Flying Pigeon PA-02

[Diesel415]

Let's not forget, this is basically an 80 year old bike that just happens to still be in production. I ride modern and vintage bikes year round and the PA-02 is a very competent bike that only needs a mechanic with "old-tyme" know-how to keep her in tip-top. As for the rod brakes, they cannot be compared to anything modern but keeping them adjusted and replacing the pads with more modern compounds (with a little engineering) they'll work very well on steel rims even in wet and cold conditions.

[vipvop]

Where'd you get the cool headlight?

[BeeRich33]

@vipvop It comes with the bike. You might find someone in China that could send one to you, if you are lucky. The bike is a POS though. I've seen better brakes on a duck. 

[curt123]

Might pick one up as a beater toy bike, def looks crude compared to my Pashley Roadster, now thats a bike.

[BeeRich33]

@curt123 Don't bother. It's a piece of tin that weighs twice as much as any normal bike. The guy who bought this bike can't get his head out of "fashion", and that was his goal, to send the message to the World about...his fashion statements. Rather silly bike, if you ask me. Kept breaking, impractical, expensive.

[Spetet]

I have one and I like it very much. The brakes are part of the appeal for me, but I don't stress them much and they work fine for me. The pedals are not much good, and I might go to a sealed bottom bracket and cotterless cranks if I can find something that looks right. Enjoy!

[BeeRich33]

Hi there. My buddy likes his bike. He says he's getting all kinds of remarks about his. Do you get that? One of his pedals bit the dust.

If you get that done, post the results here, and I might contact you with "how do you do that?".

[Spetet]

Hi Bee Rich33, I will if a) I do it and b) I can borrow a video camera. I read on Flying Pigeon LA's blog that the BB thread is standard English thread, not the Raleigh proprietary thread, so any English thread cassette will fit. I also replaced my rear wheel with a 36 hole rim (still rod brake) and an SRAM 7-speed internal gear hub. I got the idea from the Yellow Jersey website. Because the bike is so inexpensive, I could afford some upgrades.

[BeeRich33]

Good show. The owner just left my place, and I told him you might be getting that information to me.

[ssent1]

Another happy customer » a good result.

[BeeRich33]

They shipped us the wrong parts for the front brake. They have left and right guides for a pin for the brake to ride up and down. They are asymmetrical, and they shipped two Lefts, so I had to invert the Right to make it work.

Shipped the bike, told him to get in touch with North American importers for the part, as it is an important piece considering it's his brakes.

He later fine tuned the bike twice as he's now riding it, and she's breaking in. He's pretty happy.

[ssent1]

What's the problem? Perhaps my bike mechanic skills for KW's largest bicycle dealership might be still intact.

[BeeRich33]

Fixed the brakes (temporary, wrong parts), given to buddy. Closed.

[BeeRich33]

Front brakes and rear rack giving me huge headache. Any input?