All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

January/February are coldest months of year but rarely below freezing. Don't really have snow except once or twice a year. A typical January days is mid-40s and rainy. Think PNW (lots of weather similarities)

Smoking deal. Enjoy 'em

 

I second that. 1up is worth the wait and $$.
We’ve had a kuat Sherpa for 5 years or so, requesting our second (or third?) set of ratchet arms under warranty. Also, the Sherpa struggles with certain Mt. Bikes and they will shift to a point that the rear wheel is almost dragging down the road...a terrifying sight in the rearview mirrors! A simple Velcro strap on the front wheel remidies that problem but still, how did that get buy product development?

 

So what exactly were you doing? That sheet looks like tinker-toy instructions.

 

Alloy rim feedback wanted.

Stans MK3
RaceFace ARC 30
Spank 350

Looking at those 3 rim options for a possible wheelset. Anyone have a preference, and why? Or is there another comparable option I should be looking at?

Carbon isn't in the budget, so please don't suggest it.

 

Ridewrap frame protection for a Ripmo AF

 

I have Stans Flow MK3’s with dt350’s and I love them. Had a well reviewed eBay wheel builder make them - can actually buy direct from him and save money vs eBay (still used PayPal)

They have been very tough, hold true well, and seem pretty light for what they are!

 

California has year round bike parks?

 

I've had shitty luck with the ARC, bent and dinged the shit out of it. Granted I ride in some rocky areas, and just throw the rear wheel into nasty situations, but it's the only one that's done that. I've heard that they changed the alloy on the '20+ wheels, but still.
Hear good things about the vibrocore Spanks from riders. Here's the PB review.

 

Who was the wheel builder? Very likely they’re on PB too.

Good to know. I’m leaning most towards the MK3 or Spank if I go this route. LBS buddy is pushing me towards DT Swiss, but most of the PB builders don’t seem to list DT Swiss as a rim option. All the other 3 I mentioned are pretty common and in the same price point.

 

Lol
I was a bit thrown off as well. And I just recently wrapped my frame with Invisaframe.

Their sticker sheet diagrams look like this.


And his post was one of the posts that prompted my post above about including more information in your posts. *LOL*

 

I'm preparing to ridewrap for the first time... any tips?

 

Yep pay someone to do it!

 

Patience. Alcohol. Patience.

Seriously though. It’s tedious but very doable. Just takes time. Mix a good soapy solution and there’s more room for fudging. It’ll just take longer to dry completely and requires a firm squeegee hand.

 

Thank goodness my Pivot came with wrap, I don't think it's ride wrap, but it's meant for bikes.

 

Number one is having patience. Take your time, and I found it easier to use your fingers in working the bubbles out rather that a squeegee. Your fingers can conform to all the small contours of the frame. But be sure to wet your fingers with the soapy water before doing so. Also, don’t be afraid to use lots of the soapy water. There’s a fine line to using too much and not enough which you will figure out after your first couple of decals. My frame had 24 decals so it takes quite awhile to do. Mine took close to four hours. The sheet of decals are pretty invisible and hard to find the ones you’ve done and the next one you are looking for. I marked an X on the diagram of the ones I had done as I went along. Also it helps to watch a couple of how to YouTube videos before you dive in.

 

I'm actually willing to pay someone to wrap my Spur, but I can't find anyone in my area. I've done it with a few bikes in the past, but I just don't have the patience any more. I also fucked it up more than once, so that doesn't help...lol #knowyourlimits

 

Yep. I've done a few so far, you learn and get better/faster. Start with smaller easy and flat pieces so you get to know it. The more soap you use the easier it is to fix it, but takes a longer time to set. Know it's going to take hours if you do it right. Work in an indoor and clean spot. Take the cranks and wheels off, and make sure the frame is perfectly clean, wipe it down with alcohol and make sure there is NOTHING on there before you attempt to wrap it. If you mess up, take it off while it's wet, respray it, try again.
Time to install can vary widely, but for me it takes roughly 4 hours (just for the film), and I make sure it's as good as I can get it.

 

Contrary to Abacall a Raceface ARC 30 is the only rear wheel I have ran and not blown up. Unfortunately I cannot offer feedback on your other two options

 

Oh, also [at least with Invisaframe] if you don’t get all the bubbles out, and you won’t, you can do it with a needle and a hair dryer set on hot later on. I did mine in the middle of the summer so I took a needle with me on my rides. While taking a break I’d go over the frame and any bubble I’d find I’d poke it and work it out with my fingers. It self heals, this was working up to a month after it first being applied.

 

Good info. I value the opinion of you both pretty highly. Nothing is firm for me yet anyway. The new wheelset route is the most out of pocket option on the table. Still looking at a couple other frames that will cost me $0.