Finding Suntour Command Shifters for the FM166?

I had a set of Suntour Command Shifters on my first road bike, and was thinking they might be a good solution to the shifting needs of the FM166 if available/brought into modern times.

I did manage to find images and even some for sale on Ebay. They might be a good mount
if nothing else.

Also on the list are Gevenall/Retroshift, and Paul's Thumbies. These still need bar end shifters that get torn down.

FM166 First Ride With Hydraulic Brakes

Oh, finished the MS Ride this weekend. Very slow overall pace/big rest stops. I did hammer at 70 to 80 miles, only ended up with 91 due to waiting for team.

Anyway, post here is about the maiden voyage of FM166. I got the 20mm spacers, and put them on, adjusted and voila I was out riding in the dark, this time with brakes!

The bike felt very light, or the wheels a bit heavy, but the brakes definitely worked and had that nice MTB light action I have come to enjoy. We will need to brake them in and run this down a hill or two to get them nice and hot...

Next stop, homemade electronic wireless shifting?

FM166 Brakeless Test Ride in the Dark

I cleaned up an old Ultegra cassette and put it on the hub, found and old chain and did likewise.
Helmet with blinky and off  I went, then noticed its scary to ride without brakes and a freewheel.

Keeping it slow, I had some vibrations, but the bike seemed solid enough to proceed to order
some TRP Hylex brakes - got a set of 160 rotors Front and Rear figuring worst case I bought
expensive MTB rotors (these will fit the 29er).

I had to shorten the chain and true up the rear wheel a bit. I tried the 53 x something too small, the
chain skipped all over, so now its 39 and something bigger back there.

Shopping for drivetrain, I've decided to go 11 speed Shimano 105 if  I buy new.

In fact, I had a whole fleet vision, the big loser will be the Giant and whatever parts remain
for it. All the 10speed Campy and new Fulcrums go to Big Red Pin, all the carbon (bars, stem, cranks) go to FM166.

So basically best case, I get a 105 rain bike after all this...

FM166 Arrives - Project Hydro-Electric

Thanks to a relatively trustworthy opinion of a Chinese manufacturer, I am now the owner of a direct-from-China "Dengfu.com" model FM166.

Its a 60cm frame designed to support disc brakes, a good opportunity to try out hydraulics on a spare set of 29er MTB wheels (see Going Tubeless sections).

Super Quick Update...

Lots of fleet changes. Highlights

• Scott 24 Race MTB from PL replaces M's 6 speed 20 in. He's got the tool now to climb!
• Z has a beater 20" freestyle bike. Bought cheap to test commitment, expensive to fix up vs just replace
• New and cheap Fulcrum wheels for Giant Rain Bike, use of last drive train on the shelf.
• 2X Races on the Scott 29er, 2nd race at Mt Tamarancho hammered the rear derailleur and tires went flat
• Good summer training camp, see Strava. Some tandeming with a rack on the GTI.
• Fulcrum 7's on the Rain Bike replace the shimano drivetrain, which went to the Focus. Shiny new Campy from the new parts collection on the Rain Bike, nice ride again.
• Ongoing WMD - Wednesday Morning Dirt. 29er needs crank/BB/pedals to be looked at for noise, in addition to derailleur issue above.
• New Magic Shine for 2012 - broke glass of another, fixed wiring of yet another.

Tubeless Mission Getting Out of Control - New Wheels Incoming, PowerTap G3 For Sale...

The new Schwalbe Rocket Rons refuse to go onto their rim. Below is a my latest and hopefully last attempt, here soaked in soapy suds with big bubbles, after adding another layer of Stan's tape AND one of the original rim strips below the Stan rim strip.

 soapy tubeless fail mess

So to work I go and I make some decisions during my latte walk - selling the G3 Powertap Wheel to fund a new set of real tubeless wheels.

Stan's again, rat bastard it better work this time - Arch Ex 32 holes with XT hubs incoming Friday from Ebay for $380. Tim suggested Flow would be tougher, Stan's claims these are good for riders to 230lbs. We will find out.

Looks like Barb might get those lightweight wheels for her 29er afterall.

Going Tubeless - ARRGGG

During the Bogg's pre-ride I decided I needed a new rear tire anyway, might as well go tubeless in the 29er to gain whatever benefit I could.

First I figured out the Rocket Ron's were some of the lightest, fastest and most expensive tires around. Ordered 2 online from "TireManiacs". 2 of the fast guys on the ride, Tim and Ryan, ride the WTB Bronson TCS, so I thought I'd pick one up at REI using my "dividend" and 20% off coupon. Coupon expired, and I found a Cygnolite flasher I just had to have too.

Went to Mikes Bikes the next night after the Internet told me they had complete Stan's Notubes 29er XC kits for my DTSwiss XR 39, a Scott-specific product like a DT Swiss  X470 rim (not tubeless). They did not have the kit, but they did however sell me rim tape, Stans fluid, and 44mm valve stems for a Stans ZTR tubeless rim, which I DO NOT have.

Result was a big mess and broken heart. After frantic pumping for an hour,  I went inside to check the Internet, watched some videos and realized I had the wrong stuff for my RIM! So I ordered 2 XC rim strips for another $50.

The WISEST thing I did was to put a tube inside the new BRONSON and mount it up for a few days to get its bead set and newness off. I rode the bike to work this am, trying to see if I could notice a difference - it just felt heavier. I found the new Rocket Rons had been delivered in the am.

On the ride home from work, I hit something to loose some air out of the rear tire, and then landed very badly on a ledge during a bunny-hop that pinched the tube. Loosing air fast, I did make it home before it was unrideable.

New rim strips were waiting for me. I removed the front Bronson, carefully cleaned with rubbing alcohol and put on the rim strip. It was heavish, and seemed to be providing a step to make the tire fit better. On went the bronson, I put a little soapy water to help it seal, started pumping and suddenly
it was working/sealing, without sealant even! I opened the bead and put in 60-80 ml of Stans fluid, carefully got the bead back on and pumped it up again without spilling anything.  I shook and spun the wheel, added more pressure. It worked!

I pondered not using the new Rocket Ron's at all, just move the front tire to the rear, but I noticed some damage and thinnish sidewall - the new tire's definitely have heavier rubber on the sides. Cleaning the rim, I noticed I had indeed bashed it, and used some pliers to wiggle it out a touch. New rim tape, new rim strip again, and new tire. Terrible, not able to get it to hold anything. Added bubbly water, still no go. Took it to the air-compressor at work. Nadda! Went to compressor at gas station on the way home - still no love.

The step I am missing, besides it not being a Bronson (I love that name), is having it sit with a tube inside for a few days, which is where I left it now. Might take it out for a spin this weekend too, then hope the bead has settled enough to try sealing in some air. Maybe the Old Rocket Ron would have been a better place to start, microholes and all.