lemondzurich

EDIT: I used a pair of channel locks and bent the caliper so the brake pads are now parallel with the wheel. Took like 10 seconds and I didn't have to remove the wheel or pads or anything. Good learning for me. Also, BD is going to send me a new set of bar tape. Finally, I checked the cranks and bottom bracket and both seemed to be tightened appropriately. So I'm a happy camper overall now.

I'll try to make this brief given everyone pretty knows what the deal is with these. Just think of this as another data point.

1. Ordered 52cm matte black on 10/3 (I'm 5'8" with a 30" inseam). Received 10/10.
2. Everything was in good shape upon delivery (I'm in San Francisco). No scratches or dents or anything like that. The only minor things I would mention are that I found a small tear in the bar tape and it looks like one of the welds on the chain stay (on the back end) looks to be slightly incomplete. In other words, there's a small gap where there should be weld. Not happy about this, but I don't think it will fail on me either.
3. Assembly went as expected with the exception of one thing. The rear brake mount seems to be angled a bit such that the brake pads aren't parallel with the wheel. Not sure if it's a bad weld or if the mount just wasn't aligned in the fixture when the guy tacked it down. Regardless, not very happy with the result. I checked the wheel itself and it's in line with the rest of the frame. Here's a pic to demonstrate:



I know it's not a huge deal... I actually was going to remove the brake entirely. But I commute daily on this thing and I figured the rear brake might help me stop a few feet more quickly than without and who knows if that could mean the difference between getting into an accident or just avoiding one.

I emailed bikesdirect on Friday but haven't heard anything from them. Also PM'd Mike here but haven't heard anything yet.

4. I slapped on a 17T Soma cog and a generic lockring so I've been riding fixed. The gear ratio with the supplied 16T freewheel is a bit tall for me. The 17 seems to be a good balance. I might even go up another tooth or swap the chain ring for a slightly smaller one. I'll have to ride a bit more and see if my legs get stronger or if I really should modify the gear ratio one way or the other.

5. Otherwise, I'm pretty happy with the bike given the price. If bikesdirect could give me a discount given the rear brake thing, then I would be satisfied. Shipping back to them in exchange for another one seems like a big waste of time, money, and energy. I'll let you know if they actually respond.

JackD

a little toe in on the brakes is not a bad thing - assuming BOTH are toed in. Not just one in and one out.

lemondzurich

yah... that's the problem. one is toed in and one is toed out. the entire brake is cocked at an angle. any fixes? shims?

Ep3licious

jason,
the pads should be on hubcentric washers.
hold the brake down, loosen the bolt that holds the pad, and then retighten it. all while holding down the brakes.
that should fix your toe problem.

that or the sst jus came with cheap brakes that arent adjustable.

diaper eater

most road brakes dont have pad adjustment like that, instead you just bend the caliper arms with a slotted tool. park makes one just for it

middy

Where did you get "Lightning" from? BD hasn't sold the SST Lightning in years.

SheistyMike

it's black and that's an r500 in the pic. i think he's talking about the regular sst.

estabro

Actually, most decent pads can be adjusted when you install them.

https://www.koolstop.com/brakes/index.php

The pads that came on that bike should go straight in the trash.

middy

Exactly.

lemondzurich

I got a response from Mike at Bikesdirect and he suggested the "caliper bend" technique so I'll give that a try. (The pads are not adjustable.) Thanks for the confirmation of the technique Diaper Eater. Or maybe I'll look into new pads. Any suggestions? Don't need anything fancy... just the "Honda" of brake pads.

The Dawes is actually sort of hidden on the website (and you're right it's not the Lightning). You have to click through the "track/singlespeed" hotlink in small text at the top of the ROAD page and then it gives you then option for the Dawes. I brought this issue up with Mike and he said he was going to look into getting it put in the same place as the others. Here's the direct link for those of you who didn't even know it existed like me:
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst.htm

DIRT BOY

What's "hidden" about it? Its under the Track/SS section. Right on the front page of the site and appropriate section.

The brakes suck. Just get some Kool-Stop replacement pad holders/pads.

I put some Nashbar Jailbreak brakes on my SST. Better brakes and pads.

TRaffic Jammer

go with kool stops, don't "honda" your stopping power.

lemondzurich

It's not hidden, but it's not listed when you go to the SS/Track section of the main Road page. As such, I never knew it ever existed. Maybe I'm an idiot... but chances are, there are other idiots like me out there so it seems to make sense to make the SS/Track section of the main road page consistent with the Singlespeed/Track specific page.

rc32

That's odd...I've been looking at those bikes for the last couple of weeks and was able to just click on the Singlespeed/Track link at the top of the BD web page and the 6 models available (including the Dawes) would show up.

DIRT BOY

It's there. You just missed it:

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm

SS/Track
All Levelstrack and other bikes singlespeed

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Fits Wide Tires Up to 1.7"

lemondzurich

Hmm, weird. I swear it wasn't there before. Maybe Mike had them make the change after I brought it up last week? I could also be an idiot.

DIRT BOY

Nope, I guess you just missed it.

I bought mine weeks ago and it was listed for awhile now.

lemondzurich

Does anyone know what size bottom bracket I would need to upgrade the stock one? Any recos on a basic Shimano model?

DIRT BOY

68 x 103

No Shimano in that size. Truvativ or Sugino

lemondzurich

I do not have any toe overlap.

DIRT BOY

I have a 52cm as well. ZERO toe lap with large SOMA cages.