couplers for a closet bike?
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couplers for a closet bike?
anyone using them? are they too inconvenient to uncouple/recouple on a daily basis?
Last edited by makeinu; 01-23-08 at 09:31 PM.
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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.
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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.
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?
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Bikes: Custom S&S coupled cross bike and a custom S&S coupled 29er single speed
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S&S couplers
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.
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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.
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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
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
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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.
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.
#9
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What is a bike called when in comes out of the closet?
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My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery