The "what bike bits have you just bought" thread
Discussion
2 x 24" inner tubes and a bottle of stand sealant to do a ghetto tubeless conversion :-). Delivered today so fitting tonight.
Also decided that my free ride bike is a downhill bike for this country so got an Ultegra 11-28 cassette and a short Zee rear mech, balls to trying to ride it up hills.
Also decided that my free ride bike is a downhill bike for this country so got an Ultegra 11-28 cassette and a short Zee rear mech, balls to trying to ride it up hills.
Just bought some essentials as the cycle routes I use are often a few miles away from the roads, so,
- saddle bag
- spare tube
- tyre levers
- mini pump
- multi-tool
Only £1.65 of my own money as I blagged* a £50 voucher from Evans.
.....*they reduced the price of my bike by £150 2 days after they told me there were no reductions, and I'd already ordered at full price.
- saddle bag
- spare tube
- tyre levers
- mini pump
- multi-tool
Only £1.65 of my own money as I blagged* a £50 voucher from Evans.
.....*they reduced the price of my bike by £150 2 days after they told me there were no reductions, and I'd already ordered at full price.
loudlashadjuster said:
5potTurbo said:
.....*they reduced the price of my bike by £150 2 days after they told me there were no reductions, and I'd already ordered at full price.
Sounds like you're still down £100 in my book. Is that all they offered?
Unless you'd soiled the thing in 2 days I'd have been cancelling or returning the order. And then buying elsewhere. Or being impatient and having a half-arsed grumble before living with it. Mrs Gruffy would do the former. I'd normally end up getting excited like a child about the new bike and doing the latter.
upsidedownmark said:
Arrived today:
'decent' winter wheels time - this may involve an evening sitting in front of the TV reminding myself that wheel building IS NOT a black art
going to buy the exact same rim/hub set up this week to build up my first wheelset. what spokes and lacing are you going for??'decent' winter wheels time - this may involve an evening sitting in front of the TV reminding myself that wheel building IS NOT a black art
ferrisbueller said:
These are the best invention ever. Currently trying to restrain from ordering one for the hardtail.graememac said:
going to buy the exact same rim/hub set up this week to build up my first wheelset. what spokes and lacing are you going for??
20/24h, at the moment I'm lacing the front radial, and the rear 2x drive side, radial NDS.To be honest, the rear build has been largely determined by having sufficient spokes kicking around my parts box in the right length's to do precisely that, although 2x seems about right for a 24h rim, and I don't see the need for more spokes (am pretty easy on wheels too). If I had longer spokes kicking around I might go 2x on the non drive side too, but I don't believe it matters.
As for the spokes, DT revolutions for the NDS, and er.. I have no idea what the DS ones are other than being 286 mm long. I'll probably finish up getting DT revolutions for drive side too. sapim CX-rays/DT aerolites are too expensive by far, and allegedly the sapim lasers are very tricky to build with / prone to twist problems.
Hub was 65 quid from velobits on ebay (sl version) if you're looking - by far the best deal I found. Free tip - don't do what I did and thread one of the spokes through the little hole between the spoke holes, really messes up your build
After trying to learn to do more of my own bike maintenance, I'm finding most things not that hard if you gave the right tools, and YouTube.
However, I'm very impressed with people building there own wheels. I see that as being the last thing to learn how to do.
I'm keen to learn though, what tools would I need?
However, I'm very impressed with people building there own wheels. I see that as being the last thing to learn how to do.
I'm keen to learn though, what tools would I need?
Only because people insist it's some kind of black art.. My 'ghetto' approach is going to provoke some groaning I'm sure, but:
A screwdriver, a spoke key and the bike as a truing stand.
The brakes can be pulled in to measure the lateral trueness/pick up the high points, a ziptie taped to the frame for roundness, and centering it between the forks by-eye/with a tape measure for the dishing.
For me it started out as an experiment - I had a powertap hub to build into a wheel, so I figured I'd give it a try, worst case I'd take it all apart and pay someone to build it properly. Came off very well so I've stuck at it. Kinda like doing them and it's rather handy.
A screwdriver, a spoke key and the bike as a truing stand.
The brakes can be pulled in to measure the lateral trueness/pick up the high points, a ziptie taped to the frame for roundness, and centering it between the forks by-eye/with a tape measure for the dishing.
For me it started out as an experiment - I had a powertap hub to build into a wheel, so I figured I'd give it a try, worst case I'd take it all apart and pay someone to build it properly. Came off very well so I've stuck at it. Kinda like doing them and it's rather handy.
Latest acquisition has been these...
26" x 2.00" Maxxis Beaver tyres. The old Kenda Nevegals were completely worn out, and picking up punctures like nobody's business.
Fitted the moment they arrived, they've been a revelation compared to the old rubber. Faultless performance is just ladling on the confidence which I'd lost with the old crappy tyres squirming around beneath me. I can now pick my line through squishy mud, and maintain traction longer up loose gravelly climbs. They're supposed to be a wet weather tyre, but they've proved to be effective in all conditions, and on mixed terrain types so far, and the only time they've let me down is a couple of tree roots on climbs, and I suspect there isn't another tyre grippy enough to have outperformed them on those roots, to be fair. Highly recommended so far, after 108 miles in the last 5 days.
26" x 2.00" Maxxis Beaver tyres. The old Kenda Nevegals were completely worn out, and picking up punctures like nobody's business.
Fitted the moment they arrived, they've been a revelation compared to the old rubber. Faultless performance is just ladling on the confidence which I'd lost with the old crappy tyres squirming around beneath me. I can now pick my line through squishy mud, and maintain traction longer up loose gravelly climbs. They're supposed to be a wet weather tyre, but they've proved to be effective in all conditions, and on mixed terrain types so far, and the only time they've let me down is a couple of tree roots on climbs, and I suspect there isn't another tyre grippy enough to have outperformed them on those roots, to be fair. Highly recommended so far, after 108 miles in the last 5 days.
upsidedownmark said:
20/24h, at the moment I'm lacing the front radial, and the rear 2x drive side, radial NDS.
To be honest, the rear build has been largely determined by having sufficient spokes kicking around my parts box in the right length's to do precisely that, although 2x seems about right for a 24h rim, and I don't see the need for more spokes (am pretty easy on wheels too). If I had longer spokes kicking around I might go 2x on the non drive side too, but I don't believe it matters.
As for the spokes, DT revolutions for the NDS, and er.. I have no idea what the DS ones are other than being 286 mm long. I'll probably finish up getting DT revolutions for drive side too. sapim CX-rays/DT aerolites are too expensive by far, and allegedly the sapim lasers are very tricky to build with / prone to twist problems.
Hub was 65 quid from velobits on ebay (sl version) if you're looking - by far the best deal I found. Free tip - don't do what I did and thread one of the spokes through the little hole between the spoke holes, really messes up your build
Good luck with the build, you'll have to put pictures up when you're finished. I did want to go with a similar set up with 20 radial front and 24 2 cross rear but have been advised it might be better to go with more spokes for my first build. To be honest, the rear build has been largely determined by having sufficient spokes kicking around my parts box in the right length's to do precisely that, although 2x seems about right for a 24h rim, and I don't see the need for more spokes (am pretty easy on wheels too). If I had longer spokes kicking around I might go 2x on the non drive side too, but I don't believe it matters.
As for the spokes, DT revolutions for the NDS, and er.. I have no idea what the DS ones are other than being 286 mm long. I'll probably finish up getting DT revolutions for drive side too. sapim CX-rays/DT aerolites are too expensive by far, and allegedly the sapim lasers are very tricky to build with / prone to twist problems.
Hub was 65 quid from velobits on ebay (sl version) if you're looking - by far the best deal I found. Free tip - don't do what I did and thread one of the spokes through the little hole between the spoke holes, really messes up your build
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff