An indieweb blog for my bike projects, maintenance, and riding. Bikes are utilitarian dream machines that I use for a chill lifestyle of transportation and joy.
![A close-up of a gold brake with the excess cable routed through its slot. It's mounted on a blue bike in a bike stand with a tanwall tire with black knobs.](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/DSCF5374-16x9-768.webp)
Kat’s Bridgestone BB-1 Part 2: Basic Build Complete!
Kat threw on the old Eagle drivetrain from my defunct All-City to finish the build. Now she can play around with bike fit and see how she likes it before its final configuration.
![A group of cyclists riding around a turn with a 'Mission Creek' banner on the right.](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/R0007031-16x9-768.webp)
Fall Into Slow Streets Slow Ride
Another ride organized by Safe Street Rebel. Checking out Slow 22nd (future), Sanchez, Arlington, Shotwell, 20th, and Noe.
![A spinning tire between two blue chainstays. The chainstay in front says 'Bridgestone'](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/R0007273-16x9-768.webp)
Kat’s Bridgestone BB-1 Part 1
Maxing out the tire clearance and aligning the derailleur hanger on Kat’s new-to-her Bridgestone BB-1.
![The drivetrain of a blue e-bike with a new Shimano CUES cassette, derailleur, and chainring.](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/DSCF5175-16x9-768.webp)
Shimano CUES Drivetrain Upgrade for Egret
Attempting to solve the chain retention and shifting issues on my e-bike with a new drivetrain. Now it’s got a narrow-wide chainring, a clutched rear derailleur, and the extra chainline increases the gap so the chain can’t get stuck.
![A pink rigid bike with black-and-tan tires standing up against a median filled with sand and ice plant.](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/DSCF0195-16x9-768.webp)
Quick Maintenance on the Hardtack and Egret
My beloved Tanglefoot Hardtack is coming back to me! Logging some maintenance records here.
![Kat riding around the bend on one of the Golden Gate Bridge towers](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/16x9-768.webp)
October 2023 Riding Highlights
I’ve never been on the Golden Gate Bridge so many times in a month. Bike party, Slow Street rides, Marin Headlands, and Hawk Hill. And!! Dogs on bikes! Pumpkins on bikes!
![A blue Kona e-bike and purple vintage Trek in front of a view of the San Francisco Bay facing towards the East Bay, some time after the sun has set](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/banner-16x9-768.webp)
Thoughts After 2000km on an E-Bike
I’ve now put about 2000 km on my e-bike (~1250 miles) and want to write out my thoughts on e-biking compared to regular biking — the good, the bad, why I chose this one, and my political opinions on e-bikes that haven’t changed.
![A blue e-bike with black fenders resting on an oak tree beside a dirt path surrounded by other old oaks](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/fender-16x9-768.webp)
It’s Fall Y’all! 🎃💦 Time for Fenders
We’re getting into wet season so I begrudingly put fenders on my e-bike. Kona was a bit sly about the tire/fender clearance so I used a heat gun to open up the rear fender clearance a bit. It worked but it looks real bad.
![The motor cabinet of a mid-drive e-bike with various loose cables coming from the downtube and chainstay](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/DSCF4592_16x9-768.webp)
Misc: Internal Routing and Prof. Ronnie
Good thoughts from one of my fave bike influencers, a cute documentary, and internal routing on mid-drive e-bikes.
![A Crankbrothers Stamp 7 left pedal in a bench vise beside a drill with a bolt extractor and grease port screw hanging on the bolt extractor](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/DSCF4597_16x9-768.webp)
Grease Port Bolt Extraction
My seized grease port screw was stopping me from replacing the bearings in my left pedal. But it came out with a bolt extractor drill bit!
![A 9-speed chain with caked on grime.](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/DSCF4733_16x9-768.webp)
I’m So Close to Waxing My Chain
Maybe I’ve been reading too much internet while stuck at home with a cold but I’m basically convinced to try switching from drip lube to wax.
![A buff tabby cat looking grumpy and sitting beside a crankset just out of view.](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/DSCF4541_16x9-768.webp)
Linkglide Di2 Is Incompatible With E6100
Gus is grumpy at Shimano for not making their new electronic drivetrains compatible with older e-bikes. I have thoughts on why I’d like to try Linkglide and Di2!
![The front of a 1x crankset with the chain case fixing mounts visible](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/DSCF4552_16x9-768.webp)
1x Chain Retention Problems
My chain drops on the inboard side and gets real stuck between the motor and chainring. There’s a bunch of different solutions but none of them are perfect.
![Looking behind a person in a flannel riding their bike on a path between serpentine grass.](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/R0005894_16x9-768.webp)
September 2023 Riding Highlights
New monthly riding record of 803 km! Including a lot of Bay Trail riding, goats doing work, unusually pleasant Golden Gate Bridge crossings, and a car-free Niles Canyon.
![A purple Crankbrothers Stamp 7 pedal mounted on a right crank arm of a bicycle.](https://cdn.emilyhorsman.com/DSCF3928_16x9-768.webp)
Crankbrothers Stamp 7 Play
My pedals have gotten pretty wiggly because the polymer igus bearings have worn out.