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Also, is that a Park scale in a Lidl bike stand?
I'm disappointed no one has mentioned the state of his flag stones and the grass growing inbetween. Standards are slipping.
@tomhoward did you weigh them before and after? I'm guessing everything is the same just different spokes and nipples.
Please can you do a long term review after you've had chance to put them through their paces.
Garden is MrsTHs department (and was due to be ripped up last year, now this year...)
Didn’t weigh them before, but DT list them as 1529g, and there’s been enough reviews confirming it so take it as read.
Yeah just the spokes and nipples, plan is to ride and race them through the summer, so will up date as I go on.
Any update on this?
For the last couple of months, not much. I broke my collar bone at the beginning of June which sidelined me for 6 weeks, then as that healed, the bike the wheels are attached to has been stripped in order for the frame to be coloured in. Get it back in a couple of weeks though so once it’s built up, I’ll refresh my memory.
The main thing I noticed previously though was how well (better than pre string) they kept going on steep loose, rocky climbs, I guess partly because of the (lack of) weight allowing my to keep them spinning, and a little bit because of the damping effect, meaning sharp edges aren’t quite so sharp?
The aforementioned collarbone was broken whilst riding them too, they aren’t to blame, but the front wheel has a bit of a wobble now, so it’s off being straightened as I type. Will report if any maladies arise.
Well this is a bit of a bump but... thought it was relevant.
Following on from reading this thread, then another on MTBR ( https://www.mtbr.com/threads/make-your-own-polymer-uhmwpe-spokes.1091276/ - I start my process on Page 21), I've been playing around with making my own version of these. It worked! The wheels ride great with lots of 'filtration' of trail buzz, and they ended up light (under 1300g a set for XC-orientated 29ers with a beefy singlespeed rear hub).
My own bike has done about 400 miles in the English winter slop and they're holding up nicely, so I thought I would offer to build a wheel for a friend of mine to see just how much abuse they'll take!
WARNING: Much nerding in the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hXOYfnhStI
Watched that video last night, top bike geeking!
Synchronous, me too was geeking out last night with that same video. Tol nothc!never saw this thread first time around.
Any ropey-wheelers have feedback after some time? I’d be interested in building a (lighter) weight 29+
Not something I'd put the time into, let alone the cost, but fascinating!
Having watched that video, I can't help but think that the Need spokes are a bloody bargain by comparison.
Seriously impressive work there Adam!
I was talking to Ali about it the other day and have since watched the video, crazy amount of work, I don't think I would have the patience.
Any ropey-wheelers have feedback after some time?
Nothing to report here. They work just as well as normal spokes. Have ridden them in all my normal haunts (inc Lake District and BPW) and no issues to report. I’m not a wheel destroyer anyway, but apart from the aforementioned, collarbone breaking, crash they’re still true. There’s always a niggling feeling that they might need retensioning, but whenever they’ve been checked, they’re fine.
I maintain that they are very much a nice to have, rather than essential upgrade though, but then the benefits might not be as profound on a 160/140mm fs. Will give them a go on the hardtail once built just to see what happens.
After watching Ali's first video I'm convinced Adam from tarty bikes is Richard Stilgoe's love child.