Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

If I'm being picky I'd prefer to see it without a triple and some brake levers not designed with gear levers in mind (Campag made great gearless brake levers, then when Ergos came around they stopped making them). But otherwise lovely.

This caught my eye just now. What's it all about?

The article doesn't say...

It's a son dynamo hub no, it's just not hooked up. Should look something like this

I'm guessing it's to keep the spoke lengths the same as the Rohloff.

So they've machined a wider diameter flange and riveted that on? Clever

Looks like they threaded the spoke holes and used round head cap bolts I think.

Second paragraph from end:

Victoire even machined extra flanges for the front hub so they could use the same spokes length on both front and rear hubs.

riveted

Looks more like they've threaded the spoke holes in the hub and bolted it on

Edit: too slow!

Ah, couldn't see the hex holes on my phone. Wicked. No idea how soft the flange material of the SON hub is (small threads could easily strip - but there are a lot of them) i but it certainly looks cool.

It's a nice idea but not very practical and I don't really understand the point.

Is it so you only have to carry one type of spoke?

What difference does it make if you carry x2 310mm spoke and x2 300mm spokes Vs x4 300mm spokes?

Or is there something I'm missing? Like creating a wider flange to make a stronger wheel?

@hugo7

Looks like some replacement spokes right there! Easier when there is just one length..?

1 Attachment

Easier when there is just one length..?

I'm not sure why though. Obvs that solution is much more graceful than taping spokes to the stays and you don't need to remember your system*

I guess maybe it's an idea that started with the fact that rohloff hubs are dishless so you only need one length spoke for the rear rather than the usual two ... In which case go the whole hog and only have one length.

The whole thing is beautifully executed and is the type of bike that shows the craftsmanship of the builder. But at the end of the day it's added a lot of weight, £s and a possible failure area when 4 wraps of tape would do.

*mine was the relevant rear on the seat stays and then the front on the chainstays... But then I misplaced most of them and figuered with a 36h wheel and few kgs it didn't matter.

I never read anything properly

With brazed steel racks and a Rohloff, i reckon the % increase in both weight and cost is minimal. Far outweighed by the "huh, that's clever/pretty" factor.

I don't really get this. Yeah it looks ace but what do you do when/if you get different wheels. Spokes might fit but theres a fair chance they won't.

With a Rohloff and a Son dynamo, you won't need new hubs for a very very long time...

Victoire saw that customer comin' - all that extra cost just adds complexity and possible wheel compromise, not to mention it fucks up the aesthetics of one of the more beautiful and functional hubs out there.

my everyday ride

And probably completely voids the warranty.

yep

.

Why blackburn outpost front rack is out of stock everywhere it seems? Only Amazon U.S. seems to have it?
Shame if they don't fabricate it any longer, for once one of their product looked like it didn't come straight from Halfords!

EDIT... just found one... Google on my phone picked it up, didn't show on laptop weirdly...

Should I install it ok with mudguards stays?

@M_V has one, he might know.

I tried this but wasn't very happy with it. Seemed to work itself loose when I put panniers on. For carrying a light load on the tip I imagine it'd be fine but would run it with panniers as s permanent thing. I moved my mudguard stays to mid blade eyelets now but you may not have this option.

Thanks, I'll probably pass then, not too happy about spending 70 pounds if not sturdy... Might keep my existing my little front rack in conjunction with tubus Tara then...

I find the rack itself plenty sturdy, I just didn't like the way it worked with mudguard stays.

You could always attach the mudguard stays to one if the other jokes on that upright part of the piece that bolts to the fork?