Need *poison* advice on my new Dahon

Hi ppl

My name is Albert and i just bought a Eco C7 last weekend after stop riding a almost a decade. The 3km ride from the bike shop to my place at Mountbatten almost kill me. The feeling of riding a 20" vs a 26" is so different, pedaling seems easy but at the same time it seem like rolling very slow, i don't like the feeling, it could be me (bui bui... out of shape) or the bike needs some serious poisons to boot the speed.

I want to upgrade... but i don't wish to ford out a lump sum and change everything at 1 go, i prefer to do it in a 3~5 stages (the joy of been poison slowly). Can any bros or sis here offer me suggestions on what should i start 1st, which shop i should go and rough estimate the cost?

I'm looking for...
Marathon Supreme tires
good wheelset (PZ rims with what hub?)
9 speed cassette
rear derailleur + shifter
vbrakes + lever
crankset (shimano 105 with 53T?)

Thanks so much in advance.


Cheers
Albert

u might wana start with the brakes, crankset or tires
wheelset, cassette, RD and shifter usually are to be changed together..
to minimize the cost.. some parts u might try looking for 2nd hand..

ztcc78 wrote:

u might wana start with the brakes, crankset or tires
wheelset, cassette, RD and shifter usually are to be changed together..
to minimize the cost.. some parts u might try looking for 2nd hand..

Thanks for the info.
Correct me if i'm wrong... the brakes must use mountain bike brakes? road bike brakes cannot be use, right?
The crankset must use road bike, remove the smaller chain ring and switch to shorter bolt? Where to find colorful bolt? I want red color cos my Eco 7 is red in color.

Can i bring my bike to MyBikeShop to upgrade the parts even i did not buy my bike from them?

replied in BLUE

sys_error wrote:

Thanks for the info.
Correct me if i'm wrong... the brakes must use mountain bike brakes? road bike brakes cannot be use, right?
im not sure if C7 can fix road bike brakes.. but i know some models can

The crankset must use road bike, remove the smaller chain ring and switch to shorter bolt? Where to find colorful bolt? I want red color cos my Eco 7 is red in color.
no issue with crankset.. road or mountain bike also can be used

Can i bring my bike to MyBikeShop to upgrade the parts even i did not buy my bike from them?
shld not be a prob.. i dun see why not

If use mountain bike crankset, the biggest chain ring is 44 whereas the roadie is 53. Crankset upgrade will require new bb.

Roughly how much for a new shimano 105 and bb?

Upgrading crankset with BB should be much cheaper than upgrading wheelset + tires + RD + cassette + maybe shifter..

I want to upgrade in a few stages.

1st stage -
Avid Single Digit 7 Rim Brakes + Speed Dial 7 Levers
Marathon Supreme tires

2nd stage -
Shimano Crankset 53T + BB

3rd stage -
Build a wheelset with PZ Rims <<< Need recommendation on hubs + spokes
9/10 speed Cassette
Rear Derailleur

I quite like the below...

sys_error wrote:

I quite like the below...

looks like tylsteve bike leh..

ztcc78 wrote:

sys_error wrote:

I quite like the below...

looks like tylsteve bike leh..

yes, i saw it from another rider blog... owner of that bike should be steve.

i really like to know how much he spend on all his upgrade.

haha I have resisted posting any replies here cos I dun want to poison you. come join us for rides soon la then can talk about it...haha. Its not cheap to upgrade part by part la...cheaper to buy a good bike from the start.

anyway, the new 2011 Eco C7 is a pretty good buy with the new features for this year's model, such as the Magnetix, solid handlepost, good alu frame etc. Worth upgrading la if you like.

Check out the link below if you want to know how the Boardwalk was upgraded!
http://handsonbike.blogspot.com/

The best upgrade is ride more often. Cheap and lots of benefits:)

GL wrote:

The best upgrade is ride more often. Cheap and lots of benefits:)

Hi
I agree with GL. First upgrade your engine. After that cycling the Eco7 will be a breeze.
When I first bought my dahon, I am 10kg heavier,cycling from fort road to CV is a nitemare!

If you really want to upgrade, The best people to speak to is Adi, Steve, Mary (just to name a few)etc..who has Zing their bike to the max! Also advise you to speak to Tan @ MY Bike shop. He will analyze what to upgrade. Congrates on yr Dahon and join us for rides:)

tylsteve wrote:

haha I have resisted posting any replies here cos I dun want to poison you. come join us for rides soon la then can talk about it...haha. Its not cheap to upgrade part by part la...cheaper to buy a good bike from the start.

anyway, the new 2011 Eco C7 is a pretty good buy with the new features for this year's model, such as the Magnetix, solid handlepost, good alu frame etc. Worth upgrading la if you like.

Check out the link below if you want to know how the Boardwalk was upgraded!
http://handsonbike.blogspot.com/

waa... your poison is really strong; keep them coming... our (me & wife) old bikes hanging on wall... new bikes on floor.


my engine all rusted, have not cycle since 2002... need to slowly build up my stamina. last time used to cycle every friday at midnight around the island (+/-50km). will love to join you guys when we are fitter.

omegaforest wrote:

GL wrote:

The best upgrade is ride more often. Cheap and lots of benefits:)

Hi
I agree with GL. First upgrade your engine. After that cycling the Eco7 will be a breeze.
When I first bought my dahon, I am 10kg heavier,cycling from fort road to CV is a nitemare!

If you really want to upgrade, The best people to speak to is Adi, Steve, Mary (just to name a few)etc..who has Zing their bike to the max! Also advise you to speak to Tan @ MY Bike shop. He will analyze what to upgrade. Congrates on yr Dahon and join us for rides:)

Words straight out from two of our best riders! lol

Albert, u can join us for Sunday ride straight away coz our pace for sunday rides are alway nice and manageable. Go easy on the good food that alway happen after the rides thou. Lol!!!

omegaforest wrote:

GL wrote:

The best upgrade is ride more often. Cheap and lots of benefits:)

Hi
I agree with GL. First upgrade your engine. After that cycling the Eco7 will be a breeze.
When I first bought my dahon, I am 10kg heavier,cycling from fort road to CV is a nitemare!

If you really want to upgrade, The best people to speak to is Adi, Steve, Mary (just to name a few)etc..who has Zing their bike to the max! Also advise you to speak to Tan @ MY Bike shop. He will analyze what to upgrade. Congrates on yr Dahon and join us for rides:)

i know my ultimate upgrade is my own engine.

GL wrote:

Albert, u can join us for Sunday ride straight away coz our pace for sunday rides are alway nice and manageable. Go easy on the good food that alway happen after the rides thou. Lol!!!

my place is 5 mins walk to Old Airport Hawker Center... can jiak good food all year round.

currently we are too weak to cycle long distance... moreover my wife's eco cannot be folded due to an oversize basket to ferry our dog when we cycle to east coast park... i also read that you guys cycle in area that require us to fold our bike and take mrt to reach the meeting place.

you can just remove the basket when you need to fold your bike. bring the bike on the mrt and join us for rides!

@tylsteve

Roughly how much in total you spend on all your upgrade? If you can break them down will be great. PM me if not convenience to post here. Thanks in advance.

come join us for rides la.. will let you know more. cannot just look at price leh.

paiseh... really too weak to cycle long distance, will certainly join you guys when we upgrade our engine and our bikes.

the basket on wifey bike can only be remove using tool and cut away the cable ties.

sys_error wrote:

paiseh... really too weak to cycle long distance, will certainly join you guys when we upgrade our engine and our bikes.

**whisper**
he dun wana pm u but wana meet up and chat is becos
he wana poison u deep deep..

tylsteve wrote:

come join us for rides la.. will let you know more. cannot just look at price leh.

hahha..steve dun want to say bcos with upgrade u can buy another 4 more eco!

haha Matt that is about right... anyway take a picture of the basket on your bike. I see if I can make it so that it can be easily detached and attached!

omegaforest wrote:

tylsteve wrote:

come join us for rides la.. will let you know more. cannot just look at price leh.

hahha..steve dun want to say bcos with upgrade u can buy another 4 more eco!

haa... no worries lah... is ok if steve dont want to tell me. i know the upgrade going to cost me 4 more eco,

back in 2000/2001 my mtb also went through many stages of upgrading, from a alu ht with full xtr groupo to scandium ht with a mixture of ck hubs, xo components... the other day i switch my saddle over to the eco, somehow i feel that my mtb is lighter than the eco.