Author Topic: Prototype Birmingham WHEELS Expert - titanium (Read 15046 times)

dinglem · « **on:** May 28, 2015, 07:33 PM »

Over the past couple of years I have heard several people mention that there was a titanium WHEELS frame made BITD; Big Trev Robinson has talked of this in the past also. I dug a little deeper and after much hunting I have finally managed to track it down

I collected it from the Brum WHEELS team manager this afternoon.

It's an odd-ball being of Expert geometry (18.5inch TT length), but has a Euro BB. The head tube has been machined to accept the headset cups as well.

I can't even begin to believe how light it is

It needs a bit of work, but here's a quick preview taster showing some of the lovely welds...

Well chuffed to have found it!!

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oldschoolace · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2015, 07:38 PM »

Wow, just when it was looking a little quiet in here.... BOOM!
Stoked for you mate, ace find

More pics please

Jaymz · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2015, 07:39 PM »

CustardLips · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2015, 07:42 PM »

That looks lovely... show us some more.

oldschoolace · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2015, 07:46 PM »

The big question is.... Will it fullfill its destiny and be built up or is it to be a display piece?

dinglem · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:13 PM »

Quote from: oldschoolace on May 28, 2015, 07:46 PM

The big question is.... Will it fullfill its destiny and be built up or is it to be a display piece?

Well I was proper chuffed to discover it wasn't a 17.5inch TT Mini; that means I can ride it!!

I bought it on the promise it would be finished and built up, so that's what I am going to do! I've already discussed this with Tim March who has already agreed to help me with this project so more pics will follow once we've made some progress.

Munnyella · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:17 PM »

I'd guess it was easier to find a ready made Ti euro bottom bracket shell than a US one, more road bikes built using Ti than BMX.

Great find whatever the BB!!

MM

oldschoolace · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:20 PM »

Quote from: dinglem on May 28, 2015, 08:13 PM

Quote from: oldschoolace on May 28, 2015, 07:46 PM
The big question is.... Will it fullfill its destiny and be built up or is it to be a display piece?

Well I was proper chuffed to discover it wasn't a 17.5inch TT Mini; that means I can ride it!!

I bought it on the promise it would be finished and built up, so that's what I am going to do! I've already discussed this with Tim March who has already agreed to help me with this project so more pics will follow once we've made some progress.

So glad to hear that, super looking forward to this build

pickle · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:59 PM »

That looks well cool! lets see some more pictures

animal · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2015, 10:22 PM »

Boom

there it is right there

griff · « **Reply #10 on:** May 29, 2015, 12:01 AM »

Oh yes

MartyC · « **Reply #11 on:** May 30, 2015, 09:20 AM »

Wow, you do keep digging them up Martin

dinglem · « **Reply #12 on:** May 30, 2015, 10:00 AM »

Haha... Yeah. Got plenty of free time when I'm away working so spend a lot of time researching and hunting around online. I've tracked down a fair few ex-WHEELS riders now and they have provided me with loads of info (and frames!)

I've been chasing the Ti prototype for around 12 months but now finally have got my hands on it. Amazingly I was also given custody of the WHEELS scrapbooks (x2), which have a fully documented history of the WHEELS Project, including the original track development plans (both tracks), heaps of newspaper cuttings, many many photographs, letters asking for funding, and a whole heap of previously unseen negatives and colour slides showing races, team meetings and so on. Will take me aaagggeess to go through it all, but well cool!!

dinglem · « **Reply #13 on:** May 30, 2015, 10:34 AM »

Few pics.

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Emerbmx · « **Reply #14 on:** May 30, 2015, 11:28 AM »

wow that's an awesome find!
And those scrapbooks.
Do uo know if there any new BMX plans for wheels?
A shame that old track just sits derelict behind some old fence

oldschoolace · « **Reply #15 on:** May 30, 2015, 11:37 AM »

These thread keeps getting better. And no better custodian for that historical goldmine

CustardLips · « **Reply #16 on:** May 30, 2015, 11:51 AM »

Great stuff... this is turning into a pretty exclusive collection you're gathering here Martin.

In2bmx · « **Reply #17 on:** May 30, 2015, 11:55 AM »

Wow ... Awesome stuff

rodriguez · « **Reply #18 on:** May 30, 2015, 12:30 PM »

Awesome indeed

This demonstrates the ability of the UK manufacturers to build far better quality stuff than their American counterparts pity we where mostly all swayed by the power of marketing.

Mikku · « **Reply #19 on:** May 30, 2015, 01:11 PM »

Amazing stuff here!!

Real, old school

BMX history worthy of a book!! Now there's an idea!!

dinglem · « **Reply #20 on:** May 30, 2015, 03:46 PM »

Quote from: Mikku on May 30, 2015, 01:11 PM

Amazing stuff here!! Real, old school BMX history worthy of a book!! Now there's an idea!!

Hmmm.... Now that IS a good idea....

Mikku · « **Reply #21 on:** May 31, 2015, 05:55 AM »

I reckon so! I've no idea of the practicalities and costs involved but you'd have a readymade market on here and if you could get some sort of tie-up with Birmingham BMX Club (are they in any way connected with Birmingham Wheels?) then you could sell it through them as well. Maybe Birmingham City Council would be interested too, preserving a bit of city heritage and all that, though I guess involving them would mean more red tape. Worth investigating me thinks!

PS Put me down for a first edition copy!

dinglem · « **Reply #22 on:** May 31, 2015, 12:02 PM »

I think this is something I could actually do, especially given the amount of info I've gathered and the Team WHEELS contacts I've made so far. Now you've mentioned it I might have a look into it.

Here's a few random shots taken from the pile of slides I have.

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There are a few sheets of negatives from a US trip made by the team, which include shots outside the Bicycle Harbor shop. The team manager tells me they went there to purchase some of the Harbor Lite nylon headsets for their lightweight builds. I know they still have one of these now rare headsets so I'm chasing that for the Ti build....

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oldschoolace · « **Reply #23 on:** May 31, 2015, 12:39 PM »

Just looked up them headsets, very cool

If you draw a blank on finding one I have an engineering chum who may be able to turn you one or our kid could 3d print one

dinglem · « **Reply #24 on:** May 31, 2015, 01:10 PM »

One of the original team members still has one - I've seen it - and I'm supposedly going to see him and collect it next week. We shall see....

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Author Topic: Prototype Birmingham WHEELS Expert - titanium (Read 15046 times)

griff

In2bmx

rodriguez