Current Projects chat and miscellany

"Why are you trying to build an alpine wheelset for a fixed bike? Are you entering hillclimbs?"

"Phill hubs are heavy as hell - if you wanted something light and fixed, just buy novatech's - will save you 150g on each wheel for a start."

This season will be all about building up form, hopefully with a week or two in the Alps and the Pyrenees respectively. Next year I'm planning a 6 months career break devoted to cycling with a friend. It will definitely be something rad, but what exactly we'll be doing has yet to be confirmed.

And by the way, we're not talking about a purpose build "alpine" wheelset here. I happened to casually mention to my bike guy, that sometime in a near future I might need a strong clincher wheelset suitable for skidding on an industrial scale i.e. suitable for alpine descents, and was offered the said combo at a very attractive price.

I'm not a weight weenie by anyone's standards and will probably end up with a bike under 7 kg anyway, so weight is by no means my only concern; something that can handle the strain of a 15 kilometre descent without compromising performance on the flats, has to take priority.

I'm a good climber, so I'm actually not that worried about getting to the top. However, the consternation of potential mechanical failure getting back down brakeless, is a never ceasing concern, particularly as I'm not exactly featherweight myself.

/csb