Big Lebowski

So, that's a DLX, correct? Looks great!

Cyiu23

yeah, some places use Deluxe and some use DLX. I still need some changes to make it feel mine. Ok I have a new question. How do you make these brakes more responsive? It seems like there is a delay or I have to press hard to brake. Do I just have to tighten the cable or what else?

canyoneagle

Whoah. That looks pretty non-functional if I am interpreting it correctly. It looks like the brake levers would be hard to access like that, and having the "horns" at such an extreme angle reduces the functionality/purpose of having them.
I think a flat bar with long bar-ends or a trekking bar will approximate what you are looking for in a more functional way.

Trekking bar


Flat bar / bar ends:

doc0c

DO NOT get the belt driven Trek if there is snow where you live and you ride in the winter.

Cyiu23

canyoneagle- I guess I should rethink that bullhorn idea. If no one tried it, there must be a reason. I was just being weirdly creative, and trying to stand out.

doc0c- Too late about that. I still have another bike that I use, a fold-able. I don't usually ride when there is snow on the ground anyways. What's wrong with a belt driven in the snow?

New Update: I ordered my Brooks Saddle B17 Special for this bike, can't wait to get that on


This is what I think I will get for my bike handles.

canyoneagle

Looks like those are good options for grips and bar ends. The current handlebar, being one with some "sweep", may warrant replacement with a more typical mountain bike "flat" bar, cut to your preferred width. You'll need to ensure the clamp diameter (where the bars mount to the stem) is correct for the stem.

I think doc's comment comes from the first generation belt system, where snow could pack up in the rear cog. I rode mine year round and never had this happen, as have many others with no issues. A few folks encountered the issue, but it is not as bad as doc implies. It is similar to someone saying "don't buy a carbon fiber frame because it will break". Just because some people had an issue does not mean you will.
In fact, I found the belt system to be BETTER in snowy conditions than a chain for numerous reasons.

Regardless, this has been rectified with a new rear cog design, and the snow thing is not an issue with centertrac. You can tell if you have centertrac by looking at the belt itself. If the teeth are solid all the way across, you do not have centertrac. If the teeth have a groove running down the center, then you have centertrac. Here's a pic of a centertrac belt:


The final thing I'd mention is that if you have the original drive system (1st generation), the original rear cog was made of aluminum, and can (will) strip at the interface with the hub. Gates will send you a new steel cog free of charge. Simply send Gates an e-mail and request a replacement free of charge. You or your LBS can swap the cogs in less than 30 minutes, and you are set to go, with two issues solved (snow packing and the weak cog).

Cyiu23

canyoneagle-I took a look at my bike and the belt doesn't have a strip in the middle guess I have the first generation belt. So how do I get a new cog? what's the e-mail address?

I am so excited today, my saddle comes in today. I hope they leave it at my door so I don't have to pick it up at the post office. I want it today.

canyoneagle

Here you go
https://www.carbondrivesystems.com/
Just send an e-mail to them mentioning your bike model, and that you are needing a steel cog to replace your aluminum one before it fails. Also mention that it is a 1st generation (non centertrac) drive.

FWIW if you ever do want to convert to centertrac, it would come at a price - you'd need a new front cog (chainring), rear cog and belt.

Cyiu23

Ok, got some new picture to post. (Had the worst weekend, left my cell at work and couldn't get it till this morning.)



The only thing I didn't get was the new grips, didn't have enough money for everything. I am still waiting for my lights to ship, I'm going with the Planet Bike Blaze 1-Watt Headlight & Superflash Taillight combo. I also got a chain installed for my Brooks Saddle. Things get stolen in NYC too easily, and I love that saddle.

megalowmatt

Looks good. I use the PB light combo and it works well for me.

JohnMcL7

I have a Trek Soho 2011 deluxe which I bought almost a year ago and it's mostly done very well, the integrated gear hub and carbon belt drive were very appealing and after cycling every day to work in all conditions including snow (the belt stayed on, my bigger concern was keeping the bike upright!) it's got me back and home.

How do you find third, fourth and fifth gear on your bike? The only issue I have is that while fifth gear is very smooth (I believe it's the direct drive gear), fourth is not smooth at all. There's a grinding noise from the hub and I can feel vibration through the belt, there's a similar feel in third but it's not quite as bad. I get drive ok in those gears but tend to stick to fifth and above as it feels so much smoother.

John

Cyiu23

JohnMcL7- I know what you mean, I had some of the same problem with a weird noise and not riding as smooth. I didn't check what gear I was in. I like the bike overall, but only rode it for 30 or 40 miles. I think I need to ride it more to make a better judgement. Is your 2011 Deluxe in light blue? I saw a beautiful black one at a LBS, but I ended up buying my bike used.

Megalowmatt- I hope the people I bought it from on Amazon ships it soon, so I can use it.

JohnMcL7

Mine is exactly the same as yours I think:



I ordered mine brand new but it was only available in that blue colour, there were any colour options here.

John

Cyiu23

JohnMcL7- That must be a picture of your bike when you first got it, it looks so new and clean. Oh I have a question for you. Are your black plastic pieces that says Soho coming off? The guy that sold me the bike told me that it was coming off and he had to glue it back on. And they are coming off again, so it's kind of annoying me. I am almost tempted to ripe them off and put a top bar wrap instead.

JohnMcL7

Yes, unsurprisingly that picture was taken just when I had the bike home for the first time. Here's a more recent one:

https://johnmcl7.smugmug.com/Other/My-New-Bike/i-KXJ6vdc/0/X3/20120416134752-X3.jpg

I think one of the black Soho bars is coming off slightly as I catch it occasionally when I'm going onto the bike, I can't check right now as the bike is back with the bike shop to have the hub looked at it although I'm getting the impression that this particular hub just isn't smooth in some gears. I'm kicking myself as someone local was selling a Nexus-8 hub and wheel from a Trek Soho 2010 which I didn't buy in the end and wish I had now as it seems next to impossible to find the hubs here in the UK.

John

Cyiu23

JohnMcL7- I don't understand, our bikes has a Nexus-8. Why are you looking for another one, just to see if yours has a problem?

JohnMcL7

Yes, that was one reason and the other was to have a backup which would mean I could be using my bike at the moment.

John

nyc_commuter

Hi canyon eagle,

Can you please elaborate on the hub stripping issue? My 2011 DLX has been really noisy as of late and I'm having a heck of a time pinpointing the culprit. First I thought it was the bottom bracket, so I had my LBS take take it out, re-lube and reinstall it. Then I thought it might be the belt, but I got the tension perfect with the iPhone tension gauge and the belt has been dead quiet since. I'm now wondering if it's coming from the hub/cog problem that you mentioned. Is there a way to figure out if I have one of these problematic cogs? Would there be visual signs of wear near the hub/cog interface? Thanks!

Airburst

It's a brake lever not a brake pedal....

The possibility of doing that will probably depend on the precise profile of the bullhorn, and I ran a flat bar with barends on it like that for a while. The barends (basically bolt-on versions of the forward extensions of bullhorn bars) got in the way of applying the brakes - I couldn't pull on the ends of the levers.

Where do you intend to put the shifters? With a few exceptions, bullhorn handlebars are 15/16" in diameter, not 7/8" like a flat bar. You can get brake levers to fit in the position you seem to be demonstrating on a road bar, but not shifters. You'll have to use the aftermarket jTek bar-end shifter for the hub, which puts paid to your idea of lights in the ends of the bar.