LIghtening the Twitter Carbon Fiber MTB

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

7.06.2021

In order to excite yourself, you find ways to make your bike ride better and experience rise to higher level.  My pursuit is to make my twitter  carbon fiber MTB even lighter

           Reported original weight                                                                         12.7 kg

              Item                          Price                    Weight reduced

              Saddle                      P900.00                        100.

              XT group set         16.500.00                   `1,000 grams

                                            Crank set  500

                                            Cogs         200

                                            Brakeset   300

          Wheelset and tires    5,000.00   

                                           Hubs        200 grams

                                           Rimset     200 grams

                                           Tires            ---                 400

         I found out that even with those fancy sounding tires, rims and hubs, the savings is very minimal

         The tires and interior make them heavy.  I guess MTB are designed that way to be stable and 

         reliable.  and the penalty is being heavy

           Total savings                                                1,500 grams         

            Total cost  -    P22,400/1,500  =   `P150.00 gram     

                                                                             Net weight                    11.2 kg.      

    Is this a good weight for a cf MTB.   Other MTB weigh 20 kg.   Off shelf MTB weigh around

    15 - 17 kg even those that are alloy  

      The only way you can radically reduce weight is:

               Shift to  Rigid fork even  carbon      P4,500       `1,600 grams 

                                         P2.81 gram

              Carbon fiber wheelset =    P45,000.00   -    1 kg =   P45.00 gram

     

                                                                

Given the chance and the opportunity which of your bike parts would you upgrade

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

6.29.2021

You have some money and you are confronted with a decision:  which would be your priority?

1.  Group set

2.  Wheel set

3.  or the fork 

The weight of your bike is now may be 11 kgs.  and these are the grams that can be shaved:

1.  Fork  from 2.4 kg to only      .600 grams                                           1,800 grams

2.  Wheelset        hubs -             front                      100 grams

                                                   rear                       100 grams

                            spokes             4 x2 x 10 grams    80 grams

                            rims               100 x 2                  200 grams

                           tires          300  x 2                        600 grams

                                              Total                                                             1080 grams 

                                              GT                                                               2,880  grams =  6.3 lbs

                                              Thats a lot .  Less back pain

Kapadyak suggest the wheelset should be given attention because of the rotating mass.  As in the drive train:    chain, crank, the cogs should be given first priority because thats were you apply the pedalling force.   

                                       

Making MTBs lighter

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

3.25.2021

Lately my interest has been to lighten the two MTBs that I have because of the difficulty I had in the reverse Laguna Loop - the MTB could be heavy.  I estimate that the Mosso is 13 kg  (28.6 lbs  and the Ti bike is 12 kg or less.   Most of the MTB alum would be about 14 -15 kg, and the steel ones about 16 - 18 kgs.  

My option is to buy a Chinese carbon fiber bike with Shimano drive train M5100 whose estimated weight is  11.8 kg  (25.96 lbs   The good light weight would be between 24 to 28 lbs)

I reviewed vids and articles on how I can reduce the weight of MTB   The largest gain could be made on wheelsets, frame and fork

                                                

Weight of MTB parts

                                                                                       Weight shaved

Wheels                 Go tubeless  -       save 200 grams  each wheel                                400 grams

                             Use Conti  or  Maxxis Crossmark  300 grans eac                            600 grams

Group set             Go one by                                                                                         500 grans

Change fork         Bolany                                                                                          1,300 grams

                             Rigid fork                                                                                     2,000 grams

Carbon fiber frame                                                                                                   1,000 grams

Light cogs                                                                                                                   300 grams

Estimated weight reduction                                                                                      2,800 grams

                               If you go carbon fiber                                                                3,800 grams   

Added cost:

                          Wheels      P1,200 x 2                             P2,400

                          Fork                                                          5,000

                          Cogs                                                         3,000

                          One by                                                  14,000

                          Frame                                                    27,000

                                Total                                               51,400

                                    

Percentage of total weight…Component…Weight
18.49%…Wheel (rear)…4 pounds, 7.5 ounces
15.11%…Wheel (front)…3 pounds, 10.4 ounces
14.85%…Fork…3 pounds, 9.4 ounces
11.38%…Frame triangle…2 pounds, 12 ounces
4.6%…Swingarm…1 pound, 1.8 ounces
4.45%…Crankarm (right) …1 pound, 1.2 ounces
2.97%…Pedals (pair…11.5 ounces
2.48%…Chain…9.6 ounces
2.38%…Brake (rear) …9.2 ounces
2.17%…Seatpost…8.4 ounces
2.17%…Shock…8.4 ounces
1.99%…Brake (front) …7.7 ounces
1.94%…Saddle…7.5 ounces
1.86%…Crankarm (left)…7.2 ounces
1.78%…Derailleur (rear)…6.9 ounces
1.60%…Handlebar (with plugs)…6.2 ounces
1.35%…Derailleur (front) …5.2 ounces
1.11%…Swinglink…4.3 ounces
1.06%…Stem…4.1 ounces
1.06%…Shifter (front…4.1 ounces
.98%…Shifter (rear)…3.8 ounces
.83%…Bottom bracket…3.2 ounces
.80%…Seatstay (right)…3.1 ounces
.80%…SeatStay (left)…3.1 ounces
.59%…Headset…2.3 ounces
.39%…Derailleur Cable/House (rear)…1.5 ounces
.21%…Derailleur Cable/House (front)…0.8 ounces
.18%…Seatpost clamp…0.7 ounces
.18%…Grips (pair)…0.7 ounces
.16%…Derailleur hanger…0.6 ounces
.05%…Derailleur cable guide…0.2 ounces
Total bike weight: 24 pounds, 3 ounces.

So you must strive to reduce weight of wheels which is 33%of the total bike weight

And the fork which is14.85% of total weight

If  I were to choose:

1.  I will buy lighter tires   spokes nipple and rim                                           500 grams

2.  Buy Bolany   or rigid fork                                                                       1,300 grams  

3.  Go one by                                                                                                   500 grams

                                           Total                                                                2,300 grams

                                           In lbs                                                               5.06 lbs

                                          From 12.7 kg to                                               10.4 kg   =  22.8 lbs

3.                                                                

                                                                                                                                     

Smooth bearing for Bora wheelset shod by F10, mahaba matagal ang free wheel downhill

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
August 23, 2018

The short ride I planned today took me until Pililla Km 58 or 62 km out and back. I planned to ride only till Maybancal

What was the reason? Well, it seems to me that the wheelset, the Bora Campy Two I have on the F10 works very well.  As Joel had said madulas bukod sa tunog mayaman (cricket sound)

I tried riding down a hill to test how far it goes.   From Baras Tanay boundary going home Km 52, I tried free wheeling.  The bike stopped  some 50 meters short of Km 51.  From atop the hill of KM 51, I freewheeled to KM 50 this time 100 meter short.  Imagine freewheeling for 900 meters

I tried a sprint on flat. After sprinting for 10 seconds on flat from km 57,  I tried to reach km 58.  The bike stopped some 150 meters form km 58. That makes the bike very efficient, I save a lot of watt power and enable me to enjoy my ride.

May bago silang model WTO. Essentially the same:   ceramic bearing, U type not v as in Bora one.
WTO is just ramble of TWO (hindi ba) Wheel Technology Optimized.  Kita mo parang Pinoy sa naming
(GMA, PNoy, Du30 galing nating magbuo ng acronym)   Marketing game talaga

Better more advanced features of the carbon wheelset with Bora sticker that I just bought

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
July 28, 2018

I compared the Cosmic 50 mm wheelset that I got 5 years ago that came with Fuji SL from VM with the recent acquisition that I got from an OEM supplier.   It is a Bora Ultra copy  and its features are:

1. Solid carbon construction.  It has carbon brake line and pad (I had to replace the Shimano rubber lining with Basalt pads brown)    The cosmic wheelset has only paper thin carbon cover 50 mm in width between the aluminum brake line and the spokes line.  You can press the carbon cover of Cosmic and will be pressed down upon your touch

2. U shaped rim spokes line vs V shaped for Cosmic.  According to the pitch this makes for better aerodynamics less dirty air and better crosswind performance.

3.  25 mm side rim vs 17 for Cosmic.  Thus when you install 25 mm wide tires, the tires really look big and massive.

4. Nice authentic stickers.... Bora Ultra 2

5. Great looking carbon R36 hubs. Noisy too....

6.  Lightweight.   Mere 1.6 kg.  (vs 1.4 kg for the orig) hehehe.

For me it was money well spent... Great looking  with Pinarello F10 frameset

                                           Carbon R 36 hubs, bladed black spokes

                                                               3k Weave glossy

                                                U shaped spoke line

                                                       G3 lacing 21 spokes for the rear wheel

                                             Ceramic Light Ultimate Technology  (CLUT)

                                                             Carbon hub

                                                     Glossy 3k weave finish

                                                Basalt Carbon pads (rubber pads of RS8000 replaced)

                                        Puwede na 6 cm na interior pero may sapi na Mediplast
                                                     para di kumalog

Cost analysis of carbon fiber frames and wheelsets, financing study

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
April 20, 2018

Engineer  June and I gamely tried to negotiate with a local dealer of carbon fiber frameset and all we could get from him are  (best price)
         



Bianchi XR 4   $600

Pinarello carbon frame $555

                                             Kulay ng F10 ni VM

                                          Specialized Venge Vias  $700.00

Similarity of bike frame geometry across the brand, and universal shapes and hubs make for easy carbon fiber manufacture

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
April 6, 2018

After studying the website of Awstbike, there are several things I noticed.

1. The options for the manufacture are

    1.  Rim width
    2.  Rim height:   25, 38mm    50 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm and 90 mm
    3.  Rim material:   carbon or alloy;
    4.  Hubset:   Novatec 271, Novatec 291,  Carbon ceramic,  Carbon R36, DT 240, 350
    5. Spokes -  J or straight pull
    6.  V shaped or U shaped

    And then the  paint job varies:   Zipp, Campagnolo, Durace, Enve, FF, S80, Roval

   

The wheelset price is pegged at $300.00++ per, and the hub variation makes for increase in price rim height.  A carbon ceramic hub might weigh 300 grams, a Novatec hub, 400+ grams  A carbon hub can cause price to jump by $100.00 per set

       
2.  For the frameset, there seems to be a universal, common design, and paint job is all that matters to
     the buyer.

    Say Bianchi and S works

                                                     S works

                                          Cipollini

            Notice similarity in fork shape and curvature for the rear wheel (both are BB 30 shell) and the seat seat tube shape.  Note the curve of top tube especially near the seat tube - same...

Growing consciousness and awareness for beautiful, quality, lightweight bike frames and wheelsets

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 29, 2018

                                       The OEM disciples are all setting to spread the good
                                         news about OEM frame and wheel set so that
                                         more will enjoy beautiful bikes at affordable price

This post did a number of posts on his OEM bike project;  and pictures of his finished project. I brought this in our Bisikleta Iglesia today. With the  number of people touching the bike, making suggestions, or joking about riding the bike by mistake, and openly saying that the bike is nice and beautiful I could judge that a number are really aspiring to get one.   An OEM bike.  No less than 5 may be out of 20 who biked today would, if given the chance get one.

Same thing about the readers at the net and social media. I got inquiries about: supplier of the OEM bike frame, how much is the budget, where did I get the  Direct Mount brakes, I would  say about 2 dozens are ready to start an OEM carbon fiber bike project.  For 1/5th the cost, you could  have a super bike lightweight shod in high end group and wheel set.

             Say frameset     CF                         P35,000.00
             Wheelset           CF                          25,000.00
              Ultegra RS 8000                              30,000.00
                            Total                                  90,000.00

 An orig legit sourced (mas mahal tubo ng reseller)  would set you back by P400,000.00.   4x ang mahal and most of them goes to the profit of the trader.

Why prevent those who are PHP challenged to enjoy super bikes at limited budget. Yong mayayaman ayaw ata.  Privileged sila ... kaya nilalait OEM at replica.   I tell you they perform just the same.  I have an orig carbon frame/bike and this OEM. Mas magaan at mas pleasant iride ang OEM...Mas guwapo at mas Oh ahh

             
         

Kapadyak Ka Recyclist Vhen is able to build a 7500 grams bike at cost of only P46,200. Wow

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 28, 2018

I was conversing with Vhen this morning and he showed me his just assembled bike which he claims and weighed at 50kg weighing scale to be only 7.5 kg.  Wow that is 16.5 lbs, a very light bike, lighter than most carbon fiber bike. Some carbon fiber bikes weigh over 8 kg.   An Ridley Orion weighs 8.4 kg (mabigat ang carbon fiber niya.  1.4 kg excluding fork)  But Vhens alum bike frame and carbon fork weigh only 1.8 kg.

So how much did he spend?

                   Ridley Fenix Frameset                           -  P15,000
                   Amcla 350 sprint5 wheelset                           5,500
                   105 Group set                                            15,000
                   Labor                                                           1,000
                   Velo saddle                                                  1,300
                   Ritchey seat post                                             800
                   Carbon fiber drop bar                                  1,500
                   ITM stem                                                    1,400
                    Bar tape                                                        300
                    Tires      Conti                                             4,000
                                  Tubes                                              400
                        Total                                                    46,200

               Cost /gram                                                       6.16      very cost effective

It was a labor of love and he meticulously searched for and studied the parts that will be included. He worked very hard with the mechanics

How about my project:

    I may be able to come up with a Bianchi Oltre with the weight of:

               1.  Frame  set

                           Frame    with direct mount brakes                                            1.900
                           Fork      with direct mount brakes                                              .700                                                    

             2.  Group set  (chop suey:    Durace, SRAM  and Ultegra)                     1.623

             3.  Wheel set                                                                                         1.300

             4.  Tires                                                                                                  .700

             5.  Drop bar                                                                                           .300
                  Bar tape                                                                                             .080
                  Stem                                                                                                  .200

                                                                                Total                                    6.803


       How much did will  it cost me:

              Frameset                                      P32,000
              SRAM       GS                               18,000
              Durace crank                                  10,000
              BB                                                   1,000
              Cable set                                          1,200
              Wheelset                                        25,000
               Stem                                               1.200
              Drop bar                                          1,500
                              Total                              89.900

                                              Cost /gram     13.21            
                                              My bike cost is 2x for only  697 grams difference

                                             Its because of the wheelset that cost him only 5,500 bargain

But if Vhen were to buy an expensive wheelset say 17k, his cost will be

P46,200 +  17,000 - 5,500   = 57,700/7,500 =  7.69  still cheap


           

           
                 

Some of the investment for weight slash of my old bike

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 23, 2018

A number of investments have been made by this office to reduce  bicycle weight

1.  Importation of OEM carbon fiber frame and fork.  It was estimated that the bike frame would be  985 grams +  400 grams fork; -  1,385

2. Novatec  Jetfly wheel set       1,435 grams

3.  Supelight tube at  98 grams

4.  Conti GP 4000 tires at 220 grams  Let us repeat that the investment in tires, is worth the PHP, since substantial weight loss can be achieved.  Even more than the investment in carbon fiber wheelset and fork, and even wheel set.   Invest now.

5.  Salsa cork gel bartape

I hope to get the SRAM red second hand group set.

                                     Complete cable end accessories, last copy with Celeste
                                                  Green outer (di ako sinagot ng Celeste sa text ko)

                                                   Superlight, est 50 grams lighter vs ordinary

                                                  Light cork gel  baka  lighter by almost 100 grams

This Novatec Firefly wheelset would slash 535 grams off my old wheelset (lighter by 300 grams vs other popular wheelset)

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 23, 2018

This wheel set tipping the  scales at  1,435 grams would save me 565 grams from an old Alex rims with Shimano (105 hubs) .   With 18/20 spokes, lightweight hubs and improved design, it is a wonder to behold to be one of the lightest aluminum wheelset. (The seller also sold my companion an American Classic 350 which the literature  at internet says weighs mere 1396 grams  - lighter by 39 grams vs Novatec)

I would guess that the maker of these wheelsets (who are from Taiwan) are also OEM for Fulcrum and other wheelsets, Giant, because the design are the same:  the hub, the lacing patterns and other technical features.

I hope there are no issues here because  I had 4 flats/punctures before I got it right (I had to reenforce the rim tape)  There were also two alien spokes at the rear set

Getting this  wheelset I believe is a sensible upgrade.   At P12,500 buying price, it costs less than a P100,000 high end carbon  fiber investment  of from P50, 000 to P100,000.   A sensible and practical way of winning at weights.

                                                 New interior na kasi 4 flats na

                                          11 - 32 cogs borrowed from MTB

                                               Front hub, may pornographic red portion daw

                                                         Jetfly label