I'll post photos tomorrow, but I did some big upgrades:

1. Put on a Tiagra 4500 crankset that I bought new for $65 (incredible deal) - chainrings are 52T-39T
2. Put on a Tiagra 4500 Hollowtech II bottom bracket
3. SRAM 870 chain
4. Shimano HG51 8 speed cassette (11-28)

LOVE the way this thing is handling now. The hollowtech II crankset + cassette have a great feel.

Oh, and for those that haven't disassembled the bike here are some of its parts that aren't described well on the website:
1. Lasco CF12 crankset (886g)
2. VP-BC73 square taper bottom bracket (273g)

My weight savings for this upgrade:
Chain 280g - 285g = -5g
Bottom bracket: 95g -273g = -178g
Crankset: 839g - 886g = -47g
Cassette: 252g - 283g = -31g
Total saved: 261g (~0.575407lbs)

I want to upgrade to a Tiagra FD so that I can accommodate a 56T chainring and perhaps put on a quality 44T chainring as well. I'm content with my changes for now. The problem with the bike is now me and I can't say it's the components anymore. I'd love to put on 2300 STI shifters, but that's also down the line. I've already spent a lot on this bike, but I'm glad I've learned as much as I have. It's been a great little project for me. :lol:

Grats on the upgrade NMBuff, looking forward to see your bike. My friend bought a 21spd mercier galaxy, his bike is about 17lbs... I'm pretty sure that the stock nano will have a hard time keeping up with him but do you think your upgraded nano will/can be as fast or at least keep up with a regular road bike? I've been using the bike for a good while now and it really is somewhat slow.. a regular mountain bike overtook me yesterday with ease :(

You really need to look at a gear-inch calculator, as earlier linked in this thread.

Either the GI needs to go up with a much larger chainring, or you need to step up your cadence. Even at fairly blistering 100rpm though, a 52/11 on a minivelo with 1.5 tire is only good for about 26mph. That ain't slow, but a 700cx25 wheeled rider with a 54/12, and determined not to get passed by a mini, is gonna easily drop you pushing a leisurely 85rpm.

I'm tempted to buy one of these to convert to a single speed foul weather bike.

Took it on its first 20miler. Was definitely fun, but hot damn I suck at hills. I'm very happy that I swapped out the crankset though because the old crankset was crap. I could not keep up with my buddies at all really, but I had a hell of a time. I couldn't really pass 21mph and I spun out on a few descents. I'm thinking of upgrading the front chainring.

Sorry I haven't posted a photo yet, but I'd like to get a few close ups of my mods and I'd like to do it in daylight.

chad, what FD are you using for your 56T chainring? Tiagra FD-4500 (dual only)? 105?

What about the FD ??? ... My stock one ( fd ), works fine with my 58t/48t ( SS, no pins/ramps ) on my gossamer ( 8 speed, square taper ) crankset AND my 10 speed chain...
:innocent:


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=270926

Yeah, Martinus said it right; there's no concern with the stock FD accommodating larger chainrings (at least up to his 58t) and it works fine, great even, with my pinned 54t and 44t rings.

What, Buff, happened with your derailleur hanger, btw?

Martinus, brother... You know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? I mean, I hope you don't mind I pinched a little of your style with the seat bag! It's a different brand, at least!

http://p6.hostingprod.com/@chaadthom...cier_nano4.jpg

And yes, I know you're all probably sick of my photo set by now, but I've got a bum knee so I've not been riding, and in fact, go in for a surgery tomorrow that will have me off the bike for another six weeks! :( So cut me a little slack, and be glad you can ride to new and delightful places to shoot your bikes!

nice bike chaadster! I guess I'll be on the look out for cranksets as well (you guys are my nano idols!http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=270969 and because i have very limited knowledge with bikes..) :P would it be okay to fit a 10spd shimano 105 / tiagra (whichever is affordable) crankset and bb on the nano with the stock derailleurs and chain? o: I just don't know what measurements to look out for.. would be upset if I bought something and found out that it doesn't fit the bike..

Ordered 56-44T chainring set since I figured the bike was too slow with a large caravan as I found out on Saturday.

Went to the LBS, but found out they were frauds. They "fixed" the derailleur so now it shifts correctly, but it's still bent. I did this before the changing of my crankset (where I found out that they didn't grease the BB!).

I'm going to take this little bike in since I need to get the BB faced (and probably chased) to a different LBS and also have them fix the hanger.

marquee, we need more info on the BB type. Square? Hollowtech (External BB)? Your chain would probably be fine, but I thought the chain was crap and I like the powerlink chains anyway. I found a great deal, but also had to buy an external BB tool to tighten as well as now going to a new LBS to get it faced and chased. Going to be another $20-30 and you aren't going to have the tools for those (they are in excess of $400+).

Except for the Kilo TT I don't know if I'd purchase another BikesDirect bike.

Sorry about the knee. That sucks.

I refuse to shoot my Nano. It causes no one misery.

The crank should work, as long as you have the proper bottom bracket. NMbuff is correct about the tools. But you should learn to work on a bike yourself. Start on the Park tools website and Sheldon Brown's site. Read a bit, come back and ask. Several of us have substantial bike mechanic experience.

Of course, it can get crazy on the tools-- I actually have all the tools to fix NM buff's bike up, including the taps and facers...to bad you're not local to me, I might do it.

Why does it need chased AND faced ... is it repainted ?

Same brand ...

Krieg? Whoops!

Nope.

Don't have to get it chased, but getting it faced with an external BB is usually recommended. Not required, but I don't want my BB to fail.

Thanks NMbuff. Well from what I understand so far is that I need to get about the same size BB as the one in my nano correct? 68x113mm is what it says in bikesdirect.
will a Shimano BB 5500 105 Octalink 118.5 X 68 fit mine? that also means i'll need to get shimano 105 octalink cranks ya? still confused...

105 BB is fairly high end for this bike, IMO. Your money, but I'd save up for 105 sti shifters :)

The chainline on the bike right now is 43.5. With that setup it would be 47. That could affect shifting, but I'm not a bike expert on this.

www.sheldonbrown.com/bbsize.html

http://sheldonbrown.com/chainline.html

The 109.5 looks like it'd be fine. I'd wait for advice from people here.

Octalink BB= octalink crank.

The threads on a bottom bracket depend on the bike (Nano is english thread, pretty much the standard now). The spindle length for the bottom bracket is dependent on the crank. In other words, you need the same thread as the bottom bracket now on the nano, but the spindle length is more specific to the crank. Same with spindle type.

+1 on finding some eight speed brifters. And a second hand crank/bb combo should be fine. Eight speed stuff is a bit cheaper on the used market. I spent 60$ on my brifters (105 eight speed) and 35$ on my crank/BB combo. Finding this stuff takes a bit of patience, but the stock parts on the Nano will likely last longer than your search.

In short the 113/118 is for a double/triple crank respectively. I think those BBs only come in English and Italian (...x70) so if you have the 118 laying around, you could use it but the shifting would not be as crisp if you mated it with a double crank/double front derailer. I suspect that a double crank with a triple front derailer would work well given that the top two chainrings on Shimano 130 BCD triples match their 130 BCD doubles.

Why stop with the octalink, an fsa gossamer can be had for ~140 WITH an ext bb.

I still wouldn't face it, just swap it out ...

Ok, I have a few questions before I buy a Nano,...

1. Can I install an adjustable stem & riser bars on the Nano?

2. Will the Nano be able to accommodate Big Apple tires?

3. Mudguards - yes or no?

4. Can a smaller sized rear rack be installed, and if "Yes" what model?

5. How difficult is it to switch the shifting mechs to something more simple - bar mounted, click or twist-type?

I'm asking you guys, as I truly consider you all the experts. I'm thinking either a higher priced Lombardo Power 2000, Xootr Swift, or the Nano. The answers I receive will help greatly,...thank you all in advance.

I am no expert but I have some experience with some of your questions. :)

2. You are risking it. The web site actually said that with 20x1.75 tire, the clearance is a bit tight. Not to mention 20x2.00 big apple.

3. Yes but you need Sheldon fender nuts as the brakes use recessed nuts.

4. You can use regular sized rear rack but if you use panniers, you may occasionally have heal strikes.

OMG!!! I Just managed to get the last Lombardo Power 2000 on the Internet here in the USA!!! Wow, I actually feel lucky,...in a broke sort of way. But, I have my mini Velo on the way!!! WooT!!!

I was just going to reply to your pre-editing post to ask if you had the answers to your questions for the Lombardo. I mean, I think I see stay braze-ons, but none at the rear dropouts, which of course, is also a problem for fenders. The other thing is that there were no sizing specs, which was something you might have wanted to take into consideration when trying to get the bike fitted, which the Ahead style headset doesn't will be a little more limited in helping with. I also noticed a braze-on derailleur mount, which could present problems if you were wanting to fit larger chainrings.

Anyway, you've got it coming now, and I'm really interested to hear from you what this bike is about. It's interesting looking, and you'll probably have a blast with it, too. Congrats!