Finished Building my commuter (mostly)
05-17-10 | 08:20 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 697
Likes: 12
From: Midwest USA
Bikes: Surly X√, Trek Earl
Looks great! In fact, it didn't look all that bad in the before photo. I sure would have fished that out of the trash. Thanks for saving this fine bike and for reducing the landfill. Every little bit helps.
05-18-10 | 02:09 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
Congrats on the find!
Never had that kind of luck here. People don't throw away bikes here. They put them on Craigslist and overcharge for them...
Never had that kind of luck here. People don't throw away bikes here. They put them on Craigslist and overcharge for them...
05-18-10 | 02:31 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
From: Chicagoland
Bikes: 1997 Schwinn Searcher GS, 2007 Dahon Curve D3
Lookin' good!
I don't think you can really remove the unused cogs without changing the wheel. (?)
As long as you have to change the wheel, get one with a coaster brake, and move the caliper to the front. As you brake, your weight shifts forward, so that the front ends up doing most of the work. If you ever need to panic stop, you'll lock up the rear and not stop as soon as you'd hope.
Bikes don't get thrown out around here either. I live in a lower income neighborhood with a high Mexican population. If a bike is not totally hopeless, they fix it and ride it until it is. They haven't discovered oil yet, so the chains are always rusty and they just keep pedaling, squeaking away. That sound is like nails on a chalkboard to my ears.
I don't think you can really remove the unused cogs without changing the wheel. (?)
As long as you have to change the wheel, get one with a coaster brake, and move the caliper to the front. As you brake, your weight shifts forward, so that the front ends up doing most of the work. If you ever need to panic stop, you'll lock up the rear and not stop as soon as you'd hope.
Bikes don't get thrown out around here either. I live in a lower income neighborhood with a high Mexican population. If a bike is not totally hopeless, they fix it and ride it until it is. They haven't discovered oil yet, so the chains are always rusty and they just keep pedaling, squeaking away. That sound is like nails on a chalkboard to my ears.
05-18-10 | 02:57 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,213
Likes: 0
From: Edgewater, CO
Bikes: Tons
You're getting there. Looks good so far.
Couple of tips:
Get a front brake. You will stop much quicker with the front brake than a rear brake. If you insist on single brake, make it the front one.
Replace the freewheel with a single speed cog. You'll probably have to redish the wheel.
Couple of tips:
Get a front brake. You will stop much quicker with the front brake than a rear brake. If you insist on single brake, make it the front one.
Replace the freewheel with a single speed cog. You'll probably have to redish the wheel.
05-18-10 | 07:44 PM
#10
wannabe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Nice work. I bet you smile every time you ride it. The front brake thing is definitely something you should commence with. Read what Sheldon Brown has to say about it.
https://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html
https://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html
05-18-10 | 08:55 PM
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,744
Likes: 2
From: Toronto, Ontario
Bikes: Miele Azsora, Kuwahara Cascade
When you stop, your weight is transferred forward and thus a front brake provides 70-90% of the braking power on a bike. It's pretty tough to flip over your handlebars just from braking with the front wheel, and even harder once you learn to control your braking.
In an emergency situation, a rear brake will not stop you fast enough. This is just as irresponsible as riding a fixed gear bike with no brakes.
05-19-10 | 08:13 AM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,213
Likes: 0
From: Edgewater, CO
Bikes: Tons
A rear brake will suffice if you don't need to do panic stops.
