charlie chitlins

Cooooooooooooope! Sometimes the excitement I work up onstage is harder on the knees than trials! And trials doesn't get me home at 3 a.m.!!!

Cool! Thanks for the props! Here's a link if you want a CD: http://lanarkrecords.net/store/product_detail/487

The wifey reminded me...he was trying to get his bike through some bushes and down a hill when she asked him what he was doing, "Just tryin' to do some trials, mom."

If anybody's interested, this has taken the place of Trials for me. We got signed to a label this year and are being played on about 150 broadcast radio stations in the US, Canada, South/Central America, Europe, Oz & New Zealand. Several have put us in the top 25. So...for the time being...I'm trying not to get injured! http://lanarkrecords.net/the-blue-plate-specials

He does U turns in the walking path in front of the house. It's about a bike-length in width. It's crazy. He likes to stand straight upright...looks like Malcolm Rathmell or somebody... It's so much fun to watch.

OK...I used to post a lot here, but the reluctance to get knee replacements has taken me out of the sport. But, I thought I'd share this pic of my 3 1/2 year old who has control of his bicycle that blows most kids 3x his age away! I'm conflicted about whether it's time for an OSET, or just let him pedal for awhile and see what happens...

Many bearings are under-greased. It wouldn't hurt to peel the rubber seal out (from the inside!) and stuff some more grease in there if necessary.

Just some clear silicone. The kind you get at the hardware. Just make sure it's 100% silicone. Been using it for 120 years. Even stays in the exhaust ports of Harleys.

Are you saying that there's an elegant solution for moving the bottom of the frame away from the chain? Angle grinder? Cutting torch? Maybe I should have worn a double-bresated pinstripe suit while doing it. Now THAT'S elegant! AND...I take exception to the phrase "cheater bar". I prefer "fine tuning appliance".

If you want to go heavier than 5...more like 7...ATF works fine and is inexpensive. As an aside...I went to the local bike shop the other day to get a quart of fork oil. The guy put some fancy brand of synthetic oil on the counter and said it was over $24!! I told him to keep it. Went to the local indy and got a bottle of Repsol for $8.

Funny...the chain on my son's 125 hit the frame, too. I thought it was bent. I put a big ol' crescent wrench and a breaker bar (old fork tube) on it and bent it out away from the chain.

I would think that you'd need some kind of valve (probably a tubeless one) to seat the bead.

I saw David Chaves(z?) riding with tire balls once. He said they were good.

For me, it's just been decided. I need surgery on mine. Supposedly it's quick and easy with a relatively short recovery.

Very mysterious! Can you put a dial indicator on the mainshaft to be sure it is running straight?

Strong solvents can hurt the filter and the glue that holds it together. Here in the colonies we have a dish wash liquid (fairy bubbles! I LOVE THAT!!!), called DAWN that is well known for its degreasing properties. Weekend Rockabillies even use it to get the grease out of their hair before heading off to work Monday morning. For oil...in a pinch you can use motor oil, as we all did, but foam filter oil is best because it doesn't run to the bottom. Sherco calls for 5w30 for engine oil and I've always used it with fine results, and it's inexpensive. Also...anytime I've removed a clutch where the friction material has become unglued from the plates, there has been red stuff (ATF) in the engine.

A little bit past snug...if you grunt, it's too tight. I think the most important part is a dab of grease or ant-seize and make sure it screws all the way in with fingers.

The last really good Sherco manual I saw was from the pre-cartridge fork days. It's unfortunate that there is so little good literature. If you can't find anything, I could walk you through it. If you've had forks apart before, it'll seem familiar. The different thing about cartridge forks is emptying and refilling the cartridge. There are specs available for oil volume and level. I found that if you empty and rinse the forks, the volume numbers were spot on for getting the right level.

I don't get it.

Looks like it might be a kids' bike, but there's no scale to compare the size.

But ours is still a 125... I use 2nd if I remember to rip it, but I'm so used to powering up stuff...1st hauls me up well/ My riding buddy has an '01 200 and it's a TOTALLY different animal.

Uh oh....

This sounds like Trigger Finger. I have it and it sucks. Mine locks bent, though. It's a form of tendonitis. The tendons move through a sheath (like a throttle cable!) and when the inner gets inflamed, it sticks in the outer sheath. Cortisone shots often work but I happen to be one of the unlucky few on whom cortisone has no effect, so I'm likely headed for the surgeon's knife. According to all involved, it's very simple; a small incision and a quick slice on the sheath to open it up and release the tendon. You can't put a price on good times like these!

Got a pair of these for my son. 3 Buckles, very flexible and comfortable (I made sure he broke them in before I tried them!), excellent insoles and a well-lugged sole that much resembles a Vibram hiking boot with excellent grip. Small heel with a gradual transition, not a step. $130 As much as I like my Novogars and the guy I bought them from, I sure would have been happy having the Thors for half the dough!!

You can also use a very short lever. It can be pulled all the way to the grip without hitting your fingers, so you can adjust it further in. It's a 1-finger deal, though. If your finger gets tired as the day wears on, it's not easy to fit another finger on there to help out.