Thanksgiving 2024
Campagnolo Chain Security Device (Chain Catcher) FD-SR203
I bought my used De Rosa Merak in 2023. The dealer that I bought it from, bike-room.com, did a great job of refurbishing and setting up everything. Some of the Campagnolo Super Record EPS components were brand new. On my first ride, after attaching the integrated bar/stem (Vision Metron 5D), and installing the wheels/tires (Fulcrum Airbeat 400, Vittoria Rubino Pro 700×28, the bike shifted and braked pretty much perfectly.
Now, I’ve ridden it about 4,800 miles. The only parts that I’ve replaced are a couple of sets of brake pads (Campagnolo DB-310) and the brake rotors (Campagnolo DB-160C3).
The only other problem was the Ergo Power rear disc brake lever was leaking brake fluid through the banjo fitting for the hose that goes from the lever to the caliper. Instead of looking for the Campagnolo hose brake screw that comes with two new o-rings ( Campagnolo EC-EK107), I measured them then bought a lifetime supply from McMaster-Carr. (9262K259 Oil-Resistant Buna-N O-Ring, 1.2 mm Wide, 6 mm ID, Packs of 50)
After a couple of thousand miles on the Campagnolo Super Record EPS front derailleur, I started dropping the chain, both when shifting to the inner chain ring and up to the outer chain ring. Campagnolo has great documentation – Diagnostics and troubleshooting electronic groupsets EPS – Internal Power Unit V2 / V3 / V4 (pdf)- for adjusting the zero setting and adjusting the riding settings of the derailleurs.
Basically, pressing the mode button for six seconds should give a solid purple light on the interface. After that, pressing once on the up or down shift levers on the left hand control will move the front derailleur 0.1 mm in either direction, respectively. I was able to prevent the front derailleur from over shifting onto the big chain ring, but I was still dropping the chain on the inner chain ring.
When I searched for a Campagnolo Super Record EPS 12 speed chain catcher, the first hit was for the K-Edge Pro Road Braze-on Chain Catcher. The compatibility specs say, “Not compatible with Campy EPS.”
Campagnolo calls their chain catcher, Chain Security Device (FD-SR203). Unfortunately, Campagnolo doesn’t make it anymore. I could take that to mean maybe you should just adjust your derailleurs correctly and you wouldn’t need a Chain Security Device. But I found it available at Total Cycling, in the UK. I ordered it and it was delivered to me in California in about a week.
Campagnolo has a technical manual (pdf) that includes instructions for mounting the Chain Security Device (if you understand the use of square nuts to fasten the front derailleur, let me know in the comments). I usually use the right tools in order to make things right but instead of buying the Campagnolo Front Derailleur Alignment Tool UT-FD120, I eyeballed it and it’s working perfectly. No more dropped chains.
Your Name in Landsat
According to Wikipedia, The Landsat program is the longest-running enterprise for acquisition of satellite imagery of Earth. It is a joint NASA / USGS program.
Using satellite imagery from the Landsat program, you can type in your name and have it spelled out in Landsat images.
Also displayed is the name, location and latitude and longitude of the images.
La Caridad 72
La Caridad reopens.
When I lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan at W. 78th Street and West End Avenue, I was lucky enough to live a block from the Cuban-Chinese restaurant, La Caridad 78.
When the 52 year old La Caridad 78 closed in 2020, it was another loss of things that are New York. The closing was even noted by Florence Fabricant in the New York Times.
I remembered that Ruben Blades, in 1991, said that La Caridad’s black beans were the best in the United States (though he added, “You can’t get really good black beans in the United States. There’s not enough taste with black beans in restaurants.”)
On my last trip to New York, I was happy to see that the younger generation of one the original owners, Miguel Yip, convinced him to reopen.
In this interview with UWS Corner Talk, the day after the opening on November 28, 2023, Miguel Yip said, “People who come to La Caridad know what they’re eating. Good Stuff, I guarantee…”
Tadej Pogačar’s Strava Stats vs Mine
Tadej Pogačar’s Strava Stats vs Mine for the week ending July 21, 2024. Pogačar rode 10.5 hours more than I did. Though as an explanation, I am 45 years, 10 months and 26 days older, and I did break my knee five months ago.