Mark Bulgier wrote:
>
> William Epping wrote:
> >
> > I had a mountain bike outfitted for commuting. I used the
> > suntour reverse action derailleur on it because I used it
> > (and stored it) mostly in the big ring. The spring was not
> > compressed and it lasted longer than any other front I've used.
>
> Interesting - I have never heard of a spring wearing out. Does anyone else
> store springs in a relaxed state to make them last longer?
>
> With my weak grasp of materials science theory, I'd say springs don't
> (can't) get weaker, unless they're used beyond their elastic range -
> unlikely except for a very badly designed or improperly heat-treated spring.
> Thus compressed or relaxed would have no effect. But I'm open to real world
> experience that contradicts this.
>
> Mark Bulgier
> Seattle, Wa
> USA
I usta know this ancient bike shop mechanic that worked for one of the famous teams in the Tour de France (maybe it was the Bowlachilli team, I can't quite remember anymore) and he said that all springs on all the team bikes were disassembled everynight between stages and stored in a large mayonnaise jar and then reassembled in the morning as a way of combating "spring relaxation."
Sounded like hokum to me but then what would I know? And then there was the time he told me that they wiped down the tires with vinegar before rainy stages of the Tour...
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, Southern California
http://www.velo-retro.com (reprints, T-shirts and Campagnolo Timeline)