Ridefreemc

Picked up the new Mezzo T9s last night (all 5). Two in blue (that is important to the younger ones you know), and three in black. I was going with three green, but they were IGH 4s and I wanted all to be T9s. It would have been too much trouble to switch 6 bikes worth of bottom brackets, cranks, gears, etc.

Rode mine to work this morning and enjoyed it. I will require some time to adjust my riding style to the smaller feel. Got here with more effort than the Salsa Vaya but I do believe that I was simply pushing too hard on the peddles as opposed to relaxing. I think I was trying to prove it was the same as the Vaya, and it might end up being similiar, but again it won't be that way for me unless I adjust.

Changed to SPD peddles though. I love clipless.

One thing that is going away though will be the seat. It was comfortable, but after a short ride I got off to adjust it and it felt very hot. In other words it helped to generate and then retain heat. In jeans and 78 degrees F this morning I can do without that. May switch to my Brooks Imperial or wider Brooks if I end up more upright.

More later after a few more rides under my butt.

Ozonation

Very cool! Could you post some photos of what they look like?

Dynocoaster 

Terry has some nice saddles also.

Ridefreemc

Yes.

I'll look into them.

Update - I posted earlier about my ride in, but since I had left my office keys in my other commuter bag (for the Salsa) I was forced to sit at a coffee shop for an extra hour (reading, relaxing, drinking coffee - oh how terrible) until others came in. I hadn't had a chance to bring the Mezzo into the building. Now one might think that is not such a big deal (I don't have access issues like some and bring it up to my office without fanfare), but I have to say that it is! I was delighted on how easy I was able to maneuver (unfolded) into the building, into the elevator, opening doors, etc. It is much easier than a full sized bike and this is a benefit that I did not consider. In fact, now that I think of it, yesterday I test rode in my work clothes (pleated dress pants, leather bottomed shoes, tie, etc) and rode right up to the LBS front door, did not dismount, opened and held the door with my right hand while I rode the bike right in! Very cool.

Additionally, my wife called this morning and said I created two blue bike nuts because two of my daughters were out the door at 8 and riding the neighborhood before school. I think they will test the ability of these bikes to be folded and unfolded numerous times. Last night I had to tell them to stop folding the bikes and go to bed and this morning I'm sure they demonstrated their folding capabilities to every person in the neighborhood that would listen/watch.

Casbah

Quit teasing us. We want pics.

On a side note I was just checking out the British version of their website and noticed that the D9 Curve will be coming soon. I don't know what the big difference between the Curve and the regular D9 will be, other than the obvious shape of the frame.

invisiblehand

They have different wheel sizes (305 vs 349), right?

Ridefreemc

I gotta ride home first

The rims look to be the same size as mine (UK website vs. the one sitting in my office). It is unlikely they'd change the size because that would change a lot about the bike (e.g. fender clearance, brake caliper reach). Also, they are listing the same tires on the UK site as the ones on my T9. Looks like the only difference is in fact in the curve on the main frame and the seat stay (mine are both straight). One minor detail is that my blue ones have blue seat and chain stays where the Curve has them black (like some older versions of the T9).

Ridefreemc

Here we go!
file:///Volumes/NO%20NAME/DCIM/109_FUJI/DSCF9852.JPG

Ozonation

Sorry.. no pic?

Ridefreemc

Yeah, the "here we go" didn't work and I spent my last hour before bed trying to figure out how to shrink the pictures. I will figure it out and post them.

Really liking the bikes and my family cannot get enough of them. "Can we go for a ride?" "Can we?" and that is from my wife, you should here the kids!

BTW the reason I said "new forum" was because I just started coming here as opposed to hanging out in "commuting" and "living car free."

Ridefreemc

Getting closer! Here are some pictures in Flickr (and some of my sailboat - not sure how to provide access to only the Mezzos).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/72857793@N03/7000778552/

Casbah

*drools

Ridefreemc

I wish I knew how to post pictures! I'll figure that out some day.

Thanks Casbah

Purpleorchid

Nice looking family of bikes! How do you know whose bike is whose, othen than the two blue ones are for your daughters? Stickers! Mods?

Ridefreemc

Funny that we went buy a couple of teenage skateboarders last night and one said "cool, they are all riding the same bikes!" It is really fun to have these. We are going to get a lot of usage out of them.

Mine has SPDs and will likely get my Brooks saddle and Schwalbes soon.

Two blue to the two youngest daughters. Three black for me, wifey, and oldest daughter. Funny question though that you asked and I thought that same thing myself. The rest will have to fend for themselves. Although the youngest has dressed up her rack bag (which doesn't help when it is off the rack). The misses is thinking of making some type of bracelet for them to help customize theirs.

Notice I needed to add the new ride to the sig line too!

Ridefreemc

Update.

I had to retension and then true the front and rear wheels (on my D9 - haven't gone through the others yet). The front wheel was out of true so that is what got me started. Some spokes were very loose and others overly tight. Not sure if the LBS checked or not as the wheels could have been true when I got the bike, but with the inherent instability caused by the variety of tensions I can see them going out of true quickly.

Second, I had to adjust the rear axle cones and bearings. The bearings were too tight. The cog side cone nut is not accessable because of the freewheel body being just a little longer than where the cone adjustment nut sticks out (can't get the cone wrench on the cone nut). The lock nut was accessable so I used that to hold on to (luckily the cone nut and lock nut stayed together so I could work the other side to get the proper tension).

invisiblehand

Sorry, I misunderstood the statement. I thought you were comparing a Mezzo to a Curve.

Ridefreemc

it is confusing. If you look on Mezzos UK site they show he new "D9 Curve", of course not to be confused with the Curve from Dahon

https://www.mezzobikes.com/


This will take to the USA and UK sites directly (you can click each easily to get there).

bhkyte

can not see the point of this curve tinkering. Mezzo do something better like; address gearing limitations, offer more options, improve brakes,more luggage options. Real engineering. Love the bike, but the range needs some expanding/improving.

Ridefreemc

Update - put on the Brooks B17 Imperial from my Salsa Vaya and THANK YOU! What a difference (even from the Bontrager I had on for a few days). The original seat was very poor for sitting on, but looked nice

Agree withe the tinkering of the top bar. No need.

Casbah

Uncomfy seats seem to come standard on any bike that isn't a beach cruiser. The seat is the only thing I changed on my last two bikes.

Ridefreemc

Update. Rode about 25 miles on it today and all is well (enjoyed a fast ride). I am curious how it rides on longer rides compared to a buddy's standard size bike though. Anyway, once I got home I put on the Schwalbe Marathon 1.35s. They are much stiffer than the Mezzo tires and are tough to mount, but I was able to do so by hand. I also inserted new Schwalbe tubes. Both are quality items.

If you have not removed your front wheel yet I would suggest you do so in a controlled environment (e.g., in your garage with lots of tools). You need an 8mm socket for the skewer and I needed Vice Grips (over a leather glove) to hold the round nut opposite the skewer so that I could unwind the skewer. It was easier to put back on, but I still needed the grips. Hopefully that will get easier next time (I'll check one of my other Mezzos to see if that is standard - it might be a safety feature). Also, it is tricky getting the fender stays to pull apart and drop the wheel out - easier to get back in though.

I'll let you know how it rides after my commute in tomorrow. I won't miss the un-round-ness of the Mezzo/Kenda.

bhkyte

it gets easier to remove the front wheel with pratice,
You don't need grips in addition to a 8mm scoket remove the 8mm bolt .just lock the QR.
You do need grips to get the 8mm locking bolt locked back in the correct position. Else the quick release will need readjusting ocassionally.

Ridefreemc

I was finding that after I removed the 8mm locknut I had to use grips to remove the rounded piece opposite the quick release lever. I could not turn the lever without the round "nut" turning in my hands so I had to use Vice Grips. It was VERY tight all the way to the end of the run. It doesn't sound like that is normal (again, I'll check another of our Mezzos tonight).

Update - On the way to work this morning I had to keep looking up at the trees to see if I had a tailwind (I didn't) because I was 1-2 gears higher all the way in! What a significant difference the Schwalbe Marathons made to the ride. I would even say that in addition to faster riding there was less effort keeping momentum, and the ride was smoother and no more bouncing because of the back tire being out of round. I have about 65 lbs of pressure in them for now and was running the max. on the Kenda as 55 psi.

bhkyte

Marathans are slow.
Wait till you try some kojacks !