Bike Builders Unite

[Elliot]

I struggle mightily with some of the regular bicycles, if the wheel is off the bike. The axle will move, because we do not have a third hand to hold the other end of the axle. Try clamping the other end of the axle between two blocks of wood in the vise. Or, of course, install it in the bike and tighten one end so you can work on the other.

[Canoe]

Thanks.
I've tried off the bike and on a wheel stand (local co-op).
I'll try.
Again.
And likely again.

Maybe I just have to do it over and over until I "get" it.

[unjonharley]

I rode one bike until the bearings were coming through the hub..

Bearing were good... The hubs were soft.. WallyWorld..

[unjonharley]

Elliot, I am going to start looking for bike pontunes.. Not for the kinetic races, but for the streets of Salem

[Elliot]

I paid something like ten bucks for a shiny new bicycle -- at a thrift store, with a busted rear wheel bearing race/hub. There wasn't even dust on the bike. The owner must have gotten just a couple miles out of it. Sometimes that's what $69.95 buys. But... 4 times out of 5 it lasts long enough for Playa duty.

[Elliot]

Elliot, I am going to start looking for bike pontunes.. Not for the kinetic races, but for the streets of Salem

The PonTunes -- I remember that band. Used to open Mitch And The MagicTones.


So... The streets of Salem look like this, eh....

[maladroit]

I'm seriously considering selling off the Beasts somehow and getting two of the Dolomites. The gearing would be useful, and the ship weight appears to be almost 20 pounds lighter.

[Elliot]

I'm seriously considering selling off the Beasts somehow and getting two of the Dolomites. The gearing would be useful, and the ship weight appears to be almost 20 pounds lighter.

Without researching it.... 20 pounds does not sound right. Whole bicycles weigh only around 25 pounds.

[maladroit]

Without researching it.... 20 pounds does not sound right. Whole bicycles weigh only around 25 pounds.

Yes, actual serious bicycles might. I am wrong that it's lighter...I thought the ship weight was about 60 pounds, but it's listed the same as the Dolomite at 46 pounds. The Beast actually weighs 49 pounds, the Dolomite is probably not any lighter.

[Elliot]

If the original has a steel frame and the new one has aluminum, there would be a noteworthy difference. You might look into that. Weight is certainly an enemy with bicycles.

[Canoe]

My fedex tracking lists the Dolomite as weighing 59 lbs.. (it's out for delivery - do I drive down and grab it today...)
There's a reason the Beast is called that. My front tire weighs 2829g. Its inner tube is 705g. Replaced it with a Larry at 1430g and a Q-tube at 383g (greatly easier to roll along; like a completely different bike; steering too). I reduced the 1880g rim by 203g when I drilled it out. Rim tape at 101g. So before adding the retroreflective tape and duct tape to hold that in place, I reduced the front wheel by 2026g, or 2.026 kg, or 4.47 lbs..
When I do the rear wheel, I expect to loose another ~4.5 lbs.. So roughly 9 lbs. off the bike.
But those tires cost more than the bike...

I'm taking my Larry & Endo for the Dolomite. I'm going split-tube "tubeless" for the Beast, to see how well I can get that heavy tire to roll without it's big fat heavy inner tube (no way to stretch a DH tube into that tire). If that works out as I expect, I'll likely go for the same on the dolomite. The fat cargo I'm slowly building will eventually get the Larry & Endo (both 120 tpi) or a pair of Nates.

The Dolomite ad says steel/aluminum. Apparently that's steel for the frame and aluminum for the rims.

[Tiahaar]

Ah dang I is envious Canoe!! You're gettin a Dolo!! And now they're out online grrrr... I want one toooooo ...

Hey on that bike wheel bearing thing there is a chance that one ball is bigger than the others (that's what she said nyuk nyuk) that would cause that trouble...or less likely the cones/balls/seats are mismatched...

[BigInSeattle]

Wow. Those sold out fast!

Here is link to the page in case anyone was interested. http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Mongoose-M ... d/29741123

[LowePro]

Hey Bike-masters,
I have a trailblazer bike trailer, which requires an attachment coupler to be mounted on rear fork of the bike.

My challenge is to modify the trailer so that it can to attach to any bike without having to mount a coupler on the bike; so that anyone's bike can use it to run to Ice, etc. Suggestions welcome on the forum or PM me.

Hoping for simple and low tech. This is only for low-speed playa riding and Safety-Third is in full effect. (we won't be towing any children or fabrege eggs around!) Thanks all.

[Canoe]

...You're gettin a Dolo!! And now they're out online grrrr... I want one toooooo ...

Ordered Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. EST.
Shipped same day from California 4:07 p.m. PST.
Arrive Thursday, up state NY, 12:29 noon EST.
Shipping charge: $2.97

Picked it up this afternoon. Large box inside another full box. Both boxes were opened on the bottom...(?)
Much better packaged than the Beast. Only the seat on seat post with some movement, paint protected from nylon ties by thick card stock. Quick glance: no dents, dings or chips. Nice paint.
Should assemble it tomorrow (bars to stem, front wheel to fork, pedals, seat post), with the appropriate grease. Very curious to see how the bearings come after all the online noise about Beast grease.

~edit. front hub bearings are so tight I can't turn them...


I'll have to see about the front Beast bearing. Probably unpack it, clean everything and start over.

[Canoe]

Trailer adapter.
Air hose connectors. One end fixed securely to the trailer tongue. The other connector bolted to a piece of tubular nylon strapping (camping/climbing type). Tied the one connector to the frame such that the connector is positioned at the end of the axle. Must be short enough and tied secure enough to ensure that the trailer tongue/connectors cannot make their way into the spokes.

You could also add a grommet to the nylon strap, very close to the connector, such that it can quickly bolt on to the end of the axle. Not ideal as you need to add an axle nut or use the one that's there, but...

Another variation. Doesn't need to be bolted, but can be tied (seat post, seat tube, rear carrier), but you'd need to use a different bar for the tongue.
You can have a connector always on your bike, and have another connector to 'loan' out with the trailer.

Bicycle-Trailer-Hitch-Quick-Release-hose-couplin.jpg

raised tongue, air connectors, one end tied to seat post - sm.jpg

[Elliot]

Bungee cord.

[BigInSeattle]

Just picked up my Dolomite tonight. I'll get that sucker put together tomorrow morning! My youngest son is giving me the hairy eyeball so I think the new Massif would make a great BDay present. I wish the Dolomite came in these colors.

[Canoe]

First Dolo ride.
Not in playa conditions...

http://forums.mtbr.com/fat-bikes/dolo-s ... 02410.html

There was a jerk making a knee-jerk post off the mark, but I'm waiting for comments on the tennis ball.

[BigInSeattle]

I got my Dolomite put together over the weekend. Overall it was in pretty good shape. One of the crank arms was a little scratched up. The front hub was WAY too tight. I could barely turn the wheel. Wheel was dragging on the front caliper. Derailleur is working fine, gear changes are crisp. The brakes are going to need adjusting, the brake levers meet the handlebar. Easy adjusting but MAN is this thing HEAVY. It weighs a ton but I love it. I've been sick as a dog since Sunday and I've only ridden around the driveway.

[Canoe]

Warning.
The Mongoose Dolomite, Massif and Beast are turning up on a certain online auction site at greatly inflated prices, with the name of the bike retouched out of the images and no mention of the bike model, Walmart nor Mongoose. Advertised as a "Fat Tire Bicycle", "Fat Tire Mountain Bicycle", a "Fat Tire Mountain Boys Bicycle" or a "Fat Tire Bicycle Cruiser".
Don't get scammed.

[maladroit]

greatly inflated prices

That'll protect the majority of burners from this scam, I'd imagine.

[BigInSeattle]

Wow! I just had to look that up. $538.00?! And all they did was black out the "Mongoose" using MS Paint or something. Hilarious. And I see that someone gave a Beast a HORRIBLE paint job and they want $568.00 for it!

[unjonharley]

I clicked onto a page $699-$999.. this should go in the WTFthread

[Canoe]

...
BEFORE riding it, make sure you grease both hubs, the bottom bracket and check what they have for headset bearings (sealed, or grease them too).
This will also let you make sure the bearings are not too tight either.

I second this notion. And this applies to all cheap bikes these days.

Finally got around to replacing the BB today. I had a spare set of new cups & bearings sitting around for the Beast. They fit the Dolo. YST Sealed BSA Cupset with Bearings (for under $10). The opening for the axle has a rubber seal. Super smooth.

As delivered, on my Dolo, for the BB, front hub, rear hub and the headset, all were greased enough to work (and were clean, uncontaminated), but there were air spaces. So not enough grease for good heat conduction (bearing life) nor enough to be completely packed to prevent water from getting into the race (an issue with rain/snow/wet-roads where I am). So they're all thoroughly packed now.

Since I was at the local bike co-op, I also threw a used Shimano freewheel on the rear (MF-HG40 14-34T) for $5, so the stock 28T is now a 34T, and swapped out the stock 36T chain-ring for a used 22-32-44T ring/crank on the drive side for $7, with the stock alloy 170mm arm on the left. Now I can take on any snowbank! (just as the snow is getting rained away...)

[Romper Stomper]

[quote="Canoe"]My fedex tracking lists the Dolomite as weighing 59 lbs.. (it's out for delivery - do I drive down and grab it today...)
There's a reason the Beast is called that. My front tire weighs 2829g. Its inner tube is 705g. Replaced it with a Larry at 1430g and a Q-tube at 383g (greatly easier to roll along; like a completely different bike; steering too). I reduced the 1880g rim by 203g when I drilled it out. Rim tape at 101g. So before adding the retroreflective tape and duct tape to hold that in place, I [u]reduced[/u] the front wheel by 2026g, or 2.026 kg, or 4.47 lbs..
When I do the rear wheel, I expect to loose another ~4.5 lbs.. So roughly 9 lbs. off the bike.
But those tires cost more than the bike...

I'm taking my Larry & Endo for the Dolomite. I'm going split-tube "tubeless" for the Beast, to see how well I can get that heavy tire to roll without it's big fat heavy inner tube (no way to stretch a DH tube into that tire). If that works out as I expect, I'll likely go for the same on the dolomite. The fat cargo I'm slowly building will eventually get the Larry & Endo (both 120 tpi) or a pair of Nates.

The Dolomite ad says steel/aluminum. Apparently that's steel for the frame and aluminum for the rims.[/quote]

Argh. Evidently the Dolo's were going for approx $200 at the beginning of the month - now they're $350

[Romper Stomper]

Aaaaaaand - it's on sale for $270 shipped:

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/store ... :201750720

[unjonharley]

Have all the parts cut up for the camel (see avatar prototype) named Clyde .

Had to step back for a few days.. Building up a 1962 folding bike for a hauler to the store and back.. 20 inch BMX wheels and fork.. Changing the fork to have brakes. The folder came with a coaster brake.. Have 24volt scooter motor and sprocket for a helper on the hills. A bag of cat litter is 40 lb.

[unjonharley]

Who is out there building bikes and trike..

White grease comes in a spray can @ Home Depot..Next to the WD 40...

Home Depots "wd 40" has less oil in it.. More solvent.. Good for moving bike parts.. "i" would say better..

Time to up date your playa bike..

Extra parts laying around Elliot can use peddles and good wheels.. Don't just throw all your junk at him.. Ask first.. The wheels need to be streight with good bearing.. Used tires NO

[theCryptofishist]