Can lend you a pair if you fancy trying before you buy anything!
Thanks Kaputnik, that's a kind offer - a borrow would be great.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
Dave's new build
(132 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Just thought I'd post a quick update since it's now been a month or two since I got the bike on the road.
Despite some teething difficulties with the Sturmey Archer hub gear setup, and cable stretch issues, I'm now happy with the drivetrain, although the last 5% of satisfaction is hovering firmly out of reach.
250% is an adequate range, but the overall gearing is too high (that is, I never use 5th gear, and would like one below 1st, but I do ride mostly in 3rd - direct drive - and there's not much room to lower the ratio without losing the 44t chainring that's needed for the chaincase.
I'm currently still running studded tyres despite the temperatures remaining unseasonably warm, because of my "touch nothing" philosophy for this bike. At the start of March I'll reconsider, although no doubt we'll then have a couple of months of late snow and ice!
Marathon Winter 40mm front/35mm rear are pretty slow (so I'm doing better than expected at tackling my paunch) and I haven't worried about slipping even on the chilly days. The wide front is also great at eating potholes and other defects, so overall, I'm pretty happy with the choice - I've got pristine Kojak slicks to use when "spring" arrives :-)
Apart from the tyre swap, I've touched nothing on the bike since putting it together, and I haven't cleaned it either (or oiled the chain). Still sweet as a nut, although I'm considering taking off the chaincase just to see what it looks like inside.
On that front, the Hebie chainglider now runs silently and I don't notice any friction (although I'm sure it's there).
The front hub has been a big win - powerful braking all weather, no need to adjust, and producing oodles of light into the bargain. (Again, I'm sure it causes plenty of friction, but I can't tell if the lights are on or off).
Main annoyance - massive toe overlap means I hit my feet on the mudguards while manoeuvring every so often, and if I enter an ASL at an angle (for example) I often have to turn the pedals to get the front wheel pointing down the road! This was better before I put the winter tyres on, but even so, it's annoying as I deliberately went for the larger frame to try and cover this sort of issue.
Secondary annoyance - this weekend just past we rode out to North Berwick for a laugh, and I discovered that it's quite uncomfortable to ride for long periods (sore elbows, sore hands in particular).
Also, I did a swap with SWMBO and found her Croix-de-fer feels ridiculously light (!!) and fast by comparison... when it gets to summer, I'll need to try lowering the bars and putting on racier tyres to do an apples-to-apples.
hmm, that ended up being longer than I expected!
Posted 12 years ago # -
I took a short pair of scissors and cut off the side pockets / picked out the stitching.
Sacrilege! The ghost of Carradice past will be visiting your house soon.
I discovered that it's quite uncomfortable to ride for long periods (sore elbows, sore hands in particular).
Maybe those pursuit bars? Have you tried trad drops on the bike? Maybe some comfy north roads or similar?
Posted 12 years ago # -
I got on fine with bullhorns on my old Pearson, going out to Dunfermline (and an attempted LEJOG) so I'm hoping it's just lack of form. Haven't tried to ride more than 10 miles on an upright that isn't my MTB since mid 2009...
The main thing I took from riding to North Berwick was I just wanted to be on a recumbent again. I can't be bothered with all the traffic hassle you get on an upright bike!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Welcome to the visible world...
Posted 12 years ago # -
I've seen Dave's Rapto respray frame colour - very nice and even less visible!
Posted 12 years ago # -
True. Wife's at orchestra tonight so I might zip through the rebuild and get a photo up!
Question is, shall I put it back together as eyewatering 26/700c big-wheeler or as stock with the 20" front?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Might I suggest stock, to start with? I'd still be keen to take a little ride, without in any way leading you on...
That said, one of my "little rides" resulted in the Pino!
Robert
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'll vote for stock too...
Mainly because I now have a working 700c Raptobike Midracer.... be posting on 'slowest bike build ever' thread.
Comment from Hannah at shop.
"That - is - ..... weird...."
so looks like it's gone together ok!Posted 12 years ago # -
cant possibly be the slowest build ever, unless you murder anth.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I think my 'expedition tourer'* project has to be the slowest build. I bought the frame a year ago, picked up all the parts shortly thereafter. Sanded the frame, primed, painted stem and forks.....then stopped. Nothing's happened since about March last year. It's the hand brush painting thing, sanding down between coats, it just got to me I guess!
Hope to build it up before the summer.
* Basically a rigid fork MTB with racks and touring tyres.
Posted 12 years ago # -
In a last attempt to tackle the ghost issues with my hub gear, I spent some time yesterday re-cabling.
Originally I fitted the bike out with Jagwire cables which I previously used on the recumbent with great success, but after replacing the allegedly-compressionless brake housing with an ordinary Shimano one, I found my braking was much improved (I have taped less of the bar, so the cable line is also a bit more direct).
It's too early to judge the new Shimano gear cable, as it was late o' clock when I finished last night... hopefully I'll be a happy bunny at PY shortly.
Posted 12 years ago # -
A week after posting the last update I took the back wheel off and tightened the drive-side locknut on the advice of the CTC forum.
I've now given it a week to bed in but last night I delivered my 73kgs of wood up to Loanhead and it was absolutely terrible in 1st gear again.
So, I've sent an email off asking about a warranty return, and hope to get a better copy second time around. (There aren't any other options except for the 3-speed version which is too narrowly geared for me. If I put on an alfine, it means another cable and brake lever somewhere).
Watch this space...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Is a very annoying problem for you.
Should be 'fit and forget' rather than 'fit and fret'.Posted 12 years ago # -
As it happens I'm pondering about converting my chunky single speed into hub gearing, and since that one was on the list of options, I'll watch with interest and a wince for your misfortune.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Dave, is it the 5 speed or 8 speed SA hub you have? They have a reputation for being very reliable, so unless it's a faulty hub I'm guessing it's how the axle is seated in the rear dropouts/fork ends?
Is it a bolt axle or QR on the rear? Coaster brakes right?
Posted 12 years ago # -
It's the 5 speed with coaster. Comes in various flavours depending on the shell style (mine is an S5C).
It's a bolt-on. I'm pretty sure the axle is OK, if only because the studded tyre would make a horrific racket if it slipped and started chewing into the frame.
On the left side it can't slide forward anyway because the reaction arm is bolted into the disc mount, the bolt would need to shear for it to move even slightly forward (lucky frame choice!)
The hub is very sweet in 2-5 and it's particularly annoying that 1 is the faulty option, because I never use 5. Have thought about swapping to a 3 speed version, which is exactly like my gears 2-4, but it's already slightly limited by having a 38" low gear...
In more positive news, the front hub is sitting pretty. Excellent braking in all weather and I haven't had to think about my lights since the end of November...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Hmm. Is it engaging into 1st gear okay, or maybe 'meshing' a bit with 2nd? Equivalent of chain not quite engaging on rear cog in a derailleur setup...
Maybe the problem is with the cable that's pulling the chain out to change gear? Maybe not quite pulling out far enough/ retreating back in far enough to reach 1st properly? Is there some way of adjusting the indexing?
Posted 12 years ago # -
It always shifts into 1st immediately. It will ride OK in first for a while, then it will 'chonk' forwards, sometimes it will actually change to 2nd, sometimes not. If it ends up in second, if I lighten off the pedals it will change back into first.
My understanding of the mechanism is that the cable needs to be at high tension to keep it in 1st. However, even if I haul back on the shifter to get it tighter than the indexed point, it will still skip.
It's conceivable that something inside is rounded off or misaligned I guess. I'm going to keep an eye out on ebay for "broken, for parts" SA hubs and see if I can learn anything by dismantling one that doesn't matter (separately to trying to return this hub for a new one).
Posted 12 years ago # -
I've finally lost patience after waiting more than a week to hear from the importer (not the seller I got the hub from) about some dubious technical comment they offered in the glacial "discuss the allegedly broken hub" discussion - the S5C hub is going back with a Sale of Goods cover note as soon as I have a replacement.
Wisely or not, I found a deal I couldn't resist on the funktastic S2C duomatic, a wide-range two speed that shifts on the backpedal as well as braking, so I'll get away with no cables whatsoever.
The downside is going to be having basically gears 3 and 5 from my current hub (so I've asked for a bigger sprocket!)
It will be worth it for the fast 3 seasons if it makes the bike as bombproof as it should have been from the start.
You'll notice that the red anodising will match the artisan colourways of my headset spacers. Let nobody think I threw this bike together from the best sale prices (ahem) rather than hand-curating each component over years of study!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Looks interesting - hope you have more luck with it!
Posted 12 years ago # -
And here was me using you as a lightning rod for the 5-speed, since that was for the balance of cost, chainline and dropout looking to be the best thing to stick in the back of my currently single speed Genesis.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Everything about it is awesome, except that mine didn't work!
I don't know whether the cause was dodgy factory production, damage in transit, damage on the bike (physical or by riding it maladjusted) - although I was careful to check the indicator rod whenever I felt it was running less than flawlessly.
Either way though, I figured it would be silly to make the best of it when it's so new (I understand within 6 months the burden of proof is on the retailer that the product isn't faulty).
The 8 speed on the Paper Bicycle felt much tighter. I'm not sure frankly what I'd recommend now - the Alfines all have to be externally braked, which would be too annoying for me.
Posted 12 years ago # -
S2C just arrived in the office. It looks awesome, although I'm slightly nervous about it!
Pretty heavy although considering I have no shifters, shift cables, or rear brake lever/cable (or derailleurs), it's probably a bit moot.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Will it be ready for Arthur's Seat run next tuesday?
Posted 12 years ago # -
I've got to paint skirting boards, but hopefully it won't take more than an hour or two to strip the old wheel down and build this one up.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I dont think the skirting boards will suit the bike
Posted 12 years ago # -
Skirting boards are the new mudguards.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Posted 12 years ago #
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Posted 12 years ago #
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