Calvin's Corner
Mechanical musing and industry insights from Park Tool Director of Education Calvin Jones.
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Written by Calvin on May 29, 2015/Calvin's Corner
Measuring Effective Rim Diameter
Wheel building begins with having the right components at hand. Basically, these are the hub, the rim, and of course spokes of the right length. Unfortunately, that last part, "spokes of the right length," is not always so simple to come up with. A big part of determining the correct spoke length is using the correct "Effective Rim Diameter" (ERD), a concept that is reviewed in this article.
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Written by Calvin on February 26, 2015/Calvin's Corner
Suspenders and a Belt
In this episode of Calvin's Corner, we discuss the advantages and best uses of new, narrow-wide chainrings.
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Written by Calvin on July 30, 2014/Calvin's Corner
Wheel Tension App Overview
This article will address the use of a new and completely free tool, namely the Wheel Tension App. The WTA app is designed to provide backup and support to the TM-1. This web app provides you an easy and fast way to convert your wheel's TM-1 readings into a kgf reading. Additionally, the WTA provides a visual diagram of the relative spoke tension using a "radar chart".
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Written by Calvin on June 6, 2014/Calvin's Corner
Road Race Support for Team 3M
The topic of this Calvin's Corner will be the technical support for the 3M Cycling Team. The 3M Corporation is based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. It is, after all, "Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing." The team is here to race the North Star Grand Prix. This is a stage race for road bikes, and as always it is the preparation that make all smooth and nice for the team.
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Written by Calvin on February 4, 2014/Calvin's Corner
The Slow-Time is the Right Time for Shop Inspection
In the bicycle retail business, the slower off-season is the perfect time to do things you've put off during the crazy, busy summer, including a detailed shop inspection. Use this downtime as an opportunity to go through your tools, materials, and equipment to determine what is worn out and needs to be replaced or replenished. When the warmer weather hits, the customers roll in, and the work starts stacking up, you will be ready to crank out the service. Now is also the time to look at new tools that will help you service bikes with new or updated technology.
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Written by Calvin on November 20, 2013/Calvin's Corner
Thermodynamics: What can it do for you?
We live in a world of hot and cold, so we might as well put them to use. When you get out of your comfort zone, say, for example, into deep space, you might truly get to experience extreme temperature ranges. Cold so cold that gases become liquids, and hots so hot that metals run like water, or so it is said.
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Written by Calvin on August 23, 2013/Calvin's Corner
2013 MTB World Championships
This article will feature the 2013 Mountain Bike World Championships held in Pietermaritzburg, Republic of South Africa. I will attempt to post current information as it happens, that is, once I am on the ground in Pietermartinzburg on Sunday, August 25th.
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Written by Calvin on April 26, 2013/Calvin's Corner
The Work Horses of Park Tool
The new Park Tool factory is big. So big it feels like it takes forever to walk from one end to the other. Just the factory is 200 x 300 feet. You have to walk down aisles of production, packaging, welding, then shipping before you get where you want to go. So with a huge new building, what better excuse is needed to grab a bike? We have a fleet here of 9 rides for your factory cruising pleasure. Each steed is a bit different in what they offer. This article will review of The Wheels of the Park Tool Factory.
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Written by Calvin on January 10, 2013/Calvin's Corner
2013 Cyclocross National Champions
"This year's USA National Cyclocross Championship promises to be epic!!"—Anonymous Elite Racer.
That might be one way of putting it, because what we are going to be talking about here is a bike race with people wearing spandex, in Madison, Wisconsin, in the middle of January!
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Written by Calvin on November 23, 2012/Calvin's Corner
Free Bikes 4 Kids, a Minnesota program
Free Bikes 4 Kids is a non-profit organization based in the Twin Cites area of Minnesota.
The concept of Free Bikes For Kids is to provide a bike (and a helmet) to a kid who would otherwise not get a bike. Bikes are donated at drop off locations, and what a collection of bikes they are! What are often called "department store" or "big box" bikes, serious BMX bikes, hybrids of well recognized brand names, the occasional Campagnolo® Record® group with requisite Reynolds® 531 frame; all have been seen.
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