欧州自転車レース追っかけ日記

Does a Birdy 2 part fit Birdy 1?

(This is not the product that I bought but it shows how the adapter hangs on the head tube)


(This is what I bought: a Birdy 2 adapter)

LitePro Birdy 2 front carrier Block adapter
This is an adapter for Birdy 2 to use Brompton carrier block. It hugs onto the head tube of Birdy 2 and provides the same function as the Brompton's head tube does.

I have Birdy original, say Birdy 1 myself. I wondered if it fits on my Birdy 1.

The Birdy original (several revisions but mine is almost the last version and it has an improved seat post stopper and others) was reborn as Birdy 2 and eventually a Birdy 3. There is Birdy Classic, which is much improved Birdy 1 with modern features.

Anyway, I like my Brompton's front carrier block system and I can attach a pet carrier basket there and safely take my beloved Hannah (cat) in it.

Naturally I wanted to do the same with my Birdy (needing work). I found these adapters sold for Birdy 2, Birdy 3, Dahon bikes and etc.

The Birdy series have evolved but some parts including the stems are still compatible through the series. They (AliExpress) sellers have two kinds of adapters for Birdys, for Bridy 2 and for Birdy 3.

Birdy 2 is an upgrade over its original with a so-called monocoque frame. It kept the same head tube design (let's say a traditional bearing layout).

Birdy 3 finally changed the head tube design and it has an integral head tube design. The bearings are now inside the tube so the outer measures are greater.

I just thought the one for Birdy 2 would fit (or must fit) Birdy 1 and I took a rough measurement and almost convinced that I was right.

I bought one and now I fitted it on my Birdy. It did fit. Now I am happy.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Birdy 1 and Birdy 2, are they so different?]の続きを読む

1. 2025/03/14(金) 18:52:16|
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Hanna (2011)
This movie came out in 2011. I don't know why but I remember clearly hearing and watching a commercial (of sorts) on German TV channels (or just one channel) persistently promoting this particular motion picture "Hanna (2010)".

I lived in Germany until December 31st, 2008 and moved to Luxembourg on New Year's Day. So why do I recall this German ads? I watched German TV in 2011? Yeah, I could watch German, French, Belgium or Dutch TV programs in Luxembourg.

For some reasons this movie (title) was so familiar and now only now I watched it after 13 years.

Saoirse Ronan as Hanna. Her first name is obviously an Irish one and I could not read it correctly without knowing how to read it. These Irish shenanigans (I don't mean in any way disrespect their cultural heritage) of name spelling conundrum dazzle me.

The story takes place in Finland, Morocco, Spain and Germany. The last half of the story takes place in Berlin, Germany and this was why the German TV advertised this movie when it came out or broadcast on the air.


CHPT3 is down and Brompton?
Brompton's profit has plummeted I heard. CHPT3 has ceased to trade and I believe is in the process of liquidating what's left of its former business (Chapter 9 situation?). I don't know if these two events are related but they came about almost at the same time.

There are several reasons for the loss but I have read at least one article analyzing their business. Some seem to suggest it has made too many Bromptons because the COVID-19 brought a steep demand for them (they also expanded their manufacturing capacity to catch up with the demand).

Now the demand for them (bikes and their equipment in general) has subsided, they began to face the consequences.

I don't know how popular Bromptons are in Europe, I mean continental Europe. They are popular in the UK, do doubts.

In my own experience, almost all (90 % or more?) Bromptons on ebay are from the UK (mostly used and some new).

They (Brompton bikes) have avid fans in Asia, too. It does not bother me too much if,... if they went bankrupt. I think I have plenty of replacement parts so I can still maintain my Brompton for long time.

Mine
In December 2023, I bought one from Germany for relarively good conditions at a reasonable price. I purchased cheap train E-tickets (Luxembourg - K&oulm;ln round trip in a day) on my phone and went there to get it back. No import taxes or no shipping charges but the tickets cost me only a bit more than €50 as the seller wanted it to be picked up.

I had seen a lot of candidates when I was searching for one but they were from the UK (outside the EU by then) and I had to pay for the exorbitant import charges if they must be shipped. Some sellers allowed "Pick Up" method but in this case instead of the import charges, I had to pay for the train tickets and spend almost two days crossing the English Channel.

I wanted to have a Brompton with P-stem and least equipped. I was going to swap all the drive train components; new wheels, 7-speed, new shifter, cables and wires, crankset and chainrings, and so on. All I wanted was a P-stem.

I settled with this S-stem Brompton (S2L equivalent) made in 2015. I don't like the high handlebar position. Since then I have been looking for a P-stem but it is hard to come by.


A dynamo hub wheel for the Brompton
There are at least three kinds of

I wanted it for mine and have been on the look. If you pay a lot, you can get one with that famous German SON Schimit dynamo. If you pay a bit less than that, you will get one with Taiwanese SP dynamo.

If you pay even a bit less, you will get one with Shimano dyanamo. This is what I'm after.

If I'm correct, this dynamo once belonged to the Shimano Capreo component group. Back in early 2000's Shimano released this component group for small wheel models like Alex Moulton, Brompton, Birdy, Dahon and others. The strong point was the special rear hubs (135 mm wide) with the smallest 9 cogs. I had one on my old Birdy (2003). It has kinda rusted away, though.

I'm not sure if this Shimano dynamo (74 mm wide) is still in production. I can still see them on ebay as new.

I have been watching an auction of Black Shimano Dynamo Hub wheel for the Brompton.

Now I'm a proud winner of an auction. I hope it will come to me in time.

I paid for it as soon as the auction ended.

In English: 続きをどうぞ [A black Brompton Dynamo Hub Wheel]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車（スポーツ用） - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2025/01/18(土) 21:16:55|
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It's time I start repairing my Birdy (2003 model)
At least I bought it as new way back in spring of 2003. It came with Shimano Caprio component set.

I haven't ridden it more than two years as the shifter began to slip (ratchet gears worn out?). I knew I had to swap them. I knew I would swap the shifter, cables, rear hub, sprocket, deraileur and some others. I bought Shimano Deore XT parts.

Shimano has discontinued its Caprio component line since long time ago. The Caprio rear hub has special measurements (smallest cog 9 teeth).

I have already accumulated enough material to revive it but I have been too lazy.

I'm also planning to renew the front wheel. I'm thinking of making a wheel with the Shimano dynamo-hub using the old rim. I need properly cut spokes.

Making the rear wheel is easier as the hub measurements, as long as the wheel making is concerned, are exactly the same whether it is a Caprio rear hub or almost any other Shimano mountain bike rear hub. I can recycle the spokes without any problems.

Let's start, shall we?

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Birdy 2003 to be resurrected]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車（スポーツ用） - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2025/01/10(金) 21:22:29|
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Midsommar 2019
I did not know what to expect. I could not anticipate the way the story would go. At the first look, I thought story would be psychological thriller or some kind of horror involving some supernatural power that lead to the tragic death of the parents and the sister of the main character.

Even half past the movie, I did not know what to expect. It had already some grusome scenes and murders but I did not know what to make of them.

As far as I could tell, it looked like a Swedish cult having its traditional annual rites of some kinds. And incidental American youths got entangled or intentionally entangled. It seemed so toward the end.

It was a strange movie. It reminded me of "The Holly Mountain 1973" just a little bit but it was distictly different.

TRLREQ® Fish bone VS MUQZI Fish bone bamboo calbe housing systems?
I was talking recently about the Nokon cable housing (outer) systems for the last couple of entries. I found that Jagwire also had a similar product along the way.

I purchased before knowing that Nokon still lived up to now (2024) and the Jagwire product RISK® product.

Now these products from TRLREQ and MUQZI caught my attention. I want to compare them.

TRLREQ® call those aluminum beads "Fish Bones" and MUQZI seems to call (or just the seller?) them "Fish Bone Bamboo".

I found these names on AliExpress in the description section presented by the sellers. So I don't know if they are official names.

MUQZI does not seems to have ® on its logo but its brand name is all over the place on AliExpress.

Anyway, the shape of these aluminum bamboo internodes (?) are very similar (as long as I can tell from the pictures) between RISK and TRLREQ. The shape of those of Jagwire is slightly different and those of MUQZI is also slightly different.

They all (except NOKON) have a common curved shape found in a typical internode of the bamboo plant.

I searched for "bamboo anatomy" as I wanted to know the proper terms for the bamboo's anatomical sections. The analogy between bamboo and these aluminum beads is clear. I wanted to know what was the exact term for it.

It seems I should call them internodes but I'm not happy. I wanted to find the name for an individual section but soon realized I was an idiot.

The individual section should be called "an internode with a node (with the diaphragm holes) at one end" to be exact.

I noticed that there was a term "sheath" among the pictograms. Some showed that this sheath is the same as internode. Some showed that sheath is the forskin-like stuff wrapping the young bamboo (shoot and young bamboo). They eventually come off.

Fish bones were new. I had to agree with it. Now it troubles me. How should I call the individual section? A vertebra or vertebral body?

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Nokon saga continues]の続きを読む

テーマ:自動車の整備＆修理 - ジャンル:車・バイク

1. 2024/12/16(月) 21:32:19|
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Jagwire Elite Link Cable Set??
I did not know about this product but now I do. It is an obvious Nokon successor. The RISK bamboo link cable set is its Chinese version (legally or illegally?). Are they the same or different? They appear very similar.



I found out about this while I was looking for some winter bike clothing.

A (20 red bamboo links) package (or Elite links, I should say) costs about 6 Euro (€). Surprisingly, the same packages (20 links) of black, gold and silver have totally different price tags! (16, 8 and 10)

Jagwire Elite Link Set costs around 50 Euro. I'm not going to buy the whole set but maybe I will find out by getting the 20-link package.


Nokon lives!!
While I was being surprised to find the Jagwire Elite Cable Set, I also found "Nokon KonKavex Universal Shift or Brake Set" sold at the same online shop. It lives!

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Nokon Lives!]の続きを読む

テーマ:自動車の整備＆修理 - ジャンル:車・バイク

1. 2024/12/14(土) 16:46:14|
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