It feels like either a hub gear/sprocket combo or a chain link is damaged on my bike: in 2nd gear under high torque the chain sometimes slips in a way that feels like it's skipping one sprocket tooth.

It might be an internal hub issue, an actual damaged sprocket tooth, a messed up chain link, or something else entirely; but in any case it's unpleasant & a bit disconcerting, though likely not dangerous.

But do I get it repaired, or wait it out until the Rohloff retrofit project..? 🤔

@gnomon it should be trivial to check the chain at least, yeah?

@nev yep, should be. I've been putting off a proper chain clean and lubrication session anyhow; I should do that tonight (since it'll need that care after commuting home in this weather!) and take a close look at each link at the same time.

Sweet, looks like it'll be an easy job to have the lovely folks at Curbside Cycle swap out my chain and rear sprockets during the same timeslot they'll be using to swap out my bottom bracket for that Brompton recall.

And apparently my Rohloff hub just cleared customs and might show up before the weekend! Everything's coming up Milhouse!

Nice! Picked up my bike from the shop on the way home last night. I'm not sure if it's the bottom bracket replacement, the fresh rear sprockets (cogs?), or the new chain, but pedaling feels *silky*. So nice! Even shifting feels a little more crisp.

My Rohloff hub reached the shop! Eeeeeeeee! New rims got there too, so now they're just measuring everything for the spoke cutting. Then it'll be the wheel build, rear triangle installation, shifter fitting, and possibly a chainring swap, then I'll get to ride a 14-speed Brompton!

(I really can't wait for this project to wrap up!)

@gnomon wait, *14* speeds?? In a hub? Dang

@nev it's ridiculous, the damn thing is like witchcraft or alien technology: 14 speeds, ~530% gear range (!!), 89-96% energy transmission efficiency. There's just nothing else out there even remotely like it.

And I'm jamming it in a Brompton clown bike! 😁

Stopped by the shop on the way home to check out the Rohloff hub. (And also the rims, shifter, and so on, but let's be real: the hub is the star of the show here.)

It's so shiny and pretty! And HUGE and HEAVY. But I knew that going in, and it's replacing so many parts that the overall weight delta isn't actually all that bad.

Spoke lengths measured and dispatched for cutting. Next up: wheel building. Then final fitting and assembly!!
https://mastodon.social/media/Uz-zzjhGzNs0r7VzRUg

I slowly realized the other day that I left something out of the dependency / sequence plan: the bell! There's one built in to the stock left Brompton sprocket shifter, but of course once my whole gear system gets swapped out for the Rohloff hub that will go away. Can't stay legal without one!

So I picked up a quite nice one by Spurcycle. Bit of an unnecessary indulgence, I know, but I really do like it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BakPX73DseS/

Got an email Friday afternoon from the shop: wheel's built! I stopped in on the way home to talk assembly scheduling. (And, honestly, to ogle the pretty hardware. The assembled thing is really gorgeous. I'm really glad Timm convinced me to try for the polished silver hub finish.)

I'll be dropping off my machine on Thursday and leaving it for a few days so Eli can get everything fitted and tuned. They kindly offered the loan of one of their rental Bromptons for the duration, too.

Eeeee!

It's dark and drizzling rain out here this morning, but 🎵 that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red... 🎶 ahem. But it's not getting me down at all because today I drop off my Brompton for the Rohloff installation!! Eeee!

I *do* wish I could have delivered a cleaner bike to the shop. One reason to grumble about the rain, I guess. Still, it's a commuter cycle: I don't get to choose my ride weather, really.

Can't wait for this first project milestone!

Dropped off my S6L-X++ to convert it into an S14L-X++!

Curbside lent me their rental M6L for the duration of the shop work. It's got a dynamo hub and a significantly more upright riding position than my usual Brompton. It's... OK; not my preference, but it'll definitely do for a little while, and I'm grateful for their generosity. They're definitely taking good care of me and this whole project.

I should bring them some cider or bourbon. Or both, I suppose. Hmm...

The loaner M6L is nicely put together. Light grey-blue paint job, telescopic seatpost, dyno hub with front and rear capacitor driven LEDs...

https://mastodon.social/media/HAb9Wf_td8O86n5cm-Q https://mastodon.social/media/ur6bhHooui_7c9g21Rk https://mastodon.social/media/Ygld3oPWRzEGENfcgBc https://mastodon.social/media/5JvxYd99e0O0SYj0HKY

Close-ups of the front and rear lights and reflector assemblies, wiring to the rear assembly run through the rear triangle tube (perhaps to protect it from a skipped chain?); and of the 2017-style lock-on grips, underslung shifters, and integrated bell under the right index finger.

It's nice! Just a little more... relaxed than I prefer.

https://mastodon.social/media/D38a_irqiR-oTC5gsJs
https://mastodon.social/media/y83qQWJe0EAwyU-dnyM https://mastodon.social/media/LBtFzCn7KK0rl8gswYc https://mastodon.social/media/Cul5c_ujpwkLODedPgc

On the one hand, I'm still on the loaner M6L Brompton for now, and likely for a good chunk of the week. Nothing for it, really: the folks at the shop need time to work and the last thing I want to do is rush them. I miss my own machine though.

On the other hand, the weather tomorrow is supposed to be 7°C~0°C and dry, so at least the riding itself will be really nice! Looking forward to tomorrow morning, actually.

Timm from Curbside emailed me a couple of photos of the ongoing assembly process a couple of days ago. I didn't technically get explicit permission to post these online, but... 😁

It is super exciting to see this whole thing come along like this. Can't wait for the Rohloff disc brake rotor to arrive (~January?), then the Vostok disc capable fork (~February?); can't wait to wrap up this project, honestly!

https://mastodon.social/media/wPaX6QnBZA1E4WR6q_A https://mastodon.social/media/b7LtxMfeniWVmC4Kt4A

Yassssssss! Just got a call from Eli at Curbside: the bike is ridable!!

We're definitely not at Done yet, but this is a huge milestone! I'm popping in tomorrow to give it a test ride. Eli says the gear range defies belief, it just keeps going and going.

Next up:
- replace or modify the front fork hook so the frame folds fully and locks again
- Rohloff disc rotor and brake assembly
- 13t rear cog (currently 15t)
- swap out the 50t chainring for a 60t (ordered yesterday)

This thing is a monster. I love it so much. Can't wait to get the rest of the drivetrain in place, swap in some decent grips, and install the rear disc brake. Then it'll be on to the front disc brake part of this project!

It's at 26.1lbs right now. A tad chunky but WAY lighter than I thought it would be.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/m4mks0vLd8g3yQiE3

https://mastodon.social/media/IEOiBDy8AzCTPbyBEmo https://mastodon.social/media/RV609v0BMGDgBO5-31Y https://mastodon.social/media/RGeL3FLawwo5PtP6P7U https://mastodon.social/media/B1eH8bSCZoobhrngS3Q

OK, so: I prefer Presta valves over Schrader, but I prefer consistency over either one. Right now my front (stock) is Schrader and my rear (custom build with the Rohloff hub and Aeroheat rims) is Presta.

Dang it!

Yessssssssssss

That's my 60t chainring! Now I just need that 13t cog and I'll have the drivetrain sorted out. (I'm running a 50t/15t right now and although the convenience of an effectively unlimited low end gear range is kind of fun, I top out in 14th rather too quickly. There are flat spots in this city and I want to stretch a bit!)

Then I can concentrate on the brakes, the grips, and restoring full fold functionality.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcP3qmNj0f1/

https://mastodon.social/media/cX3kXVkFfgqpMVpurqI

Took a little while to get around to it, but that 60t chainring is installed now and waiting for me to ride it home tonight. Woohoo! Can't wait to put the new gear range through its paces.

I didn't end up riding home after picking up my bike post 60t chainring installation: there was just too much packed snow and ice and too little traction. I actually had trouble walking it to the bus stop without falling, it was so slippery. Hope to ride it in to work tomorrow, though!

Also I have a couple of 160mm 4-bolt rotors coming my way (Rohloff and Hope Tech); hoping to get that rear Tech 3 X2 caliper / cylinder / lever installed soon, maybe early January! Eeeeee!

SO MUCH CHAINRING

SO MUCH GRIME

https://mastodon.social/media/UXhzO56f0z-4Zz7H3pA
https://mastodon.social/media/hdAcQYroAI0irUBTCjI

Scrubbed all the grunge off! Took about 90-100 minutes and more shop towels than I care to admit.

Going to be pretty grimy tomorrow too, though...

Stopped in at the shop today to put in the order for my hydraulic brake calipers and levers! Won't be able to install the front one until the Vostok.bike front forks are built & shipped, but I'll at least have the rear one in place pretty quickly.

I settled on the Hope Tech 3 X2's: not their lightest nor their most powerful, but they ought to be plenty. Silver colour.

Then the 13t sprocket, Vostok.bike Rohloff-specific 58mm chain tensioner axles & hook…

Coming along!

Dang, looks like this project is a bit further from completion than I thought! The Tech 3 X2's in silver won't be available until May - custom order, apparently - and even the standard black ones won't be shipping until February. That'll be the earliest I could install the rear disc brake.

I did custom order the 160mm Hope road rotor in silver, long lead time and all. I think the smooth edge will save me some bloodshed, and it'll match the smooth Rohloff rotor edge.

I've got to gripe that screwing the Presta valve in between the close spokes and wide Rohloff hub is a bit annoying. I think I might pick up a new floor pump with a clamp type attachment instead to streamline that process a bit.

I've even been thinking of picking up a folding work stand since I'm spending so much time chipping road grime off my machine. I don't love the expense but it may be worthwhile. The Park Tool PCS-10 leads my candidate list right now.

Welp, I addressed the pump awkwardness for rather less money than I expected! Picked up a Lezyne ABS-1 Pro and retrofitted it with a minimum of fuss. Even took a couple of shots of the process: https://photos.app.goo.gl/EcblDpz95qyzK7D83

I also got a note from Timm at Curbside: my Hope brakes arrived! I stopped in at the shop on the way home to take a peek. The hardware is really, really nice. I'm dropping off my rig to get the rear one installed on Thursday.

Woohoo! Progress!!

In anticipation of taking on maintenance duties for brake line bleeding, pad wear monitoring and replacement, and lots more salt scrubbing, I put in an order today for that PCS-10 work stand and the BAG-15 shoulder bag for it.

It came out to be more expensive than I expected, and honestly I don't love the idea of bringing yet another piece of gear into the apartment. But it'll let me work on my own better than I can now, and I definitely want to grow in that direction.

Yesterday on the way home I dropped off my bike and the Rohloff-branded rotor at Curbside for the disc brake installation part of this project - or the rear half of it, anyhow. The weather was gorgeous and I regretted curtailing my ride home, even more so giving up today's rides in even better weather, but I'm super keen for that brake installation!

I also picked up the PCS-10 and BAG-15 on the way home and assembled it. It's going to do the job perfectly, I think. 👍

THE REAR DISC BRAKE FEELS SO GREAT AAAAAAA

(photos to come shortly)

Full album of close-ups over at https://photos.app.goo.gl/cZw38ocv8P0MP5BD3 , possibly some commentary / discussion at https://www.reddit.com/r/Brompton/comments/7tftna/rear_hydro_disc_brake_installed_on_vostokrohloff/

Here are a couple of highlights! (Sorry, the kitchen is a mess and the machine is grubby. I was just too excited to wait to take shots!)

I still can't over how great this thing feels. I'm so excited about getting the front brake installed too!

https://mastodon.social/media/cKBSsPhn-oPVIWGu9Co
https://mastodon.social/media/yB_FdFvl0pPhZEgxrtU
https://mastodon.social/media/j_XPObfrvpcAtxqS8xk
https://mastodon.social/media/wEUlnpBoTPanmBlOUck

Finally got fed up with fooling around on the ground and got a proper work stand. Works like a charm, folds down almost flat. Can't ask for much more than that!

(Please pardon the mess in the kitchen. It is not a large apartment.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Beo5gooj-Lf/
https://mastodon.social/media/QsHWG1jmf7egP-rcg8I
https://mastodon.social/media/3y8IzxSUUV--kqLNkt0

I really have to somehow peel those yellow stickers off my rims, sheesh.

When I was still deciding between the Alfine 11 and the Rohloff hub gears in this whole project, price definitely factored in to my set of cares. The Alfine 11 is quite a bit more affordable, and I liked the ability to mount a centerlock disc rotor rather than Rohloff's odd proprietary 4-bolt pattern.

But the Alfine reliability record is... a little spotty. I ran across this article recently which supported some of those worries: https://seasonalcommute.com/2015/01/07/reality-check-shimano-alfine/