RayB

Well,

I have been slowly buying all the goodies I have so far. Ok maybe not that slowly unless the wife asks

But anyways, here she be. I am now finding myself contemplating a folder that I can throw in the trunk and take to the mountains to do some climbing. Something like an airnimal. But, that is another thread.






Trek 520
Mavic A719 Rims + DT Swiss Alpine III Spokes
Alfine Internal Hub
Alfine Dynamo
Cateye V3 Computer
Brooks B17
Brooks Bar Tape
Look ergonomic adjustable stem
Honjo Hammered Fenders
B&M Senso Plus Dynamo Light
Nitto Water Bottle Holder
Nitto Campee Rear Rack
JTEK Bar End shifter for Alfine Hub
Shimano dual purpose SPD pedals
Woodman Seat Clamp
ATK2000 Video Camera

Contemplating
- Removing triple for single. Maybe Suguino.
- Additional camera to face backwards
- Relocating JTEK bar end shifter to left side and putting on a barend mirror on right, this would also get the cable out of the video camera shot.
- Pedals that don't creeeeeeek!
- Not sure if I am sold on the Honjo fenders being silver on the black bike. May powdercoat them. Opinion?


I have always enjoyed looking at everyone elses bikes, I could window shop all day long.

Barrettscv 

Excellent!

RI_Swamp_Yankee

The silver fenders go well with the accessories - the racks, bottle, pump, etc. Black and silver is a nice color combo, very classy. The bike looks like a million bucks, great job! (And get the creaky pedals rebuilt or replaced before they break.)

EasyEd

Sweet. You did a nice job on that one. I use a touring bike for my commuter too, but it's not that pretty. Maybee I should build up another one. Any pointers on how to smooth things over with the wife while doing that? I know it's easier to get forgiveness than permission sometimes, but I'm not getting away with that one too many more times.

chewybrian 

Awesome! Why not a triple and internal rear hub? The fenders look sweet as is. I want the campee rack; you have the low-rider add-ons for a full load, right? Super set-up all around; looks great.

RayB

Thanks guys. Then its decided. I will stick with the silver honjos. And I concur on the creeky pedals but every time I splurge on a new set I kill them after about 2 months. As I have been getting lighter I figure I would buy a real nice pair once I lose a bit more. I always wondered if you could rebuild them but have not attempted as of yet. Being the clyde forum anyone else ever repack bearings in their pedals?

@EasyEd. I would keep my mouth shut about her cosmetics bills

@chewybrian. Ya, that was my original plan but I have found I never use them anyways. 8 gears is plenty for Tokyo as its a pancake. Also, I have always thought cleaning the bike after a rain is always easier with a single on the front. There is a lot of road crap my bike picks up in this city after a rain. I do have the add-ons for the low riders but will only probably use those on a tour. And go for it, the campee is rock solid.

The cockpit picture with that rubber band looking thing is a life saver. A must for a clyde. If you have not used one they are great for hot environments. Called a gutr and it fits nicely under the helmet and keeps the sweat out of your eyes and funnels it away so to speak. I have not used or replaced any of the pads in my cycling helmets since I bought it.

breadbin

Excellent just what I need, didn't know they existed nice bike too!

cod.peace

Great looking bike! I owned a 520 for a few months last summer until carpal tunnel made me sell it and get a recumbent. The 520 is a nice ride.

neilfein

Nice looking ride!

Gotta ask... why the cameras?

RayB

Ya, they are a pain and I dont like the look on the bike... But, I am about to pickup another one to face backwards. Reason being is I commute daily about 60km perhaps 4 times per week. Tokyo is pretty built up as you would guess and the problem is drivers are generally pretty good compared to other cities I have commuted in. But, there are gabillions of mopeds and scooters who can ride without taking any motorcycle specific training as they can just use their car drivers licence. I have close calls with them a few times per week. Also, Japaense peds and other cyclists are terrible for looking before they act. Cyclists ride like they are walking, generally unpredictable, will come out of side alleys without checking first etc etc.

And the core reason is that should anything ever happen because of all this, it is my word (as a foreigner who speaks broken japanese) against a native speaker who can quickly gain the confidence of the police while I am trying to piece together any kind of a comprehensible conversation. So, I have opted to have evidence should I ever need it. I have had numerous friends get done over because of this very fact in various areas of life over here no just cycling related. And with the way compensation works over here I dont want to be financially responsible for something that I didnt cause if you know what I mean

Or, it could be that because my wife works in Japanese law I am overly paranoid ... you pick

Boy was that a ramble.

Saltybeagle

not bad gaijin

josudesne

Abacus

I read in the other 520 thread in the commuting forums that you have changed the triple for a single.

I am thinking of going the other way. I have a standard 27 speed 520 and I am thinking of changing the rear wheel for an Alfine setup, but leaving the triple.

Did you have any issues using the triple with the Alfine? What did you use for a chain tensioner, and what chain did you use?

RayB

Yes, as I said in the other thread i did convert this to a single ring up front. I have been using 2 tensioners to see which I prefer. One is the alfine tensioner, nice unit IMO. And the 2nd is a rip off of the surly singulator where there is one pulley instead of two similar to the alfine one.

I was lucky where I left the stock tiagra crank set on and just pulled off the 3 rings and put on a single ring I had laying around. Mounting it on the internal side of the crank seems to just about hit the chainline I need. Not perfect but good enough for my commuting purposes.

I am just using a shimano 9 speed chain. However, have another chain here I am considering switching to. With the triple up front I did not have any major issues using it with the alfine aside from when on the top ring I would get a little rub due to the chainline against the plastic protector the alfines have. Which, I have seen pics of where people remove them, so you could probably do away with it and be ok.

I will post a pic tomorrow of the current setup for your reference.

Abacus

Thanks for that.

RayB

Abacus, here is the current config. As you'll notice in these pics I am using the singulator wannabee. At this point I am also considering having adjustable vertical drops put onto the frame to ditch the tensioner all together. I have been quoted a couple hundred bucks to get this done which is not all that bad.

Abacus

Thanks for that. I'm bookmarking this thread.

I already have a Nexus hub available, as one my other bikes is an aluminium flat-bar Nexus 8-equipped road bike that I don't ride for a variety of reasons. (well, I've already mentioned them - flat bar, aluminium frame). So I've got a few things to think about.

Zardhex

The cameras are a great idea....and i must say that is one sweet ride

neilfein

Makes sense. However, the best reason for the cameras is so you can post a commuting video.

RayB

haha I agree. But last time I did that I was told that commuting in Tokyo should be a lot more exciting , perhaps it was not alleycat enough for a few but IMO my goal is to get to work not to integrate my being with someones front grill.

Nighteyez

Nice looking bike. I like the black and silver color combination. Really works well.