FM166 Progress - Bones from the Giant

The grand parts shift has been ongoing this week, the big loser is the Giant aka Worlds Coolest Rainbike. The Campy bits went to the Big Red Pinarello, but the carbon chunks are now decorating the FM166.

I was very careful to make the sizing identical to the Focus, the one bike in the fleet untouched by the grand parts shift. ( that said, I replaced yet another spoke in the Focus Fulcrum 3's, thank goodness for the kit of spares!)

With the sizing correct, the flat carbon bars and familiar saddle/seatpost, the FM166 is really coming together. 

After pondering a hack to get the DT Swiss 370 hubs to 11 speed (a FILE/Dremel), I decided to just go 10 speed until we get new wheels. This means the Giant FSA Carbon Compact crank will be heading to FM166.

A secondary parts shift will occur with the long cage Ultegra on the Xtracycle (was original on Focus) will go to the FM166, the Scott 29er's banged up XT Rear Derailluer will go to the Xtracycle, AND a new XT Rear D will go to the 29er...Arg!

I ordered 10 speed Ultegra Cassette, Chain and Dura Ace Bar Ends from Chain Reaction Cycles in the UK - prices seemed too good, so I added DHL shipping. Lets see how that goes.

Oh, I should shut up and ride a bit now.

Big Red Pinarello Monviso - Rebuilt!

The late night wrenching this week concluded this afternoon with a shift cable and new tape for the Big Red Pinarello Monviso.

In this process, all the 10 speed Campy Record bits (mostly carbon and titanium) collected on the Giant were moved to replace the older 9 speed Campy parts on this frame. The new Fulcrum 7s were also put on to complete the all-Campy machine, replacing the buggy Neuvations. The relatively new chain and cassette complete the "rebuild".

I had a vision of taking this into Tim for a tune up, but it worked great on the test ride so far.

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.