Sunday, June 24, 2007

Fashionable?...Moi?

I've been toying with the idea of getting a freecoaster for years now but hub design & cash were always a big issue for me, seeing as BK was changing up some of his stuff for his next project (post to follow soon) I thought I'd grab his old one...

Changing gearing can get expensive these days & it was through getting the chance of buying up Bob's old stock & the favorable exchange rate, that I decided to get it on. As this coaster only came in a 10t version, I had to look at downsizing the sprocket too. Originally I was waiting on the new BSD 'Alex' sprockets but the excitement got the better of me & I couldn't wait to get this project going. I have also been looking at Treebikeco sprockets for a while now, as I'd heard nothing but good things about them & after a check of their site, I discovered that they had a new 'light' sprocket in the works. After the offical launch indicated on Tree's site, I had BK get on to our ever trusted US BMX supplier, par excellence, Pat @ Flatlandfuel. Before long it's here (along with a fuck-off, massive order of lovely flatland components for Rayo & Bob) & the upgrade is on a roll...

I stripped & rebuilt the Odyssey Reloader freecoaster to make sure all was well.



I had to true the wheel of some spiteful up & down action & it was a couple of mm out on the dish but nothing major as far as the wheel was concerned.



The sprocket is the correct size (22mm) for the BSD Ti axle already on the bike so it was all a real nice fit & went together without heartache & I was glad to get rid of the nasty top-hat spacer for some super true sprocket rotation ;-)



With everything together, I don't think the weight has changed much? The freecoaster wheel is definitely heavier than the Proper cassette wheel it's replacing but with loosing the links from the chain due to smaller gearing & the difference between the 36t ANIMAL BIKES sprocket & the Tree light, it's kinda balanced it all out...



Always good to get new stuff for the 20" & I have enjoyed getting this sorted. Now just need to wait (for ever?) for the damn rain to stop falling so I can go test the beast...



Thanks:

BK for the wheel
Alex for the BSD offer
Pat for getting hold of the Tree light

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

In the midst of a waster generation...

What is it with kids today? Last night we tripped over to Chacombe for a relaxing evening session & had to sweep the entire park due to glass everywhere, fires lit against the back of the mini & basically sort out a fucked up mess of a park! I don't get it? if I'd have had this sort of facility on my doorstep when I was a nipper, I would have been using it for it's intended purpose & shredding the place daily! It's so easy to be a fucking waster these days eh kids?

So...

BobK, Co, Pornchai & I got our stuff together & after the above cleanup operation we had a good little session. Co has borrowed Bob's old 'Big-D' & seemed to be enjoying a bit of flat & ramp action & hopefully this will be just what he needs to get back in the saddle & back to being the little ripper of old! BK was just chipping away at some bits he's working on, I'm sure he likes to get out on his own solo missions to get some stuff learned but it's always good to see him riding... I just made a few of my normal bits & had a good time.

Summer evening sessions are the best eh...?

Combe next...