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Topics - Ludo

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After The Ride / How addictive is bike building?!

« on: April 17, 2024, 08:24:06 AM »

I did my first build earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed the search for all components, the associated technical learning and then actual bike assembly. I am now constantly looking for excuses for the next one:
Building bike for my kids
Trying to convince friends to build rather than buy,”I’ll build it for you”
Should I built a full suspension for me?

Am I the only addict?

Component Deals & Selection / H-works M330 MTB hubs

« on: April 10, 2024, 05:37:22 AM »

Hi everybody,

So when putting together my bike a few months ago I shied away from building my own wheels and I have some regrets about it…
Now seriously considering giving it a go. As I was researching hub options, I watch hambini review of the H-works hubs and kind of settle on these. They are not available on Ali but I contacted them direct and they are open to sell direct landed cost to Houston is $200

A couple of questions:
Anyone has them, any feedback?
Anyone in US or in France (I travel Back and forth a lot) interested in a group buy if I can get volume discount?

Component Deals & Selection / Zrace X4 olive/barb spec?

« on: February 02, 2024, 09:56:33 AM »

Hi,

Could someone confirm if it's BH59 or BH90? I want to shorten the front one and need to get olive and barb, not sure which one it is. My guess would be BH90. I asked official store on Ali but with Chinese new year, not sure I'll get an answer for a few day.

Thanks

Component Deals & Selection / 1st time builder - frame checks

« on: November 12, 2023, 09:26:06 AM »

Just ordered my first frame, from SP cycle. I have been reading a lot of thread but thought maybe I could get some help in getting everything in one place for future rookies like me.
The topic is what to ask supplier to check/document with pics prior to shipping, what to check upon arrival.

Pre shipment checks, ask for picture of:
-head tube and bottom bracket mating surfaces, check for no paint and general smoothness
-rear caliper mating surfaces, check for paint, flatteness of mounts

Upon receiving:
Record (pictures/video) condition of box on arrival, unboxing and inspection for supporting evidence when receiving the frame
Check above again
Check BB shell for roundness and accuracy to spec
Check headset cups for integrity (no cracks…)

Anything else? What are you experience guys do?

After The Ride / Chinese smart watch

« on: September 26, 2023, 08:34:13 AM »

I am contemplating getting a smart watch. I have been looking at garmin’s golf stuff because that’s another hobby of mine but can’t get myself to pay the price. I read reviews about the huwaei GT3peo, but capabilities are seriously reduced here for this watch as I understand it. Looking for some other alternatives that won’t break the bank and integrate with iPhone

29er / SP-Cycle M06 build thread

« on: September 19, 2023, 09:22:08 PM »

Well, that's early in the project but parts are being ordered as I am waiting for the frame to become available in L. This will be my very first built, I have barely touched a bike in 20+ year but that should be the project getting me back into it and first project shared with my son (5yo) who has developed a huge interest for mountain biking.

Here is the component selection so far (in bold what's been ordered, I will add the weight as I receive the parts vs quoted ones), prices is what I paid including shipping, taxes and discounts:
SP-M06 frame - 1050g - $431.91
Syncros Fraser IC SL 740mmx70mm - 270g - $78
Grips, in black no lettering - 26g - $6
Ryet X50 Saddle - 165g - $40
Elitaone seat post - 155g - $24
Toseek bottle cage black - 18g -$9

Zrace X4 silver Brake set - 464g (measured 481g, no mounting hardware) - $73
rotor (180 front and 160 rear) - 241g - $13
front PM 160 to 180 adapter - x - $3.3
Titanium brake rotor bolt kit to get AliExp discount - $8.1
Internal housing noise damper - $3

Crankset with BB92 170mm 32T - 616g (measured 609g, no mounting hardware) - $48
Gub titanium Axis pedals - 225g - $25
Spedao 12S 10-50T Cassette - 375g (measured 380g) - $72
L-TWOO TX 12S Shifter and Derailleur - 414g - $55
YBN 12S chain - 262g - $38

Rockshox Reba RL - 1560g - $220 - used marketplace, like new

Yuan An wheelset 33m width, wing20 spokes, M14 36T ratchet hub - 1290g - $485
Tires SCHWALBE RACING RAY/RALPH 29x2.25 - 1280g - $77

1st time builder tools:
Headset & BB remover - $5.5
Headset & BB install too - $33
brake hose tool - $12
Internal cable routing tool - $4.1
Torque wrench - $17
Brake flushing kit - $11.1
Bike repair stand - $76
Bike basic tool box - $58
Tire sealant injection tool - $1.5

I am going to try and get the data in a table format with quoted weight, actual weight and actual price paid and eventually I will be asking a lot of questions about how to do stuff when the time to get the tools out! wish me luck!

Component Deals & Selection / Rockrider ST900 20" upgrade

« on: September 12, 2023, 12:09:19 PM »

So I got that bike for my son a couple of month ago, great bike at that price
https://www.decathlon.com/products/kids-bike-20-st900?variant=39409795104830

but suffers from the same issues as most of the kids bike:
-rotoshift, but he doesnt have the strength to rotate it (5yo), especially when loading the pedals
-gearing is for kids to mess around in driveway and paved roads, not on the trail

I had him testing mine and my wife bike thumb shifters, and that seems to work for him, so I'll upgrade to shimano TX 30 I think, it seems many people do that. For the chainring, it is currently a 34T I am thinking of changing to 32 or 30 so he can actually use more than the top two sprockets when riding on a trail. I am kind of tempted to move to 30T with shorter crank to gain some ground clearance too (135-140 instead of 145mm).

Anyone's done that and has some feedback?

29er / Lefty fork on chiner?

« on: August 31, 2023, 01:29:43 PM »

Yeah or naah?
The frame I am considering is the SP cycle scale frame, could get good deal on a lefty XTR.