Current Projects chat and miscellany

Woo Hoo!

I've been after a set of these forever.
32 hole NIP Mavic track hubs.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250905772855?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Woo Hoo!

Really like the forged/embossed logos on those.

Agree that saddle looks relatively low, without seeing you sitting on it.

Considering I can't reach the pedals properly without having my seat low I'd say it's right where it needs to be. :/ if it's comfortable for me what difference does it make how low my saddle is?

Considering I can't reach the pedals properly without having my seat low I'd say it's right where it needs to be. :/ if it's comfortable for me what difference does it make how low my saddle is?

If it fits, then it makes no difference at all. The way it is set up has a lot of reach compared to the distance from saddle to BB and if you're of average proportions I'd hazard a guess it doesn't fit.

Really like the forged/embossed logos on those.

Sweet.
The older model had the mavic logo outside the non drive side flange.
The later ones may have had a coloured plastic band like the road and MTB hubs, don't know never seen one.
These things are absurdly rare.

Now to decide on rims... I might use the last pair of silver MA2s from the loft....
if I wasn't so broke (still bought the fucking hubs though) there's a set of cxp12s on the bay.....

Electronic shifting makes that a non-issue.

surely it makes it more of an issue? first of all there's only 2 electronic groupsets, and there isn't even one system across the single manufacturer who makes them (ie you cant use ultegra levers with di2 mechs and vice versa), unlike cable systems where there are only small differences across manufacturers (which can be solved with a shiftmate if needs be)..

i have no concern over the reliability of di2 in the wet, but a hydraulic drop lever with electronic shifting for di2 would be a seriously niche market.
also would hope/similar companies even be able to make it? surely shimano would not allow other manufacturers to produce aftermarket levers for their system?

That massively over specced Firefly "commuter" used Di2 with custom buttons, which would suggest it's just a case of closing the appropriate circuit to operate the shift. In which case they would be easier to manufacture than mechanical levers (albeit more complicated to fit).

It may be a niche market, but that niche market is quite large. As they're still in the early stages it's to be expected that there's only one or two options available. Once they've found ways of making it cheaper then the ultegra/105 systems will come out.

Now to decide on rims... I might use the last pair of silver MA2s from the loft....
if I wasn't so broke (still bought the fucking hubs though) there's a set of cxp12s on the bay.....

Box section would win for looks in my books.

The MA2s are a dilemma, I have 2 32h and 1 40h. I was planning to build up a pair of Airlite 40/32 hubs on the MA2s (they look like Fiamme tubs from a distance).

What I really need is another 32h MA2

Hilary has some in 630mm, there are 559mm ones around too, but the premium on 622mm rims is too crazy. I'd find something similar that isn't so popular.

I think the niche market won't remain niche for long, the benefits of disc brakes are well established in the MTB world and there's been a stream of innovations developed there that have crossed over to the road market.

The UCI ban disc brakes for road racing but, as the rule change in cyclocross showed, pressure can be brought upon them by manufacturers to change the rules.

I think the niche market won't remain niche for long, the benefits of disc brakes are well established in the MTB world and there's been a stream of innovations developed there that have crossed over to the road market.

The UCI ban disc brakes for road racing but, as the rule change in cyclocross showed, pressure can be brought upon them by manufacturers to change the rules.

fair enough - i'm sure you know more about the industry than i do..
the real question is when are campag going to release an electronic groupset?

I don't know about that!

Latest news from Campag is that their electronic groupset will be available before the Giro next year, so early May at the latest.

I think the niche market won't remain niche for long...

Pronounced Nee-sh? or Nee-kay? Inquiring minds must know.

Two steps forward, one step back.

Front brake is now what I always wanted it to be- good.

Tyres, what a racket! But quite fun, took them out for the specified 20 mile ride with no heavy braking/cornering.

However, babying them around led to:

So, based on this, two more rides and they will be standard knobblies, with no spikes.

Boo.

Pronounced Nee-sh? or Nee-kay? Inquiring minds must know.

Nitch

those tires are ONLY to be use with snow or ice, otherwise you will lose the spikes, oh wait....

Not according to the blurb on Wiggle

common sense fail dammit

*facepalm

Don't believe the blurb on Wiggle.

You should only get those out when needed.

"it is recommended that 20 miles of use on hard surfaces should be done prior to using in the snow and ice to bed the studs in"

That's what I was doing, when the studs came out.

Meh X 2

"it is recommended that 20 miles of use on hard surfaces should be done prior to using in the snow and ice to bed the studs in"

Hah-larious. Must be that german sense of humour.

Serves me right for blindly following instructions I guess.

Ah well, you live and learn.