Dheorl

I wasn't quite sure where to post this, but seeing as the planned bike will be used mainly as a road bike I figured this was the place to start.

I get very attached to bikes, and know my current one is really due an upgrade for various reasons, but I find it hard to part with. For that reason I'm looking at getting a "bike for life" ideally out of titanium or maybe steal, with the theory that a) it should last and b) small changes such as fittings for different brakes etc should be easier to add at a later date.

Because I move around a fair amount, and because I'm likely to find myself in places where storing my bike in the bottom of the wardrobe would be very handy, I was initially looking at folding bikes. I just can't see one that really tickles my fancy though and would like to be able to carry on doing the occasional race. I'm therefore looking more towards a full sized bike with S&S couplers but equally really want disc brakes.

Now obviously unless I'm willing to unbolt the whole system every time, hydraulic brakes are completely out of the question, which leaves me with likely either the TRP Spyre or HY-RD. Will either of these work with sections of cable featuring no housing and a cable splitter?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I have absolutely no experience with cable disc brakes.

Any help is appreciated

Andy Somnifac 

As they are both actuated with a typical cable, I don't see why they wouldn't work. As for which, that's your call. I have the Spyres on my cx bike, and they're fine. I grabbed a pair of the HY-RD and didn't like them. I found them far too finicky and went back to the Spyres.

rpenmanparker 

Packing an S&S equipped bike in the regulation suitcase is an art that doesn't need to be made more difficult by bulky appendages. It is a tight fit as things stand now with rim brakes. I have never tried it with disk brakes, but would be afraid of crushing the disks and bending them. All the mechanical parts are right out in the way of packing the bike. No matter what you say about disk brakes in terms of desirability (which if DO NOT DISPUTE, no case has yet been made for their NECESSITY and likely never will. For a break-apart bike I would absolutely stay with standard rim brakes which are completely out of the way.

Dheorl

I've read some sites recommending no breaks in the housing. Is this just because they think having a sealed system is better and not anything to do with the feel of the brakes then?

Dheorl

I know disc brakes are not a necessity, but due to the wet conditions, rough roads and my desire to fit mudguards, disc brakes definitely seem like the logical choice for my personal use. I notice they do cases that are 2" or 4" deeper. Wouldn't these help alleviate some of the problems of packing?

Andy Somnifac 

I would say a sealed system is pretty much always going to be better, but not always easily possible depending upon the bike. Unless you're riding in wet or muddy conditions, it's not something I would really call a deal breaker.

Robert does bring up some valid points about packing. If it's hard to pack, it defeats the point of S&S couplers.

Bob Ross

qft

rpenmanparker 

Maybe, maybe not. And don't forget that you will pay dearly for those extra inches as such a suitcase won't pass inspection at the airport as standard luggage. You will have to pay bike fees for shipping the larger cases. But I don't think mudguards aren't going to fit into an S&S suitcase without serious damage to them. And depth doesn't help the problem of all the parts being piled on top of each other. If you want a break-apart bike just for grins, and have no intentions of travelling with it, fine and dandy. But unless you think you can overcome the common sense physical law that no two solid bodies can occupy the same space at the same time, I would pick either break-apart or disks and mud guards, but not both. There is not much sense to having a break-apart bike if you can't pack it in the regulation suitcase. Taking one apart and reassembling it are just too tedious to do for any other reason. And break-apart bikes are a money pit that I wouldn't want to get into (again for the third time) if lots of travel with my bike were not likely. You don't usually do it to keep a bike in the bottom of a closet.

Dheorl

Well the mudguards won't be used whilst travelling with it, but this bike also needs to do double duty as a commuter so they'll be on it when I'm "home".

The couplers don't appeal to me so much from the point of view of size and money as much as just an easier case to roll around onto trains, busses etc. I've also carried huge bags with tones of mountaineering equipment in them and have never had the size measured. Many people online seem to echo this experience. Unless it's obviously oversize like skis or something they never seem too bothered.

Surely an extra two inches will be enough for the fact that the wheels have discs and a bit of padding on them? If I really had to it would only take an extra couple of minutes either end to take on and off. I want a coupled bike not for holidays as such, but I move around for uni, and "summer" jobs etc. It won't be assembled and disassembled on that regular a basis to go in the case, but because getting to these places requires pretty much every form of transport in one journey I imagine the smaller wheeled case would still be an easier way to take my bike with me than anything I could do with a "normal" bike. As mentioned in the OP I'm more concerned about the feel of the brakes. Your concern about the feasibility/reasons of my choice are very much appreciated though.

Do you say they're a money pit because of problems from usage, or just the fact that they're expensive to purchase in the first place?

njkayaker

I know the S&S couplers are expensive but I like to know more about your "money pit".

njkayaker

For the airline-rated sized case, 2 inches is huge. Packing a bike in such a case is fussy with close tolerances. It's better with smaller wheels and frames. You could use a bigger box.

If you are using a bigger box that you aren't shipping (or putting on a airplane) you might get away with an uncoupled bike (remove the wheels and fork). (You might need an even bigger box if you are shipping it.)

rpenmanparker 

Well, we are talking about a custom frame or a refitted frame that has to be repainted after the installation of the couplers. Then the suitcase is another $400 or more. You may have to buy the cable couplers and frame tubing pads separately...or not. And I have often had some minor damage upon arrival at my destination like a broken spoke that has to be fixed at a shop. Normally I would do that for free at home, but during travel you have to make do with the LBS. It just all adds up.

Your experience doing this will be very useful to other folks. Please continue to share your results as you proceed on the project.

Except for the disk brake requirement, it sounds like you would do well with a Ritchey Breakaway instead of an S&S frame. It is much more economical and comes in a CX version that would seem to be perfect for your riding conditions and plans. The Breakaways are phenomenal frames that ride superbly and build up fairly light. If it just weren't for those pesky disk brakes...

njkayaker

I know about all of that. It's the standard "very expensive" thing (which people do need to be aware of). The suitcase and other stuff would apply to the Ritchey frame too (the framesvare inexpensive).

Habanero sells a road Ti frame with couplers for an extra $1000.

Salsa sells (sold) a coupled Vaya (with disk brakes) and Surly has the LHT deluxe.

Disk brakes are hard to do.

Dheorl

Have you ever known planes bother measuring bags? Like I say, I've carried ones through which are way over and not been questioned. I'll bear in mind it's a possibility, but as much as anything it's the ease of taking it on and off trains and busses once I've flown. Seems much easier than a full size bike box.

Andy Somnifac 

Yes. I rarely see an airline that doesn't take any opportunity to tack on an extra fee.

Dheorl

If I do it, I'll be sure to do a thread on the stages and the problems. Have to save up a bit of money first/sell my current bike(s), just want to get an idea of what I'm asking for before I go for it. Need to settle on a builder as well.

As I'll only be taking it when away for longer periods I'll probably be taking a handful of spare parts with me. Still a bit worrying to hear of parts breaking. Which case was this using?

I have looked at the Ritchey, but as mentioned in the OP I'd really like steel or Ti.

Dheorl

I guess I've been lucky then. Most of my flying with oversized cases has been within Europe though. Maybe they're most lenient in short haul flights. So many people take just carry on these days on these flights they can't exactly be short of space in the hold.

Andy Somnifac 

It is possible that things are different. The overwhelming bulk of my travel is within the US. Your experience may vary worldwide.

njkayaker

You didn't seem interested in bringing it on an airplane anyway. Using a bigger non-regulation box would be easier to pack the bike in.

You don't need to use a full sized bike box either. You can pack a normal bike in a smaller box than that.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Fold-Any-Bike/?ALLSTEPS

Dheorl

Sorry, I didn't mean to give that impression. It's more that air travel is far from my only reason for wanting one.

Like I say, my main worry was about the feel of disc brakes being compromised by the cable setup I'd have to use. If I really had to for packaging purposes, discs aren't hard to remove, it will only add a few minutes each end.

Aubergine 

My wife and I both have an SS coupled bike for travel. We had ours made at R & E cycles in Seattle. Custom Bicycles - Rodriguez Bicycles and Tandem in Seattle R & E is making bikes with disks, so you might have a chat with them about packing.

Although I use an SS bike, take a look at Rinko bikes. These are being discussed in Bicycle Quarterly, Jan Heine's excellent magazine. Rinko bikes are made to be taken apart and packed into a large bag for travel on trains and the like. Unlike SS bikes, though, the frame does not come apart. It's an interesting design. Bicycle Quarterly: Home

njkayaker

I don't think that's a problem. There are S&S bikes that use disk brakes.

rpenmanparker 

The Ritchey frame includes a soft-sided bag in the price. I don't like it, because it doesn't provide the necessary protection to the frame IMO, but it is there included in the price. Not so with S&S.

anotherbrian

I have a S&S 29er MTB with disc brakes. With MTB levers I can remove the cable at the lever, so I run full hosing on mechanical brakes. Use Centerlock discs as you can easily remove the discs -- I'd never be able to pack mine in the S&S hardcase with both discs installed.

The S&S hardcase when loaded up to weigh 50#'s isn't trivial to pull around with its tiny and closely spaced wheels. You need to be careful going over anything but smooth surfaces. Combined with a carry-on roller bag and/or backpack/messenger bag and it can become a handful of luggage to get out of an airport.

The Ritchey Breakaway case exceeds 62 linear inches, so could be charged as oversize on US airlines. YMMV on them measuring.

I just can't see a coupled bike as the "bike for life." S&S-couplers suck for their weight and chunkiness and I'd categorize it as a nice +1 bike, rather than anything special. And the bikes get banged up in travel, and should probably be appreciated for their utility more than anything else.

I'm for keeping my travel bike super simple and now have a Eno Eccentric wheel on my Ritchey Breakaway CX. Unless you specifically need disc brakes, I'd stick with rim. The Ritchey road bike has caliper brakes, the CX has canti studs (I use Paul Comp mini-V's), but otherwise they're very similar.

anotherbrian

Both the Ritchey Road and CX are available in steel. The CX is available in Ti as well.

I'd buy another Ritchey before I'd buy another S&S bike, that's for sure.