NSW, Australia is either on fire or covered in dust...but still, there is goodness...

"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly) 11/08/2019 at 03:05 • Filed to: bikelopnik

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... because this 40 year old steel framed cross between a BMX bike and a road bike has been rebuilt and ridden for the first time in probably two decades.

Have to say though...whoever thought drum brakes on a bicycle was a good idea...you are both a hero and a fool. It was a beautiful failure of an idea as stopping is more of an idea about slowing down.

By the way, we are currently only dusty...not burning down. I'm happy with that.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 11/08/2019 at 03:37

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Most town bikes here have drum brakes they stop just fine....

I think the 40 year old part might be your brake issue ;p

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 11/08/2019 at 04:18

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It stops eventually...about 4 to 6 bike lengths. The drums and shoes are in decent shape but you're right...they need a bit of bedding in again after a couple of decades doing nothing.

Cé hé sin > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 11/08/2019 at 04:46

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The absence of kangaroos, koalas, sheep or other deadly Australian fauna is to be regretted.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Cé hé sin 11/08/2019 at 05:27

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They are camera shy. So they all stayed behind me while I took the pictures.

TheRealBicycleBuck > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 11/08/2019 at 09:03

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For townies, drum brakes are just fine. When used in higher-speed applications such as road- racing or mountain-biking , drum brakes are prone to brake fade, mostly because of poor heat dissi pation . This is especially bad when descending long hills. They are also fairly heavy, making the bike less nimble and harder to control over obstacles.

But you are correct, they are fine for toodling around town.

TheRealBicycleBuck > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 11/08/2019 at 09:06

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I wouldn’t trust my health to those drum brakes. They were never meant for that kind of riding. They’re fine for slow rides around town, but they’re prone to brake fade as they heat up. Since they have poor heat dissipation, they tend to heat up fairly quickly when used heavily.

All that being said, I really like the rest of the bike!

MonkeePuzzle > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 11/08/2019 at 09:39

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my cousins report alarmingly red skies last night. stay safe!

Lokiparts > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 11/08/2019 at 09:44

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Nice bike! I’m glad I am not the only one here with weird taste in bikes . This is one of mine...

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 11/08/2019 at 09:53

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I love these old school mash up bikes. So much cooler than what we call a “WalMart” bike. 

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > TheRealBicycleBuck 11/08/2019 at 16:53

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I’m well aware of their limitations in this application. It’s part of what made the frame and wheelset combination so appealing when it was offered to me so many years ago. It’s so silly from a modern viewpoint it’s wonderful.

Fortunately, the fork I had made for it (the original,   probably unicrown, likely failed due to the rigours of MTB and the drum brake) is not made for MTB so this bike is unlikely to see any trail.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > MonkeePuzzle 11/08/2019 at 16:57

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Yeah the area between Forster and Port Macquarie is copping it big time.

And pour one out for the town s of Nymboida and Bobin...they were both incinerated last night.

bhtooefr > TheRealBicycleBuck 11/09/2019 at 08:18

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Interestingly, the Sturmey-Archer drum brakes are actually preferred for velomobile applications, and those are going much faster and carrying more weight than any city bicycle.

(I know the 90 mm ones are preferred for if you have hills to deal with, though.)

Apparently there’s something that makes discs not work well in enclosed wheel wells, and everyone that’s tried it has gone right back to drums.

TheRealBicycleBuck > bhtooefr 11/09/2019 at 09:24

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That’s what I’ve read. Discs require more maintenance and are more finicky in their setup - both of which are hard to do within the confines of a velomobile. 

Nauraushaun > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 11/09/2019 at 11:44

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Melbs is quiet and cold and wet I’ll have you know

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Nauraushaun 11/09/2019 at 21:47

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So no change there then!