut; hub; dust seal; bearing nut; spacer; locknut; exposed axle
Spokes	18 per side	18 per side
Rim
Width	1.05	1.10
Height	0.65	0.67
Rear cluster
Largest diameter	na	5.45
Smallest diameter	na	2.26
Thickness	na	1.41
Number gears	na	7.00
Deapth	na	1.46
Front fork
Length on center line	14.56
Dropout lead from headset center line	2.00
Straight section length to center of fork tubes	0.77
Length on center line to dropout flange	14.00
Head tube diameter	`
Stearing tube height	2.25
Dropout height	1.50
Length from race nut to dropouts	17.00
Axle lead from head tube center line	2.13
Tube diameter	1.00
Width outside at tubes	5.11
Interior width between dropouts	3.93
Exter width between dropouts	4.45
Drop out deapth	0.63
Drop out width	0.39
Drop out thickness	0.21
Width outside at dropouts	4.42
Brake offset from drop out	10.00
Angle of head tube, degrees from verticle	19.00
Head tube
Bottom of tube exclusive of race to ground	27.63
Top of tube exclusive of race to ground	31.63
Diameter	1.51	0.75
Radius	0.75
Length between race nuts	4.28
Race nut height	0.43
Race nut diameter	1.83
Rear fork
Centerline from dropout center to bottom cross tube	14.13
Dropout
Interior width between	5.35
Exterior length between	5.76
Thickness	0.20
Width	0.40
Deapth	0.67
Offset from center line to cluster dropout center
Offset from center line to non cluaster dropout center	2.70
Length rear arm cluster side to center of dropout	14.44
Length rear arm non cluster side to center of dropout	14.00
Bulge for tire from cross tube
Start	1.50
End	2.50
Width in center of bulge	2.88
Break offset from dropout center	10.00
Crank
Width
Including nuts	2.89
Exclusive of nuts	2.67
Total width including arms	8.00
Housing diameter	1.60
Crank arm
Pedal center to crank center	6.81
Crank center to end of arm	7.50
Crank center to pedal end	8.75
Height from ground	11.63
Pedal
Length	4.00
Width	3.50
Height	1.15
Gears
Rear
1	34
2	24
3	22
4	20
5	18
6	16
7	14
Front
1	48
2	38
3	28

Geocaching: Chelmsford

Good to go geocaching on a bright winter day.  There is snow north of MA and west but for the next week or so none here so it's a good day to go geocaching.  Here's where I went:

	Listing	Date	Log Type
	Gas Saver IX	06 December 2010 13:04:00	Found it
	Gas Saver XIII	06 December 2010 13:17:00	Found it
	Passaconaway / Lime Quarry	06 December 2010 13:55:00	Found it
	One Part Lime	06 December 2010 14:24:00	Found it
	Boula's Playground	06 December 2010 14:34:00	Found it
	Solitaire	06 December 2010 15:02:00	Found it

Gas Saver IX TFTC/SL/TNLN
Last time I was in the area I DNF this one.  But since it was recently found I gave it another go.  Today it was a quick park and grab.  The pond was lovely today with a few birds.

Gas Saver XIII  TFTC/SL/TNLN
Since I was in the area I took an opportunity to find this one.  It's a very short walk from parking at the cross country ski center.  

Passaconaway / Lime Quarry  TFTC/SL/TNLN
After my first two finds today I decided to visit the Lime Kiln area in Chelmsford.  I walked in and quickly found this although there was a lot of signal bounce in the quarry today.  Fortunately the cache was very visible once I was in the quarry proper.

One Part Lime  TFTC/SL/TNLN
After finding Passaconaway I bushwhacked over to One Part Lime.  I should have stayed on the trail and gone by Boula's first.  Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever learn to stay on the trail.  It was an easy find with the hint.

Boula's Playground  TFTC/SL/TNLN
After finding One Part Lime I walked back along the trail to find Boula's.  It was an easy find and the cache was in good shape.  As I was putting the cache back I heard an animal moving through the woods.  It turned out to be a white dog with a black eye patch.  The dog apparently picked up my sent on the trail and followed my path through the woods to the cache.  As I was walking back to the car the dog reappeared this time having followed my trail through woods where I'd bushwhacked to One Part Lime.  The dog put in a third appearance, this time with a dog walker.  

Solitaire  TFTC/SL/TNLN
After finding four caches at Lim Kiln I stopped at Solitaire.  This was a quick park and grab.

As usual I took photos.  Here they are.

Bike project 1: Donor bike

I've selected the donor bike and begun documentation of its dimensions and assembly.  It will take some time and considerable careful measurement but at least I've begun.  I chose the $30 Giant that I bought for BB some weeks back.  She's never ridden it and has two much nicer bikes so I suppose cutting up a nice Giant for parts isn't that big a deal but it is a rather nice bike and I must admit a certain reluctance.  Here are the reference photos.  Click through to see them.

26 Inch Donor bike

Geocaching: Framingham & Hudson

BB was off on a girls day with her work colleges so I decided to do a bit of geocaching.

	Listing	Date	Log Type
	Stop and Cache	04 December 2010 11:33:00	Found it
	Creature Hunt - Southwest Shoreline	04 December 2010 12:24:00	Found it
	OLD FARMER	04 December 2010 15:13:00	Found it
	TE #4 - Stone Challenge	04 December 2010 15:13:00	Didn't find it

Stop and Cache TFTC/SL/left geocards/took Plaster Bug
I've been meaning to stop here for some while and since I had to drive by I decided to stop.  Was about to give up when I finally found it.  It had fallen back into the hide and was a bit hard to remove; big hands aren't always an advantage.  Cache in good shape.  Lots of muggles but they were so busy that no one seemed to take note.

TE #4 - Stone Challenge TFTC
I'd tried this once last winter in the snow but DNF even after an interesting climb over the snow bank left by the plows.  Thought today would be easier.  With no snow I could move about much easier.  Unfortunately, still DNF despite what I though was a rather through examination with a flashlight a couple of feet up and down along the wall.  Perhaps some kind soul can provide a bit of help.

Creature Hunt - Southwest Shoreline TFTC/SL/TNLN
On the way home from Stone Challenge so I stopped and parked along the road.  I wish the gate was set back from the road as there is plenty of room to park beyond it and the area is lovely.  In any case it was a quick walk in and an easy find though the GPS was bouncing all over the place.  No creatures but a really spooky creaky sound from the swaying trees.  Among the old stone foundations the noise gave a bit of pause and motivated a quick find.  Cache in good shape.  Not winter friendly so I'm glad I stopped today.

OLD FARMER TFTC/SL/TNLN
What can I say, interesting and the basis for a new Bell's Geocaching Law; never, never, never bushwhack in an old cranberry bog.  Really, NEVER. There are trails but none seemed to be going in the right direction from parking so foolish me I bushwhacked.  Not good.  Finally got to trail going in the right direction and quickly got to GZ.  Quick find but definitely not winter friendly.  Hiked out on a trail, more or less, with the trailhead at N42 19.8587 W071 32.0795.  It's rather hard to see but just a few feet N or the remains of a concrete water control gate.  Also there's parking just a bit N of the fishing parking on the E side of the road.

As usual here are all today's photos.

Bike project 1: Started documentation on the donor bike

I've started photo and measurement documentation on the donor bike.  I've decided to be very through as the dimensions should be useful in designing the recumbent.

Dinner: Mapo Tofu

Mapo Tofu for dinner tonight.  Here's the recipe I work from.  I use 1lb ground pork since I like more meat.  I also use extra firm tofu as I prefer the texture and fry it a bit separately to put a bit of brown and flavor on it.  Other than that I generally follow the recipe.
 -------------------------------------------------------------
Not my usual recipe.  Here's the right one.  The other, while flavorful, is overly salty and doesn't have peas which we enjoy.

Geocaching in Hudson

Today was a bit cooler with temps in the 30s and enough humidity to make it cool.  The mourning was fairly bright but clouds moved in late mourning.  Here's where I visited:
  I'd gotten a clue about Where's the falls? and decided to try again.  While in the area I tried a few other caches.

	Listing	Date	Log Type
	Where's the falls?	03 December 2010 12:27:00	Found it
	Wood Park	03 December 2010 12:45:00	Found it
	WestRidge - Thanksgiving 2010	03 December 2010 13:17:00	Found it
	something to do while the wife shops	03 December 2010 13:34:00	Found it

Where's the falls? TFTC/SL/TN/left geocards

 
Third err fourth time's the charm.  I don't know what it was about this cache but I'd looked for it three previous times and DNF passing within 2' of it on the three previous efforts.  After a hint from Pack 4 Hudson I quickly found it.  FWIW, I think the coordinates may be about 40' off since I found the cache 40' SW of GZ.  My PN 40 was well behaved today with 9' accuracy reported.  I took several readings and they averaged to N 42° 24.2054 W 071° 34.6493.  In any case it's an interesting cache and area.  

Wood Park TFTC/SL/TN/left geocards

This has been on my list for some time and since I was in the area decided to stop.  What a lovely park!  It's a quick walk from parking along the river and past a really interesting bridge to GZ.  Cache is in good order.

Lovely pedestrian bridge

River was very pretty today

WestRidge - Thanksgiving 2010 TFTC/SL/TNLN

Not first to find but in the first 10, a first for me.  Nice easy walk to GZ with good hints though neighbor trees may be evil, the cache is in a very friendly tree.  Cache in good shape.

something to do while the wife shops TFTC/SL/TNLN

I was nearby and decided to stop for this cache.  It's almost a park and grab with a quick walk in through some sort of access path/road.  There was a fair bit of large trash but otherwise OK.  The cache was surprisingly wet though.

As usual here are all the photos: