itsmoot

I'm trying to decide between those and Greenspeed Scorchers. My Nano rides rough as hell with the narrow IRC Metros I originally installed. The Nano's frame and fork is maybe a little too stiff.

martinus

From vwvortex...

rcnute

Can anyone think of a front rack that would work on a Nano? What about the Dahon Traveler? I'd like to ziptie a basket to it. Thanks!

Ryan

monsterpile

So I picked up a cheap unique road bike Friday with a 60 tooth chain ring I am planning to take off and store for later to add to my mini velo if the need arises. Is there an special considerations I need to know about with a chain ring that size including deraillers? Thanks for any thoughts.

Edit: Nevermind I don't think its going to be worth it because the chainring is 144 BCD and i am pretty sure I don't have anything to swap so yeah I think I'll just throw it back on the bike and move the bike along to someone else intact.

iamdougsbike

Martinus - Where did you buy the 58t ring? I can't find it online anywhere...

All - Also I was wondering if the larger size would be good for me @ 5'9"??
I already ordered and want to know if I should change the order or not.

Poguemahone

You're likely fine on the sizing.

I believe the "engagement ring" on Martinus' bike is a QBP product. Should be available on order through most bike shops; I'd wager 99% of them have a QBP account. Make sure you get the proper BCD 130mm.

mirfi

Hello,

New guy here, I joined cause I have folders, but wet my pants when I saw this thread...my mini-velo ships Monday from BD.

Big Chainrings

www.hostelshoppe.com/

First post/reply, not used to this forum thing.

airwulf

Last Sun I did a charity ride and completed 43 miles on my Nano. It was really windy (gusts to 30mph) for most of the route but with a tailwind I could easily cruise at 18-20mph on the country roads. Tires are Primo Comets and the drive train is stock. It was quite an outing and I got several compliments about my Nano from the other riders. Fun ride.

fietsbob

Hey Ryan How about getting a CETMA rack made for that Nano?
Vic raved about the one he got made for his Tikit.

mirfi

Hello and help,

It will be a month before I can ride my Nano. (Rotator cuff/SLAP tear surgery). But I know about undergeared 20 inch bikes...

Planning to upgrade to 11/32 cassette.

Two questions
1) Will this work/compatible?

SRAM PG-830 8-Speed Cassette


https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...AID=1120061383

2) If I need to get a new chain, is this correct?

Sram Pc 850 8 Speed Chain


https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...3#ReviewHeader

I apologize for the weird formatting.

Kevin.

monsterpile

I had a fellow commuter stop me today when I was on an errand during my commute home to ask about the bike and where I got it from. He seemed like he might get one himself.

cedar_lake

That should all work. I believe dion put on an 11-32 and the derailer worked with it. 8 speed chain for an 8-speed cassette sounds about right.

If you leave the 39 little ring on a 39X32 granny gear with 406 wheels will allow you to pull stumps.

cedar_lake

Also I should chime in that I flatted my minits lite again this weekend. Stay away from these tires. I think it is a combination of thin rubber on the tread and the stickiness of that rubber making it into a glass magnet. I booted the tire with a dollar bill and rode on, but I'll be replacing these sooner rather than later. Kojaks or Comets I think.

I'm very happy with my 56 big ring but to be honest it is still pretty easy to spin out a 56X11 with the small wheels. Given the twitch factor of the short wheelbase I'm not sure how much faster I'd want to be going on the bike anyway!

martinus

Yep.



Got it back in 99 ... for a franken commuter of a bmx.

Back Stabbath

anyone got a used one in NYC? selling my beefed up Downtube folder to grab one of these...

mirfi

Thank you for the confirmation

Back Stabbath

any sort of NYC group for mini velos out there? getting mine tomorrow... gonna spend the morning crawling craigslist looking for junk bikes to part off from...

mirfi

Status Report,

I removed the tires (the small Park-Tool spoons seemed to work better than the bigger spoons!?). Dremeled out the air nipple hole (thank you for whoever suggested it). Put the thick Forte tape in. Since the tape was white I put id information on it with a Sharpie. Put the tires and new tubes back on (again, not easy).

Changed out to the new cassette (11-32), chain, and 55T chainring. Not a mechanic but I bought a $50 tool kit and watched youtube videos. I messed with the placement of the front derailleur, may have to re-adjust later.

Still have not ridden it, maybe in a week or so. But, I want to ride it at least once with the drop downs before I switch to the butterfly handlebars.



I can not thank the members of this thread enough for the advice I have received.
Thank you again,
Mirfi

Dynocoaster 

That is a good idea to put your info on the wheel tape.

mirfi

First Ride Report,

Nice little ride around the block, up and down hills. What a sweet bike. Can't wait for a longer ride. The gearing (11-32/42-55) was a little clicky (may be a link too long), but it all worked and am impressed with the range. Put the Sheldon Brown gear inches label on it.



Note: I put return address labels in multiple places on my bikes(laptops/cellphones...), covered in clear packing tape. Also, put drivers license soundex number in places. The police have access to that info.

nerobro

I think so.. how about you?

mirfi

Hello,

I want to move the shifter to the handlebars and was wondering.

What is the name/source of the part used in the old shifter location?

Thank you
Mirfi

itsmoot

Shimano STI Downtube Cable Stop and Adjuster

chaadster

Well, you guys got me! I ordered a Mercier Nano, due to arrive at the end of the week.

I got a black one, and have already ordered some replacement bits to move into that black/white color scheme, although with some red highlights.

I'll build it up (and repack all bearings!) on Friday, Saturday at the latest, and post some pics ASAP.

Thanks to all who posted so enthusiastically and with their insights and mods. I'm really looking forward to this bike, as I've been having a blast rolling around on my recently acquired Dahon Mariner, and this more rigid platform should be even more satisfying.

chaadster

Well, she arrived, as did the first upgrade bits, namely a hairy Origin8 Pro Uno zebra saddle, a pair of Tektro R200 (or something like that) levers in white, and new bar tape.

I think a pretty thorough run-down on this bike has been made in this thread already, but I'll add that even with the stock seat post a couple of millimeters above the minimum insertion mark, it's still too short for me, a 6 footer w/35" inseam.

I'll also repeat that this bike is spec out with all kinds of crappy components, a level of crappiness that I've never seen before. From the moment I opened the box and smelled all that cheap Chinese machine oil-- you know, that smell that everything in Harbor Freight has?-- I was prepared for the worst, and the bike nearly met that exceedingly low expectation. I've never seen junk like this on a bike. It's almost embarrassing. For the money though...I get that concessions must be made!

I've got an Origin8 400mm seat post, blue Brev.M cranks and white Brev.M pedals on order, and will probably add some Kojak tires, or Greenspeed Scorchers if I start feeling all practical. Also a better set of brake calipers would be nice; these flex quite a lot.

I've only ridden it up and down the street tonight for a few minutes, but aside from the aforementioned seat post issue, I would also like a longer reach stem. I did drop it from the height you see in the pictures, and that seems a little better, but probably longer would be better.

I was hoping this would become my preferred, short-run-in-town bike; we'll see. Anyway, I hope to take it for a proper spin tomorrow.