I can't believe it! I bought my first flatland BMX. Chain Reaction was sold out of the 2019 Colony Apprentice, which I've been drooling over for months (almost bought a 2011 on FB shipped, but glad I waited). Everywhere said the 2020 would be restocked in October but $150 more. Being home with the kids during this COVID time had got me jonesing for a BMX bike. CR somehow restocked the 2019 after I checked daily for 4 months! I ordered it right away and it finally arrived. I heard the 2020 has upgraded freecoaster, but I had to keep my budget in check.Some questions, figured I'd post them all here, but I'll check the threads for specifics, too. I've loved flatland since I was 10. I'm 37 now. Haven't owned a BMX since I was 10, but I've rode all kinds of mountain bikes my whole life, road bikes and cruisers, so this is all new and some of the tech.1) How do you know the right tension on the chain? I tightened my rear axle nuts down at a point where it's not too tight on the chain, but has a bit of flop to it, still. Related, I hear a click/pop every now and then when pedaling, which I guess is coming from the chain getting caught on a tooth or two? 2) The brakes squeal like crazy. I assume it's crappy stock pads from Colony? What do you use? I have some Aztec2 pads that seem the same I could swap with.3) What PSI do you run? The Colony Exon tires don't specify (online says 110 max).4) My detangler was clicking and flip flopping when bars moved, but I learned I had to adjust the barrel tension, however, they are now nearly all the way out on both top and bottom of the detangler, and it seems smooth. Is that normal to be adjusted that far out?5) Freecoaster. Whoa, didn't realize this was so complicated. I'm going to watch some videos on how they work, but I was going to ask on the engagement "hiccup" after you pedal backwards, the pedals drop 3-4" before it engages again, but that seems normal. Also, I noticed if I pedal backwards some, it will actual pedal the cranks backwards too for a bit, but this is also a normal thing, I seem to read.6) Front brake cable. What do you do with this U slack? Seems like people cut the housing down to make it a tight U?7) Have to fine tweak the brakes. These L/R spring adjustments are new to me, or, I've forgotten about them since I've been using disc brakes for decades. WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING? The videos I see of you guys doing stuff look so sick, but damn this is hard! What do I start with? lol.Thanks.
Matt Wilhelm get you sorted here in less than 35 minutes video length (even if I personnaly do not agree with all the things he said there)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqOSRGNO84Yhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsTctF-jyH8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f7uc6SW7bshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjynkL8Tpc4 regarding the squeal you experiment when you brake, have a look on the toe pad topic here #rubberbandtrickforthewin:https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/u-brake-service yes 110 psi for that colony tire like said on the colony website and enjoy with the new toy
Did they mention anything else that might get upgraded? I saw your review today on chainreaction. It was out of stock for a long time and I've been debating the bike as well as there aren't a ton of complete bikes out there for flat.
Chaz,The 2019 actually had the same upgrades as well.Colony Clone FC rear hub.So stocks available now will be the same.Thanks!
That's great you had a good experience with Chain Reaction. I emailed or chatted with a rep about if they planned to get more in stock and possible ETA when it had been out of stock for a couple months and the guy was very unhelpful.I emailed Colony to ask today about 2019 vs 2020 differences saying I heard they were upgrading the freecoaster, possibly other parts and increasing the price and was going to pull trigger on 2019 and maybe make upgrades but might hold out on 2020 depending on upgrades and they replied:QuoteChaz,The 2019 actually had the same upgrades as well.Colony Clone FC rear hub.So stocks available now will be the same.Thanks!
Oh, interesting. Get it!! Maybe their plans have changed with Covid. I can't say for sure if I have the Clone FC, it's black and unmarked, but def has a FC of some kind!I even had a promo mailing list code to knock $30 more off it. (strange though that currently CR has 20% off all the Colony bikes except for Apprentice).
Quote from: Sensei on August 25, 2020, 07:39:33 AMOh, interesting. Get it!! Maybe their plans have changed with Covid. I can't say for sure if I have the Clone FC, it's black and unmarked, but def has a FC of some kind!I even had a promo mailing list code to knock $30 more off it. (strange though that currently CR has 20% off all the Colony bikes except for Apprentice).Speak of the devil. Almost bought it last night but slept on it. This morning it's on clearance. Had a $20 mailing list coupon so pulled trigger at $350!