Recent content by chicorider

I am running 32mm Schwalbe Pro Ones on rims with 25mm internal width (pretty wide). I like 'em a lot. There is room to go up to 35mm in the front, but that could be a little tight in the back. I have about a 2mm gap between the tire and the two brake bridges, which is enough, but I wouldn't...

Clever. I will try some of this out the next time I do brake work.

That is a Shimano Di2 front derailleur, with the wire running behind the derailleur and chain catcher, held to the stalk by a zip-tie. It stays well out of the way. The second pic is of my S30, with a Shimano mechanical front derailleur. Again, the cable runs behind it all, kept in place by...

It should fit an aluminum front end V20 just fine. The V20 and pre-thru axle S40 used the same chain stays.

Yeah, a cut cable will fray pretty easily if it catches on anything. New cables have more fixed ends. A small dab of glue or solder would certainly help. It is a fiddly process, for sure.

Hey Frito Bandito. I don't see why such a swap wouldn't work. You'll probably need new spokes, but those are readily available in whatever length you need (The guy I use often cuts and threads "blanks" to the lengths I want). Your current hubs use straight pull spokes. Chris Kings come in...

When I run cables into the Growtac calipers, I push the swingarm in with my fingers to create a straighter line for the cable to run through the hole on the swingarm. When a I have a couple inches of cable past the hole, I let go of the swingarm. Also, sometimes the housing bend between the...

Tires will have a lot of say about how a bike rides. The Maxxis are a smart choice for CB, sending their bikes out to a variety of riders. The Refuse will hit a happy middle spot between durability and speed, leaning more toward durability, meaning heavier but reliable. It's a safe choice for...

I build my own wheels, and when I built up my first V20 ten years ago, I was still using aluminum rims. I learned pretty quickly that these bikes, and perhaps the V in particular, can be tough on wheels because you can't unweight or hop like you can on a DF bike. The front wheel seems to have...

Well done! 10 years ago, 27 years of riding DF bikes finally caught up to my lower back and sent me looking at recumbents, with extreme reluctance. I blindly pulled the trigger on a V20, struggled through 1,000 miles of learning curve, and came out the other side actually glad that back pain...

The Grotac kit is very complete, including pads and several mounting bolts of different lengths. I've never tried to lift the rear wheel, but I would imagine it would take a tremendous effort and a strong front brake. I would guess that the front wheel would lock up or skid before the rear end...

Sorry to hear about your cracked slider. When you get your new one, about 5Nm of torque on each bolt should do it. Also, try to make the gaps between the two clamp halves even. I noticed in your photo that the top gaps seem closed. This can put a slight upward cant on the bolts that can put...

I initially built my V20c up with TRP Spyre SLCs, and they worked fine. But I eventually moved over to the Growtac Equals, and they are a noticeable improvement in power and lever feel. They're kind of pricey for mechanical brakes, but I like them enough that I now have them on three bikes. I...

My picture isn't very good, but you can buy cable guides that bolt onto bottle cage bosses. This one keeps my brake cables secure and out of the way, and keeps the look clean. A couple of cable ties between the bottle boss and the steerer tube does the rest...

I dropped my chain a few times on my V20, usually when shifting into the smaller chainring coincided with going over bumps. When I built up my V20c, I cut and applied adhesive frame protectant where your chain scuffs are. Your chain stay is probably fine, but you could cover those scuffs with...