Just make sure the 3 speed gives you the range that will suit your riding style and where you often ride. I personally think 3 speed is not adequate and the steps in the ratios are too wide, making it difficult to maintain a constant pace. As you said, once you have bought the bike, it will be difficult to change the gearing and you'll be stuck. A 3 speed bike should be used as a "single speed" bike. One speed to go up hill, one speed on flats, and one speed for descend.

I was once a fixed gear rider so I think it should be good enough for my daily commuting. Even when I go around with my RB and 7 speed foldie I also stay at a gear most of the time.

Anyway thanks for the advise. Now I can't wait for my new bike

bro how mucho u bought it for?

Just gotten a new bike on new 10 speed Tiagra groupset. Got question: when i use biggest chain ring and smallest or second smallest cog, there will be noise coming from chain (i think..). It's as though i can feel and hear every teeth when i pedal. Any idea what is wrong and how to rectify it?

Waiting for shipment, RM2.8K

That's probably chain rub (the chain rubbing the FD inner plate) and it's common even in mountain bikes but precise tuning can eliminate that actually. But then riders don't use that setting anyway. If it is irritating, then shift down to smaller chainring and and bigger smaller rear cog. But if you are using Tiagra shifters, there is a 'quarter shift' or trimming setting where a slight touch will move the FD cage a little to avoid the chain rub. I am talking about flat bar road bike shifters, namely the Tiagra and the Shimano SL-R780 shifters. As for STI shifters, most have this extra adjustment.

To actually tune it involves a lot, the height of the FD, the angle of the FD, the low and high adjustment screws. Heck, I won't adjust it except my own bike la , , not to mention bike shops. As long as it shifts smoothly, kautim!

yeah, at first I thought it was chain rubbing against FD too. But then i looked closely as i turn the pedals, the chain doesn't rub the FD at all. It's a Tiagra road bike. It shifts smoothly but the noise is constantly there when I'm using the big chain ring. The constant sound is like can feel and hear every single teeth when on big chain ring..
Takkan don't use big chain ring at all..


How come my folding java is even smoother than this Tiagra groupset.. ish..

Is the Qicycle any good? Can't find much reviews about it.

Sounds to me like the chain outer wall is rubbing the next bigger cog, or the chain not sitting flush on the smaller cog. Is it sound like constant clicking. Google YouTube on how to adjust the Rear derailleur barrel adjuster, and the concept of adjusting the high and low screw. It's like that issue since the chain ain't touching the FD.

What I mentioned was if it is chain rub, then don't use the bigger chainring with the biggest cog at the rear, NOT don't use the chain ring totally! Use the chain ring when using other smaller cogs, like 12T, 13T, 14T ,15T, 17T, 19T, 21T, 23T, and 25T cogs. Don't use the 28T cog when you are using the bigger chain ring. When you want to use that ratio, use the smaller chain ring and the rear cogs to match. I am assuming you are using the Tiagra 12T/28T cassette.

Eg. 53T front chain ring x 28T rear cog is 53/39 x 28 inch wheel diameter gives you 53 gear inches

39T front chain ring x 12T rear cog is 21T x 28 inch wheel diameter gives you 52 gear inches which is almost the same gear ratio as the above.

So, what I meant was, if the chain rub is irritating you, then use the bottom combination instead of the top combination for that gear ratio.

MAybe you can change the whole Java groupset over to your roadbike........hahahahaaha

This post has been edited by etigge: Oct 13 2016, 01:11 PM

i was using big chain ring with 3 smallest cog at rear. definitely no cross chain.
Java using Sora RD and Claris FD leh..lower than Tiagra..

it's not the sound of constant clicking. It's the sound of hearing the chain move on every teeth of the chain wheel. sounded like coming from the front, but i may be wrong? you suggest to adjust the rear derailleur? hmm..i'll try explore tonight.

I know exactly what you are saying. Mine does that too, I think it is the fact that the chain moves around a smaller cog, plus the RD is also under less tension. I think it could also be due to the length of the chain.

Worth checking and make sure the chain is properly lubed.

My fleet of foldies has dropped by two recently, sold the Speed TR and the last Brompton. I enjoy riding the dual drive Birdy, so when this came up for sale, I bought it. I'm running 406 rims and it is now my lightest folding bike.

Share a pic with you....





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Is the Xiaomi QiCycle a good electric assist bicycle?

https://www.cnet.com/products/xiaomi-mi-qicycle/preview/

I need it to travel to a gym 3.8km away, currently cycling a normal bicycle but the steep hills are killing me, especially after a squatting session.

Wow...sweet looking birdy, desastar....whats that thingy that holds the chain...somekind of chain tensioner?..what does it do?

You are very observant. That is a little spring that I hook on before I fold the bike. It tightens the chain and prevents it from coming off, which is a basic design flaw of the Birdy. Im willing to put up with it and the untidy fold because it rides so well

3.8 kms is not far to walk, although in the hot sun might be different. The steep hills will give you a good workout, no? Lol

Electric bikes are improving but im waiting till they are lighter. The guy who bought my Speed TR converted it to electric for his wife, but the bike ended up being about 25kg! But the ride is so effortless. 9 levels of power and i was only using level 2!

This Xiaomi looks ok and not too heavy, but only a domestic product, parts may be hard to find.

do you just ignore the noise and continue cycling without doing anything?
chain is new and has manufacturer lubing already. whole bike is new actually.
how to adjust / rectify?

If there's nothing obvious that is wrong and the gears are smooth when peddling, you are not going to damage anything. If you find that you are in this high gear all the time, then you may want to go for a larger chainring at the front. Another thought is to try another cassette and see if that rumble can still be felt?