M5 Bent, what parts to get? Ideas?!

[v1nce]

Hey guys i have recently acquired a Cheap (350 Euros) early understeer M5, apparantly welded and build by Bram Moens himself. It is the model that has an elastomer (i think they originally were used on Fiat 500's!) for back suspension, a 20 inch front wheel and 26 inch race back wheel.

The frame is dandy but most of the moving parts are fairly shot. Luckily i work in an LBS and can get quite some parts (providing they are not hyper exotic) for 50% off...

However this being my first 'bent i really have no clue what would be best to buy. I would love your advice!

Just to specify my needs and posibilities: I am not going for expensive or ultralight but for durability and versatility. I am not fan of Shimano (because they are such a de facto standard and not even that cheap). I intend to use it for daily commuting as well as fairly loaded touring, perhaps even into french mountains.

Gear system: I am thinking S-Ram, i hear the bang for buck is great and durability is good....?

I have no idea what ratios for my Triple would be good for both flat city (Netherlands) use as well as climbing while touring? Help please.

I definately want to get a 7 speed in the back due to cost and durability concerns. What S-Ram (or other)one is long lasting?

What are solid cranks that have a cast spindle and allow replacement of individual chain rings?

Bar end shifters: I most definately need these and want them to be both indexed and non indexed for sure (selector) and will perhaps have to opt Shimano in this case? I would love some Dura Ace ones but those are crazy expensive right or....?

Pedals: I'd like some that are SPD on one side, normal on other, can accomdate clips AND if possible have industrial bearings.. Does this even exist? Recommendations?

For the Headset i am thinking Tange Levin... does that make sense?

The existing wheelset on it is very good, some high end Mavics. I guess new bearings and grease would be a good idea?

The front wheel has a very nice Stelvio tire, the back tire is horrid and worn, what makes a good tire for the back? Perhaps one with a lot of beef as i also want to tour fairly loaded. Is there something close to a "Schwalbe Big Apple" for 26 inch race? So i mean something plush yet with high pressure and hence low rolling resistance.

Are there affordable "gauze/webbed" seat cushions that allow for a lot of air flow to avoid "sticky 'bent back". M5 has them but very expensive.

Bottom Bearing/Axle, i was thinking the closed unit FAG with plastic cups. Or is there something better at this price point?

Any other suggestions for parts or maintenance that i should do would be much appreciated!

I have no pics to share for now but perhaps in future.

[LandLuger]

Wow. Tha's quite a few questions. SRAM is an excellent choice I use the X.O on my Baron and love its reliability, accuracy, and precision, but it won't index with the Shimano DuraAce barend--maybe you could use friction mode? I've tried a number of larger high pressure tires such as the Primos and they are not as plush nor as efficient as the Stelvio--no idea why.

[v1nce]

Yup, i have a lot of questions, 'tis true! :) Thanks for your reply!

So the S-Ram X.0 you say, how much does retail for?

As for the friction thing, not a problem at all, i intend to ride friction mode most if not all the time, i really like the old school Zen nes of it.

Here's another question:

Didn't Sun Tour (or was it Sun Race, those are different companies right?) make Bar end shifters that allowed both modes, were affordable and good?

[LandLuger]

About $100+ US. Any lesser value SRAM derailleur with "ESP" should perform as well as the X.O.

I believe that some of the Actionbent trikes are being shipped with the SunTour levers that you describe, and I believe they have a friction mode. Actionbent is a US tradename for China Mascot. I will make an attempt to take a look at my 9-speed DuraAce barends on my Jetstream and see if it offers a friction mode--I believe it does.

Has anyone in reach of this discussion tried the ESP derailleurs with a Shimano barend in friction mode. I simply haven't, and would be curious to know if the Shimano levers would pull enough cable to move the derailler through its full range.

[v1nce]

Hey Thanks a lot landluger! I hope more takers will come. Like to have more input on the other components. :)

[ppc]

I have no idea what ratios for my Triple would be good for both flat city (Netherlands) use as well as climbing while touring? Help please.

Definitely triple. Remember, you can't honk with a recumbent. For what it's worth, with my touring bent, I have 22/34/44 at the front and a 32-11 cassette at the back, with 150mm cranks.

Bar end shifters: I most definately need these and want them to be both indexed and non indexed for sure (selector) and will perhaps have to opt Shimano in this case? I would love some Dura Ace ones but those are crazy expensive right or....?

I presume you have handlebars that stick up (i.e. the brake levers are reversed) right? I know you don't like Shimano, but as an alternative to barend shifters, it happens that Shimano XTR brake/shifter combo levers work really well for USS handlebars. The only thing to get used to is that the derailleur lever is on the left. They're great because they leave the end of the bar free for rear-view mirrors. They are strictly indexed though. Here's what it looks like upside down:

http://users.skynet.be/ppc/optima_condor/brake+shifter_lever.jpg

Pedals: I'd like some that are SPD on one side, normal on other, can accomdate clips AND if possible have industrial bearings.. Does this even exist? Recommendations?

Yes they exist, that's what I use. I think they're Shimanos, but I can't remember what model they are (EDIT: I just looked, they're Shimano PD-M324, and they have user-serviceable bearings). They were the cheapest in the store at 40 euros, I've had them for years and they never gave me any trouble. Here's a trick too: mount toe cages on the non-SPD side. Not only will you have the cages for when you ride with normal shoes, but you'll also find that the pedals always flops with the SPD side facing you when you're not clipped. That way, you never have to fumble with the pedals to clip-in, they're always be in the right position. See what I mean here:

http://users.skynet.be/ppc/optima_condor/150mm_cranks.jpg

Are there affordable "gauze/webbed" seat cushions that allow for a lot of air flow to avoid "sticky 'bent back". M5 has them but very expensive.

Optima foam cushions and covers are quite good. They're 25 euros.

Have fun with your new bent!

[LandLuger]

Optima foam cushions and covers are quite good. They're 25 euros.

Have fun with your new bent!

I'll second the Optima cushions; Guess no one in this forum has tried Shimano barends with "ESP" derailleurs. I would try surfing over to this recumbent forum and repeating your questions:

http://www.bentrideronline.com/

[ppc]

I'll second the Optima cushions; Guess no one in this forum has tried Shimano barends with "ESP" derailleurs.

SRAM uses a different cable pull ratio than Shimano for the ESP components. Shimano uses 1.7:1 (1mm of cable pull moves the derailleur by 1.7mm), and SRAM uses 1.2:1. Therefore Shimano shifters won't work with ESP derailleurs and Shimano derailleurs won't work with ESP shifters. Only Shimano-compatible derailleurs from SRAM will work with Shimano barends, but then you lose the advantage of the ESP cable pull ratio.

[v1nce]

Hey thanks a lot for those most informative replies! Those pedals seem like winners! My handlebars indeed do stick and think i will opt for seperate brakes/gears, not so much because of the shimano thing but more because the M5 currently comes with perfectly decent Magura hydraulic up front and Canti's in back. I have managed to fix my Sun Race bar end shifters but since i will probably will go touring this summer i may likely replace them as they are rather essential components.

Thanks for the Optima cushions and many other tips! Most usefull!

[v1nce]

@ ppc, btw, your cranks seem very short, but i have often heard that shorter cranks may be beneficial on Bents....? But how much shorter than on an upright bike makes sense? I am 182 cm tall and have never ridden anything other than standard 170 cm cranks, i am very curious about this since i will be buying new cranks! Thank you very much for the nice pics! Very informative! :)