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Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

ikea.com

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Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#171

Post by 7952 »

crazygringo wrote: post #51
brndnmtthws wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

90% of your braking 'power' comes from the front brake. Under hard braking in ideal conditions, this is closer to 100%. You can safely remove the rear brake from most bikes. This is a common misconception [1]. The same is true for motorcycles. [1]: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

That is not a misconception at all, at least not for bicycles, and it's highly dangerous to suggest so. Have you ever tried braking while going down a steep hill? (e.g. San Fran hills?) You know, to stay at a safe speed? Front brake will flip you over in an instant, I know because I've done it, even at slow speeds, when my rear brake cable snapped. After a couple tries I walked home, since bicycling without a rear br…

People get flipped by the front brake because it is more powerful, they are not used to the stopping power. You have to brace against the handlebars.

It is more powerful because as the bike rocks forward the wheel is pushed into the ground and has more friction with the surface. The rear brake will loose grip under braking because it rises up from the ground. Aggressive braking in the rear is more dangerous because the wheel can lock up and skid, which can send you over the handlebars. The back brake tends to be setup to be more relaxed to stop people doing this. Maybe that is why people think it is safer.

With a bit of practice you can get much better braking force from a front brake. Try it out on some grass, and see how far you take it before the back wheel starts to rise. You will find that you can stop much faster, which will make you safer. Just try it and see.

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#172

Post by aluhut »

bichiliad wrote: post #152
aluhut wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have question for you. Before my actual bike, I had a mountain bike for something around 15years. I never changed or did anything to the chain. It was perfect. Now I bought a new one. After 2 years I went to the shop to have it checked. They had to change the chain. When I told them my story with the old bike they told me: "that's how it is today. Chains are not what they were". I'm still in disbelieve. Can you con…

TL;DR: Keeping an unworn chain on your bike is important. I can't speak much to bike chain quality, but 15 years with one chain seems kinda exceptional. I am also relative child still, so I may just not have been alive to experience chains that last that long. Chains are tested by measuring the distance between links with a tool[0], or by checking to see how much wiggle room your chain has between links when it's on…

I gave it away to a friend and in the chain was stretched. He had to change it as well as the cassette but still...I probably had to change it 5 years ago. That is not 2 years.

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#173

Post by exDM69 »

aluhut wrote: post #134
johnny99 wrote: post #119

I used to be a bike mechanic, and have gotten to work 90% by bicycle for the past two decades, so I'll take a stab at some of the questions: - Belt drives are great. They're sturdier than chains, cleaner, and something I love, quieter. The angle of the belt doesn't change, the way a chain does, which means you can add a chain guard, as this bike does. Which keeps it yet cleaner. You can ride to work without worrying…

I have question for you. Before my actual bike, I had a mountain bike for something around 15years. I never changed or did anything to the chain. It was perfect. Now I bought a new one. After 2 years I went to the shop to have it checked. They had to change the chain. When I told them my story with the old bike they told me: "that's how it is today. Chains are not what they were". I'm still in disbelieve. Can you con…

Chains might not be what they used to be but the multi-geared sprockets with tight tolerances definitely aren't. It's cheaper to change the chains sooner than to wait until they wear out your sprockets badly enough that you can't fit a new chain on it and need to change both.

2 years of life out of chains sounds reasonable to me if you drive a lot. Exposure to dirt, salt (from de-icing), moisture, etc can shorten the life of your chains. Keeping them clean and well oiled will make them last longer. And using quality chains in the first place, your bike might have come with cheapo chains.

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#174

Post by abrax3141 »

miloshadzic wrote: post #166
abrax3141 wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are bikes still getting stolen? So many bikes are stolen that you'd think the market for stolen bikes, and parts, which can't be THAT huge, would be saturated.

people whose bikes get stolen need new ones

That would only make sense if Schwinn was stealing them.

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#175

Post by mixmastamyk »

ams6110 wrote: post #113
tyingq wrote: post #14

Zooming in, the belt says "Conti Drive System" on it. More info on that here: http://www.conti-drive-system.com/ They seem to be competing with the "Gates Carbon Drive", here: http://www.gatescarbondrive.com/ I know nothing of bicycles, but I do recall when automakers started replacing timing chains with timing belts. The results weren't always great, especially with interference engines where misaligned timing means…

By "chainless" I was first thinking something like this: http://glendalecycles.com/bike-technology/chainless-shaft-dr...

Neat, can you change gears?

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#176

Post by tritosomal »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #133
tritosomal wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a bike from Target over the summer for $100. It has: broken one chain suffered multiple rear brake failures unfastened the handle bars so they dangle from the fork All of these things happened while miles from home, and required tools for repair. When one thing was fixed, another thing broke. The brakes failed repeatedly, and warranted full replacement. The handle bars are especially treacherous, because put…

Target and WalMart know that the average American rides a bike no more than 10 miles a year. Their bikes can do just about that. If you plan on more than going around the block, the lesson is buy a real bike, from a bike shop.

Wow, you know, this is probably the most accurate conclusion. I've probably put about 20 or 30 ten mile trips on it, and the frequency of failure cropped up maybe every 5 trips.

I chalked it up to poor assembly by a new guy on a Monday morning.

Considering this model of assessment, I realize that department store bikes aren't measured with the same sort of warranty ratings as perhaps cars. Too bad bikes don't use the same sort of 100,000 mile power train warranty as a mark of quality or durability.

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#177

Post by Groxx »

xapata wrote: post #100
collyw wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its also a good way to go over the handlebars if you only use a front brake.

Breaking at similar speed on the rear brakes will cause a fishtail and slide rather than brake. I'd rather endo (flip over my handlebars) than ride in front of a car.

Fishtails are pretty easy to control though. Going over the handlebars, not so much. (though that requires a lot more braking power, to be fair)

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#178

Post by msandford »

johnny99 wrote: post #163
aluhut wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't care if the chain is heavier. The scary stories I heard from what happens if the chain falls apart are enough for me. I would even pay more. No problem. However, when I asked the guys in the shop, they had nothing like that.

I've had a chain break once in probably 30k miles of riding, and only because I'd monkeyed with it (taken links out when converting to 1x7 speeds). Pros put unreal amounts of torque on equipment that's crazy light, and their chains break very rarely. Not something I'd worry about.

Pros also get their chains changed as frequently as they want. I doubt any pros are riding 2000 miles per chain like plenty of amateurs do.

Also the biggest pro I've ever heard of is Magnus Backstedt at 6'4 and 207lbs. He's a GIANT compared to everyone else on the pro tour. "Big" Tom Boonen only weighs 180lbs and Lance Armstrong was 165. Pros have really good power for their weight, but in absolute numbers the power isn't that excessive.

If you want to see people who are tough on gear, you have to look at track riders. That's where a 1400W rider isn't anything special and 1800W+ starts to become impressive. Also since they're on single gear bikes the torque they put down at low speeds to accelerate is absolutely insane.

Re: Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

#180

Post by zobzu »

- 15kg is not light even for a tank build.

- 2 speeds 26in wheels addes to that weight ensure that you can only ride flat terrain, specially if you aren't a fit experienced cyclist...

- disc brakes are great when good quality but also require regular maintenance and truing unlike traditional brakes

- bikes twice the price don't have 25 limited frame warranty. they have life warranty.

so basically whats good about this bike?

well, the belt drive. thats it. at this price, i dont know if I'd recommend it given the issues and that nobody has really tested the bike yet

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