New bike - first impressions

[glasgowcyclist]

Thank you. I like those rack mounts as well as the fact that the frame can be opened for a belt drive if you want to do that later on. With the Alfine it would certainly be tempting to belt it.

It looks like a really nice bike. Enjoy it.

My first preference was to go for the belt-drive model (Nightflight Premium) but a couple of things put me off; the extra EUR300 and the worry about my LBS not having a suitable belt in stock should I hit a problem with the original.

Since my bike is otherwise the exact same spec and the frame can be split I thought I'd go the cheaper route and, if I fancied it later, I could always convert to belt.

GC

 

[AndyRM]

That's a very smart looking bit of kit. I do like when designers engineer solutions to common cycling issues.

I like the Vanmoof range as well, though I know the styling isn't to everyone's taste.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I like the Vanmoof range as well, though I know the styling isn't to everyone's taste.

Blimey, I see what you mean! (I do like it though)

Does the top tube double as a rocket launcher?



GC

 

[Yellow Saddle]

My first preference was to go for the belt-drive model (Nightflight Premium) but a couple of things put me off; the extra EUR300 and the worry about my LBS not having a suitable belt in stock should I hit a problem with the original.

Since my bike is otherwise the exact same spec and the frame can be split I thought I'd go the cheaper route and, if I fancied it later, I could always convert to belt.

GC

I agree that EUR300 is quite a bit extra. Funny, those belts are made just south of Glasgow, in Dumfries by Gates.

 

[AndyRM]

Blimey, I see what you mean! (I do like it though)

Does the top tube double as a rocket launcher?



GC

I believe so, yes. And rotating the pedals makes a siren like an air-raid warning.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

What should the chain tension be on a setup like this? And how much adjustment should I expect to make on 75 miles commuting per week?

GC

 

[Cyclist33]

Looks great, the only concern I would have - and I might be misreading the photos completely - is that the rack mounting seems to all happen in one place, by which I mean the slots in the stays are only a cm or so deep and then the fixing bolts are in the same place pretty much, so what happens if you put 30 kg of panniers onto that?

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Looks great, the only concern I would have - and I might be misreading the photos completely - is that the rack mounting seems to all happen in one place, by which I mean the slots in the stays are only a cm or so deep and then the fixing bolts are in the same place pretty much, so what happens if you put 30 kg of panniers onto that?

If you look closely you'll see that the underside of the rack is attached to the mudguard which is in turn fixed to a bridge between the seat stays. That gives it very clean lines and the impression that the rack is almost floating.

It's rock solid and I have mounted two panniers full of shopping on it with no problem.

GC

 

[vernon]

What should the chain tension be on a setup like this? And how much adjustment should I expect to make on 75 miles commuting per week?

GC

If it was belt drive, once every four and a half thousand miles based on my belt drive Rohloff. I can't comment on the chain drive hub heated combo.

I stalled for quite a while over purchasing a hub geared bike and once I'd test ridden the belt drive Woodrup, I was convinced that this was the way forward.

All that I've had to do in three and a bit years is replace the hub oil annually and replace tyres and brake pads as c they wore out.

The extra Euros would have been money well spent. Reservations about belts snapping are unfounded. I think that Mark Beaumont used belt drive for his round the world ride.

Buying a spare belt might have put your mind at rest.

You might be able to resort to a trick that Rohloff users use to prolong sprocket life and reverse them when they wear.

Back to chain tension, would it be the same as single speed bikes?

 

[shouldbeinbed]

That is a lovely looking bike GC and some nice clever touches.

 

[swee'pea99]

Now you've been riding it for a few weeks, are you still finding the steering twitchy? I did wonder whether that might be at least in part down to the straight forks.

 

[cyberknight]

sweet

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Now you've been riding it for a few weeks, are you still finding the steering twitchy? I did wonder whether that might be at least in part down to the straight forks.

It's still twitchy, I think I've just adjusted to it over time.

GC

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Back to chain tension, would it be the same as single speed bikes?

Yes, the amount of movement that you'd adjust in or out depending on your outlook, on the slack run of the chain or belt would be the same. I agree with your comments on durability, having had a belt drive motorcycle.

 

[vernon]

Yes, the amount of movement that you'd adjust in or out depending on your outlook, on the slack run of the chain or belt would be the same. I agree with your comments on durability, having had a belt drive motorcycle.

The belt drive has a specified tension range or at least it does when used with Rohloff hubs. There's several ways of doing it:
A widget that fits on the finger with a clicker in it. You press on the belt and you note where a pointer is on a scale when the widget clicks.

A mass hung from the top run of the belt and measurement of the belt delection.

A phone app that measures the frequency of a plucked belt.

Over tension can compromise the functioning of the seals and bearings on the drive side of the hub.

The belt tension on my bike was still within tolerance after 4500 miles but I adjusted it to the mid point anyway.

There's no discernable wear on the sprockets.