New BF PR arrived
 

Well, since I purchased three new bikes in 2011, I need to go easy this year. Had all the bases covered ... except for one. Last Spring while spending a week in Rome, I rented a bicycle for several days. I had a blast, and resolved to never travel again without a bicycle. Hence, 2012 N + 1. (p.s. Blue/Black/White PInarello FP6 in the background is 2011 N + 3.)

Image #1. This is a funny shaped box for a bicycle.
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...t/IMGP6273.jpg

Image #2. Hmmm. A suitcase?
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...t/IMGP6274.jpg

Image #3. Protective plastic wrap gone ... yup, a suitcase.
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...t/IMGP6275.jpg

Image #4. Let's see if there is anything inside the suitcase. Well, I can see a itty bitty wheel.
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...t/IMGP6276.jpg

Image #5. Looks like there are some bicycle parts in there somewhere.
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...t/IMGP6277.jpg

Image #6. Let's start taking stuff out.
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...t/IMGP6279.jpg

Image #7. And more ... and more stuff.
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...t/IMGP6280.jpg

Image #8. After taking all the "stuff" out, this is what's left. Just packing felt pockets.
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...t/IMGP6281.jpg

Image #9. By golly! It is a bicycle ... I think.
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...t/IMGP6282.jpg

Need some pedals and already know what I'm going to change. A new stem to bring the bars a little lower, traditional shaped bars, (I "hate" that ergo junk), two white water bottle cages (have, but need to install), and white cloth tape. The rear rack will be attached for foreign trips. No need at "home". They built to match the geometry of the Pinarello. It's close. Even the wheelbase is the same. Next scheduled trip is next week, but just Colorado and Montana. I'll take the Pinarello for that one. Four weeks in Thailand in August and September. The Bike Friday will go with me on that one.

Now ... I just need to figure out how to get it back into its cage.

That's pretty awesome! What model is that?

Pedals ? Aw, c`mon- don`t be a weenie! That baby is crying to be ridden. Just jam your big toes in the tapped holes and take it out for a spin!

Looks great, Volo. And it sounds like you have plenty of "get acquainted" plans comming up. Enjoy!

Thanks, guys. It's a Pocket Rocket Select Custom. Basically the standard Pocket Rocket with a top tube length to match my geometry. I think they upgraded a few other components too because it has Apex brakes and some other stuff. It's going to take some work. On the bike stand last night, it wouldn't shift into the large chainring. Binds up as soon as the front dérailleur is moved over. I'm going to have to learn about this thing because I doubt a LBS would understand the weird componentry.

I like fitting a front Rack , rather than rear.

the rack is rigid enough, and the weight steadies the steering..

I tie my front pannier pair together.. so easy to pop on and off,
and take in shopping.

[but I see You already bought the folding rear rack]

there really is nothing that weird .. BiFri uses normal derailleur types .
just the ratios have to compensate for smaller wheels.

never visited your LBS though..

You get the Caprio 9-26t cassette and hub?

Thanks for the tip. My rigid "mountain bike" has front and rear racks. I have a nice carbon bike now that I don't ride because it is too squirrely and unpredictable. On the first downhill at speed, the front tire started wobbling violently side-to-side and I knew for sure I was going down. Was able to recover, but I'm afraid of descents on that bike now. No issue going the same speeds on the flats, only when freewheeling. Have tried different things to mitigate, but not successful yet. I definitely don't want that on the BF. I'll order a front rack this week.

Yes.

My only disappointment with the bike is that the seat post decals were applied upside-down. I may just take them off. They only say "Pocket Rocket" anyway. And, the fact that it won't shift onto the large chainring. I can put it there manually, click the derailleur over to hold it there ... and there it will stay. But, turning the crank while moving the lever results in an instant binding. If I were on the road and did something like that, it would either trash the front derailleur or snap the chain. I'll have to fix that before I can ride it. It should have not been shipped out like that. But maybe they missed that because they hurried the delivery to ensure I'd have it by this weekend.

You're going to have so much fun riding it you should wear a face mask so you don't swallow all the bugs when smiling. Very nice bike.

After riding my 20"-wheel Dahon for almost two years, I don't think the steering needs to be more steady.
The agile steering is most of the fun of riding a small-wheel bike.

Get a few extra cassettes.. Caprio is different from all other Shimano freehubs.
to get that 9 and 10 tooth smaller cogs.
but the rest of the scheme is not unique.

Head over to the parktools.com website, their front derailer adjustment instructions are perfect. I have been able to get some pretty exceptional front combinations to shift basically perfectly with never a chain drop.

I put a 'Chain Minder' on my BiFri, It with a disc chainguard on the outside,
so the chain cannot stray from the chainring.

K-edge makes another type of chain catcher for inside the inner chainring.
It attaches to the same bolt that holds on the Front derailleur to the Frame.

I'm going to order one. Do i even need the caprio cassette? I ride 80-90 cadence and usually only cruise at 25km on my other bike. I guess I only need 30kmph @ 90rmp at the top end. Will the 11-28 be enough? Someone bored do the math for me :)

I don`t think Sheldon is bored, but he`ll do the math for you. There`s even an option on his calculator for "X" KPM at "X" cadence.

I don`t know if I`m a standard case, but I can`t spin as fast on my Friday as I do with 26 inch wheels. I have no cadence meter, so having to guess, but I start getting "bouncy" about probably about 20% less RPM due to....

...little wheels amplifying my bad form? The "why" part is a guess to, but what I know for sure is that what little smoothness I can claim for my pedalling deserts me sooner on my Friday than on any other bike. YMMV.

Fair enough. Sheldon told me
11t. 80rpm 32.1, 90rpm 36.1
9t. 80rpm 39.2, 90rpm 44.1

The 11-28 should be good for me cus I'm slow.

Your experience is correct - it is due to the long seatmast which gives additional bounce. Rear tyre pressure is also more critical to have correct or it will quite badly exacerbate the effect if too soft. So yes, a smooth pedaling style is more necessary with such a bike.

(/QUOTE)Need some pedals and already know what I'm going to change. A new stem to bring the bars a little lower, traditional shaped bars, (I "hate" that ergo junk), two white water bottle cages (have, but need to install), and white cloth tape. The rear rack will be attached for foreign trips. No need at "home". They built to match the geometry of the Pinarello. It's close. Even the wheelbase is the same. Next scheduled trip is next week, but just Colorado and Montana. I'll take the Pinarello for that one. Four weeks in Thailand in August and September. The Bike Friday will go with me on that one.

Now ... I just need to figure out how to get it back into its cage.[/QUOTE]"


BF makes a folding rear rack that fits very well. It also folds up nicely to pack when traveling.

Caprio hub accepts no other, as I understand. .. that 9 to 26t.
so except for a whole new rear wheel With the more common cassette Hub,
you have no choice.

so as a consumable , I'd get a few extras , particularly,

If you have to pay International Shipping ,[garethzbarker]

(rather than, Interstate)

Small Wheel mini bikes are said to be popular in Asia ,
so The parts should not have to cross the Pacific twice in shipping.

whatever bike your bring to thailand during that time is going to get extremely wet. that's monsoon season. I hope it's a work trip and biking is a secondary thing.

Yes, a work trip. I will be supporting our instrument on a multi-national research project that is studying the aerosols, pollutants, and cloud formation in the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and the South China Sea. It appears that this is one of the areas on the globe that is little understood. Our instrument is only going to fly about once every third day, so there will be plenty of time to ride. Monsoon season is the reason they are holding the campaign at that time. It's either ride in the wet, or go stir crazy with nothing to do. Thanks for the warning.

Volosong that sounds like fun work. If you haven't been to Thailand you're in for a treat. It's a wonderful country and the people are so kind. I get a thai massage everyday I'm there. I never want to leave when it's time :)
You're bike looks really nice, I like the color choice. I have a couple of questions for you. It's hard to tell by the photos, did you go with the stock components that come on the select? How do you feel about everything; in particular how are the shifters? I'm not familiar with microshift. I have really big hands and find some brifters uncomfortable. For some reason only shimano shifters feel good on long distances.

Yeah it's a hard choice. I assume they can put a normal shimano hub on there and throw on an 11-28. I also assume that would be slightly cheaper. But it would suck to get stuck wanting that 9tooth and not being able to install it.

Since Capreo uses standard shifters and RD, you cold always get two rear wheels and decide which to use before each ride.