Hey v1nce, haven't really gotten around to taken pics of it, but I'll try to find some time...guess I'll either have to put it in a different thread or start a new one.

I actually had the same problem but found a simple solution. I used a stem riser and just made sure it was VERY secure and tight. I used a threadless headset with the 'tariq' device, which is a pvc spacer cut to size. I've been riding for 4-5 months and 1500+ miles without any problems. My LBS even gave it their blessing, so long as I agreed I'd check it every once in a while. I will be replacing the pvc with and aluminum spacer now that I am sure that I like my stem height-I'm lucky enough to have a brother in law that is a machinist. BTW, if you go this route and you are doing the build yourself, get a diatech headset from Gaerlan cycles. They work threaded or threadless. In addition, when used as a threadless, you don't need a star nut because it has its own 'tensioning' system built in. In fact, you can adjust it with just an allen wrench. You can also get the stem riser from them. I'll try to get some pics of my ride up soon, but you can see one pic of it at bikejournal.com...my handle there is also juan162

Since this is the Swift thread, I'd also like to say the reason I have been reading it so much is that I'm thinking of getting a Swift frame myself to make a light weight road folder. BTW, has anyone tried out one of the Shimano Capreo hubs yet? If you don't know, it was designed specifically with small wheel bikes in mind. The smallest cog is a 9 tooth, which means you don't need quite as big a chain ring. I currently run a 64 tooth chainring on my raleigh twenty with a sachs dual drive 3x7 rear hub. I was thinking of maybe the Capreo hub paired with Shimano 105 level components and 451 wheelset. What do you guys think?

My Xootr Swift single-speed conversion project:

http://images6.theimagehosting.com/ss_swift.JPG

Parts:

1.) Fibonacci spacer kit from Endless Bikes.
2.) 14T Kickass cog from Endless Bikes
3.) Spring-loaded tensioner from Misfit Psycles
4.) Single-stack BMX chainring bolts from Dan's Comp.
5.) SRAM PC-68 chain.

It was pretty easy dialing-in my chainline with the Fibonacci spacer kit. The first try, I was off by about 1.5mm. I simply added a 1mm spacer from the kit and was good to go.

The cog and spacers are beautifully machined and super-lite. The cog has a thick 1/4" base that sits wide on the freehub splines, preventing dig-in damage to the freehub body. Real quality stuff.

The stock 52T chainring and the 14T cog, along with the Primo Comet 20X1.35 tire gives me 68 gear inches, and 70 gear inches with the .5 inch larger diameter stock Kenda 20X1.50 tires.

The tensioner is only temporary solution until my SS wheel from Peter arrives (solid axle), wherein it is simply a matter of migrating my spacers/cog and tire.

The drivetrain rides silky-smooth, lite and responsive, and virtually silent. You can really feel the difference losing the cassette cluster, derailleur, cable and shifter make in the weight of the Swift. Makes it all the more easier boarding the commuter train with, and carrying folded through my office building. Not to mention, the bike accelerates and climbs quite well out-of-the-saddle. I might keep a 16T cog on hand for the days I want to ride the bigger hills, being that it is a snap to switch-out cogs with this system.

Nice bike! I appreciate the idea of a SS but it wouldn't work for me. Maybe 10 years ago when I lived in a flat state. If you want to sell the tensioner, let me know. I am working on another project and have need of one if you want to part with yours.

Hey James,

this is slightly off-topic, but I notice you now have blue Eggbeater C pedals. Did you get them recently from performancebike.com? I see they have them on sale for $59 so I'm very tempted! How do you find they compare to spds?

Magnus

I actually did a "write-up" on them in the Roadie section here. ;)

why the tensioner? you can easily get rid of it while keeping your quick release hub.
You can safely run a QR and a SS wheel, no need for a solid axle wheel. if the axle doesn't slip with a multi-geared setup, then it shouldn't slip with a SS.
If it does, then you just need a stronger QR.

Tried that already, and the axle still slipped (borrowed a friend's 105 skewer). I even tried a setup using the QR axle with a BMX axle-tug that worked, but didn't look all that great, and didn't do anything for preventing the non-drive side from slipping. I even tried star washers with the QR to give more bite, but that didn't help either.

The tensioner works really well...even sweeter is that it was only $15 (compared to the $50-$60 Singulator). The only reason why I'm giving it up is because it's a shame to have a tensioner when you have horizontal dropouts (some people invest good money in a frame with horiz dropouts just so they don't have to run a tensioner). But with the Swift, it's nice to be able to run all sorts of configurations.

Solid axle and nuts is really the way to go, as per Peter's recommendation. I really don't mind carrying a wrench in my bag anyway. Can't wait for my SS wheel to arrive.

Update on the single-speed...

http://images6.theimagehosting.com/ss_swift_1.JPG

I finally got my single-speed wheel from Peter. It was basically a stock Quando hub fitted with a solid axle and some nice track nuts. I swapped-out the BMX cog and custom spacers that Peter installed with the better quality cog/spacers I purchased from Endlessbikes. I also installed a On-one brand chaintug, and readjusted the cones prior so that a bit more of the axle protruded out the drive-side (to accomodate the slightly higher stack height with the chaintug).

http://images6.theimagehosting.com/ss_swift_2.th.JPG
http://images6.theimagehosting.com/ss-swift_3.th.JPG
http://images6.theimagehosting.com/ss_swift_4.th.JPG

More pics on Velospace (click my sig).

Why are you going SS? I thought there was a lot of hills where you lived?

A few reasons:

1.) I like the simplicity. No thinking about shifting. No grip shift to clutter my handlebar. No derailleur hanging off the frame. One less cable to deal with. Only one cog to clean.

2.) The chain is now higher up from the ground than previously with the derailleur, keeping it away from road crud; cleaner and thus easier to maintain.

3.) Hazards of commuting on the train - I had my derailleur knocked-in a few times, bending the derailleur hanger and throwing my shifting all out of whack.

4.) The drivetrain is oh-so-smooth and quiet. I'll never go back to a multi-geared clucker.

There are no huge hills in my immediate commute route that out-of-the-saddle cranking can't manage. I'll just need to detour the really big climbs, or think about getting maybe a 16T cog for those rare occasions.

Love your sig, btw. ;)

James- most of your reasons for going SS could apply to the internal hubs as well. That is why I ditched the derailleur is for most of those reasons. The Nexus is incredibly quiet and it doesn't clunk, no false engagements, it shifts smoothly, etc. I especially like the fact that no derailleur to get knocked out of alignment OR collect all the crap from the road. I wish I didn't have any hills to deal with too!

No, I LOVE hills! DOWNhills that is! But you rarely get downs without ups, sadly... ;)

A friend of mine that I used to ride with at uni - he actually loved the UPhills more than the downhills. But that's another story!

Time to fire-up the Swift thread...

I got compliments on my Swift from 2 BikeFriday owners on the train in the past week.

One guy especially liked my single-speed drivetrain conversion, and another guy (just this morning) was impressed with the frame. He wanted to compare the flex between my frame and his BF, so I let him do the infamous "flex test" on my Swift by pressing down on a pedal in the 6 o'clock position and observing how much the bottom bracket area flexes in response. While some have debated over the validity of this test and what it actually means, let's just say that he remaked that my Swift is "beefier" than his BF, and that he's going to check-out a Swift at the Xootr website.

So there you have it. BikeFriday owners everywhere agree: Swift has the beef. ;)

Quick! What's the headset size on my Swift? It's bigger than 32mm and I think it's English. It's loose and it's bothering me... :)

Thanks!

James, I too am enjoying the benefits of a simple, smooth, quiet drivetrain. However, it's on my new fixed gear bike. The Swift will have to wait a few months to see if I have a job to pay for it or not. If I survive the coming rounds of layoffs, then I'll be treating myself to a new Swift. And I'll probably go w/ the internal hub to have gears for the upcoming organized rides like the 5BBT and NYC Century. I do like the idea of a SS and it's definitely in the back of my mind for keeping the bike light and simple.

Cool...are you on fixed-gear-gallery? Velospace? Put up some pics!

I want to thank everybody in the folder bike/swift forums. After my beloved 1982 Trek was stolen last summer, I have been without a commuter bike. The idea of a folder was intriguing to me since I have little space to store a bike at home and work. The opportunity to keep a bike in a closet or the back of my hatchback is irresistable. Since I have owned a recumbent I am not unaccustomed to odd looks now and then from fellow cyclists, so I decided to gather information on folders.
This website has been invaluable to me. I test rode a Dahon Vitesse and Giant Halfway at local shops here in Chicago (both are nice machines), but decided, after doing much reading of the folder discussions, that the Swift filled the bill for me. I called Peter Reich last week and ordered one in black, which I should receive at the beginning of April. I'm as excited as a kid waiting for his birthday to come.
So I have joined the fold...thanks again, and keep offering this great info.

@scotharr - Welcome into the fold! I hope you enjoy your Swift as much as I've enjoyed mine. It is far and away my absolute favorite folder and probably my favorite bike as well.

What specs did you decide on? Internal hub or derailleur? Inquiring minds want to know. Enjoy it when you finally get it.

I chose the derailleur over the hub and swapped out the gripshift for a thumb/finger shifter (or whatever they're called...you get the idea). I also bought a Brooks saddle on ebay which I am eager to try out.

Not yet. I have to get a digital camera first. Once that's done, I'll post the link in my sig. This thread will be invaluable when it comes time to put my Swift together.

Which derailleur setup, SRAM? What Brooks? I have a Brooks Pro on mine in Honey. Took a while to break in but it is pretty nice now. I bought a couple others to try as well.

Have a look at this new Swift review

I just installed drop bars on my Swift:

http://images6.theimagehosting.com/Swift_db.jpg

nice...

This has been around for a while. My next project after the Ti Brompton/Merc is to setup one these Bion-X motors in a front wheel powered config. :D

Looks great. I can see doing this to my Swift someday.

Nice deep drops, James.

Trying to race us dudes on Bike Fridays? (You know that's your next bike.) :)