Bugger!! that is SO crappy! I can't remember the last time I broke a spoke, but I use 30mm deep rear rims.

ACR have about 25 De Rosa frames that have been hanging up there for at least 2 years, so I reckon they'd be in for some wheeling and dealing. I guess you still can't be assured that an untried frame will be stiff enough, but apparently, Mario Cipollini rode resprayed De Rosa for years, and he wasn't slow.

The good thing about Bicycle Recycle is that 90% of the road bikes are 2nd hand, so they're less fussed about test rides.

I know a BIG guy (well over 100kg) who was a bit of a sprinter, and he was happy with his alu Giant, and I can't believe he never busted it! You never know, you might be a bit of a beast of a sprinter, and therefore need 'uber' stiff stuff -- more so that the av-er-age bear. It could be your cranks -- Baden Cooke had to get special chainrings made for his bikes coz the chain was falling off during some of his sprints.

Well, there's only about 4 spokes in the whole thing so it don't take much to replace them all. BTW, only 5-6000 km and you're an elite racer already? Damn, you must be like the Bradman of the cycling world?

Fella! That'll be enough out of you on my fabulous wheels. You probably don't break spokes cause you're riding around on wooden ones. You like your retro stuff after all.

BTW, talking about giants, with my new xtc2, I know it's a mountain bike so the might not be held up to the same standard, but it is supposed to be their offroad race frame after all. But I've never ridden a frame more noodly around the BB area. I can't believe how much I can get it to flex. makes me wonder if Giant are really that great with making stiff Aluminium frames???

on the music scene, got this in the mail today. might be of interest to melbounites:

As many of you may already know, I'm teaming up with a few of my AMP Capital Investors workmates, half of Street Party, and one Varmint, to form a band called "The AMPlifiers" to play at the RockInc Corporate Band Competition at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena on 15th July. We will be one of 13 bands playing from some of the countries larger organisations including Telstra, PriceWaterhouseCoopers etc.

The whole aim is to raise money for cancer research and facilities. The winners get to do a Grease song with Olivia Newton John
(!) and possibly go to the U.S. for more band comps.

If any of you are in Melbourne at that time or would like to come along, I have attached the flyer containing ticket details. You can purchase tickets direct from Rod Laver Arena.

You can also get more info at www.rockinc.com.au

Let us know if you can make it... and wish us luck !

--
Regards

David Every

Gawd, whatever you do, don't buy Ksyriums, every ****** has them. They're not light, they're not aero, so why bother? My next set of wheels will most likely be Soul-Kozak hubs, Sapim CXRay spokes laced X3, and either DTRR1.1 or IRD Cadence Aero rims. Same price or cheaper than Ksyriums, more aero, and about 200g lighter.

Check out these hubs, they're insane. 243g.....a PAIR. >




Now Saccy, I think you're forgetting your bike is a Giant, and also don't forget that what you think is frame flex is 90% of the time all the parts hanging off the frame flexing. Flex also isn't necessarily a bad thing either - flex is what stops things from breaking. It's why tall buildings have built in sway.

The spokes are 10 bucks each, plus when they go, they leave part of the spoke floating around inside the rim... so you've got to replace the rim tape each time to get 'em out. I've had 4 break ($60 incl tape) out of a possible 16 ($240 incl tape) and that's just the back wheel.
I got the 550's fer $250 brand new.
There was another customer at the shop laughing at my 540's saying that you can leave the broken spoke ends in the rim cos they quieten down at 12km/h
I quite liked the 540's before they started dying.
Elite racer...

replace the rim tape? rim tape is reuseable if you get the good stuff, or is it because of these crappy wheels?

I had them as well, the shimano wheels. Pretty much got them for free and they went against everything I liked about road wheels.

The front one(and the back one) was flexy as, would rub the front brake cornering on any decent downhill or sprint. I broke a few rear spokes as well. Got them fixed for nothing or maybe $10-15 (can't remeber). They did stay pretty straight though despite my bunnyhopping, kick-outs and slamming the back down after botched stoppies attempts. Please note I started to try to kill them after around 6 months, I did look after them before that.

I did e-bay mine and listed them as rusty, as all the spokes were, riden for less than a year, but hard etc etc. Guy who got them paid me just over $200 and is very happy with them.

I was using Zefal cloth tape.
Where the spokes are located, the tape has to cover a hole that's much bigger than the valve hole and so the tape tends to sink into it a bit and take the shape of the holes.
I replaced it more as a precaution as I hear about people getting flats from tape problems.

Oh yeah, I got a moth infection and flu, all the good stuff. Have been in bed an out like a light for 15 days. Back at work today. Ate solid food for the first time last night in around 13 days(was soup, the solid bit was some soggy bread. I am a wog and like hard crusty bread). Caught it from one of the squids. I have lost so much weight, string bean.

My frame turned up and looks good, Just need to buy a dozen new bits now as the BB is Italian and the seat post is larger = new post & front mech.

lost a ton of weight bmxer? you'll have grandpa's bum then

it's a seriously sexy look

good to hear that you're on the mend though. you'll be back on the hard stuff soon mate.

what the hell is a moth infection??

its a crap way of spelling mouth.

I was going to get tech and try to describe it properly. But I thought I would stuff the spelling up too much. Turns out I should have had a go at it anyway, I stuffed up on the easy stuff.

Yeah jock, go the hail damage thighs.

Odin, building wheels the way you want is the way to go. None of this 16 spoke crap, just get good solid and reasonably light wheels with 28/32 spokes. Proper hand built wheels that will stay true and not break spokes every week.

Is there anywhere that does wheel building tutorials? Seems like it is probably a good skill to have.

google it

yeah well, you live and learn, to leave them alone eventually...

you must be getting old bloke - the way they react is where the humour is. just keep it bubbling along for days of free entertainment.

But I wouldn't want them to think I'm some kind of ****-stirrer or anything.

Anyway, I called Sacha White up and we had a chat. He said '******s ride your bikes wearing 200 buck capri pants!" I replied "So.....SO....that's NOTHIN! ******s ride YOUR bikes wearing 220 buck capri pants! HA!"

Well, not quite, but we're on the same page and everything's roses. He's actually quite a nice fella and we shared more similar principles than I imagined.

now isn't that nice !

did you just self moderate dude, or has "the finger of death" (aka brian aka "he's not the messiah, he's just a very naughty boy") been snooping around again

I pulled the plug. Contemplated sending the Aussie lads over to bash heads but then I got all chivalrous.

Just pretend I'm not here. I am.

ooh, lookey. tigger has a new avatar thingy again. it's a battle scene this time

it's a bit dark innit tigger? skull versus little boy

How much would that cost a sucker like me (not that I don't luv my 540's)?

I aint forgetting nothin. According giant (it must all be true cause they say so) I have a Raceface Evolve XC X-type cranks with integrated, outboard bottom bracket which has the advantage of Rigidity/power improved (due to larger bearings, wider spaced bearings, larger diameter axles). So it must be the crappy frame.

Wot's he trying to say? He longs for evil Nipponese overlords?

the rule is if you have to ask, you cannot afford it. At that weight, they can't be cheap.