New bike - AVE MH7

[eddieo]

Picked up the new bike Saturday and its lovely to have a Bosch powered bike again...although the seat looks a million dollars it was crucifying, have never had such a sore bum in my life...Except for when..but that's another story!

Bike has a very comfortable riding position does not feel like a small wheel bike (in comparison to my Dahon) very solid build but still under 20kg

Picked up a specialized expedition seat today and that has improved things no end..does spoil the looks a bit but hey ho! at least it is now ridable. with this seat the post above frame is around 200mm so 300mm in frame. so a 380mm suspension post would be OK do you think? around 200mm in frame should be ample?

have been having great difficulty finding a suspension seat post, and have learnt quite a lot about them over the last few days!lol. Problem being the post is 500 mm long and 34.9 (most are much smaller)

talking to a firm in Germany and the US so might have something eventually but at least the bike is good enough for our holiday in 3 weeks...

another slight problem, the rack is low so bags dont clip on at bottom..a tie rap will do I guess

shwarbe Big Aplles 20.15's. I have put them at 45 psi. online it says 35-55 psi..anyone else running these tyres?

here is a poor pic with phone (wife has camera in NY)

 

[tillson]

Congrats on the new bike eddieo. It looks like quite a sturdy, comfortable and hopefully, lightweight bike. I'm very tempted by some of these Bosch powered bikes, particularly the Haibike. Can't really justify the outlay though, but I am tempted....

 

[eddieo]

Yes very well built, and 19.8 kg. riders weight up to 120kg. I am on a diet (again) so should be back down to 100kg as I was that last summer, but then I was overtaken by events...

 

[flecc]

Nice one Eddie, that is going to be one heck of a hill climber, small wheel mechanical advantage plus Bosch power through the gears will take care of any gradient you meet. You might even tow a Land Rover out of the mud with that!

 

[eddieo]

Nice one Eddie, that is going to be one heck of a hill climber, small wheel mechanical advantage plus Bosch power through the gears will take care of any gradient you meet. You might even tow a Land Rover out of the mud with that!

Thanks Tony! the hill outside my house that I normally avoid, and ride around, managed to get up that OK....Just nice being back on a quiet bike!lol

Tony can you help please, and tell me what you think of these two suspension posts

the cane creek I can get in a 450mm version and 27.2 - 34.9 shim

Cane Creek Thudbuster LT Seatpost : Bikes | Mountain Bikes | Road Bikes| Winstanleys Cycles

This american one gets good reviews. no retail outlets, factory only order. But only 380mm long. So that would mean about 180-200mm in tube. the one with bike is 500mm long and 200 sticking out with seat on top.

http://www.nitropro.com/information.htm#m

I'm a bit confused (easily done) and not sure if I like the operation of the thud buster......

 

[Morgann]

Go for the Thudbuster. Too much leverage on the Nitropro; needs to be kept straight.

LT's a big thing though; 3 inches of travel. Consider the ST?

I'm running a Big Apple 2.00 on the front of my non suss Kalkhoff PC. Would have gone bigger but ran into space problems. Good tyre. Only a tarmac tyre though. Slippery when muddy.

 

[eddieo]

Thanks Morgann! Seems you are right to recommend the ST and it makes sense for my kinda use....... Problem being it is only 350mm long.

presuming the 350mm is total length is to the top of post. and currently 220mm sticking out of post, that would only leave 130mm in post...dont think tat would be strong enough with my weight?

Thudbuster » Testimonial from customer on LT vs. ST

 

[Morgann]

Thudbuster » Testimonial from customer on LT vs. ST[/url]

Get someone to weld a bit of extra tubing to the bottom of the seat post to extend it? Use an extra long shim?
Extend the seat tube upwards? All brute force solutions I know, but that's all I got.

 

[eddieo]

Cane creek do an extra long one for Dahons, but it is 33.9 and cant see a 1mm shim to fit my 34.9

They do an XL version of ST which is 400. so 200 out 200 in..should be OK do you think??

Cane Creek - Seatposts, Thudbuster ST

 

[Cakey]

Thud buster is the best one , make sure you pick the right insert depending on your weight

 

[Morgann]

They do an XL version of ST which is 400. so 200 out 200 in..should be OK do you think??

Half in, half out? Go for it. As long as it's in past the minimum insertion point you're golden; warrentywise anyway.

A shim is just a tube have you looked at other shims than Cane creek?

"The only dumb question is the one you wish you'd asked."

 

[jhruk]

The Canecreek website tells you the maximum heights:

‘The Thudbuster seatpost is 396mm (LT)/351mm (ST) from the end of the tube to the center of the saddle clamp where the saddle rails attach. You will need at least 100mm inside the bicycle frame so the maximum height from the frame to the saddle rails is 296mm (LT)/251mm (ST).’

‘We do make two extra long seatposts, a 27.2mm x 446mm overall length Thudbuster LT and a 27.2mm x 401mm overall length Thudbuster ST. These offer a maximum extension of 346mm and 301mm, respectively.’

 

[eddieo]

Thanks shruk, I have found them is Germany cheaper at approx £110 delivered. but the longer one not on site so have emailed them re availability..

but from what you pointed out the shorter one looks like it might be OK

 

[KirstinS]

These USE shims might do the trick dependant on which post you go for ? They seem quite long which may also be helpful to you

USE Shim 31.6 - 34.9 machined alloy black :: £9.99 :: Control :: Seat Posts - Shims :: Southwater Cycles

 

[Morgann]

Thanks shruk, I have found them is Germany cheaper at approx £110 delivered.

Eddio, I'm in the market for one of these myself. Could I trouble you for the Germany link?

 

[eddieo]

Eddio, I'm in the market for one of these myself. Could I trouble you for the Germany link?

as you have ben so helpful yes will PM you..would have rather waited till I get mine before sharing.....

 

[jhruk]

Thanks shruk, I have found them is Germany cheaper at approx £110 delivered. but the longer one not on site so have emailed them re availability..

but from what you pointed out the shorter one looks like it might be OK

If you went with the standard length you could get it in 31.6mm and only need the one shim.
However the 27.2mm, in either length, would give you more options if you wanted to transfer it to another bike, or sell it on.

 

[KirstinS]

one more thought for you if you end up needing to make a homemade shim of 1mm thickness

Use two shims cut from beercans (other drinks are available) which should make about 0.4mm thickness dependant on brand used

And then, between the two shims, use a thin layer of Sugru (Photographers | sugru | The future needs fixing) I love this stuff as I love to hack things - its invaluable as it bonds/bends/protects/insulates/waterproofs etc

 

[eddieo]

the beer can would be OK if going for a fixed installation. But as we will both be riding it and need to take seat post out to carry in camper, a proper shim would be better have found one in the US of A but a hassle getting it..

USE advertise them but dont make them!

 

[KirstinS]

Right then (and yer not making this easy BTW !)

How about this ?

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/shim-for-spacing-seat-post-to-hitch-1-mm-prod17920/