If you extend your rack the way I did in the picture to the left you will not be able to get your money back.
What a Cute Little Wheel
The wheel has a Shimano Deore XT Disc compatible Hub laced onto a Sun Ringle CR-18 406 mm bead seat diameter rim ( 406 ).
One would think that they could use a 140mm rotor (with the appropriate adaptor) on a front wheel this small. I have noticed a considerable difference in feel and braking power between the front brake and the rear brake in my case (406 front vs 559 rear). However, there is no adaptor that will make a 140mm rotor work with a standard 51mm mount on this fork. So off to "Plan B" - adjust the brake levers so the left lever has less mechanical advantage than the right.
Nimbus Chromium-Molybdenum (...mono tube frame with primer...)
It has a now, which is much more durable than enamel and/or oil based paint. The picture I took of the does not do it justice. I had to reset the camera to get it to take clear pictures again, but you can see the machine in all of its glory on the referring webpage.
Wheels laced (bead-seat-diameters 406mm front, and 559mm rear);
Frame modified for disc brakes;
Frame, boom, seat stays, seat mount, and steering powder-coated;
Headset pressed into head tube;
Crown race pressed onto suspension fork;
Suspension fork installed;
Steering post and handlebars installed;
Crankset and front derailer installed;
Cassette and rear derailer installed;
Disc rotors and calipers installed;
Hydraulic hoses installed (system filled with mineral oil);
Fenders installed;
Cables and cable housing installed;
Rack for carrying locks installed.
Recommended - "Perform a complete bicycle maintenance every cycling season"
This whole thing got started because I encountered a pitted cup race in my 7-speed rear hub during a yearly maintenance. At the time I could have replaced a cone by special ordering one, but not a pitted cup - it's not feasible.
Rather than re-lace the wheel with a new "Parallax" hub, I decided to upgrade both hubs to Shimano 105. They were beautiful wheels, yes they were. But because I added the Shockster® add-on suspension (and the 9-speed cassette) I decided to cut off the power side brake boss. The way it was the chain would rub against the brake boss in the higher gears, and I didn't like the other arrangements.
I was happy with the new upgrades, but I wanted to try out the Deore XT 9-speed (disc). Incidentally, I am so happy with the performance of the Deore XT 9-speed system that I am contemplating some serious changes to the Bike E, in order to upgrade it to Deore LX Disc.
FYI, a "cycling season" depends on where you live. If you live in Minnesota, and you don't ride in the Winter, you might only have one cycling season per year. Although pitting can happen to even with regular/seasonal maintenance, pitting happens more often when bicycles are not maintained regularly. That's because the lubricant dries out over time. Of course, a different set of rules applies to sealed bearings.
I should make it clear that Lightning Cycle Dynamics (Lightning) is NOT directing upgrades and/or alterations on my Stealth. I like the new revision of my machine, but this is an "at my own risk" venture. An engineer at Lightning has been kind enough to give me advice, some if it I took, some of it I didn't.
I've been out on the Stealth a number of times now, and it feels really good. It's a smooth comfortable ride even over some hefty bumps.
On the down side, it's a trickier dismount, and it's even more tricky on certain kinds of corners (sharp corners, corners up steep hills). Although the comfort 406 tire in the front is a little better on gravel than the original 349, it's still pretty precarious when it comes to loose gravel and rocks. But then again I expected those things.
