My Very First Recumbent is a V20
- Thread starter Frito Bandito
- Start date
Unless you are are getting a custom wheel made by a wheel builder, the hub choice on most wheels is limited. Most cheaper deep wheels have only 1 or two choices. The Yoeleo have 3 choices, Novatec, DT-Swiss and one of their own, but I think that is just a Novatec they have self branded and put Ceramic bearings in. I got the cheapest Novatec which was significantly cheaper than the DT-Swiss. I have a couple other wheels with Novatec and have had no issues with them and they have always rolled well. I also like the DT-Swiss on my Rovals, but find they are very pricey compared to others with no benefit I can detect. So far the Novatecs in the new wheels seem good. I actually quite like the noisy free hub for the same reason as you. I use it to alert walkers I am coming. I only just realised though that it is adding some drag... but I am not too concerned as I am not going to pick up much average speed in a ride in the small amount of time I am coasting a fraction faster.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Ya know, I can't remember if I tried it with only 1 or 2 pawls, but I am sure I did. I just wrote of it without thinking of the actual mechanics of it lol. Longevity could be compromised or even a failure if 1 or 2 pawls are removed to make it more quiet. On wheels with more than 3 pawls then it might be a bit safer to remove a couple to make it more quiet. Again though, not much time is spent in freewheeling so the loss really is miniscule.
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Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Recently I have been paying more attention to CdA, and I am really beginning to understand just how increasingly important it becomes, especially as we get past 18mph (almost 30kph). I was slowly getting faster and longer with the "slow" parts on my V20 and just a comfortable position, but started to stagnate. Actually, the upright seating position with my head sticking out, bars sticking up too high, heavy waffle-soled MTB shoes, heavy and low Crr Marathon tires and flappy clothes to name a few probably got my legs, lung and heart in better shape, and the ability to hold 200w for about 4 hours. However, I was hovering a bit under 32kph for quite a while and couldn't seem to crack 32kph for those long rides. With help from several of you guys here, I tweaked my position and bike such as removing 2cm of the 3cm of foam padding under my shoulders (I still have 1cm of padding under my butt and 2cm for lumbar support), thereby getting my torso at 20 degrees, changed my bars and lowered them to reduce CdA by a smaller frontal area and getting my arms more in the wind shadow of my thighs. Those changes as well as minor adjustments with the wheels got me to 2 long rides at 34.5kph. The first was a tough one at 221w and the 2nd was quite a bit easier at 211w. With more CdA work I should be well into the high 30s. Proper shoes, tires, an 80mm front wheel and my Monokote rear rolling properly are likely the easiest ones to do.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
I don't have one of me on the bike since I haven't ridden with anyone after the tweaks and mods. Other than the bars tilted more forward than before, the only real visual difference is less padding under the shoulders. I have to get a new headrest cover since I lost the last one. I might pull the bars in a little closer so I can lower the hoods even more and get more of my forearms into the wind shadow. For now, my knees hit the levers in low speed turns if I am not careful. But for today, I am replacing the rough bearing to hopefully make that 80mm Monokote wheel work. If it doesnt, then I will likely Monokote the 35mm Scirocco wheel that spun for 6 minutes. I know for sure that those bearings roll smoothly 
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Here is why the 80mm Bullets were slow rolling. This pic was after I wiped the bearings down a bit.
The bottom one didn't seem so bad when I rolled it with my fingers while it was still in the wheel, but the other one was really crunchy. Gotta wait for new bearings for them, but at least they will be okay in a bit.
The bottom one didn't seem so bad when I rolled it with my fingers while it was still in the wheel, but the other one was really crunchy. Gotta wait for new bearings for them, but at least they will be okay in a bit.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Moved the bars 1.5cm closer to stop my thighs from hitting them, to be able to relax my grip a little and to be able to get my forearms behind my thighs.
A bit irritated because the guy at the bike shop said my 2 sets of bearings should be available on Monday, but it's Wednesday and they are still not here. Since I can't run the 80mm disc Bullet again I will use the 50mm Bullets and the fairings next ride.
A bit irritated because the guy at the bike shop said my 2 sets of bearings should be available on Monday, but it's Wednesday and they are still not here. Since I can't run the 80mm disc Bullet again I will use the 50mm Bullets and the fairings next ride.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Time for a RANT. Finally got a box of bearings so I can replace the set of bearings in my Bullet 80 Monokote wheel, and have a spare set for a rainy day. I ordered 2 boxes and was told by the LBS that the Campagnolo would deliver them on Monday or Tuesday, and that I would get a call once they arrived. Monday, nothing. Tuesday, nothing. Wednesday, nothing, rode with the 50mm Bullet on Thursday, but no call. I went in to the shop on Friday just to see what was going on and just so happened to talk with the manager (no I didn't ask to talk with him ). He called Campagnolo and told me that Campagnolo said they would deliver them in about 2 weeks.
"2 weeks? Where are the bearings now? Italy? China?" He said the bearings would be delivered internationally, but will check other stores in Japan to see if they have some in stock.
Bingo! The Nagoya shop has them and will deliver them this weekend. I get a call this morning just before they kicked the doors open that the bearings arrived overnight from Nagoya. After work I go to get them and they pull out 1 box.
"Excuse me, but I ordered 2 boxes. I told your worker that I have 2 sets of Bullets and your worker said that it was ¥1000 deposit per box, and I paid ¥2000, and if you look at the receipt here your worker wrote down that I ordered 2 boxes."
"Would you like to order another box?"
"Well, I am already paying almost double the price for ordering them through this shop instead of ordering them online, but since I really needed only 2 of the 4 bearings in this one box, and the other box is going to be a spare set, I think I will wait a bit to decide what to do about the other box of bearings."
I get home, open up the box to put in the bearings and notice that there is no discernible grease on them. I give them a spin, 1 feels less smooth than the other. I shine a light inside but can't see much so I pack it with grease, hoping that is not rust already formed internally. Install the bearings and put the wheel back together and give it a spin. It spins okay, but I can feel a click on 1 side and the wheel hasn't even been on the bike yet after the bearing change.
I dig out the 2 other bearings from the box and sure enough, 1 of them already feels a bit rough while the other seems ok. I pack both with grease, hoping they will stay rust free until I need them.
3 trips to the shop and even after paying almost double for the box of bearings I still don't have a set that I am confident in.
Does Campagnolo even grease the bearings before they package them? I could only smell steel, and my fingers werent greasy after touching them.
). He called Campagnolo and told me that Campagnolo said they would deliver them in about 2 weeks. "2 weeks? Where are the bearings now? Italy? China?" He said the bearings would be delivered internationally, but will check other stores in Japan to see if they have some in stock.
Bingo! The Nagoya shop has them and will deliver them this weekend. I get a call this morning just before they kicked the doors open that the bearings arrived overnight from Nagoya. After work I go to get them and they pull out 1 box.
"Excuse me, but I ordered 2 boxes. I told your worker that I have 2 sets of Bullets and your worker said that it was ¥1000 deposit per box, and I paid ¥2000, and if you look at the receipt here your worker wrote down that I ordered 2 boxes."
"Would you like to order another box?"
"Well, I am already paying almost double the price for ordering them through this shop instead of ordering them online, but since I really needed only 2 of the 4 bearings in this one box, and the other box is going to be a spare set, I think I will wait a bit to decide what to do about the other box of bearings."
I get home, open up the box to put in the bearings and notice that there is no discernible grease on them. I give them a spin, 1 feels less smooth than the other. I shine a light inside but can't see much so I pack it with grease, hoping that is not rust already formed internally. Install the bearings and put the wheel back together and give it a spin. It spins okay, but I can feel a click on 1 side and the wheel hasn't even been on the bike yet after the bearing change.
I dig out the 2 other bearings from the box and sure enough, 1 of them already feels a bit rough while the other seems ok. I pack both with grease, hoping they will stay rust free until I need them.
3 trips to the shop and even after paying almost double for the box of bearings I still don't have a set that I am confident in.
Does Campagnolo even grease the bearings before they package them? I could only smell steel, and my fingers werent greasy after touching them.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Yeah, I will check into aftermarket bearings. I think it is NTN or something like that. Just gotta find the right size and I'll be good to go. On the plus side, the 80mm Monokote wheel spins for about a minute now, so that is a HUGE improvement. I pumped it up, heard a leak so I assume the sealant dried out so I am going to either put more sealant in and hope to be able to re-seat it with a regular pump. If that doesn't work then I will stick a new tube (with sealant) inside either a 25mm Marathon or a Pro One and see how that works out.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Got the Monokote 80mm Pro One Tubeless seated and ready to go. Might be able to do a ride tomorrow, but since it is a Sunday it might be busy so I am not planning on going very fast
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
I tried everything to get the TL on the 50mm Bullet front but nothing worked so far. I'll eventually get it done though. I posted my setup on the last Strava ride today, but haven't gone over any of the data.
DavidCH
In thought; expanding the paradigm of traversity
Put in a innertube and stretch it. Leave it for a few days and then do it tubeless. Should be good. I am currently waiting for 2 new cont gp 5000 s tr's 25mm. Should be flying before xmas
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Thanks David. I will give that a try. Another way mentioned by a Youtuber was to pinch both beads into the center groove of the rim and give it a blast of air, so I might try that too if stretching doesn't work.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Getting the tire to seat. The gaps are always large enough that air from a standard pump just flows out. I bought a Giant pump with a canister and that didn't help. When I released the valve hoping the sudden force of air would push the beads to the edge it didn't happen. Plus I have to use an old pump that is on its last legs with a Schrader valve to fill up the Giant pump. About 1 out of every 4 or 5 pumps from that pump actually squirts a little air into the Giant pump, leaving me huffing and puffing. I either have to buy another Schrader pump to fill up the Giant pump or a Presta-Shrader adaptor so I can use either of my 2 Presta pumps. I swear, this switching to tubeless has been about as irritating as it could be
Oh, and FWIW, Bontrager's tubes that have sealant already inside from the factory sucks. I used 1 for 4-6 months and intended to use it again when I changed the tire, but I felt 4-5 huge balls of dried sealant inside once I removed the tube. Seriously, 1 of them was almost as large as a marble. If for some reason I find myself wanting sealant in a tube, it will be sealant I install myself. I am not even sure it would have sealed a puncture since most of it was hardened, kinda like when Hula Hoop stuck balls on the hoops to increase sales.
Oh, and FWIW, Bontrager's tubes that have sealant already inside from the factory sucks. I used 1 for 4-6 months and intended to use it again when I changed the tire, but I felt 4-5 huge balls of dried sealant inside once I removed the tube. Seriously, 1 of them was almost as large as a marble. If for some reason I find myself wanting sealant in a tube, it will be sealant I install myself. I am not even sure it would have sealed a puncture since most of it was hardened, kinda like when Hula Hoop stuck balls on the hoops to increase sales.
