Road Cycling Essentials

[Vonhelmet]

I've always found the High5 bottles I've had as endless freebies work pretty well, though I tend to use them more in winter as I can't fit bigger bottles into the drinks holders on the Ribble after changing from the wobbly decathlon water bomb-chuckers.

I use the larger Elite 1L bottles which have never cracked even when dropped occasionally, they do smaller versions too.

Ironic I've got so many drinks bottles spare I can't give them away

Those Elite ones look nice. The 1l looks like a good bet for long rides in the summer when you need a lot of fluid. They'd also match my bottle cages so then all the ladies would swoon as I rode past.

 

[touch]

I have mostly high5 bottles now.
Planet X have them for £2.50 with a free tube of electrolyte tabs.(but another £2.50 postage on orders under £20)

 

[kiteloopy]

I use JJB sports own...or I think they might be slazenger.

£1 each. use for 6 months & replace.

 

[Mr Flibble]

A good few weeks back I posted wondering about a rear wheel replacement after my last one ate a twig and the rim cracked at the nipple. I just finished building my first ever wheel and am rather chuffed:

H plus Son Archetype on Shimano 105 (10 speed) with Sapim CX Rays and brass sapim nipples. I've got to build the matching front wheel when the company I bought the spokes from get more stock. Hopefully stays true over the next few weeks to suggest that I did a reasonable job, but we shall see.

I used Roger Musson's book, which is frankly brilliant.

 

[One More Solo]

That or they're lookalikes. That seems more plausible now I think about it.

Pretty sure they're lookalikes - this is on a real one:

 

[Vonhelmet]

Haha, a world of difference there. That or the guys in the first video are super hench.

Maybe it's grudas

 

[touch]

Edge 800 is £220 at wiggle

 

[Vonhelmet]

A good few weeks back I posted wondering about a rear wheel replacement after my last one ate a twig and the rim cracked at the nipple. I just finished building my first ever wheel and am rather chuffed:

H plus Son Archetype on Shimano 105 (10 speed) with Sapim CX Rays and brass sapim nipples. I've got to build the matching front wheel when the company I bought the spokes from get more stock. Hopefully stays true over the next few weeks to suggest that I did a reasonable job, but we shall see.

I used Roger Musson's book, which is frankly brilliant.

Nice one. How much did it cost in parts? What tools did you need? How long did it take you?

 

[Mr Flibble]

Nice one. How much did it cost in parts? What tools did you need? How long did it take you?

Prices are per wheel as I haven't been able to start the second one yet, so you can double it for a set.

Rim £55 from Bricklane Bikes (Hubjub have the anodised grey cheaper but no stock of the black, and black bits go faster)

Spokes £75.98 for 40 from Singletrack Bikes (this worked out cheaper than buying the 32 I actually need and will leave me some spares in case I'm clumsy or daft; I might also see if my LBS wants some in exchange for casting an eye over the wheels to check they don't think they're too much of a liability, but I think it's ok so far )

Nipples £8.45 for 50 also from Singletrack Bikes

Rear Hubs £37.99 at CRC (front hub is £19.99)

Total £185.91 rear (£353.83 all in). Emailing around several wheel builders for this build they all quoted around £405.


Tools, I used my bike frame and some cable ties for a truing stand, so that was free. I already had a selection of spoke keys from problems with my factory built shimano wheels. I needed a Sapim CX and CX ray holder which was £7.57 at amazon.


Timing probably about 6 hours maybe a few more. I did it in dribs and drabs over the weekend before finishing last night. It's quite a tricky process to begin with, with lots of reference to the book, and a few mistakes along the way. I imagine I'll be a little quicker with the front as I'll be more experienced and the front is technically easier (spoke lengths are the same with no dish to the wheel).

Was it worth it? I'm not sure. It was interesting, and saved me some money while still getting wheels suitable for my 95kg frame. It earned me some man points and will make me more confident about a few more bike maintenance tasks. I could earn a lot more than £50 in 6 hours locum shift, but I had more fun building the wheel than I'd be likely to at work.

 

[grudas]

Anyone else seen this?



BMX tricks and whatnot on a Boris bike. Clearly they've been modified - removing various bits, adding disc brakes - but I wonder how heavy they've ended up. They start out at about 23Kg and apparently the frame alone weighs 18Kg, so they must still be damn heavy. The rides must be very strong...

That or they're lookalikes. That seems more plausible now I think about it.

they're lookalikes..

 

[uniQ]

SiS bottles > *

The wide neck ones have room for 25g scoop if you make your own drinks which is also pretty handy.

 

[Phantom Shadow]

Total £185.91 rear (£353.83 all in). Emailing around several wheel builders for this build they all quoted around £405.

I thought an archetype build was usually around £300. Looking at cycle clinic you can get it with 105 hubs but sapim race not cx-rays for £263. Can't imagine changing to cx-ray would take you over £300 though.

 

[Calpol]

Was it worth it? I'm not sure. It was interesting, and saved me some money while still getting wheels suitable for my 95kg frame. It earned me some man points and will make me more confident about a few more bike maintenance tasks. I could earn a lot more than £50 in 6 hours locum shift, but I had more fun building the wheel than I'd be likely to at work.

Good on ya. Its one area of bikes that I am pretty nervous of. I think I would bodge it up too much and end up skulking along to the LBS to bail me out!

 

[nydryl]

I thought an archetype build was usually around £300. Looking at cycle clinic you can get it with 105 hubs but sapim race not cx-rays for £263. Can't imagine changing to cx-ray would take you over £300 though.

With Strada you're an extra £70 going from race to cx-ray, so I'd imagine you could easily go over £300 with the change.

 

[Mr Flibble]

I thought an archetype build was usually around £300. Looking at cycle clinic you can get it with 105 hubs but sapim race not cx-rays for £263. Can't imagine changing to cx-ray would take you over £300 though.

With Strada you're an extra £70 going from race to cx-ray, so I'd imagine you could easily go over £300 with the change.

Yeah, the CX-rays are pretty pricey. I suspect the big wheel builders get much better rates for spokes than I can on a search online. But they look so pretty And bladed spokes make relieving spoke twist much easier for a novice wheel builder.

Good on ya. Its one area of bikes that I am pretty nervous of. I think I would bodge it up too much and end up skulking along to the LBS to bail me out!

Thank you! I'm fairly ham fisted most of the time, it's a task that takes patience, or if you haven't got much of that, plan to do it in several short bits. That's why I spread building it over 3 evenings. I think Roger Musson's book is worth reading even if you're not sure if you're going to build one, as it inspires confidence by taking you through it step by step.

 

[InQ]

They look great Mr Flibble, hope they ride just as well.

Anyone ordered from bike-components.de before, did it take long for delivery to UK?
Scoured the earth for in stock Reynolds Cryo blue pads in Shimano fitment and it was the only place i found actually in stock!
Did order from Fatbirds.co.uk but said 3-5 days while they move them from the warehouse to the shop then on to you.
Also a set on ebay but he wouldnt end them early and as the wheels turned up this morning i want to ride um asap!!

 

[Jonny69]

Spokes £75.98 for 40 from Singletrack Bikes (this worked out cheaper than buying the 32 I actually need and will leave me some spares in case I'm clumsy or daft; I might also see if my LBS wants some in exchange for casting an eye over the wheels to check they don't think they're too much of a liability, but I think it's ok so far )

Nipples £8.45 for 50 also from Singletrack Bikes

OUCH.

Just so you know, next time get your spokes from cyclebasket. Black double butted stainless are between 25p and 50p each depending how many you get and that price includes nipples.

Black:

http://www.cyclebasket.com/m9b0s453p0/Components_/Spokes_-_Stainless_Steel_BLACK_Double_Butted_

Silver:

http://www.cyclebasket.com/m9b0s454p0/Components_/Spokes_-_Stainless_Steel_Double_Butted_-_Silver_

 

[uv]

Gratz Shamrock on finishing ALC

 

[Calpol]

They look great Mr Flibble, hope they ride just as well.

Anyone ordered from bike-components.de before, did it take long for delivery to UK?
Scoured the earth for in stock Reynolds Cryo blue pads in Shimano fitment and it was the only place i found actually in stock!
Did order from Fatbirds.co.uk but said 3-5 days while they move them from the warehouse to the shop then on to you.
Also a set on ebay but he wouldnt end them early and as the wheels turned up this morning i want to ride um asap!!

Grill over on Bike Radar swears by these as an alternative to Reynolds

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-performance-carbon-road-brake-inserts-pack-of-4/

 

[InQ]

Aye but supposedly invalidates warranty.... Anyway might buy them next time!