| Title: | Bicycling | 
| Notice: | Bicycling for Fun | 
| Moderator: | JAMIN::WASSER | 
| Created: | Mon Apr 14 1986 | 
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Number of topics: | 3214 | 
| Total number of notes: | 31946 | 
WARNING:  This is another one of those stupid wheel notes.  Spare yourself the
pain and read no further unless your a wheel freak!
_______________________________________________________________________________
        This weekend was interesting.  It started on Saturday with a crit on a
very rough surface.  I brought out my tank wheels;  GP4s,(36) 14 ga. spokes,
Campy high flange hubs (circa 1978) and "kevlar belted" -bullet proof sew-ups.
After 28 laps of riding hard, puking, covering breaks, sprinting, etc. I
flatted.  Now you've got to understand, I have never been know as being too
logical, but after much thought I came to the conclusion that these wheels
were jinxed.
        So I went home, took the wheels out to my back yard and let my golden
retriever relieve himself on each nipple.  It helped me achieve a sense of
revenge.
        On Sunday, I got up and looked outside and it was raining.  Our next
rain in California was scheduled for November!  I was positive that these
wheels had something to do with it.  So I drank a cup of coffee and plotted my
next piece of revenge.  The only thing I could come up with was capital
punishment.  After some further thought, I decided I would amputate 50% of its
spokes and watch those jinxed wheels die a slow death (much like my slow death
in the crit).
        Then something really wierd happened!  The front wheel begin to look
like a Time Trial wheel.  High flanged record hubs, 18 spokes (bladed or
oval), radially laced.....I COULD BE ON TO SOMETHING!   On the rear I could go
2X or the free wheel side, radial on the other and lace it with 24 spokes
leaving every third hole open.   I would probably use an aero clincher rim
with a high pressure tire.
        These wheels would be used only on fairly flat courses and most of the
time I would only use the front wheel (disk on rear).
        So has anyone actually done this?  Can you use a normal 36 spoke rim
and simply not use every other hole?  Any USCF regulations against this?
[EOB]
  
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1564.1 | "a feature, not a bug!" | SHALOT::ELLIS | John Lee Ellis - assembly required | Wed May 30 1990 14:34 | 6 | 
|     
    If you do this, will the unused nipple-holes whistle?
    
    Just asking...
    
    -john
 | |||||
| 1564.2 | I've seen it done. | CLYPPR::FISHER | Dictionary is not. | Wed May 30 1990 14:48 | 5 | 
|     I have seen wheels laced by omitting holes.  I would not like to do it
    with offset holes because one side would be bending the spokes wrong
    but what the heck.
    
    ed
 | |||||
| 1564.3 | Maybe an Aero Rim? | TPWEST::SHROYER | Wed May 30 1990 18:00 | 10 | |
|            <<< Note 1564.2 by CLYPPR::FISHER "Dictionary is not." >>>
                            -< I've seen it done. >-
    >I have seen wheels laced by omitting holes.  I would not like to do it
    >with offset holes because one side would be bending the spokes wrong
    >but what the heck.
    
    >ed
That's a good point.  I thought maybe an aero rim would remedy that problem?
 | |||||
| 1564.4 | block the holes | QUICKR::FISHER | Dictionary is not. | Thu May 31 1990 06:53 | 8 | 
|     Just check the rims to see if the spoke holes are offset, I guess.  I
    remeber one such rim had some stuff blocking the unlaced holes.  Tape
    or something.  I wonder about the aero effectiveness there.
    
    Most of us could spend forever doing wind tunnel tests or just riding
    if only we didn't have to work to support our habits.  :-)
    
    ed
 | |||||
| 1564.5 | Graeme Obree | JUMBLY::MACFADYEN | Don't read this | Thu May 31 1990 09:31 | 17 | 
|     Re .0:
    
    Interesting note for you to put in at this time, because a guy called
    Graeme Obree has just set a new Scottish hour record of about 46km,
    done in Meadowbank stadium, Edinburgh, and yes, he was using 36 hole
    wheels laced with just 18 spokes. In the article I read (Cycling
    Weekly) he was reported as saying they were as drag-free as discs yet
    immune to side-winds. 
    
    Obree is known for an unconventional approach to equipment. On his
    bikes he rotates the conventional drop handlebars 180� upwards, and
    cycles with his upper body lying on the flats. This looks uncomfortable
    yet seems effective, for he's one of the hottest time-triallers in the
    UK at present.
    
    
    Rod
 | |||||
| 1564.6 | A loophole? | BCSE::KLASMAN | ALL-IN-1 DESKtop for PCs. dtn 381-0731 | Mon Jun 04 1990 12:28 | 10 | 
| re:
    Obree is known for an unconventional approach to equipment. On his
    bikes he rotates the conventional drop handlebars 180� upwards, and
    cycles with his upper body lying on the flats. This looks uncomfortable
    yet seems effective, for he's one of the hottest time-triallers in the
    UK at present.
  
This sounds like a way around the ban on aero bars in British TT'ing :^)
Kevin
 | |||||