couplers for a closet bike?

[makeinu]

anyone using them? are they too inconvenient to uncouple/recouple on a daily basis?

[dorkypants]

S&S BTCs are not designed for daily knockdown and buildup. They are made of stainless steel, which if not kept carefully lubricated, galls easily. They are also not sold for DIY projects, so you'd have to pay an authorized framebuilder to install a retrofit, which isn't going to be cheap.

[makeinu]

S&S BTCs are not designed for daily knockdown and buildup. They are made of stainless steel, which if not kept carefully lubricated, galls easily. They are also not sold for DIY projects, so you'd have to pay an authorized framebuilder to install a retrofit, which isn't going to be cheap.

They are not always made of stainless steel. Depending on the application S&S provides couplers in either stainless steel, chromoly, or titanium. They also don't always need to be retrofit. Several manufacturers offer them as an option on stock bikes. In particular I had in mind possibly a titanium bike with S&S couplers as a stock option.

Would your concerns of daily knockdown/buildup and lubrication still apply in this case? Also, is the process of actually connecting/disconnecting the each coupler itself a hassle or is it as easy as, let's say, removing a pair of pedals?

[Bop]

I have three coupled bikes. The effort required of the process of disconnecting the couplers is indeed about the same effort as removing pedals. BUT... achieving the final, desired result, of which de-coupling is a but a part, is a bigger undertaking. This might involve uncoupling cable splitters, wheel removal, etc. Each easy enough in and of themselves, but in aggregate, a lot of fooling around on a daily basis. I accept the compromises, the multi-step assembly and disassembly involved, that allow me to travel with a full sized, full-featured road bike or my 29er. But I don't think those same compromises would wear well if I had to undertake them twice a day. That's why I have a Swift too.

[makeinu]

I have three coupled bikes. The effort required of the process of disconnecting the couplers is indeed about the same effort as removing pedals. BUT... achieving the final, desired result, of which de-coupling is a but a part, is a bigger undertaking. This might involve uncoupling cable splitters, wheel removal, etc. Each easy enough in and of themselves, but in aggregate, a lot of fooling around on a daily basis. I accept the compromises, the multi-step assembly and disassembly involved, that allow me to travel with a full sized, full-featured road bike or my 29er. But I don't think those same compromises would wear well if I had to undertake them twice a day. That's why I have a Swift too.

Considering my final desired result is to just to "fold" the frame in half to fit it in the closet that sounds ok. Cable splitters, wheel removal, etc shouldn't be necessary in that case. Most folders aren't made in closet friendly shapes anyway (they take up too much floor space) and although the Swift might be an exception to this, but I was kind of hoping for some bigger wheels (nothing works as well for powering up tall curbs like big wheels).

[awetmore]

If you want closet friendly why not just setup a bike with quickly removable handlebars and folding pedals and hang it by one of the wheels? Taking a S&S bike in half isn't going to reduce the footprint. With removing the bars and folding/removing the pedals you should be able to get the bike down to about 7" wide.

I wouldn't split a S&S bike after every ride. They just aren't designed for that, you'll be going through a lot of expensive grease on the couplers, and the disassembled package isn't easily handled. I had a S&S bike and they are good if you travel frequently with plain bikes (no fenders or racks) and use the bike for long rides. They don't make sense for most other folding applications.

alex

[makeinu]

If you want closet friendly why not just setup a bike with quickly removable handlebars and folding pedals and hang it by one of the wheels?

Too tall....maybe if I remote the front wheel...

[awetmore]

Your closet is shorter than you are?

Removing the front wheel and hanging it by the rear wheel make it take less space front to back and will make it shorter. It will also be easier than splitting a S&S frame.

[LittlePixel]

What is a bike called when in comes out of the closet? :)