Q-factor measured on the inside of the crank is kind of unhelpful without all the other dimensions :S

I didn't click the link, so this is just general advice. Crank arms are usually ~14 mm thick at the end. If the inner distance at the pedal bore is given (sometimes referred to as I), you can add ~30 mm for a rough estimate.

Quote from: Wet Noodle on April 15, 2025, 04:35:41 PM

I would never ever in my life use brass nipples (probably)

Why not?

Maybe I should have emphasised the 'I'. That was not meant as life advice, just some 'I do it like that' rant.

Regarding your question - for me it's more like 'why should I". So far, I never had corrosion issues (we do have rain ... and winters and salt). As said, I build once and don't retrue (not that I'm that good at building wheels (far from it), I just profoundly reject the very idea of ever having to retrue a wheel as some kinda expected service thing - no, just NO, when it's done, it's done (and it'd better stay that way)). I do find aluminium nipples more susceptible to chew marks from building/trueing (might also just be easier to see with the colour, not sure) - ds to the rescue, so not an actual issue. I'm easy on my bike (just commuting and light bike touring). All in all, it's "free" weight saving, however miniscule it may be.

At least, now you can have cheap eggs.


Sorry, that was very much unnecessary.

I use unbranded ones from the bundle deal section, where a set of 4 pairs (8 pcs) was less than 3 bucks. After breaking in, which does take a while, they are just fine. I would buy them again.

Just for reference: 4Pairs Bike MTB Semi-Metallic Disc Brake Pads For Shimano B01S G01S A01S XTR XT SLX Deore Sram Guide Level HRD Red Etap Magura

The DT Swiss are the best.

No. The low-measuring-force ones after the Jobst Brandt design would be superior (Wheel Fanatyk, Filip Kralyevski) - easier to handle and said to be much more accurate (not sure of the latter, tough, with (re)calibration always being an option).

Obviously this results in a +2mm q factor both sides ...

Meant to ask much earlier in this thread. Did you measure q?

Technically, even just plugging in a usb device is a security risk, no need to actively install shady stuff or anything. Is that option heavily utilised in the field? Probably not, but who knows.

So, instead of trying to figure out how to harden your daily driver, you might consider just getting any cheap phone/tablet with a half decent screen.