[i12ride]

Thanks, it's really grown on me. Belt guard had to go, couldn't get it right where it wouldn't eventually make noise from cranks touching it. Spent too much time fiddling with it and besides, it hides the cool beltness so it's out for now. Not necessarily as precise and definite as chain/derailleur but smooth and plenty doable. 2 different animals. Shifting under much pressure is somewhat unnerving, like you're gonna break it if you keep that up. IG shifting is not hammerable as chain/der IMO but in general, I need to tune riding mindset down on this bike vs the go nuts way on fat tire bikes. It's for commuting and touring for God's sake....ride accordingly. Flip flops may be mandatory to keep me in the correct mindset. Had to test the limits of it and have found them and existing within them is an enjoyable casual smooth quiet af gliding experience that is oddly addicting to me.

 

[Dos_Ruedas]

[emoji108]
I agree that it looks cool or "rad dude," without the belt cover. Good move there!!

Now that you mention it, I could see where trying to hammer on it might cause issues. However, as a tour or errand bike, I really don't know how a person could ride anything sweeter than that.

 

[i12ride]

What? I'm ready to ride across the country on that thing

 

[i12ride]

Now I get cardio and weight lifting all in one now that the bike has a barbell. Weak ding tradeoff for stealth appearance. It'll do.............


actual pic of it in place forthcoming.................

 

[i12ride]

There you go.......barbell. Never thought a bell would ever be anything I thought I actually needed until getting this bike and trying to safely and courteously navigate idiots out wandering around. It's a new riding style I'm embracing OK...only on this bike tho. No, not mellowing from age, don't worry. It's just that the type of bike dictates a certain riding style and this one demands somewhat of a departure from my norm. Much prefer the ding action for getting zombies' attention vs trying to verbally alert them. Light does it at night and dinger does it in daylight....................

 

[cybersnow]

Great bike, but be careful! I have noticed that about 20% of the riders turn left as you pass them calling ‘On your left”. Sweet belt set up!

 

[newleaf150]

There you go.......barbell. Never thought a bell would ever be anything I thought I actually needed until getting this bike and trying to safely and courteously navigate IOWA (Idiots Out Wandering Around). It's a new riding style I'm embracing OK...only on this bike tho. No, not mellowing from age, don't worry. It's just that the type of bike dictates a certain riding style and this one demands somewhat of a departure from my norm. Much prefer the ding action for getting zombies' attention vs trying to verbally alert them. Light does it at night and dinger does it in daylight....................

View attachment 36204 View attachment 36206

Great bike, but be careful! I have noticed that about 20% of the riders turn left as you pass them calling ‘On your left”. Sweet belt set up!

Funny how things work. It's been my observation (speaking locally) that my own much less stylish looking but clear and loud bell is primarily heard most by children, along with maybe 2 in 5 adults. I tried using it without an accompanying verbal queue early on, but even with 3x double rings on approach, I kept startling adults and attracting cycling children to swerve toward rather than away from my line.

It seems that localities vary . My own best solution has worked out to be a double bell ring followed by a moderate volume 'on your left'. Often followed by supplemental encouragement where children or obviously jumpy peds are concerned. That, and slowing down as a rule when overtaking peds. Kids call for an even slower pace, whether oncoming or being overtaken.

I occasionally annoy peds by over-warning them of my presence, but I'd rather do that than make people do the startled jump as I blow by them with (so far as they are concerned and despite my own efforts to the contrary) no warning.

 

[i12ride]

My love of singletrack is not unfounded..........dealing with people is usually PIA regardless of venue. Deal with or be dealt with.......there's a balance to be stricken.

 

[i12ride]

I'm trying to be polite with the bell. If it doesn't work out, next is this..................

It says right there on the can - "Ideal for all sporting events" . People's choice, catch your snap or be slapped heartily with your ineptitude..................

 

[i12ride]

Got the mudflaps.....had to take off front wheel and front fender to do some minor straightening of the fender itself by fork on one side and removed the top fender trim and replaced it with the unscathed one from bottom of fender after minor straightening of the edge. Then had to drill (did not like but....) bottom of fender for the flap fasteners. Those were weak sauce so used a bolt/nut on top hole and the weak snap fastener on bottom hole for trusted attachment.......not going with one on rear fender..............likin the results tho.

 

[i12ride]

CDX belt and CDN belt as bkup would be next project......gonna loosen the bb shell bolts and ride the thing to see if I can get eccentric bb loose so belt tensioning can occur. Have bent pins on spanner trying to get it to move as well as some friendly persuasion with wood block on end of crank bolt to jar it loose but no go as of now.........

 

[i12ride]

Alrighty then, a few things have been buggin me about the rear end of this thing so a cold windy rainy day = time to fix. The taillight wiring was routed thru the belt on drive side chainstay then up the rack leg and then under rack to light mounted on back of rack. This effectively locks up removing rack & belt so that had to change. Rerouted the taillight wiring along non-drive side chainstay and then wrapped the fender stay and mounted light to fender using and homemade bracket cut from something I had laying around. Thin steel so it was easy to manipulate it into what I needed. It was needed due to how the wire exiting the light is. Used the existing upper fender screw to mount bracket holding light. Now the rack and/or belt can be removed without taillight wiring being involved........

 

[i12ride]

Few pics of bike with rack removed for servicing.............I like the way it looks, which is part of reason to make it easy to remove upon occasion..............

 

[i12ride]

Having that light bracket where it is on the fender kinda makes me want to install the other flap now............

 

[i12ride]

OK, so fabbed up a mount for a permanent reflector on the rack now that the light moved to fender. Used existing hole in rack center plate. So here is rack back on bike with improved mounting, reflector added & free of taillight wiring.............

......now have solid light down on fender, reflector in middle on rack & a blinking dot up top under seat on seatpost. More visibility. Also added another round white relector up front on bars since I came across it scrounging for mount for rear reflector so more visibility from front too.

 

[i12ride]

Last and not least, CDN belt removed and new CDX belt installed since taillight wiring out of the way and rack removed temporarily. Frame separated at seatstay just like it should without issue. Used the app on phone to get avg of 38hrtz from crank arm in 4 positions. 35-50hrtz is range so no need to mess with bottom bracket. Feels a bit tighter than the CDN belt that was on it. IIRC, it was pulling low 30s on app. Liking the ridged look to the belt and no need to futz with eccentric bb...............

 

[i12ride]

Oh yeah, the CATEYE Strada wireless peeking above the bars in a pic above was scuttled from another bike as well as the Stem Captain thermometer stem cap............

 

[Dos_Ruedas]

That's really coming along.....and o liked it before you started adding things.
Nice.

 

[i12ride]

Thanks. Thinking it’s about done. I have all the bags I could ever need & panniers. Have OCD’d things from stem to stern and have landed in the just ride it zone......I think. Only thing that might happen anytime soon might be adding the other flap I have like up front to the rear fender.

 

[i12ride]

.....and o liked it before you started adding things.

OK, I guess I'll put it back that way.