Moulton TSR2 to 5 conversion

Last year for my 50th I managed to swing the purchase of a Moulton TSR2. It was bought on the cycle2work scheme as it's basically 12 months interest free with a hefty discount due to tax savings. That limited me though which is why I ended up with a 2 speed bike.

That has been used most of the time since delivery last October notching over 2000 miles in that time. The Sturmey Archer S2C supplied with the bike has never been a favourite as it makes odd noises and always felt like it had been lubed with treacle.  Also on windy days or days with extra loops, the limitations of a 2 speed made themselves known.

After plenty of online research I decided to that I would embark on a popular conversion which is to drop a SRAM P5 5 speed hub with coaster brake in. Finding a german bike shop on Ebay with a few P5s at a decent price was the final push I needed.

The P5 hub is the same width as the SA at 120mm so doesn't need any frame mods. So once the hub was built into a new wheel it was a straight drop into the frame. The rim is a cheap one from SJS, but is actually identical to the stock factory rim. It's been built up 2x with stainless Sapim Leader spokes. The strange red thing is a hub cleaning strip from ebay, which keeps the hub clean (as they're a bugger to clean on a 20" wheel).

New hub and clickbox

 As the TSR2 was designed to be cable free there are no fitted cable stops. I've used 2 seatbolt mounting cable stops with P clips. I was intending to use the front rack mount, but the bolt was too large, and the cable line didn't look as neat, although the P clips are hardly neat either. The bit of black tape is to prevent scuffing of the paint and will be replaced by helicopter tape.

Detail of the front cable stop

 There is a similar P clip and stop mounted on the spaceframe behind the chainset, and there's a cable splitter for frame separation.

Shot showing both stops and the splitter for frame separation

 The SRAM shifter is a standard twist affair, although a little clunky and not the most elegant.

SRAM P5 shifter 

The finished bike still largely keeps the elegant clean lines. The new hub gives a much more useful range than the old 2 speed, and is silent and silky in operation. Even with tight and new it feels that it rolls better than the old hub did. The braking from the rear coaster is also more powerful as well

Full conversion still keeps the clean looks 

(Lack of ) Fog on the Tyne

Riders gathering at The Bike Park for a Saturday Social

Given we had high pressure in charge blowing cold damp air in from the North sea for the last week, I was expecting fog  and mist on today's ride around the coast. Luck held out and although it was cool and cloudy there was a distinct lack of fog.

Ten of us set off from The Bike Park and headed off down the Westway and crossed the A194 before connecting up with NCN route 14 heading towards South Shields centre.

Once down at the Tyne a quick photo call beckoned near the Shields ferry landing before cycling along Long Row, and then Wapping Street

When we joined River Drive, Doug suggested zig zagging up to Green's place as it was to be improved and used as the recommended cycle route. Once we got to Green's place, there was a road crew already busy resurfacing was was a badly holed  road. 

From there we headed to the  Lawe top, and then down through North Marine Park all the way to Haven Point. A quick hop over the zebra took us into South Marine park where we skirted the boating lake  and miniature steam railway to Beach road.

From there it was an easy ride along the prom to Gypsies Green, and then along NCN1  to Marsden bay, where we then used a cut to link up to Lizard lane. We quickly crossed and then headed along Quarry lane back to Temple Park

The ride was approximately 10 miles, but some silly fool forgot to start their Garmin for a mile or two.

the next Saturday social will be on the 2nd of April