Re: Crappy Tasco 4.5" reflector needs an upgrade, generic motorized mounting system?

From: matt (mariusrf_at_bellsouth.net)
Date: 07/17/04 

Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2004 20:18:07 -0400

Jon Isaacs wrote in message
<20040716193154.19329.00001541@mb-m17.aol.com>...
>>Jon, would you consider getting a steel framed bike with leather saddle
and
>>consider the carbon stuff , ergonomic saddles , computer (ouch, that's
>>clearly a gizmo) etc just gizmos that add technological complexity ?
>
>Good question. Which I will answer in a moment.
>
>However the point about the LXD-55 is that it had/has some serious
problems,
>both mechanical and electronic, sort of the Huffy of GOTO. I understand
the
>casting on the LXD-55s were pretty bad... Apparently Meade gave up on the
>design...
>
>As far as CF-Steel, "ergonomic seats", "computers" go, I can say this. I
have
>owned 3 bikes with "carbon frames" and sold each of them. Currently I own
>something over 10 bikes, all but 1 are steel framed. Give me my Waterford
>Paramount over my-ex Trek carbon framed 5200 Trek any day, both weighed
the
>same, but I can pull an 8% grade in an 80 inch gear with the Waterford and
it
>is quiet, the Trek would creak, squeak and squawk in a 60 inch gear. The
>geometry of the Paramount is/was better too.
>
>I don't mind CF frames if they are quiet, I don't like CF forks, I don't
trust
>them. I have considered the problem of hidden damage in CF and the
problems
>associated with a catastropic failure in a bicycle fork, I ride at 40-50mph
>sufficiently often that I prefer the ductility and strength of a good steel
>fork.
>
>I have a 20 year old Specialized Sequoia that I ride most days to work.
Still
>going strong, my guess it that it will still be hauling me and my 230 lbs
up
>and down the hills of SD while many newer bikes with lighter riders are
long
>gone.
>
>As far as "Ergonomic Seats", as far as I can see, most of those were
designed
>in the marketing department by people who did not understand how to
properly
>adjust a seat or even properly sit on it. Give me an Turbo or a Flite
seat
>and I can go for miles. Give me an Ergo style seat (or handle bars) and
they
>are litterally a PITA. Don't think you see many guys in the Tour riding
"Ergo"
>seats.
>
>Cyclometers, yes they are fun toys but they are more of a distraction than
a
>help. Yes I have owned about every cyclometer out there from the Cateyes
to
>the Avocet 45s and 50 and the Powertap with the strain gaged rear hub.
(Those
>suckers are around $700 new) Fun toys but they don't really help much
except
>that I know that I can/could peak at about 1600 watts....
>
>Of the new stuff since about 1980, the two best are the Shimano Cassette
rear
>hub, and the dual pivot caliper brakes, both came out in the mid to late
80's.
> Sealed cartridge style Bottom Brackets are a good thing and I do like the
>STI/Ergo shifters, make climbing easier and shifting/braking in traffic
easier.
>
>Bicycles are like most things, there is some stuff that is are definite
>technological advances that make riding safer and make the bicycles more
>durable. But there is a great deal of stuff that is just marketing hype.
>
>>What's wrong with having 2 little motors in a scope , and why is it more
>>desirable to have motorized power mirrors, windows or seats in a car?
>
>Personally I like simple cars with hand crank windows, sliding seats, they
last
>longer and they don't break as often and when they break, I can fix em...
>
>But the Astroview/EQ-3 which Rod suggested also has those 2 little motors
but
>they are manually controlled.
>
>>p.s. yes, lxd's sometimes don't work out of the box but the problems are
>>clear, simple and widely documented together with their solutions.
>
>Maybe Astro Al can comment, from what I have read, there were/are big time
>problems with the LXD-55.
>
>Jon Isaacs
>

I gave the above examples for a good reason. They're newer technologies,
most people and the market embraced them although not all are truly good or
useful.
Considering that a cheap eq3 plus a 2 axis drive costs as much if not more
than a meade lxd55, why not ? Buy the hypertune kit or the scopestuff screw
replacements and then all is fine . Goto for free, meaning for less money
than simple tracking .

best,
matt