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Bikesdirect Mini Velo upgrade thread

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Bikesdirect Mini Velo upgrade thread

Old 05-22-11, 07:40 PM
  #51  
762x54
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Here's some pics of mine with parts bin updates: Cinelli bar and stem, seat from a
Fuji Team Carbon, 54T chainring, clipless mountain bike pedals. Schwalbe 20x1.1 Durano's on the way.
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Old 05-23-11, 12:06 PM
  #52  
james_swift
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Some single-speed goodness was just delivered:



170 grams for all you see here.

Last edited by james_swift; 05-23-11 at 03:04 PM.
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Old 05-23-11, 03:11 PM
  #53  
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Check-out this pedal and strap combo deal over at Fyxation. Colors to match both black and orange Nanos.



https://www.fyxation.com/shop/product.php?id_product=87
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Old 05-23-11, 09:17 PM
  #54  
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My single-speed conversion:











Say goodbye to all that clutter!
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Old 05-23-11, 09:41 PM
  #55  
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That is cool, where did you get all the parts from?
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Old 05-23-11, 10:21 PM
  #56  
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Surly 15T single-speed cog:

https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...ls.php?id=9745

Gussett Squire chain tensioner:

https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...s.php?id=30651

Fibonacci spacer kit:

https://endlessbikes.com/index.php?pr...20Spacer%20Kit

54T Origin 8 (Rocket Ring) flat chainring:

https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ducts_id=31445

KMC 3/32 half link:

https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...s.php?id=23022

I also got some single-stack aluminum chainring bolts, but had to ditch them for the stock steel ones because they mushroomed once I torqued them down. Luckily, the stock chainring bolts are the perfect length to accommodate the single chainring. I re-used the stock chain and just cut it down and added a half-link to get the length right.

Other notes:

-There was enough clearance with the chainstay for me to be able to mount the 54T chainring on the inside crank spider. This gave me a 43mm front chainline.
-The stock chainrings are heavy...appear to be made of stamped steel.
-The bike feels like it went on a diet.
-The drivetrain is smooth as glass.

Last edited by james_swift; 05-23-11 at 10:24 PM.
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Old 05-24-11, 03:30 AM
  #57  
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Looks like a 67 inch gear which should be quite comfortable. Any chance you could ditch that chain tensioner? How much does the bike weigh after modification?
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Old 05-24-11, 06:59 AM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by 762x54
Any chance you could ditch that chain tensioner? How much does the bike weigh after modification?
It might be possible with a 16T cog, but the resulting gear ratio would be unacceptable. The bike lost about 2 lbs so far in the process. Will lose even more when I get my lighter tires and tubes in today.

Last edited by james_swift; 05-24-11 at 08:04 AM.
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Old 05-24-11, 10:31 AM
  #59  
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Two pounds is a significant weight reduction. Terrain is quite flat where I live and I have rarely used the 42T chainring. I'm thinking about going to an eight speed setup by removing the inner chainring and front derailluer and shifter. I'm interested to see which tires you will use.
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Old 05-24-11, 07:06 PM
  #60  
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Has anyone replaced the tires yet? I just received my marathon racers and cannot get these suckers on. Spent the last hour and tried a little soap and tire levers, but no luck. Its driving me nuts
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Old 05-24-11, 08:39 PM
  #61  
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Originally Posted by clanke01
Has anyone replaced the tires yet? I just received my marathon racers and cannot get these suckers on. Spent the last hour and tried a little soap and tire levers, but no luck. Its driving me nuts

Do you have a heat gun? I used one on some tires that were a bit tough to get on the rims and it worked pretty well.
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Old 05-24-11, 09:21 PM
  #62  
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Originally Posted by clanke01
Has anyone replaced the tires yet? I just received my marathon racers and cannot get these suckers on. Spent the last hour and tried a little soap and tire levers, but no luck. Its driving me nuts
I installed the Marathon Racers. I did it outside with the temperature at 70 degrees and it was sunny. I didnt have a problem getting the Kendas off. I didnt have a problem getting the Racers on.
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Old 05-24-11, 09:42 PM
  #63  
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Originally Posted by clanke01
Has anyone replaced the tires yet? I just received my marathon racers and cannot get these suckers on. Spent the last hour and tried a little soap and tire levers, but no luck. Its driving me nuts
I've been able to get mine on...but it has been a struggle! I got some duranos size 20x1.1
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Old 05-24-11, 10:10 PM
  #64  
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Got my Panaracers on. Was also a bit of a struggle. Haven't ridden them yet. Ride report tomorrow.





Also got a Origin 8 Classic stem:



Almost done with my upgrades. Just waiting for my new seatpost to come in.

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Old 05-25-11, 12:33 AM
  #65  
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Grr I'm having bad luck with my upgrades so far

Blew a tube trying to get my durano's on - and no stores near me have a 20x1 presta tube

Also, the rear derailleur needs some serious adjusting, I was tinkering with it for 2 hours and the chain is still skipping sporadically

And finally, my tekro brakes from bikeisland aren't long enough! at least i can swap the levers, haha...i still really want to replace these damn brakes...
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Old 05-25-11, 07:47 AM
  #66  
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Originally Posted by themothman421
Blew a tube trying to get my durano's on - and no stores near me have a 20x1 presta tube
I still had the Nano when I was putting together my R20 project and the first thing I did was add in a few extra 20" tubes to my order. I work in a bike shop and we don't stock 20" presta tubes... FWIW, Schwalbe Marathons fit to Velocity 406 Aeroheat rims real well, not too difficult at all.

If you're ordering upgrades, do yourself a favor and order in some extra tubes on the same order...
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Old 05-25-11, 10:22 AM
  #67  
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My Panaracer Minits Tough tires are what you'd expect of a narrow, slick tread tire: quick acceleration, roll forever, bumpy ride. Nothing too different from any other tire with similar specs. The wow factor really kicks-in in at high speed. Whereas most tires I've ridden seem to show more rolling resistance the faster you ride, these tires do not have that characteristic at all. No matter how fast you push them, they simply respond with no added rolling resistance. These tires remind me a lot of the Greenspeed Scorchers, except with a much narrower width.

The only thing I am hesitant to comment on at this point is durability and puncture resistance. Though they are marketed as "designed specifically for urban commuters", I won't be convinced until after 2 weeks of torture testing on the streets of downtown SF. I can say, however, that I wouldn't buy them again as they ride far too rough for urban commuting. I miss being able to just bomb over rail car tracks and buckled pavement and potholes like I could with the larger, heavier Kenda Kwests.

I really wish IRC would bring back their 20x1.25 Metro tire.

https://www.amazon.com/IRC-Metro-Tire.../dp/B000C17LT0
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Old 05-25-11, 10:42 AM
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Try the Marathon Racer it rides nice and accelerates quickly. Not a bad price https://www.utahtrikes.com/PRODINFO-S...acer_Tire.html and they shipped quickly.
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Old 05-25-11, 10:50 AM
  #69  
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Originally Posted by Dynocoaster
Try the Marathon Racer it rides nice and accelerates quickly. Not a bad price https://www.utahtrikes.com/PRODINFO-S...acer_Tire.html and they shipped quickly.
Yup...I was thinking of that as the replacement for these tires once they wear out. That or the Schwalbe Kojaks, if I'm feeling a little more spendy.
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Old 05-25-11, 10:53 AM
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I was going to go to a smaller size but I am glad that I stayed with the 1.50 for comfort.
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Old 05-25-11, 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Dynocoaster
I was going to go to a smaller size but I am glad that I stayed with the 1.50 for comfort.
The 20x1.25 on the Nano is actually not nearly as bone-jarring as the 20x1.35 on my aluminum Swift folding bike. The Nano's frame does an excellent job of isolating road vibration.
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Old 05-25-11, 07:23 PM
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Finally got my Racers on... although I'm missing a few layers of skin on my thumbs! Love your upgrades james ... If I didn't have my Mu Uno, I'd probably follow your upgrade path.
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Old 05-26-11, 03:54 AM
  #73  
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You should try Greenspeed Scorcher. Forum member Vik wrote a review of them and they're my favorite tire. The Bike Friday folder community raves about them!
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Old 05-26-11, 07:54 AM
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Calhoun Cycle has them https://www.calhouncycle.com/productc...&idproduct=969
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Old 05-26-11, 10:37 AM
  #75  
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Originally Posted by Dynocoaster
Don't tempt me. The cost of my upgrades has already exceeded the cost of the bike.

In retrospect, the Scorchers should've been my first choice, but I had been curious about the Panaracers for quite some time.
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