Homebuild - Super V15
- Thread starter Rob Lloyd
- Start date
JerseyJim
Guru
Bought a 5kg food scale to weight the frame parts (more accurately than the bath scale).
No idea if these are 'light' or not. Seems kind of heavy to me...
If that's truly the frame weight, you've got a good start on a sub 15 pound bike all in. Not that I care about UCI at all but for perspective 15 lbs (6.8kg) is the lower weight limit for UCI legal race bikes. You may go over but not by much. Once you're in that neighborhood, you know it's not the weight of the bike keeping you back. BTW, nice craftsmanship. That's going to be a bike you can be proud to own and ride.
Rob Lloyd
Well-Known Member
I dunno what groupset you use, but the parts needed to complete this bike will weigh more than 5lb. My estimate for the total weight right now is 28lbs. Using the parts I have.
My wheels are not light weight. Really quite average 32h 700c disk wheels. I could spend $300 and save 2lbs there.
Bottom bracket and crankset is cheap and heavy. I could definitely save maybe another half pound on those without breaking the bank.
My seat is fiberglass. The carbon version is a half pound lighter. For another $300.
My shifter and derailleur are Shimano XT. There’s grams to be saved there.
Brakes are TRP Spyre, not much lighter than those at that capability. I could spring for the Spyre SLC’s and save a few more grams.
Brake levers are also Tektro. Shimano are probably lighter, but not by much I bet. No benefit there.
Chain is already KMC 9sp extra light.
I’m sure I could get this bike to 25 maybe 24lbs, but 15lb is out of the question.
My wheels are not light weight. Really quite average 32h 700c disk wheels. I could spend $300 and save 2lbs there.
Bottom bracket and crankset is cheap and heavy. I could definitely save maybe another half pound on those without breaking the bank.
My seat is fiberglass. The carbon version is a half pound lighter. For another $300.
My shifter and derailleur are Shimano XT. There’s grams to be saved there.
Brakes are TRP Spyre, not much lighter than those at that capability. I could spring for the Spyre SLC’s and save a few more grams.
Brake levers are also Tektro. Shimano are probably lighter, but not by much I bet. No benefit there.
Chain is already KMC 9sp extra light.
I’m sure I could get this bike to 25 maybe 24lbs, but 15lb is out of the question.
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JerseyJim
Guru
I definitely got carried away thinking about what was possible versus what is practical. While you can get wheelsets well under 2 pounds and other lightweight components were money no object, you are right that with affordable components, 25-28 pounds is more likely. Still, that's not bad. When I was a kid, a 20 pound racing bike was considered light. Now that's heavy and 16 pounds is light.
A Dutch utility bike is between 35 & 50 pounds. My Cruzbike T50 is about 35 pounds in normal trim and closer to 45 loaded for randonneuring. If you got to 25 That would just be just a couple of pounds heavier than a typical V20 build.
A Dutch utility bike is between 35 & 50 pounds. My Cruzbike T50 is about 35 pounds in normal trim and closer to 45 loaded for randonneuring. If you got to 25 That would just be just a couple of pounds heavier than a typical V20 build.
paco1961
Zen MBB Master
You might look into Boyd’s new gravel wheel set. Excellent weight for gravel wheels. Hard to build a similar quality set for less. I’ve been riding Hope’s 20five wheels for a while. A touch heavier than the Boyd set but I love the Hope hubs. I have both their allow rimmed 20five (S40)and carbon RD40 (V20). Love them both
I’ve always erred on the side of cross or gravel wheels for the CBs. I think compared to a DF, the CBs- and likely most bents, are a little harder on wheels. Can’t absorb much w ankles and knees and no mini hops over RR tracks at 30mph on a bent.
I’ve always erred on the side of cross or gravel wheels for the CBs. I think compared to a DF, the CBs- and likely most bents, are a little harder on wheels. Can’t absorb much w ankles and knees and no mini hops over RR tracks at 30mph on a bent.
Bill Wightman
Well-Known Member
I love the REV concept mostly because it is so fast, but I really cannot imagine riding any lower than the V20 for safety reasons. I think the biggest further gains on the V20 will come from the rider first (which is not the bike technically) then from incremental gains in component aft fairing, strut shapes, and similar. The nice thing about the V20 is the "autodraft and rest" feature. Riding short 30 mile "sprints" with racers is a blast (really, really fun) because I don't care if they get away from me. I just skootch down real flat on the seat (my seat is relocated at about ten degrees from horizontal versus stock position), spin up to 27-28 mph to quickly catch the group and coast up behind in my own slippery low-drag fashion and just coast for the longest time while catching my breath. Even flat speeds up to 33 mph are cool because they (DF racers) are just getting killed by their own drag and so they cannot hold on for very long. This is riding in about 50 degF so we stay cool easily. I love this playing cat and mouse with fast groups. I always stay out of the way off the back so they can do all the normal rotating peloton stuff. I only borrow some draft if they are unusually strong which will no doubt happen more and more as the years pass.
3bs
whereabouts unknown
@Bill Wightman
we can just call you "10 degree bill"
my body will just not allow that level of recline. i end up tasting my last meal....
for me, i will admit i prefer low racers. i don't really think there is much advantage to being that low except on windy days where a normal height bike is getting tossed around. maybe it is my past car racing or karts or trikes or something, but i have more confidence down low.
agree that the biggest gains for a v will first be in the rider, and that i also agree there is speed left on the table that can be recaptured with rear air flow.
we can just call you "10 degree bill"
my body will just not allow that level of recline. i end up tasting my last meal....
for me, i will admit i prefer low racers. i don't really think there is much advantage to being that low except on windy days where a normal height bike is getting tossed around. maybe it is my past car racing or karts or trikes or something, but i have more confidence down low.
agree that the biggest gains for a v will first be in the rider, and that i also agree there is speed left on the table that can be recaptured with rear air flow.
Bill Wightman
Well-Known Member
Bill Wightman
Well-Known Member
You are an awesome craftsman. It looks great.
Rob Lloyd
Well-Known Member
I, sadly, have not made any further progress, really. There are a few low sports in the fillets that I need to fill with epoxy. I know, it's cheating. But, I don't like the idea of re-heating the frame up just to add a half mm of brass that I will then file back down.
Before I do that, though. I want to be sure it's 'done'. So, I need to test-fit it all up. Make sure the cable stops are all in a good place, etc. But, I don't have the 44mm head tube reamer required to fit the headset and fork. But, I did find a shop that does (Sic Transit Cycles in Ann Arbor - love that place). Was going tot take it in today, but the 9" of snow last night helped me decide to put it off until tomorrow...
Before I do that, though. I want to be sure it's 'done'. So, I need to test-fit it all up. Make sure the cable stops are all in a good place, etc. But, I don't have the 44mm head tube reamer required to fit the headset and fork. But, I did find a shop that does (Sic Transit Cycles in Ann Arbor - love that place). Was going tot take it in today, but the 9" of snow last night helped me decide to put it off until tomorrow...
Bill Wightman
Well-Known Member
Getting polished up. I noticed your wheelbase is about 4.5" longer than a V20. Was that for a lower position between the wheels?
Rob Lloyd
Well-Known Member
Yep. Both lower seat height, and angle.
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bladderhead
Zen MBB Master
Blimey, I cannot believe it! Who does not have one of those?Rob Lloyd said:
M.J
Well-Known Member
That's super badass! I hope you like it when it's done.Initial assembly in progress...
If not and it needs a good home, I'm not too far away and I'm sure it would fit in my van...
