Author Topic: Prototype Birmingham WHEELS Expert - titanium (Read 14986 times)

sawzall · « **Reply #25 on:** May 31, 2015, 04:04 PM »

great stuff there mart

BMX1973 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 31, 2015, 04:22 PM »

Great piece of history you have there. Its nice when you have a bundle of information to go through. Makes it more interesting. Looking forward to see how it all develops.

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #27 on:** May 31, 2015, 07:58 PM »

Wow! What a great and rare find. Loving this thread

dinglem · « **Reply #28 on:** June 04, 2015, 10:08 AM »

I'm hunting for lightweight parts for this now. There is a link to Harbor Lite already, and having tapped up a few contacts over in the US I've managed to dig out a super rare set of Harbor Lite aluminium Pro sized bars for it. Should be on their way to me right now. This is the only pair I've ever seen

Harbor Lite also marketed their own lightweight stems; they were plain, unstamped DK Mini items which later on were drilled out. If I can't source an original I already have a DK Mini stem given to me by Scott Beaumont from his WHEELS days, so that might work. Other than that lot I'll be hunting for parts with Ti components where possible. Lightweight cranks and pedals.... Any suggestions guys?

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dinglem · « **Reply #29 on:** June 04, 2015, 10:10 AM »

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ED209 · « **Reply #30 on:** June 04, 2015, 10:22 AM »

Quote from: sawzall on May 31, 2015, 04:04 PM

great stuff there mart

Phil has just Philled his pants on this thread

dinglem · « **Reply #31 on:** June 12, 2015, 06:42 PM »

Super rare (and super light weight) Harbor Lite bars and head set arrived today

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oldschoolace · « **Reply #32 on:** June 12, 2015, 06:45 PM »

Nice

Is the lock nut nylon too?

dinglem · « **Reply #33 on:** June 12, 2015, 07:14 PM »

Yup, the entire set is nylon. Weighs fook all!

oldschoolace · « **Reply #34 on:** June 12, 2015, 08:03 PM »

Ace. Surprising they didn't become popular.

dinglem · « **Reply #35 on:** June 12, 2015, 08:33 PM »

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Not sure what the weight-saving is over the metal items, but for the ultimate light weight (Mini) build it has to be a must-have. Plus I'm following the route the WHEELS team took in purchasing these items from the Bicycle Harbor shop when they visited. I guess originating from a small, independent BMX shop they weren't really mass marketed.

It's been interesting researching Harbor Lite anyway. I'd never heard of them previously.

dinglem · « **Reply #36 on:** August 05, 2015, 06:47 AM »

I've been doing a little further research into light weight parts for when this build starts to move forwards. I've been looking into some of the O.M.A.S. Ti offerings and have picked up a titanium Euro BB and a Ti brake bolt kit. The BB is insanely light and is a real work of art.

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I have also read that a few of the infamous 'lightest ever' Mini builds over in the US from BITD used plastic compression release levers as brake levers so I have sourced one of those also.

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Wheel rims and hubs have been interesting to research also; I've settled for some Nisi tubular rims (crazy light) which will be laced using Ti spokes to a pair of Hutch Ti and magnesium hubs. It took me a while to find a set of the Hutch hubs which didn't require a remortgage but I got there eventually. I also found a NOS pair of Comp V sew-ups after much hunting. This wheel set mirrors those offered by Harborlite (Barts) back in period.

Cranks will be Campagnolo as favoured by Dean Bateson - whom the frame was made for - and taken off the Rebecca Maiden team WHEELS Mini. I have also sourced some black Ti chainring bolts.

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Still struggling for lightweight pedal options but have a few ideas now... plus I have an experimental drilled-out seatpost clamp which will be based around pics from trimmed down Mini builds from BITD.

dinglem · « **Reply #37 on:** August 05, 2015, 07:13 AM »

Barts Nisi rims.

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Took a while to locate a pair like this...

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The hubs are going to take a bit of effort to clean up; the usual magnesium pitting but should hopefully tidy up ok. They haven't actually arrived in the post yet though but here's a quick 'before' pic.

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insectbones · « **Reply #38 on:** August 05, 2015, 07:30 AM »

Brilliant thread this!!

Looking forward to seeing this build progress

pickle · « **Reply #39 on:** August 05, 2015, 07:32 AM »

Some lovely looking bits n bobs there, looking forward to seeing it come together

how thin are those tyres!

CustardLips · « **Reply #40 on:** August 05, 2015, 08:38 AM »

This is gonna be one lightweight build. Looking forward to seeing it come together.

Is it gonna be done for MK.

oldschoolace · « **Reply #41 on:** August 05, 2015, 08:47 AM »

Mart, I might have something special for you on the seat clamp front that I would be happy to loan you for how ever long you need it. It's literally the size of a wedding ring and weighs nothing.
Its hand made and I have no idea as to its age but it's a sweet little clamp. Will get you a pic up today

dinglem · « **Reply #42 on:** August 05, 2015, 08:49 AM »

Quote from: CustardLips on August 05, 2015, 08:38 AM

This is gonna be one lightweight build. Looking forward to seeing it come together.
Is it gonna be done for MK.

I popped round to see Steve (animal) yesterday and we were talking about MK. I can't make it, but hope to bring my WHEELS next year and maybe set up a bit of a display...

It will be interesting to see what this one weighs in at; perhaps a charity weight guesstimate will be in order??

ED209 · « **Reply #43 on:** August 05, 2015, 08:50 AM »

great thread this

I'll get my guess in now ... FOOK ALL!

dinglem · « **Reply #44 on:** August 05, 2015, 08:51 AM »

Quote from: oldschoolace on August 05, 2015, 08:47 AM

Mart, I might have something special for you on the seat clamp front that I would be happy to loan you for how ever long you need it. It's literally the size of a wedding ring and weighs nothing.
Its hand made and I have no idea as to its age but it's a sweet little clamp. Will get you a pic up today

Ooooh sounds interesting matey!!

Look forward to the pics!

oldschoolace · « **Reply #45 on:** August 05, 2015, 09:06 AM »

Here you go. It's obviously some sort of high grade steel or perhaps Ti as its pretty thin at the front. Deffo hand made and most probably British. I can weigh it for you if it helps

dinglem · « **Reply #46 on:** August 05, 2015, 09:12 AM »

That's well cool mate. Where's it from? Any idea on dating?

oldschoolace · « **Reply #47 on:** August 05, 2015, 09:15 AM »

No idea bud, wish I did. It came with a rare speedwheels spinner rotor I picked up, took me a good half an hour to work out it wasn't part of the rotor system

oldschoolace · « **Reply #48 on:** August 05, 2015, 03:42 PM »

Just checked and it's deffo stainless steel and weighs 20.1g

animal · « **Reply #49 on:** August 12, 2015, 10:14 PM »

Quote from: oldschoolace on August 05, 2015, 09:06 AM

Here you go. It's obviously some sort of high grade steel or perhaps Ti as its pretty thin at the front. Deffo hand made and most probably British. I can weigh it for you if it helps

I'm pretty sure I know what this clamp is . Just need to get the little grey sells working to recall