Velo Orange Elf Hide - any tips?
07-16-12, 12:48 AM
#26
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This thread could not have come at a better time. My black elf skin just arrived in the mail yesterday 
07-16-12, 01:15 AM
#27
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I've found Oompa Loompa skin to be more durable and stain-resistant (especially chocolate stains.)
07-17-12, 01:52 PM
#28
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What I figured out after about 25% of my first time was: You can move the handle bars in the stem and the stem on the bike to make it easy to reach, it is embarassing to admit that I started to lay down on the floor to try to reach up
08-07-12, 01:43 AM
#29
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I finally got some time to stitch that elf hide onto my bike over the weekend. I'd say it took me 3 hours.... maybe 3.5. It was fairly easy, but also a giant pain in the butt. I got a headache halfway through, who knows why.
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Last edited by mkeller234; 08-07-12 at 06:26 AM.
08-07-12, 07:52 AM
#30
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Looks like you did a great job, but I shudder to think how many elves were sacrificed to prettify your bike.
That said, I had a terrible experience with VO elk hide wrap. My near vision is not good, and I literally got a headache trying to stitch it on. The VO stitching directions were horrible and I probably was doing it all wrong. I finally gave up and took it to my bike shop to see if they were willing to give it a shot. Big mistake. They figured it out, but it cost me $40 in labor. I quickly learned that you need to wrap the leather over bar tape because my leather wrap did not have much padding, plus it kept rotating on the bars. Finally, it did not age well and started looking crappy after a few months --mine was the natural color that is supposed to approximate honey brown but looked more like babyshoot brown. I finally removed the elk hide last week and replaced it with good old tan cork tape, which looks much better.
That said, I had a terrible experience with VO elk hide wrap. My near vision is not good, and I literally got a headache trying to stitch it on. The VO stitching directions were horrible and I probably was doing it all wrong. I finally gave up and took it to my bike shop to see if they were willing to give it a shot. Big mistake. They figured it out, but it cost me $40 in labor. I quickly learned that you need to wrap the leather over bar tape because my leather wrap did not have much padding, plus it kept rotating on the bars. Finally, it did not age well and started looking crappy after a few months --mine was the natural color that is supposed to approximate honey brown but looked more like babyshoot brown. I finally removed the elk hide last week and replaced it with good old tan cork tape, which looks much better.
08-07-12, 08:37 AM
#31
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Troll hide is tougher, the skin is not so thin -but it doesn't seem to conform to the contour of the bars as well.
08-07-12, 09:25 AM
#32
No one cares
I dunno. Seems like a lot of work. It looks ok IMO it I'm guessing it's not very comfortable w/o gloves? I'm interested in your thoughts on it once you start using it more.
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08-07-12, 09:55 AM
#34
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I've been thinking about doing this with a pair of Lauterwassers on my new Competition GS. I like the idea of doing it over cork tape, though. Now, a week or so ago, I picked up a load of Picolite 135A; this is an amalgamated, homogenated, purified and crystallized pine resin. There was a good bit of spillage around the warehouse, so no longer foodgrade, and I got a gallon Ziploc bag full of the stuff. I imagine that if I dust the cork pretty liberally with this, and sew the hide on over the top, that should keep it in place pretty good, huh? I know it took some doing to get the dust off my arms, and I don't know what else to do with it. Make my own vernish, maybe.
08-07-12, 12:27 PM
#35
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Nice work, Matt! Your stitches are much straighter than mine were.
Personally, I found the sewn on elk hide to be just as about as comfy as wrapped leather from Brooks or VO.
Personally, I found the sewn on elk hide to be just as about as comfy as wrapped leather from Brooks or VO.
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08-07-12, 12:54 PM
#36
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Looks great! Did you skin and tan the elf hides yourself? I have heard that is the best way to get good results and as an added bonus you control the population of elves in your trees. You need bell shaped from the skull of a Keebler elf.
08-07-12, 01:23 PM
#37
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Ha, that would be awesome.
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08-07-12, 01:26 PM
#38
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I've been thinking about doing this with a pair of Lauterwassers on my new Competition GS. I like the idea of doing it over cork tape, though. Now, a week or so ago, I picked up a load of Picolite 135A; this is an amalgamated, homogenated, purified and crystallized pine resin. There was a good bit of spillage around the warehouse, so no longer foodgrade, and I got a gallon Ziploc bag full of the stuff. I imagine that if I dust the cork pretty liberally with this, and sew the hide on over the top, that should keep it in place pretty good, huh? I know it took some doing to get the dust off my arms, and I don't know what else to do with it. Make my own vernish, maybe.
I'll say this, ANYTHING underneath the elkhide will show. I used electrical tape to hold my cables in place, only about two wraps, and it is visible.
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08-07-12, 01:27 PM
#39
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It seems nice so far. I photographed the best side, which is the 2nd side. One the other side, I cut the knot at that very end and had to use some string remnants to keep the thing together.... I was pretty mad at myself for that one.
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08-07-12, 01:29 PM
#40
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Looks like you did a great job, but I shudder to think how many elves were sacrificed to prettify your bike.
That said, I had a terrible experience with VO elk hide wrap. My near vision is not good, and I literally got a headache trying to stitch it on. The VO stitching directions were horrible and I probably was doing it all wrong. I finally gave up and took it to my bike shop to see if they were willing to give it a shot. Big mistake. They figured it out, but it cost me $40 in labor. I quickly learned that you need to wrap the leather over bar tape because my leather wrap did not have much padding, plus it kept rotating on the bars. Finally, it did not age well and started looking crappy after a few months --mine was the natural color that is supposed to approximate honey brown but looked more like babyshoot brown. I finally removed the elk hide last week and replaced it with good old tan cork tape, which looks much better.
That said, I had a terrible experience with VO elk hide wrap. My near vision is not good, and I literally got a headache trying to stitch it on. The VO stitching directions were horrible and I probably was doing it all wrong. I finally gave up and took it to my bike shop to see if they were willing to give it a shot. Big mistake. They figured it out, but it cost me $40 in labor. I quickly learned that you need to wrap the leather over bar tape because my leather wrap did not have much padding, plus it kept rotating on the bars. Finally, it did not age well and started looking crappy after a few months --mine was the natural color that is supposed to approximate honey brown but looked more like babyshoot brown. I finally removed the elk hide last week and replaced it with good old tan cork tape, which looks much better.
__________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
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08-07-12, 01:39 PM
#41
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You guys might not want to mention ELF too loudly, lest the FEDS come impound your bikes ! I did a quick check and you may be in violation......
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; 7 U.S.C. § 136, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.) is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation."
Even though the skinned Elves are likely from overseas, their importation (or the skins thereof) still constitute a violation.....
......Just sayin'
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; 7 U.S.C. § 136, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.) is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation."
Even though the skinned Elves are likely from overseas, their importation (or the skins thereof) still constitute a violation.....
......Just sayin'
08-07-12, 01:47 PM
#42
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I've ridden it a total a 2 miles. So far, it feels similar to the fizik microtex on my Mercian, which I like a lot. I have gloves, but I never really wear them. Either way, I can't see myself riding this bike as much as the Mercian because it's in too nice of shape. The Mercian has been great because I don't ever worry about it.
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|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
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08-07-12, 01:51 PM
#43
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Which handlebar did you end up with, the B135 in 45cm? I'm looking forward to hearing how you like them.
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08-07-12, 03:02 PM
#44
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Thanks again for all your input. It's just so difficult to make a decision based on photos and reviews. I wish one of the local shops stocked this stuff! I do think a lot of your opinion, because I think you are capable of being unbiased.
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08-07-12, 03:40 PM
#45
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Can anyone make any comparisons to the Elk Wrap and the old quasi-leather Motobecane handlebar wrap?
This stuff :
RFWBYUqBMbkfF2FiQ~~_35.JPG)
I ask just because I love the feel of the old Moto stuff , and mkller 'rs photos made me think they might be similar in feel. Anyone used both?
This stuff :
I ask just because I love the feel of the old Moto stuff , and mkller 'rs photos made me think they might be similar in feel. Anyone used both?
08-07-12, 06:23 PM
#47
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Ever use Fizik Microtex? I think the elkhide feels very similar, just not wrapped like the fizik.
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|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
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08-07-12, 06:26 PM
#48
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Just got home from a nice ride. The elkhide didn't fall apart thankfully. Everything felt good and I did wear gloves today, which is unusual for me. This is the first longish ride on the Lotus and it was wonderful. The saddle felt pretty good, that surprised me.
IMG_0254 by mkeller234, on Flickr
IMG_0254 by mkeller234, on Flickr
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|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
08-08-12, 07:21 AM
#49
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I love that your daughter is enjoying these rides! I'll be emailing you for some tips on trailers later.
I've found the Avocet Touring saddles really comfortable as well, it's just that a Brooks feels just as good and looks a lot better. Still, I wish I hadn't given my old Avocet away.
I've found the Avocet Touring saddles really comfortable as well, it's just that a Brooks feels just as good and looks a lot better. Still, I wish I hadn't given my old Avocet away.
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