marxmini

i will try to put more kms on the capreo and see if further adjustments on the RD can fix the shifting problem. if not, i will most likely change to a 105 (never had problems on my other bikes) or ultegra (first time to use if ever).

yes, you are right about the capreo. it is perfect for small wheeled bikes like the birdy. the ratios are just right for the birdy.

marxmini

i already injured my bike when folding. i guess that's how it is.

bluebirdy

I covered mine in rhino skin vinyl but the sharp edges of the stem and other bits and pieces chew through it in no time! Its dissapointing, my wife's giant halfway clips safely together and hasn't gotten a scratch! With the trekking bars on I can position the seat to bump up against bars, stopping any further damage.

ninox

Here are some photos of the multi-S suspension if anyone is interested. Here is the front:

and here is the rear - several photos showing it taken apart and what it looks like put together. Basically I think this is an over-engineered polymer. Maybe I should try it again some time?

ninox

Pretty impressed with your rack.

edit: this could be misinterpreted - it refers to bluebirdy's home made mod.

bluebirdy

Thanks, I would have love to TIG weld it but no longer have access to one, of course it is based on the Birdy expedition rack idea but with the dimensions tweeked to provide a stable stand when folded, the bike rests on the stand and the rear guard stay once folded! The bamboo was taken off a new broom handle I bought for my workshop broom! The best bit was that it cost about $30 !

mconlonx

Noticed a loose headset this AM on the way into work, just fixed it at lunchtime.

Upside-down headset design. Interesting... Hadn't really noticed it before. No safety tabs for the QR wheel -- nice.

Also, lubed my chain. Bike needs a wash.

mconlonx

Finally installed the Sachs Dual Drive 3x7 wheel.

Shimano mtn shifters:


Here's the setup out back. No cable stop, so I drilled the singarm and filed a frame stop flat to bolt it on:


Close up of the cable stop. The wall of the swingarm wasn't thick enough to thread, so there's a nut on the inside:


I also swapped the stock cassette on the Dual Drive out for the stock cassette off the regular 7sp Birdy for more range. There's a bit of slack with the hub shift cable -- the Harris Cyclery website references a cable tensioner potentially available through Bike Friday, but unless the slack becomes an issue I probably won't even bother.

Nice to have the extra range.

bhkyte

Quick question.
What's the wide tyre options for a birdie.
I tend to fit 1.5 marathons, would anything wider fit?

Just added a used red birdie 8 speed to my stable, running like clockwork. :-)

jur

mconlonx: that looks excellent!

marxmini

after more kilometers put on the birdy, and several adjustments, the capreo works perfectly now.

jur

Very sharp looking setup! In fact, did you ride those "more km" in a cleanroom or something?

marxmini

ha ha :-) the bike has around 100kms now. i did the first adjustment at 20km, then 60km, then 80km. it shifted perfectly after the third adjustment. it goes up and down gears 5-7 without a hitch. :-) i learned a lot from the discussion on the capreo here and i applied them to my own bike when necessary.

marxmini

i am now considering the multi-s front suspension for my bike. most of the reviews are positive. :-)

mconlonx

It was in my truck in the apt in town, about 1/4 mi away from the shop, so I backpacked parts in with me, swapped things out at work (slow day), and took a longer way home. Front shifting is reversed, which led to much hilarity on a short, steep hill...

I have yet to use it on my regular commute, but so far, love it. Totally overly impressed with my cable stop problem solving/kludge. I actually did notice the extra weight, hefting it around, but riding it on the streets, the extra weight was negligible, and the lower/higher gearing appreciated, more than makes up for any extra weight.

There's this one hill on the bus to office end of my commute where I wished for lower gears getting to the bus; wished for higher gears doing the reverse commute. No real big deal, could absolutely live with the stock 7sp gearing for what I'm using it for, but now I'll have better gearing at the extremes.

I believe Bruce Metras told me that he regularly only used the 3sp shifter for a majority of his travels with a Dual Drive system. And BTW, thanks for the Birdy and the Dual Drive setup, Bruce!

Motivation is change of location, my 6mi commute to the bus station will change to a 12 mi ride to the bus with the move from one town to a couple towns over. More, steeper hills involved. Co-worker (boss) at the shop, observing work going down on the bike, asked if I was going to ride this 12 mi, across the state border to do the bike bus bike commute -- "Well yeah, that's partly why I'm rigging this up now." Duh.

He and motorhead friend expressed incredulousness. He's about my height so I said, Take it for a ride... Not that he's running out to get a Birdy or a folder, but he was duly impressed with the handling and gearing on the bike, acknowledged that it might be OK-ish for the interstate commute.

No, it will rock.

fietsbob

You dont kick the IGH shift cable pedaling?

mconlonx

Nope. Not even close. Size 42 shoes and I tend to have a heel-in gait. The second picture greatly exaggerates the angle out from the bike -- most of it is drop from the cable stop to the axle. If it was an issue, I would bolt a pulley to the rear of the swingarm.

marxmini

i must be crazy. i got myself another pre-owned birdy (japan version peugeot).

i am thinking of recreating the 10th anniversary birdy. drop bars. 20 inch wheels. capreo. 105. :-)

mconlonx

Don't do this mod. The cable stop runs into the chainring, or at least the plastic guard on the inside, and will not allow for a proper fold.

Back to the drawing board...

invisiblehand

I rode a Red Birdy with Big Apples. Can't tell you which width.

simisimi

What would be the first sets of upgrades for a stock birdy for performance? Road tires, sise? Chainrings?

bhkyte

Tyres. Fit kojaks,

Mconloux. Are you considering running the dualdrive through the chainstay now?
What set up is on the touring dualdrive birdie for this?

marxmini

kojak tires. remove fenders (if you have them). later on you may want to upgrade the gear train, brakes, suspension.

BruceMetras

Don't know if this will help, but here are are a couple of pictures of my old Dual Drive Birdy.. I think you're halfway there!

mconlonx

D'oh! Yes, now considering ways to sneak it through the chainstay...

Thanks Bruce, big help. Do you know --is there a cable stop up at the top of the stay, where the housing enters above the derailleur housing? Or is it full housing to the little nub out back where the cable comes out?

I'm currently scheming on a couple different ways to do this...