Cet été, nous avons été heureux de pouvoir tester des plateaux carbone de chez Fibre-Lyte. Cette société anglaise a travaillé récemment sur des roulettes en carbone et nous sommes fiers de vous les présenter en exclusivité… et déjà testés!
Ils n’utilisent pas de micro roulements (comme le font d’autres marques) qui pourraient s’abîmer rapidement après quelques centaines de kilomètres mais plutôt un galet en céramique qui amène peu de friction et sauvegarde le plus d’énergie possible. Ces roulettes en carbone demande juste une petite goutte d’huile sur le galet pour qu’il donne tout son potentiel.
Je n’ai pu utiliser ces roulettes qu’un peu plus de 1000 km puisque j’ai du arrêter le vélo pour la fin de saison. Jusqu’à maintenant, je n’ai rencontré aucun souci avec ces joujoux de 8gr. Ils on fonctionné parfaitement et je n’ai pu remarqué aucune différence avec les Campa d’origine.
Ils seront vendus en différentes versions, une avec 3 "rayons" droits, une autre avec 3 rayons aéro, une avec 4 rayons aéro et une dernière "aéro" pleine pour les contre-la-montre! 🙂
Ces roulettes sont très facilement démontables puisqu’il suffit de glisser un outil fin entre la roue et la partie immobile:
IndustryNine is an american company making MTB wheels whose hubs and spokes are very special. The brand debuted last year at the Interbike with wheels realized by bike-geek engineers specialized in precision robotics, high-end golf clubs and medicals equipments. This year the range is getting bigger.
Beside the MTB and trekking wheels with patent-pending hubs and spokes, the fully customizable range is now getting race wheels. This program will allow a customer to have a wheel built with Industry 9 hubs and spokes, either via a dealer who will send any rim, either directly from I9 that will custom anodize the hubs and the spokes
The hub has a patent pending for its original system using three or six pawls to transfer the torque created by the rider every 6 or 3° of rotor rotation on the hub body (almost instantaneous!):
The spokes integrate the nipple and therefore the wheel doesn’t use nipple anymore. The wheel design is special since the spokes are screwed up in the hub body while the other tip of the spoke is like a nipple. This is the second patent-pending, it makes the wheel stronger according to the manufacturer. Of course one can still true the wheels since the spoke end has machined-in flats, just like a conventionnal nipple:
The hubs bodies are made out of aluminium 7075, they respectively get 2 and 4 bearings for the front and the rear, only the end nuts are in stainless steel.
The wheelset built with Velocity rims weights around 1400gr and costs approximately 850$. The hub and spokes combo is definitely not the lightest one but the look so important for a wheelset is very nice!
| Manufacturer link |
IndustryNine |
| More informations on: | PinkBike |
| PezCyclingNews | |
| Sicklines |
TANGENTE tires
Beside the dimpled hubs we spoke about in these articles (1, 2, 3 ), Zipp has worked as well on tires which will save from 1 to 3 Watts compared to the faster tires available according to their own tests.
The clinchers or tubulars come from Vittoria and are based upon the Corsa CX with 290TPI, they are dimpled and their size is 21mm. They are the result of a 14 months collaboration with the italian tire maker.
The gain of 3 Watts maximum is got with the rims of the 404 or 808 wheelsets, it goes down to 2 Watts with the 303 depending on the angle the wind arrive on the tire/rim couple of course. Zipp claims that one can save some power while using these tires with any rim.
According to Josh, Zipp engineer, " the dimples add essentially no stress into the thread […] so the predicted wear and crack resistance with the age of the tire was dramatically decreased"
The tested tires proved a good grip on both dry and wet roads, synonym of a perfect race tire. they are said to be available from October the first.
Not yet informations regarding the rolling resistance but they will certainly be close to the Corsa CX tested HERE as among the best.
ZEDTECH program
Zipp seems to be a little inspired in custom hand craft wheels and launches for 2007 a custom wheels program.
Thus, many hubs, rims and nipples will be available.
You will be able to choose between the classic hubs or the dimpled ones, in silver, black or grey anodized colors, the ceramic bearings can be used if you want according to your budget and your ambitions.
Pneumatiques TANGENTE
Après les moyeux à fossettes dont on a parlé dans ces articles ( 1, 2, 3), Zipp a travaillé aussi sur des pneumatiques permettant de sauvegarder selon leurs tests entre 1 et 3 Watts comparés aux pneumatiques les plus rapides actuellement disponibles.
Les pneus ou boyaux proviennent de chez Vittoria et sont basés sur les Corsa CX à 290TPI et disposent de fossettes, la taille du pneumatique est de 21mm. Ils sont fruits d’une collaboration de 14 mois avec le fabricant de pneumatiques italien.
Le gain de 3 Watts maximum est obtenu avec les jantes des roues 404 ou 808, il passe à 2 Watts avec des 303 selon l’angle que fait le vent sur le couple pneumatique / jante bien entendu. Zipp affirme qu’on peut économiser un peu de puissance en utilisant ces pneumatiques avec n’importe quelle autre jante.
Selon Josh ingénieur chez Zipp, " les fossettes ne stressent pas la carcasse […] donc l’usure et la résistance aux craquelures avec l’âge du pneumatique ont été réduit fortement"
Les pneumatiques testés ont montré une excellente accroche en virage sur sols secs et mouillés synonyme du pneumatique parfait pour la compétition. Ils sont annoncés disponibles à partir du 1er Octobre.
Pas d’informations concernant la résistance au roulement mais il y a fort à parier qu’elle sera similaire au Corsa CX testé ICI comme parmi les meilleurs.
Programme ZEDTECH
Un peu inspiré des roues artisanales, Zipp lance pour 2007 un programme de roues sur-mesure.
Ainsi, plusieurs choix de moyeux, jantes et écrous sera disponible.
Vous aurez le choix entre les moyeux classiques ou ceux à fossettes, de couleurs argent, noire ou gris anodisé, les roulement céramique ou pas selon votre budget et vos ambitions sont possibles.
For this fourth article about the Eurobike, we would like to show some new wheels parts and new wheels.
A new hub is coming from Dt Swiss. The 240s hubs are already top range this year but they’re unfortunately quite heavy compared to some others brands.
For 2007, the 190 Ceramic will be available for road and mountain bikes. The front hub will come with either 20, 24, 28, 32 holes and will be adapted for radial lacing. Its weight will be 105gr ± 5%.
The rear version will be different for Campagnolo and Shimano. The shape of the left side of the hub body will change slightly to attain the perfect flange geometry and offer the maximum stiffness for both 10-speed Shimano and 9/10-speed Campagnolo. It will come with 24, 28, 32 holes. The weight will be 195gr ± 5% for Campagnolo and 190gr ± 5% for Shimano.
This new hub is interesting because it is the first time Dt Swiss is going to use ceramic bearings in its hubs. The ceramic bearings will be very high quality and so the price of the hubset will be twice the 240s.
Dt Swiss is coming with a new quick release system. Its patent is pending. These new quick releases will be used as a simple bolt.
The RWS system is very easy to use, one have to tighten up the system by turning the lever clockwise by hand as firm as possible then put the lever in the optimal position and the wheel is mounted firm and safe. It has got up to 50% more clamping force than common quick release systems.
It will be available as three differents version, one for road, one for MTB and another one with a 9mm axle for the front and 10mm for the rear. This last version has to be used with the DT Swiss "thru bolt"hub.
The lightest version of the RWS System is the Road titan, it’s 36gr front and 39gr rear. It uses AL6/V4 grade 5 titanium for the axles.
A picture of the new RR1850 wheels is following:
The rims remain unchanged:
Tune won’t change really its range for 2007. Some nice hubs were exposed at their stand.
The Mag150 will be available as a spare hub for 579euros, it weights 158gr.
Its enlightened version called the Mag140 will be kept for the Skyline wheels.
The Mig45 will finally be available as a spare part as well for almost 200euros and just 48gr.
We could find a rear mountain bike hub for disc that seems totally new. The Torsten is not in their 2007 range yet. This hub has got carbon layers inside the flanges just like the Mag140 or the Mag150.
Finally some customs hubs were presented on the stand:
We once could already see a custom work of that kind on a mountain bike wheel two years ago if my memory serves.
This one with germany colors:
Mavic
Cofidis team is racing on the Tour de France with very special Mavic wheels, Roues Artisanales could get thanks to a reader a picture of the prototype used by some lucky riders.
This wheel whose carbon weave is 12K as Corima aéro 2006 is however different of the wheels used by Cofidis using a flatter rim and a 3K carbon weave. The advantage is the weight since a 3K carbon fiber square meter is 175gr while the same area of 12K carbon fiber is close to 205/210gr. 3K price is 50% more expensive than the 12K that is as well 50% more resistant. A priori the wheels we can see at the Tour de France are lighter and less resistant than the one tested before.
The last year, in this article (only in french) we criticized Mavic that seemed very late concerning the weight of its wheels and the real updates. It seems the company is reacting the best as possible with this wheelset looking like Lightweight wheels. Have a look at this close shot from a picture belonging to Tdwsports.
We hope to see these wheels soon in shop at an interesting price.
Previous RouesArtisanales articles: 1, 2, 3
For this second part of the article, we present you this weird Zipp disk wheel. At the moment we don’t have a lot of informations about it but one can notice that it seems to be built upon a normal rim where a fairing has been added to make a disk wheel.
Is this a new wheel for 2007? A wheel again faster than the current ones? We’ll know soon.
EDIT: this is actually the new 2006 clincher disk wheel.
Weightweenies forum is full of informations everywhere. We there found a very nice picture of the dimpled hub we already talked about in this article.
Pezcyclingnews also got some informations about the lenticulars wheels that will use dimpled "cones".
There are a lot of reactions concerning the dimples on the hubs (saving 3W maximum according to ZIpp) but only a few of them are on the american brand behalf.
A last thing, Foromtb has been kind enough to send us a picture of the Orbéa Orca 2007 with a little higher quality than the one exposed in this article.
Some days ago, a picture of a rider from Aix en Provence team using the latest Mavic Full Carbone wheels has been plugged in.
The doubts regarding the general look and its structure are over now, so it’s now possible to show you the pictures of the wheels with no risk. Thanks to an awesome work realized through Photoshop by Skyleth, we will present you as well the wheel in show version 🙂
The prototypes built by Mavic are numerous but the following wheels should be close to the reality:
Skyleth‘s work;
About its look, the rim looks a lot like a Corima aéro 2006, the weave is identical while the kevlar spokes are black and the hub is made out of carbon as the Lightweight. Overall weight seem to be around 1150gr as previously announced in cette brève.
The rumours announce the wheels to be visible for the mountain stages of the Tour de France, we hope as you it will be the case and these wheels will win stages!
EDIT 21:30:00; today at the first mountain stage, the whole Cofidis team has used the latest wheels, this is a picture of Christian Moreni taken by GonaSovereign from WeightWeenies.
EDIT 2: thanks to a better quality picture, we can see that the rim weave has changed compared to the first prototypes built, it looks more like the old Corima rims meaning a small weave.
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Mavic website also informs us of the existence of the new wheels saying that Cofidis team really appreciate them.
Link.
While the firsts prototypes were built before November 2005, Mavic finally make the existence of the wheels public!
Zipp 2007
The Tour de France has begun since a few days and the first new parts could be spotted on the bikes.For example, CSC team has got some new Z serie wheels using the dimpled hub we once talked in this article.
These hubs will only be used on the Z series wheels since they’re very expensive to make and improve again the aero of the wheels.After varying dimple depths, densities and diameters they found the best compromise allowing a drag decrease. The logo on the hub doesn’t affect at all the aero of the wheel.
According to the test done at 30mph on 808 wheels with 21mm tubies both with dimpled hub and normal hub at Texas A&M by graduate students, the hub saves the equivalent of 3W when the wind is from 0 to 10°.
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Official Zipp picture:
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The Ultra torque crankset installation guide can be found on the official Campagnolo website, have a look at it. It’s useful if you’re going to buy the new crankset.
http://www.campagnolo.com/pdf/7225306_ULTRA_TORQUE_Crankset.pdf
The latest Mavic Crossmax SLR have been seen on a picture of the website Canadiancyclist. The look is almost similar to the road wheels known as Ksyrium ES. A red hub with a black rim and black spokes. We don’t have more informations at the moment but it seems there aren’t a lot of improvement here… We hope to be able to tell you more in some days.
Orbea 2007
The new Orbea Orca that will be available the next year has got smoother but also bulkier lines than the current model. It should be stiffer as well.
Foromtb.com was nice to share with us the picture.
Zipp will use dimpled new hubs for its next wheel line. Phonak and CSC top riders already sometimes use them in good conditions. Zipp claims these new hubs save 3 Watts over the current hubs when the wind is at 0 to 15°.
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Zero Gravity crankset we’re all waiting so much is announced available earl in 2007. After many months to be developped and tested under every conditions, this part with a very special geometry will finally reach the production lines. We already wrote something about this crankset a few months ago (see here) will use a custom Zero Gravity bottom bracket spinning on Phil Wood bearings. |
Les plateaux carbone Fibre-Lyte obtenus avec l’aide de Fairwheelbikes ont dorénavant parcouru un peu plus de 35h de vélo soit approximativement 1200km en comptant les courses (Elite/nationales) principalement sur le plateau de 53.
Première constatation ; l’usure n’est pas encore visible et les dents sont toujours en excellente forme. Contrairement à ce que j’avais pu annoncer dans ce premier test, le manque de rigidité des plateaux par rapport à des plateaux classiques en alu n’est pas réellement perceptible.
Il s’agit en réalité d’un fort manque de rigidité du cadre qui plie aisément à la moindre accélération.
Ensuite, j’avais annoncé que le passage de plateaux était amélioré, en réalité cette amélioration est due au changement de chaîne. En effet, je suis passé d’un ensemble plateaux FSA alu/chaîne Record à un ensemble plateaux Fibre-Lyte/chaîne Record CR (5,9mm). J’ai donc constaté que l’amélioration de passage de vitesses est due à cette chaîne plus étroite puisqu’en remontant les plateaux alu mais en conservant la chaîne étroite, le passage de plateaux était plus franc qu’avec l’ensemble plateaux carbone/chaîne Record CR.
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Premier soucis il y a quelques jours avec une dent abîmée. Le problème est causé selon Martin de Fibre-Lyte par la chaîne qui ne s’est pas placée correctement contre une dent mais plutôt au niveau du haut d’une dent. La contrainte au lieu de s’appliquer sur la dent complète s’est donc concentrée sur le haut de la dent qui n’a pas encaissé.
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C’est un souci mineur sans impact sur la sécurité qui peut être résolu en frottant la dent sur du papier abrasif afin de donner à la dent une forme plus arrondie et surtout sans laisser dépasser des fibres de carbone.
Prochaine mise à jour sur ces plateaux dans quelques jours.
Since several years thanks to the new materials and new technologies development, bike parts weights are constantly decreasing. As presented in these two previous articles (1, 2) the lightest rear hub isn’t heavier than 150gr. Roues Artisanales could get some close shots of them thanks to Flyingball and pkent. This hub will be challenged earl in July by the latest M5 hub the rumours announce between 125 and 140gr.
The TUNE Mag140 is for radial non drive side spoke pattern, it has got ceramic bearings, a carbon axle and a drilled rotor;
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It seems we were right when we published the first rumors about Campagnolo 2007 new cranksets/bottom brackets (HERE).
The latest news are coming from Fairwheelbikes forum where we can find interesting pictures:
NexusHeli, manufacturer and member on the forum tells us the specifications of this new crankset/bottom bundle Ultra torque design:
– the internal diameter of the bottom bundle is a massive 25mm
– the interface in the center has 20 teeth approximately 5mm deep on each side of the spindle that mesh much like two gears
– a hollow alloy bolt holds the two sides together at 42 N.m
– Record cranks are narrower and flat in order to keep the Q-factor the same as the current crank/bb setup.
– Chorus cranks are nearly identical to Record but won’t be hollow, Centaur and lower range cranks go to a forged alloy arm with a concave backside, in a similar shape from the front as the carbon cranks. Centaur will be available in black.
– this new system is 100gr lighter than the current crankset/bb setup
Here is a picture from Cyclingnews about a 2007 Mirage crankset using this new design:
About the brakes, here are the latest news he could have:
– Record and Chorus brakes have hidden bolt forged in the center while Centaur are forged slightly different with exposed bolts.
– Brakes are still round but the arms are hollow
The shifters are modified as said in older articles:
– only Record shifters keep the current thumb lever to drop as many gear as wanted, others ranges will only allow you to drop a gear at once
– the shifting action on the lever to drop gears is very short so it’s not a problem to tap the lever multiple times
Older Roues Artisanales articles dealing with the same subject: 1, 2
Fibre lyte company specialized in motorcycle parts, model parts, industrial components, housings for electronic or race cars parts also do full carbon chainrings for bikes.
Originally, managing director Martin Hansell started making chainrings from carbon fibre as he and his brother were time trial riders. They even realized a carbon monocoque frame by hand 12 years ago. The chainrings worked so well that he put them on his tandem as well. They were aimed at time trial riders for single ring use, but when Stephen Walton joined the company, he was very interested in bike parts and continued the development in order to make them double ring compatibles.
Fibre lyte is amongst the rare brands always innovating, the kind of high-end brand that will allow everyday bikes, training bikes to use carbon chainrings (and why not carbon cassettes) in some years.
Thanks to Fairwheelbikes, Roues Artisanales could get a couple of these chainrings which would love to be tested out.
Here are the firsts pictures of the technological jowel claimed to be solid whether using conditions are respected (clean and well lubricated chain)
External 53 teeth chainring, BCD 130
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Internal 39 teeth chainring, 130 BCD
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The couple of chainrings;
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This kind of chainring make the bike looking more agressive but allow as well to save 60gr (weight divided in 2) over classic Record or Dura-Ace chainrings.
They are available with differents carbon weaves that you can see on this url.
The fiber choosen for Roues Artisanales chainrings is this one:
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Previous Roues Artisanales article related to the same subject: ICI.
La compagnie Fibre lyte spécialisée dans les pièces de moto, de modélisme, dans les composants industriels ou dans les pièces de voitures de course réalise aussi des plateaux tout carbone pour bicyclettes.
A ses débuts, le directeur de la société Martin Hansell a réalisé des plateaux en fibres de carbone pour son frère et lui afin de les utiliser sur leurs vélos de chrono dont un carbone monocoque qui a été fabriqué entièrement à la main il y a 12 ans. Les plateaux marchaient si bien qu’il décida de les utiliser sur son tandem aussi. Les plateaux tout carbone étaient conçus à leurs débuts comme simple plateau pour les vélos de chrono, mais quand Stephen Walton arriva dans la boîte, il fût très intéressé par les pièces de vélo et continua le développement des plateaux afin de les rendre compatibles avec les passages de vitesse. C’est ainsi qu’est né le double plateaux carbone.
Fibre lyte fait parti des rares compagnies qui innovent sans cesse, qui sont à la pointe de la technologie et qui permettront à l’utilisateur lambda de profiter des avantages du carbone au niveau des plateaux (et pourquoi pas aussi au niveau des pignons) dans quelques années.
Avec l’aide de Fairwheelbikes, Roues Artisanales a pu obtenir ces plateaux qui ne demandent qu’à être testés.
Voici les premières photos de ces bijoux technologiques qui sont selon leurs créateurs très solides si les conditions d’utilisation sont respectées (chaîne propre et bien lubrifiée).
Plateaux extérieur 53 dents, diamètre 130
Plateau intérieur 39 dents, diamètre 130
La paire de plateaux;
Des plateaux de ce type rendent le look du vélo bien plus agressif mais permettent aussi de gagner un peu plus de 60gr (poids presque divisé par 2) sur un ensemble classique Dura-Ace ou Record.
Les plateaux sont disponibles en différentes tresses que vous pourrez découvrir sur cette page.
La fibre choisie pour les plateaux Roues Artisanales est celle ci:
Article Roues Artisanales traitant du même sujet: ICI.
m²racer world’s lightest quick releases have been recently updated to increase the length of life of the product. The contact flanges are now much larger. Large enough that the skewers can now accomodate springs on them, which are now included. They also change the machining on the groove for the cam, it is larger than before.
Weight is going to 39gr and doesn’t include spring weight.
Source: Fairwheelbikes
Fairwheelbikes forum moderator known as LJ has got a marvelous Pinarello collection. A nice topic can be found on the forum, it’s related to his latest Paris’ built, colors choice and is very interesting.
He was really nice (and proud as well I think ;p) to share some pictures for Roues Artisanales. Here they are;
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The bike was built according to these specifications and meet a cute 6180g.
| Frame: | Pinarello Paris |
| Fork: | Pinarello Onda |
| Bar: | Schmolke TLO |
| Stem: | Oval R700 with R900 upgrade |
| Seatpost: | AX-Lightness Daedalus |
| Saddle: | AX-Lightness Apollo |
| Brakes: | AX-Lightness with Jagwire carbon Holders |
| Shift levers : | Campagnolo Record |
| Front derailleur: | Campagnolo Record |
| Rear derailleur: | Campagnolo Record |
| Cranks: | THM Clavicula |
| Chainrings: | Specialités TA Hegoa 39/53 |
| Chain: | Campagnolo Record Ultra-Narrow |
| Cassette: | Campagnolo Record 11-23 Titanium |
| Pedals: | Look Kéo HM Ti |
| Wheels: | Lightweight Obermayer 16/20 |
| Skewers: | WR Componenti |
| Bottlecages: | Elite carbon |
| Cables: | Campagnolo |
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Another version with stickerless Lightweight;
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Or this one with Campagnolo Bora;
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Finally, his collection with a nice garden well sprinkled as background (^^);
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Record front derailleurs are amongst the lightest ones with only 69gr.
Fairwheelbikes tuned one of them while keeping the same performance level. Almost every parts are machined, custom hollow carbon with aluminium pivots, spring is made out of titan while bolts are either in aluminium either in titanium.
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This amazing work is realized by David "the tuner" who brought this part at a crazy nice 44,3gr.
These derailleurs will be available from Fairwheelbikes as "Proto" model for $350.
Since some years, TUNE propose a Skyline wheelset based upon Zipp 280 rims and classic retail available TUNE hubs.
This year, TUNE makes things really good and could get a partnership with Reynolds to use KOM rims. These rims are the lightest ones with a nice 220gr.
The german company has upgraded their hubs since a new rear hub is developped. It is incredibly light and is made for radial non drive side pattern. Carbon is used in the flanges, we’ll see in some weeks how the hub will be called. We should be ready for a Mag140! This means the hub should be around 140gr, perhaps slightly more. TUNE already had the lightest hub with its Mag150 but it’s now killing any rival with it!
The front hub is a Mig45 with full ceramic bearings, it weights a nice claimed 35gr.
Wheelset weight will be close to 850gr with Cx-ray spokes.
Thanks to Light-bikes.de for the picture.
Weight weenie friend Billy Lannom visited the Taipei Bike Show and delivered a huge number of pictures to Roues Artisanales. Thx a lot!
1. SRAM
SRAM showed the Eddy Merckx Premium bike of Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada rider Ben Jacques-Mayne, ridden in the Amgen Tour of California.
previous Roues Artisanales articles:
Pics from SRAM testing bike
Electronic Shimano & SRAM test
CSC testing new shifters
Eurobike 4
SRAM Force
2. FSA
FSA showed in Taipei their new brakes. They will be seen on CSC’s bike later on the season!
Note: Andrey Kashechkin (Liberty Seguros) won the 6th stage of Paris-Nice in Cannes with these FSA brake calipers! (photo beneath: Graham Watson)
3. Miche
Nice wheels, brakes and chainrings from Miche:
La marque française produit des roues carbone depuis 1988. L’expérience de cette entreprise dans ce domaine est donc indéniable et permet de réaliser des produits haut de gamme, rigides, fiables et légers.
Niveau aérodynamique elles sont intrinséquement bonnes de part leur profil. La jante est légérement "déformée" au niveau du trou de valve, il s’agit apparement d’un renfort.
Avantages:
– Un poids correct compte tenu du profil
– Des qualités aérodynamiques bonnes
– Une finition brillante exemplaire rappelant un vernis
– La possibilité de retirer facilement les autocollants
– Disponible en 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 28 et 32 trous
– Disponibilité très rapide
– Un prix très abordable pour une jante carbone
Inconvénients:
– Le profil pourrait être plus travaillé pour améliorer l’aérodynamisme
Avantages:
– Un poids léger
– La finition brillante
– Les autocollants décollables facilement
– Disponibilité très rapide
Inconvénients:
– Un perçage à l’américaine! Le perçage est réalisé à l’inverse des conventions habituelles à savoir un perçage gauche. Pas très cohérent surtout que la jante aéro est bien percée!
– Le prix est 80 euros plus élevé que la version aéro
Lien constructeur: CORIMA
Chez Reynolds, on produit des jantes d’exception mais aussi des jantes plus raisonnables. Après le rachat de la compagnie maintenant légendaire Lew, Reynolds utilise ses moules de fabrication mais avec une maîtrise plus pointue des fibres et de leurs caractéristiques. La largeur des jantes a été augmenté de 3,5 mm depuis en passant de 17,5 à 21 mm. Le résultat est excellent puisque les roues Stratus DV restent extrémement solides malgré les 16 rayons avant et 20 rayons arrière. Un renfort au niveau de la valve est compensé par une masse à l’opposé pour assurer l’équilibre en rotation. La technologie Reynolds très poussée a permi de rendre les jantes Lew KOM (King Of Mountain, 220gr) jadis uniquement capables de monter de par leur fragilité capable de descendre et d’être utilisées sur n’importe quels terrains.
Avantages:
– Un poids correct malgré la profondeur
– Des qualités aérodynamiques bonnes
– La possibilité de retirer facilement les autocollants
– Très grande résistance
Inconvénients:
– La forme de la jante pourrait être optimisée pour être plus aéro
– Non disponibles au détail
– Finition sommaire
Une version allégée de ce modèle est disponible à partir des roues complètes; les Stratus DV-UL disposent de jantes d’un profil similaire mais pour un poids de 280 gr pièce annoncé.
Reynolds produit sans doute les jantes ayant le meilleur rapport poids/résistance du marché. La preuve est qu’elle est capable de réaliser des jantes deux fois plus légéres que des Mavic Open Pro tout en gardant une solidité très correcte.
Lien constructeur: REYNOLDS Composites
Crée en 1997, Speedcomposites commence à se faire connaitre depuis cette année grâce à des performances au niveau mondial en cyclo-cross notamment. La qualité et la résistance du produit est indéniable comme l’atteste le rayonnage 20/24 pour des roues de cross.
Le diamètre des trous des rayons est de 2,5 mm, ils sont réalisés grâce à un perçage classique de 2mm puis un perçage spécial au boriumnitride de diamant afin de ne pas engendrer de micro fissures dans le carbone. Cette méthode rend la jante très solide et permet d’atteindre des tensions très élevées sans risque de rupture. Les jantes sont constituées à 99% de carbone monolitique.
Les jantes SINUS sont disponibles en 12-18-20-24-28-36 trous pour un poids variant entre 280 et 300 gr et un tarif à mi chemin entre les jantes Zipp et Corima.
Lien constructeur: SPEEDCOMPOSITES
Les roues X-TREME sont très peu utilisées, les jantes ultra légères mais aussi ultra fragiles au début ont été renforcées au niveau des trous de rayons depuis 2005. C’est dorénavant plus fiable mais plus lourd, on passe de 230 à 260 gr pour le modèle Nano et de 295 à 360 gr pour le modèle Matrix à jantes hautes. Ces jantes sont très fines avec seulement 18 mm tandis que la hauteur est de 24 ou 45 mm suivant le modèle.
Lien constructeur: X-TREME wheels
Apparue comme Corima en 1988, Zipp a très vite pris de l’ampleur grâce à des produits très légers. Depuis quelques années, en plus de réaliser des produits light, Zipp s’attarde aussi sur les qualités aérodynamiques des roues. Ainsi, en 2003 la première roue à fossettes améliorant l’aérodynamique vu le jour. Depuis, presque tous les modèles de la gamme sont ainsi équipés à part le modèle à jante basse dont l’aérodynamique n’est pas le principal objectif.
Les jantes 360 aujourd’hui disparues du catalogue Zipp sont pourtant toujours produites notamment pour les roues Easton Tempest, les Cane Creek Aros 58, les American Classic carbon 58mm par exemple. C’est aussi le cas des jantes 280 qui sont toujours employées sur diverses roues d’autres marques comme les Topolino Carbone V39, les American Classic Carbon.
Avantages:
– Poids très léger (entre 275 et 290 gr)
– La possibilité de retirer facilement les autocollants
– Disponibilité en de multiples perçages (quand elles étaient encore dispo bien sûr)
Inconvénients:
– Fragilité
– Finition sommaire, les raccords sont très visibles, l’aspect n’est pas en relation avec le prix de la pièce
– Tarif
Avantages:
– Poids très léger compte tenu du profil (305gr au début de production, maintenant pesées entre 325/345gr!)
– Disponibles en de multiples perçages
– Sans doute le meilleur rapport poids/rigidité/aérodynamique de toutes les jantes disponibles sur le marché
– Une finition largement à la hausse par rapport aux 280
Inconvénients:
– Tarif
– Un poids constant sur les premières versions (300/310gr) mais maintenant revu à la hausse (entre 325 et 345 gr)
Latest TUNE hub generation is quite easy to service. Only the final step of removing the bearings is a bit difficult.
You’ll find here a step by step article about a Mag 190 rear hub disassembly. A front Mig 70 hub disassembly is almost the same, it only has an axle cap nut with two identical bearings.
Tools required:
– two 5mm hex keys
– a W-Mag disassembly toolkit.
– a cassette lockring
First, one has to unscrew the free wheel side cap nut, by inserting two 5mm hex keys in the axle ends. A thin seal or a small steel spacer are placed behind this nut.
The next step is to remove the rotor, you have two options for this;
A second steel spacer is placed between the rotor and the double bearing.
Only the axle and the bearings left on the hub body now. To extract the axle, you’ve two solutions:
I could find only some solutions to solve it:
You still have to pull out the bearings. It’s tricky since it usually damage them. One has to tap on the inner race of the bearing to force it to leave its bed. A good idea is to heat the parts around 60°C to make the disassemble easier. The classic bearing and the tune patented one are still working well, I won’t go further in this article. These bearings will be replaced by ceramic ones in a few weeks.
The rim tapes you can find easily in shops are durable, reliable, sturdy but unfortunately "very" heavy.
Rim tape is among spinning elements of the bike, so it’s twice useful to make it lighter when you’re looking for gramms saved.
The weight save realized while switching from a normal rim tape to a very light one isn’t huge since it’s only around 15 gramms but it represents a dynamical gain of 1.44 g.m² (mR²).
As example, on a light rear wheel using for example a flat 360gr rim, 28 spokes weighting 4.8gr each, 0.3gr alloy nipples and a 170gr clincher coupled with a 55gr air tube, the dynamical gain is slightly over 2% so 4% for a wheelset. It means that the wheel resistance to speed changes (accelerations or decelerations) will be decreased of 4%. On a bike and its rider it’s negligible but still, it’s interesting to do it to make races (especially criteriums) easier.
NB: hubs play almost no role in momentum of inertia of a wheel, we do consider them as negligible. You can download this Excel sheet representing what is explained just before.(with a different example).
So I looked for the lightest rim tapes I could find. After a few searches, Rox rim tapes seemed to be the lightest ones. Unfortunately they are almost not sold in Europe. I had to ask Fairwheelbikes to get some.
A Rox roll is enough for several wheels, the weight for one wheel is about 3 or 4 gramms while it’s 18 gramms for a classic Michelin rim tape.
In this comparative, you’ll find these QR: SHIMANO Dura-Ace 7800, CAMPAGNOLO Record, MAVIC (the one you have with Cosmos for example), BBB, TUNE AC14 and m²racer.
A difficulty to place the washer just in front of the cam before the tight operation(they both have to be in a position to be able to tight). A few seconds lost while putting this cam in the right position, then the tight is good, we feel well that the quick release is in place and is well tightened. The untight operation didn’t cause any problem in spite of a weird metallic noise, it doesn’t have to be too much tightened it seems. A races QR set because of its weight and its quality but it doesn’t have to be put for a wheel change since the washer that has to be put against the cam is quite hard to put right in place and will make you waste precious seconds during a race.
EDIT: After having read again the user manual, it’s mentionned that the cam and the washer have to be held in one hand while the other hand turn clockwise the end nut against the frame, it’s then possible to tight thanks to the lever arm with no misalignement problem. A non common way of use for this astonishing product!
Really easy to place, there’s no evident position from the closed and the opened position. But one can feel that the QR does its work. The lever arm has to be placed against the fork, otherwise it may enter in contact with the spokes in the case where it would be firmly pushed by accident. The untight operation is pretty easy even if the lever arm is placed against the fork or the frame. Quick releases that can be used for races without any problem.
It’s very hard to turn clockwise the end nut on the thread, it makes lost some seconds because one have to force to screw it up before using the lever. This disadvantage is caused by brand new quick releases I think. With some wear, the screwing up operation will be easier. Opened and closed positions are evidents and the sturdy arm lever gives a huge strength to tight the wheel. High quality QR that need some running in or end nut preparation to make it spin easier on its axle. The set is heavier than the ones presented just over.
I didn’t have them at home so I picked up a picture of them on JulMTB.free.fr. CAMPAGNOLO QR are all well finished but unfortunately I could never fell any big difference between the opened and the closed position. They’re really good but still, they have the same problem as the Dura-Ace ones. The end nut is hard to turn on the axle’s thread. These QR are almost indestructibles.
I didn’t meet any problem, closed and opened positions are evidents, the utight is as easy. Definitely the easiest QR to use. On an other hand they are quite heavy.
A bulky lever arm makes the quick release look bad, the tightening force seem low but is certainly high enough. The lever reaches a maximal position when it enters in contact with its stop ("butée" on the picture). The weight is good for middle range quick releases.
If one had to find a winner through this mini comparative, it would place the TUNE ones in first position. Their weight is really low plus they are easy to use. It makes them inevitables on many bikes as Jan Ullrich one.
Mavic quick releases are good as well while the BBB would take the last place, I wans’t really satisfied with them, even through I use them daily on my training wheels.
The m²racer are excellent and incredibly light (the lightest at the moment) but for aren’t that good for wheels replacement during a race especially if the team mechanics doesn’t know the product.
For the SHIMANO and the CAMPA, I’d say that it’s almost impossible to wear them out until they’re unusables!!
Still looking for the parts to build a sub 1000gr wheelbuild, I searched the most adapted components for such a build.
The parts presented above aren’t all available easily.
Option 1: X-TREME Nano Elite tubulars
Claimed to be 230gr, they can hold very high tensions. Not really much commentaries and only a few users make these rims a little mysterious.
Option 2: Reynolds KOM
The lightest rims currently on the market are just over 220gr. Very strong as any parts made by the american company, they’re unfortunately unavailable as retail part. It means that one must buy a wheelset, unbuild it in order to custom rebuild it. But still, while searching well it’s possible to find some…
Option 1: B-T-P Prototype
The first possibility is the B-T-P hub that was for example used on the 817gr wheelset presented in August. The availability is harder than the others hubs. It weights just 38gr, it’s definitely a good solution (42gr on the picture after a small modification)
Option 2: TUNE Mig 45
The latest TUNE front hub is minimalist. Just 48gr thanks to a carbon axle and two ceramic bearings, it has got rubber lips labyrinth seals and dust caps. It’s only avalaible for straight head spokes.
Option 3: B-T-P 50gr
The third solution is to go to the old B-T-P hub that is certainly still available and weights 50gr. The geometry looks like the TUNE Mig70, moreover the externals nuts are almost identicals.
Option 4: EXTRALITE Ultra front
A bit heavier than the ones presented over, it has the advantage to be built on a 17mm axle. It should theorically be sturdier for 62gr.
Option 1: TUNE Mag 150
The all new TUNE rear hub is the lightest one ever sold. A CNC machined 7075 T6 aluminium body, a carbon axle, four ceramic bearings, a titanium freewheel mechanism and a drilled 7075 T6 rotor brings this part at only 156gr. It has got the same seals as the Mig 45.
Option 2: EXTRALITE Ultra Rear SR
EXTRALITE Ultra Rear SR stayed the lightest rear hub for a while, almost one year. Built upon multishaped over-sized 17-20mm axle, it has got titanium pawls that have 30 differents engaging positions. 162gr for this hub with classic bearings.
Option 3: TUNE Mag160
Similars characteristics with the Mag 150, there’s still a few differences. The rotor isn’t drilled, its ceramic bearings are only hybrids and it’s not hand reworked to save the last gramms. Around 165gr for this component but usually it’s around 170gr.
Option 1: MARWI USA titanium
These spokes are hard to get in Europe. It’s too bad because they’re amongst the lightest at the moment. Multiples shapes, differents colors, the weights depends on the size of course. Unfortunately the company doesn’t give any more informations. But still, Fairwheelbikes got these spokes around 4,2gr a spoke for the 817gr project.
Option 2: PILLAR PST TB aero 1422 titanium
Claimed to be 3gr a spoke in 264mm, they’re certainly the lightest. Sadly, one thousand spokes have to be order at a time to get them. It’s definitively not the best solution for customs builds.
Option 3: PILLAR PST TB aero 1430 titane
Heavier than its little brother the 1422, they are much more aero, they will be perfect for high profile wheels.
Option 4: Sapim Cx-ray inox
Certainly the most known spokes, its qualities have been well proven. Around 4.8gr per spoke. It’s made out of inox in a bladed section.
Comparison PILLAR PST TB 1422 and Cx-RAY:
Comparison PILLAR PST TB 1422 and 1430:
Option 1: Carbon nipples
Hard to get, they should be more common in some years. Able to be tightened at 140kg, they were used for the 817gr project. They save just 3gr for 44 spokes compared to classic alloy nipples. It’s really an ultimate solution.
Option 2: DT alloy
Nowaday as used as the brass ones, they resist at a 140kg tension with goods tools and well oiled threads. Around 0.3gr a nipple. Avalaible in any colours.
In order to reduce friction in campa hubs, I machined a cone similar to the campa one but in bronze that has got better "sliding" properties than aluminium or steel. The friction coefficient is lower and will make easier the spinning motion.
While taking the bearing and the cone in hand, the difference is clear; the bronze cone reduce the friction.
A test will be realized in some days, it will take into accout the time the wheel need to stop from a fixed speed for the original cone and the tuned one.
Here are both cones weights:
However, the test is only static. A test under load would be certainly different, I’ll realize the test with the brand-new cone and I’ll check its status after some hundreds kilometers. I’ll then redo the test to see the difference between the initials and the finals conditions.
