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The quick release should be tight enough that it bites into the metal of the dropout when fully-tightened. The quick release arm should be "somewhat difficult" to close - this is about 20lbs of force to close the quick release lever. If the wheel is not secure when the quick release is...

Alex, I notice in your photos that the axle is all the way to the rear of the axle slot in the triangle bracket. You may need to move it forward in the slot to allow the chain to clear the bracket when it rides up on the top of the cog to change gears. The handling should be insensitive to...

Hi Scott, I sent you an e-mail with some photos. Let us know if you need any more info, Best, Doug

Excellent job, sir. These bikes fly along very nicely when equipped with 700c wheels and tires. This is a nicely-adapted V1. Good on ya. Best, Doug

That bike is beautiful.

Ed, You might also run the "B tension screw" in a bit and try it. These chains err on the long side for length, and the combination of slack B-tension, plus long chain, plus a bump or something that gets the chain bouncing a little, can derail it...

Hi Alex. That connection should be pretty tight. If it has play, I would add another washer to try and take the play out. It can be a steel washer or another nylon one. Best, Doug

Alex, Is the play in the front chainstay or the rear swing arm? There should not be any play in the front chainstay or rear swing arm pivots, the ones that use the MTB two-piece "axles" that have the 6mm bolt that goes down inside. Thanks, Doug

Hi Geoff, A fine looking machine there! I've become an expert in cable-running because of similar experiences... Is the fork travel adjustable? It looks like you could take an inch out of the front and rear and still have plenty of travel for all but the worst bumps and curbs. As you get...

Great ride summary - 300m with no hands already - very impressive. I'm taking my Q559 to the Outer Banks of NC next week. 45 miles of off-highway bike paths. Hoping the weather is good. I've noticed some folks like to have a little more lumbar on the seat. You can place a piece of exercise mat...

Hi, Your kit should have included four nylon washers, two for each side, that go between the triangle adapter brackets and the front chainstay. These are commonly available at the hardware store; let us know if you didn't get them with the kit. On all my kit bikes, I've used a 2mm x 10mm...

Hi Trev, Hard to go wrong with SRAM chains. A good alternative is KMC. Generally inexpensive, but smooth-running. I've used SRAM, KMC and Shimano, when it was on sale at the LBS. SRAM and KMC are neck-and-neck; Shimnao is usually expensive for no better quality. We use YBN chains on some of...

Generally about 2 inches is as wide as will dependably clear the front fork legs and front chainstays for 26" tires. Remember that the rim width will affect the ultimate width of the tire sidewall-to-sidewall. Best, Doug

I don't mean to seem really negative. The component prices I quoted after researching were retail prices; I'm mainly anxious about someone going to all that expense and coming out with something I can't help them with very much. Since my job around here is to solve customer problems, I like to...

The Q559 tire size is dictated by the need to use the same fork for the Q451, which is designed to pack into a Samsonite F'Lite suitcase. This limits the fork leg length, and lowers the fork crown height, thus requiring a 1" 559 tire. Which is bloody fast, by the way, and not a problem due to...

I have no direct experience with the Alfine hub. I do know that the SRAM Dual Drive II 3x9 provides and specifies the use of a keyed washer for horizontal dropouts, and a serrated external face washer for vertical dropouts. My suspicion is they intend for the axle to have a specific orientation...

Hi Roger, #23 "Fit the Freewheel into the bike's rear drop outs." I installed the axle from the kit but it is too narrow. I would have to squeeze my rear triangles together about 1 cm. As stated before, do I need to get some more spacers? Some bikes will need a washer between the spacer and...

Hi Folks, The SRAM I9 works best with a horizontal dropout and a tensioning device. The Sigma dropout is designed to take the I9 and has snail cams to tension the chain. A very elegant, designed-in solution. The Quest BB shell is not large enough to accept an eccentric BB and otherwise you'd...

Hi Mark, I, too, would love an MBB/FWD tandem. The vision I have is just too darn long to be practical, though it's probably one of the better-riding recumbent tandems ever built. Cost me $3300 bucks used by the time I had it shipped from San Francisco (I was determined to get my son into...

Hi Rome, I use a Topeak MTX - A type rack on my Vk2. It has 700 x 38c tires and I have no clearance problems. http://www.rei.com/product/697096 There are 3 types of MTX racks; the A-type is listed as "small". It mounts easier if you substitute a 40mm M6 bolt in place of the quick release...