BIKEFX

Monday, July 15, 2013

$157 Full Carbon Rim Tubular 700C Wheel - 530g

Third wheel I've purchased direct from an Asian manufacturer/seller. This one was from Shanghai via eBay.com.

So far, so good. The first wheelset I never rode because it was for a special fundraising build but, I did receive and install them on the bike with no problems. They were fully and professionally well-packed and sealed. Nothing fishy. Just as you would get it if ordered new from a local supplier like Live to Play, OGC, etc.

As was this front, 700c carbon rim tubular wheel. Full UD carbon matte finish. Aero/bladed spokes, Novatec sealed bearing hubs with minimal shell and flanges. All black. Claimed 530g w/o skewers. $157.25 + 50.00 shipping CAD. Received it in about 9 days! Very impressive. Unbeatable price, even for the most killer deal from a used equivalent and even compared to my inside bike employee discount...you cannot get a better deal than this. Period.

Here it is, straight outta the box:

Conti Sprinters to be mounted and I'll b be back later this July with a follow up & test and hopefully actual weights...

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Ultimate Affordable 4-Season Hybrid City Road Bike: My 2007 Norco VFR!

A 700c city bike with super short 16.5" chainstays, extra long 22.75" top tube, and clearance for fat tires and fenders AND racks? With aerodynamic hydroformed double-butted aluminum, tall head tube, shaped stays for comfort, 27.2 seatpost, V and disc brake compatible AND it even looks good?? Only in the 2007 Norco VFR series.

That's why I searched extensively to finally find one from Bikes on Wheels Toronto back in 2008 on sale for a paltry $450!

Here it is BEFORE:

And now, AFTER:

Only original elements left: Frameset and rear brake calipers.

Sooo, what did I do?? And why?

From top to bottom:

A way more comfortable saddle: WTB Speed She. That's right it's a women's saddle. And it's the most comfortable saddle of the plethora I've tried.

The lightest true suspension seatpost in the world: USE XCR Carbon Alien! Designed - and made? - in the U.K. Approx. 2.5" of controlled travel via coil and urethane springs. Approx. 420g

A compact drop bar setup for optimum ergonomics and comfort. 3T Ergonova aluminum with flat/ovalized top section for more comfort and better aerodynamics.

Wrapped with Specialized Roubaix vibration damping gel bartape with Bar Phat gel under pads on top section only as I almost never use the drops

And here comes my piece de resistance:

A road 1 x 10 speed drivetrain. All the gears I'll ever need using one, single chainring. Yes!

Dura Ace 7800 STI shifters

Ultegra 6600 Hollowtech II Triple crankset chosen because a triple's chainline is perfect for a 1x10 because you can have a chainring exactly in the middle. $30 on eBay!

105 5700 black left crank arm. Yup I got two different crank arms, one silver, one black....just for fun...and I wanted to see if it worked and it does perfectly ;)

42 tooth chainring

Blackspire Cyclogod outer chainring guard in place of outer chainring. Saves weight, serves as a chainguard and looks darn good!

Stock front derailleur kept on and adjusted to keep chain on, thus serving as a chain keeper. $0!

11-36 10 speed XT CS-M771 Dyna Sys Hyperglide cassette
XTR hollow pin, assymetrical, mud-shedding chain...why? Why Not! haha! Well, I know that I can get away with one chain and cassette lasting for at least 1 year so why not get one that's lighter? And it's affordable with my bike shop employee discount, heheh. Thank you Chain Reaction Toronto and Shimano S-TEC program!

And this was an interesting spec: the rear derailleur had to be a mountain one with 34-36t max. AND NON Dyna-Sys/not a Shimano 10 speed mountain because the cable pull is not compatible with non Dyna-Sys shifters which is what I had (7800's) even if they are Shimano 10 speed shifters! Dogs! I found out the hard way by ordering a super sweet 2013 all black XT Dyna-Sys med. cage shadow r.d. and discovering that my 7800 shifters didnt pull enough cable to even shift to all cogs no matter what I did.
SO, luckily, I happened to have an older 9 speed Deore MTB r. derailleur that's all black! Thanks G! It was from my other VFR ;)
Works perfectly and quietly.

And what would a bike be without some light wheels!
REAR is a "Speed Dream" 28 spoke, custom hand-built affair by Dave's Wheels in U.S.A.
White Industries H2 road hub with a titanium freehub body.
Driveside: 2-cross, DT Revolution 17/15/17ga butted round spokes
Non-driveside: radial, DT Aerolite spokes, elbows out for max. stiffness.
Rim: Velocity Aerohead OCR.

FRONT is a fairly aerodynamic, shock absorbing, light Spinergy XAERO Lite with PBO fiber spokes that take care of the shock absorbing way better than any steel spoked one.

*Check the cheeky monkeys at Wellgo, sneaking in this lil message on their pedals:

CANADA BABY!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

2013 Paris-to-Ancaster Race: My First!

First time doing this:
Placed 30/80 in my age group/field or 123 out of 567 total with an un-rideable bike - derailleur broke off and jammed in wheel - on last km.
Excellent challenge, well-organised, very popular with great people = great experience to have under your belt.
I highly recommend! But, it is not easy. There are sections where even an intermediate mountain bike rider would consider "unride-able" due to ridiculously deep n narrow mud trails at worst and at best soft, muddy and super-irregular grassy fields.
Yeah, thanks Tim! ;)
[Tim Farrar is one of the race organisers]
More
BIG THANKS:
The 2007 Norco VFR bike is a phenomenal cross bike.
Geax Mezcal tires also phenomenal thnx to Paul Greene of Chain Reaction Toronto.
Nike Sphere Dry shirt for the absoluate best in comfort/sweat management.
Gatorade twistspout water bottle for superlight, big capacity, reliable spout, all you want/need.
Shimano Dura Ace 7800 shifters for mindlessly fast n easy 10 speed shifting
My girlfriend Ms. M and pro photographer Ivan R. for the photos!