Bicycle Mechanics - I don't know what to think.

Hey guys. First time here, pretty much a noob bike mechanic and yet I have a project I hope to get done by late spring early summer. I hope you can help.

In 1999, I got lucky enough to find a sweet KHS Fleetwood cruiser. I love this bike. Not only does it get me around the city quite nicely but the ladies love it. Almost as good as a puppy or little kid in terms of a chick magnet.

That being said, once I bought a house in South Philly, I bought a wooden bike rack and mounted this sucker on the wall.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/48/166624576_7c60f8dbba.jpg

Suffice to say, it has now become a peice of art that I would like to keep here. Now I am looking to p together an everday cruiser that looks just as cool (look, man I am stll single) and rides just as beautifully. I went bonkers when I saw my first Felt cruiser. Vey cool frames. Imagine my surprise when I went to website and saw htat they sell these frames unfinished.

http://www.feltracing.com/store/images/extralarge/cruiser_frame.jpg

No according to the website this is an aluminum frame. I wanted to use some 135 mm 8-9 sp freewheel rims that I had lying around. The question now was trying to find out the rear spacing on this frame. After spending a couple days trying to sending a couple of emails to Felt I got this repsonse. It doesn't seem to make sense to me as I have been told time and time again that you can't spread aluminum frames. Since this was a response coming from the factory, I thought I would check here first before I spent the money to purchase this frameset. I am going to edit the email a bit so it doesn't read backwards.

Any ideas (or cautions) would be greatly appreciated.

>-----Original Message-----
>From: XXXXXXX
>Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2007 1:09 PM
>To: info@FeltBicycles.com
>Subject: Info Request from feltracing.com
>
I would like to get the cruiser frame kit but I need some specs
on the frame. I have a used pair of 8/9 speed MTB rims that
would look crazy with this frame. The problem is I need 135 mm of space in
the rear to fit the rims. If you could help me out I would greatly
appreciate it. Thanks, Rob.

Reply:

From: "Info @ Felt Bicycles" <info@feltbicycles.com>
Reply-To: <info@feltbicycles.com>
To: XXXXXX
Subject: RE: Info Request from feltracing.com
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:11:06 -0800
Normal one speed bikes would be 110mm spacing.

We make the canvas kits at 124mm so that they can be used for both. For
your 135mm set up the frame simply needs to be spread.

Thanks,
Alan Foster
Felt USA
www.feltbicycles.com (http://www.feltbicycles.com)

This is where I got confused so here is my reply:
From: XXXXXXX
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 8:11 AM
To: info@feltbicycles.com
Subject: RE: Info Request from feltracing.com



Hey Alan, thanks alot for the info. Is the rear frame spread something I can do myself or should I take it somewhere to get done? Also is there any adapter I can purchase for mounting a rear disc brake? I have a new Avid Juicy 5 hydraulic (160 mm) I picked up at a swap. Would love to use it for this frankenstein bike I am putting together. I see a number of adapters available but I am not sure if one (or any) would work on the frame. Thanks again for all you help. I will definitely send you a pic when I am done. Rob.


Felt reply:

Info @ Felt Bicycles <info@feltbicycles.com>
Reply-To : <info@feltbicycles.com>
Sent : Monday, February 19, 2007 4:00 AM
To : XXXXXXXXX
Subject : RE: Info Request from feltracing.com

Spreading the frame is simple, you do not need special tools.

Sorry I do not have recommendations on disc adapters, keep in mind the axle moves and is not fixed.


Thanks,

Alan Foster

Felt USA

www.feltbicycles.com (http://www.feltbicycles.com)


So what to do now????

spread it. You're not supposed to do that to aluminum, but the thing is a cruiser. It's not like you're taking that thing over stair gaps.
Or you could just find thinner axle spacer for your shimano hub. You might be able to shrink it 11mm, but if not at least you won't have to spread the frame as much.

it looks like the A2Z adapter is the only viable option for fitting discs as the thing doesn't have canti bosses, but it does have some humongous dropouts.

I would just ride the fleetwood. Unridden bikes make me sad, and bare aluminum frames don't make the ladies weak at the knees.

Thanks and I hear you Afterthisnap. I do ride it still. I think the fact that the bike isn't made anymore also plays a part in keeping it on the wall as well. If something happened to it (stolen, run over, etc.), I would be heartbroken. I fiuger I would just put one together that I could just ride around town, maybe play some bike polo with, just not really treat so preciously. So spreading this particular frame seems to be ok then? Anyone else? Will probably make a move in the next couple of weeks.

Oh man... bikes are meant to be ridden, not hung on a wall.

Look guys, I totally respect everyone's opinions as to where my KHS resides and I have ridden it for years but, I reiterate, since I can only ride one at a time and I don't want to thrash this one about as much as I used to, can anyone else help with this particular situation? The rear spacing on this Felt cruiser frame?

Not to mention, someone come check out these little S. Philly cribs and tell me where else you are supposed to put a bike.

I would not spread an AL frame. Get a new rear wheel - they're cheap.

I'm wondering if the Felt guy was suggesting to just spread the drop-outs as you install the wheel rather than cold-set the frame.

Hmm, could be Steev. If that is the case, is it kosher? It still seems like a lot, almost 10mm.

In otherwords he wants a beater-ish type bike.

I would not spread an AL frame. Get a new rear wheel - they're cheap.

+1
New wheel.