Most recent activity
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Thanks very much both.
Now ordered: 55mm rims with Bitex hubs (don't want to buy expensive QR hubs any more as will have to go disc soon). -
I'm looking at getting some LightBicycle wheels:
https://www.lightbicycle.com/U-shape-55mm-depth-Hand-built-700C-carbon-25mm-wide-clincher-road-bicycle-wheels-for-tubeless-compatible.htmlAny opinions on them, in particular:
- rim braking tracks, grooved graphene vs high TG
- U vs V-shaped rims. I'm assuming U is better
- how good are their brake blocks, should I order a few spares?
- rim braking tracks, grooved graphene vs high TG
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Yes, exactly. There's a reason why we don't see people importing those wheels and selling them for £450 or £500 - it just doesn't work unless you put in a big mark-up.
It's the same for the big manufacturers: if we could see inside their cost struture, I'm sure we'd find most of it in the West, where they market and sell the wheels, not in China, where they make them.
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I think Hunt has been a bit more straightforward about what they do and don't do. And they've certainly built up a great following. Flo seems to have been a bit more pseudocience / smoke and mirrors. I was considering buying some of their wheels at one point, but a bit of googling put me right off them.
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Too right. Once more people realise that companies like Hongfu, Ican and Lightbicycle do offer worthwhile warranties and provide replacement parts for their products, that business model gets harder. It will take a long time though!
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Sure, it costs a fair bit to go out to China to find good suppliers, to have a UK head office and marketing operation, and to make a profit. That's where the difference in price goes. Also Hunt will probably be able to buy those wheels in bulk for £300 or £250 each, not £400.
The main benefit of an operation like Hunt is that they largely prevent you buying a lemon - a really poor quality or dangerous wheel from a seller who doesn't know what they are doing, because they put in the time to find decent manufacturers. I can't believe they individually test every wheel they import and sell on. Their two main core competencies, and the backgrounds of the founders, are procurement and marketing.
It's a good business selling decent wheels at a price that its mostly very satisfied customers are very happy and willing to pay. The only minor flaw is that its success depends, to an extent, on people believing that it is something that it is not.
Not picking on Hunt in paticular, same with PX, Flo, and the guys who are re-painting the HongFu frame.
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Well done - better fine motor skills than me!
I'll need some new pins soon as these ones gradually fall out
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I've got V6 on one of my bikes. Had them a couple of years. Not done massive miles but they've been fine.
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New Catalyst EVO pedals..
Just seen this, a few months later!
I did see the new pedals at the time. I was in touch with them in the US about getting rebuild kits as I thought one of my sets needed it. It didn't but was good to know they were avaialble. Also good to see they are innovating the design but annoying for me as I have four pairs of the old type.
Regarding the pins and grip, I've just started riding with a pair of the UK version, which don't have spanner flats. They came without the pins screwed in, so I had to do it myself, which was a pain as I couldn't get half of them in properly before they rounded out. So predictably, I have lost a few pins after a couple of weeks. But even when the pins were all there, the grip wasn't as good as my other pairs, which are all the original US version.
If TCR doesn't go ahead would certainly consider flipping to this. Would love to do it at some point.