25% gradient? Holy, you do need a smaller chainring!! Nicely done.

Anyone used a Topeak BeamRack on a Swift?

If so was it a flat, A (rise), or V (drop)? Toperak says the A is for smaller frames, but the smaller wheels would seem to accommodate a V nicely.

I know that Xootr sells a rack but I have some Topeak MTX bags I really like

The Swift's seat post is 34mm in diameter and many beam type racks will not fit round it. Check that the Topeak is large enough to fit.

I ordered royce fixed gear hubs for new wheels to my pompino but just now sent an email to the bike shop to build them up with 406mm rims :) Cannot resist the Swift bug any longer. I hope to order a separate black steel frame package from hpm unless they turn out to be much more expensive than Xootr.

ack, you are correct. they will not fit. sorry to take up the forum space. crossrack here I come...

correct that...I see on page 96 that bunches of y'all have mounted regular racks on the back of the Swift. I will try moving my regular Topeak Explorer to the Swift (never even considered it)

We made almost exactly the same chain ring swap-out on our Pocket 8 Bike Fridays as Paul B. has done on his Swift, and for the exact same reason. We are a late 60's couple and have found the 48T chain ring to be as good as Paul B. has.

Lou

I can't imagine commuting regularly on my Swift without a standard rear rack--they're just so handy and versatile for carrying things.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26439753@N06/5107343070
Greeting to all, i am from Singapore.
Above picture is what i had done for my Swift.
60T chainring, blue chainring bolts and gold chain.

Nice! I see that is a Vuelta ring. I also have one of those but I think yours has a nicer shape.

60T, I couldn't turn that over!!

Attachment 175283

nothing many of you haven't done but proud to say I successfully installed a front derailleur tonight!

got stuck at one point and thought I'd have to take it to the LBS for adjustment, but the Zinn book and a couple of YouTube videos helped me out. Still a tiny bit of chain rub on the cross gears but I'm able to trim pretty well.

what a difference on the steep grades! given that I'm at the frame weight limit and carry 10-15# of gear, that really matters for me.

very tempted to unload my other commuter bike...

Hey Swift-a-holiks! James here once again checking-in with you 406-wheeled maniacs. I see that it's been a while (99 pages of posts on the Swift!) and I'm happy to report that my fixed-gear Swift has been holding-up just fine after 4 solid years of San Francisco commutes.

Here's an updated shot of my Swift. The only new modification is the switch from clipless pedals to BMX platforms with pedal straps. After having been hit by a car while riding my IRO back in June and hitting the pavement with the bike still clipped to me, I've decided that commuting the city clipless is not only inconvenient (skating across slick office floors in Sidis), but the inability to eject the bike in traffic in an emergency can be downright dangerous.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...ft_Fixie-1.jpg

The pedals are Shadow Conspiracy Ravagers and the straps are Tramp Straps.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...m/Bike/TS1.jpg

Shoes are Chrome Kursk , which are essentially Converse clones made of the same material as their indestructible messenger bags with a super-stiff insole for max power transfer.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...m/Bike/TS3.jpg

The extra-wide BMX platform provides excellent support and foot stability, and the pedal straps hold my foot securely while still allowing me to intuitively eject without having to think "twist outward to unclip". Also worth mentioning is the absolute convenience of having a street shoe to walk in when going from ride to stride. :thumb:

Rixen Kaul have a new carrier in the offing - available early next year. It clips to their KlickFix handlebar bracket and can be used to carry rucksacs and other luggage. It is light aluminium and may provide a handy method of transporting stuff around. More details on Klickfix.de.

Oooh... nice...

42T chainring
 

[QUOTE=Paul Braithwait;11638851Well, I've finally replaced the stock 52 tooth chainwheel for a 48 tooth model to lower the gearing of my four year old Swift. As I have mentioned on the forum before, I live in a very hilly area and low gears are more use to me than big gears. In the four years I have owned the bike I have never used the top two cogs on the open road but I have sometimes run out of low gears on hills.

I shall be 60 on the 20th October and have given up any thoughts of winning at Alpe d'Huez!

[/QUOTE]

Paul,
I know exactly where you are coming from and where you are going.

I just turned 68 on Oct. 23 and those hills I used to climb now look like mountains.
It doesn't help that I am out of shape and have added some weight.

As a birthday present to myself, I just replaced my chainring with a 42 tooth one.
http://harriscyclery.net/product/ori...2961&alert=OK&

Last year I replaced the cluster with an 11-32.
The result is really a great improvement.

I don't need to go fast anymore. I had rarely been above gear 5 on the flats.

The lowest gear makes it a simple pleasure going up the hills and the highest gear will still get me to 20 mph @ 90 rpm. More than fast enough. I am actually going up the hills faster now than I did with the original chain ring.

I have gotten most of the advantages of adding a front derailleur with a much simpler conversion.

There is actually a problem with using the 60T chainring. Due to the big chainring, the chain is hitting the frame rear triangle (seat stay) when using the smallest gear.
So i would like to check if anyone have any idea to overcome this issue and allow me to use that smallest gear?
Possible to change to a cog with smaller diameter teeth to prevent that from happening?

Hmmm I don't think I have that problem. Maybe that's because I am using a road hub and had to use a big washer on each side between locknut and frame to improve spacing, so that will space the smallest cog away from the frame. It is pretty close though. I may be able to check later.

My smallest cog is 11T - what is yours?

changes for my bike to be "perfect"...for a few months. overall, lighter to lift up and down stairs, quicker to fold and unfold with minimal readjustment, a little faster. feel free to respond or agree.

-faster, lighter tire with some puncture protection(currently marathon plus) - marathon racer? kojak? stelvio? stelvio plus?
-switch from xootr crossrack to carradice sqr mount + super c saddlebag
-swap out longer klickfix mount for klickfix caddy
-try a bunch of fits for saddle angle, fore/aft and for handlebar height, handlebar style (moustache, some other versions of upright)
-swap out for titanium seat post
-better quick releases for seat post - something easier that requires less pressure, that doesn't come out of adjust as much (wonder if brompton's seat post release could be used instead). ultimate seat post would be getting the bike friday folding seatpost on a swift
-swap alfine 8 for a 3 speed hub (i only use a few gears, was fine with brompton's 3 gears). probably sram i-motion 3 speed. - my only hesitation here is that if a 3 speed hub is having issues with 1 gear, it makes the bike unusable.
-brompton folding pedals or other fast folding. a tiny bit faster to use, and easier to fold/unfold with on hand
-maybe custom wheels - i'm only 125 lbs + 15 lbs gear - so could shave off some spokes
-remove rear brake - don't need it/use it
-find a durable tail light, and find a place to install

I am using the stock cog. So putting washer helps? Will that stressed the frame too much?

Mine is the stock cog.
So washer is the key? There is already a deep cut at my seat stay so not sure if putting the washer will cause the seat stay to break?
Well i will have to do it so that i can use the last gear.
Thank you for the advise.

Brilliant looking Swift.

Just hadthis emailed from Xootr by Brian McCoy, the new SS.
https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&i...disp=inline&zw

I manged to resolved the issue at a LBS.
The chainring was put to the inner side of the crank and also a washer was placed in order to create enough clearance.

Dynocoaster, whatever you posted does not appear on my screen! Oh, and welcome to page 100!!

Same here.