Re: Nexus 8 -Speed Bicycles

Chalo

Ryan Cousineau <rcousine@sfu.ca> wrote:
>
> chumpychump@hotmail.com (Chalo) wrote:
> >
> > It's an aluminum monocoque BMX race frame carefully jacked open and
> > milled to accept a SRAM 5-speed hub with drum brake. Both hubs are
> > laced to 20" Velocity Deep-Vs with 110psi slicks. Carbon fork,
> > aluminum handlebars, Race Face Next LP cranks, Speedplay pedals. Long
> > 31.6mm seatpost. Projected complete weight: 20 pounds.
>
> Why did you decide on the 5-speed hub, as opposed to the 7? Or, for that
> matter the Rohloff, since that would get you closer to your new goal .

It looked likelier to be able to spread the stays from 110mm to 126mm
than to 135mm. I was rooting for a coaster brake model which would
have made it 122mm, but my pal liked the idea of a drum. Heck, *I*
like a drum on a 20" wheel!

The machining part of the operation was to remove a wall surrounding
the dropout slot, in order to provide clearance for the shifter
clickbox.

> I want a bike that is sort of
> a fast-as-possible cheap-and-transportable bike, or maybe a death-metal
> Moulton. Hm. Since I'm going to an island with a lot of stair steps,
> maybe I should get a suspension fork and really go to town.

I highly recommend the Primo Comet tire: file treaded, rated at
110psi, and available in 1.35, 1.95, and 2.1 nominal widths. The big
one compensates pretty well for the small wheel diameter.

Suspension fork? Sounds like a request for your nearest bike
recycler. There are not many new 20" suspension forks that outclass
the ones found on the nicer major-brand kid-sized MTBs. AFAIK White
Brothers are the only outfit to offer a sophisticated 20" suspension
fork, which is pricey and not likely to suit your application better
than a steel-tubed spring/elastomer job.

> > The front end of a 20" bike is so short, drop bars would be a sick
> > joke. Flat bars or cowhorns would give a time-trial/pursuit kind of
> > riding position.
>
> Interesting thoughts. I'm thinking a flat bar (maybe with my bolt-on
> aero bars brought along for extra sickness) would be the way to go. I
> suppose there's no real reason to not use the stock BMX-style
> handlebars, is there? Besides looks?

Not really. They are stiffer and stronger than cantilevered bars, but
much heavier. Typically you'll get 7" of rise from BMX bars but none
from the stem, whereas you could use flat bars and MTB stem for less
rise but more reach options.

Chalo Colina