tds101 

@dezzie - sounds like you had a great day. I do have a question for you though,...what brand are the mudguards? I really need a set like that for me MiniVelo. I love how they look.

dezzie

Lots on ebay just type folding bike mudguards in your search, i think i paid £10 new for them!

dezzie

even cheaper if you hurry! VAVERT NIGHT RIDER 20" KIDS CHILD MUDGUARD SET FRONT AND REAR PAIR REFLECTIVE | eBay

tds101 

Thanks dezzie. I'm unable to order atm - I'm away from home and I'd have no way to be sure I'd receive my package. I'm bikeless in Canada (I live in, as you most likely already know, in the USA) and suffering on vacation. The car rental company screwed us by giving us a car with a too small trunk. I couldn't bring a bike no matter what. Meh!

dezzie

Anyone know the diameter of the standard xootr handlebars? is it 25.4 or the larger 31mm, I feel like its the first option, I want new bars that have a rise and sweep back and fit ergo grips to that can also be comfortable for using the standard gripshift.

dezzie

I also need the length of the standard bars so I can gauge how much longer I need to add on for comfort as I find them to narrow for my wide frame but don't at the same time, want cowhorns, looking at these bars which I think would be ideal - ergotec Rizer Ergo Bar offers at the cycling shop Rose Bikes UK

dezzie

New thudbuster came from the states today, bloody expensive to ship but my bum forgives it, its lovely!

fietsbob

there is a Neoprene boot to cover it, and keep stuff out of the bushings..
I got one for mine (wish everything was not Brand name emblazoned.. )

the extension oversize bit may have boosted the cost (mine just 27.2mm)

dezzie

Found these on ebay, look like a good deal, 20x 1.75 FOLDING BIKE MTB WHEELS,BLACK DUAL WALL SUIT DAHON 8/9SPD CASSETTE | eBay should fit ok or should they? I know the back will need spacing out as they are 130mm, but what does the spacers look like, where can I get some, or are they just like penny washers?

tds101 

All I know is I'm not a fan of the NuVinci N360 hub. I'd have been much happier if I'd gone shimano nexus 3 or 8 speed. Even keeping it SS. I like my Xootr Swift on the whole, but this hub isn't all its cracked up to be. The weight, too much of a brick for me. It works as advertised, but,...MEH!

dezzie

oh I want an alfine 11 speed built up into some nice rims but no hurry, just bought a mini moulton to bling up, no rush!

BruceMetras

Didn't think that marriage would last long.. very heavy hub and draggy in addition.. I had the 8spd Nexus Redband on mine .. really nice hub, but if I were going to do it all again in IGH, I'd want something a little lighter keeping it in line with the lightweight feel of the bike ... most likely a 2 speed auto, 3 speed or hunt up a SRAM P5 ..

smallwheeler

the inter 7 was quite nice...

the nuvinci would be good on something like a big dutch townie or a mamichari type commuter..

BruceMetras

I'd say they are also well suited for cargo bikes, tandems and electric assist in that they take a lot of input torque without self destructing .. very durable hubs ..

tds101 

Draggy is right! I pedal on a downgrade & the hub kills my momentum. I'm swapping this hub out (a nice, light 3 speed) and sending it in to the manufacturer. I'm hoping they exchange it, because I personally think it's malfunctioning. Then I'll sell the new one and be done with it. Ugh!

PS: I'm killing my classifieds ad. The hub isn't ready for prime time!

tds101 

So, what do you peoples think of the Sturmey-Archer S80 IGH? I know it'll be heavy, but not as heavy as the NuVinci N360 hub, and it doesn't have the lag or reliability issues the NuVinci has either. And it's user/LBS serviceable.

Paul Braithwait

Before you consider fitting a ThudBuster to your Swift, you might want to try another saddle. I am using a Selle Royal Becoz Saddle. Selle make great play about how environmentally friendly this saddle is; "Gel combined with natural cork,formulated with the use of natural materials etc. etc" If you are into hugging trees, kissing whales and knitting your own yogurt then you will approve of this saddle's credentials. The seat is sealed and water proof. Not only that but is is very comfortable. There is just enough "give" in the saddle to stop any road shocks reaching my nether regions and Chain Reaction Cycles in Northern Ireland were selling them very cheaply. I've tried many saddles over the years and this one is the business!

BruceMetras

Depends on your tolerance for noisy geartrains... mine's really low, so the SA8 W was a no go for me even though I wanted to like it .. I had it in a new Moulton TSR-8 .. maybe they're quieter now .. eventually went with a SRAM Dual Drive in that bike .. that hub I like a lot..

tds101 

I have a Nexus 8 speed hub on my Puma Nevis, and a Sturmey-Archer 5 speed hub on my Schwinn. I really don't mind the noise, and I'm just wondering more about performance. Also, the Sturmey-Archer hub is more easily serviceable, whereas the Nexus hub is a PITA! Lol! I'm just wondering about riding performance on my Swift. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

mark03

I've been riding with an Alfine 11 on my Swift for a few months now. It is very quiet; all I hear when pedaling is an annoying squeak from ??? (still to be fixed). The 400% gear range is plenty for me, and if they could cram the same range into just 8 gears I think I'd be fine with that. I am often taking two gears at a time when I shift.

A significant advantage for IGHs and this hub in particular, on a small-wheeled bike, is that the torque input to the hub is reduced vs. a full-size bike. There were a lot of reports of broken Alfine 11's due (it seems) to some combination of poor cable adjustment, and running with a front/back tooth ratio smaller than the Shimano-recommended 1.9. That's pretty easy to do on a full-size, especially a mountain bike! On my Swift the ratio is 50/18 = 2.8, and I have contemplated 40/18 = 2.2 for heavy loaded touring.

The flip side to babying the hub thanks to our small wheels, is that the RPMs, and hence drag, is higher. I have personally not noticed much drag from the Alfine on my Swift, but the Swift has drop bars vs butterfly bars on my old commuter, so I have no real apples-to-apples comparison to make.

Re: servicing, there are nice step-by-step directions for taking apart the Alfines, but I wouldn't dream of trying it myself with any hub. I'd probably lose a magic spring or strip some threads.

tds101 

If the Alfine 11 was more cost-effective for me I'd possibly consider it. Currently I'm contemplating the (as per my questions) Sturmey-Archer 8-Speed hub. Even my LBS would be willing to service it, if necessary, in the future. They seemed to hold Sturmey-Archer in high regard for reliability & ease of service. I'm just wondering if the Shimano 8-Speed would be the better choice.

Sigh,... Decisions, decisions.

smallwheeler

saw this on fleabay:

tds101 

@smallwheeler - thanks. But, I can get a Sturmey-Archer 8-Speed hub kit for around $160, and the work to relace my custom wheelset is $40. Also, those are the slightly larger wheels. I use 406's exclusively, since I'm partial to fatty tires.

dynaryder

"into a fast nimble 7 speed commuter"

I've had a couple 7/8spd Nexus bikes w/rollers. I wouldn't say adding that much weight to a bike would make it fast and nimble.

tds101 

Someone is interested in purchasing the bike, so if I get the asked price I'll sell it. If this sal3 falls through I'm going SA 8-Speed. I've sold an iPod classic, so I'm using the proceeds to get the hub then. And I'd just keep me XS.