My latest mod: "Lollipop" pedals goes on a diet

[garth]

I've been on a weight weenie kick lately with my IF Corvid so bear with me.

I bought a pair of "X-brand" titanium spindles and bowtie bolts a few months ago from "an online retailer" for my Speedplay Zeros Track Specials. I just installed them today so I thought I'd share. The install is pretty straight forward as long as you know one trick. Make sure you use a soldering iron to heat up the spindle screw. It's Loctite'd on and you'll strip the head if you try and muscle it.

Total weight reduction = 52g
Total cost = $65 for spindles; $12 for bowtie bolts
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5145/5659112354_8da2e316c7_z.jpghttp://farm6.static.flickr.com/5028/5659113230_a035094749_z.jpg

Sure it was expensive at more than a dollar per gram but still cheaper and lighter than buying the Ti Zeros. Plus I like the engagement of the Track Special over the normal road Zeros. I'd say it's an even bigger savings if you buy and upgrade the Chrome Moly version.

***Please note that I removed the actual names of the vendors for legal reasons. Hopefully I don't get sued for posting these pictures. :banana:

[akelman]

So, spill! What's your Corvid, fully built, weigh? (Or is this like asking my grandmother her age? You're going to tell me 40 for the next 27 years?)

[old_fat_and_slow]

Mama always told me "I wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed".


What's a bow tie bolt?

[rugbysecondrow]

Mama always told me "I wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed".


What's a bow tie bolt?

I think the bow tie is that metal peice that looks like a bow tie, the bolt is what secures it. That is my guess.

[garth]

@old_fat_and_slow - Yep, its just as rugby said.

@akelman - Right now it comes in at 13.4lbs fully built with alloy clinchers but it will drop into the 12.75lb range after I get my new wheels built (Tune hubs laced to Stan's Alpha 340 clincher rims) and a few other minor parts tweaking.

I'm building it light but robust and there aren't any boutique'y parts that will break in a week. It's really a solid build.

Here it is at 13.9lbs.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5470746082_96000f92f8_b.jpg

[RPS]

Total weight reduction = 52g
Total cost = $65 for spindles; $12 for bowtie bolts
...snipped....
Sure it was expensive at more than a dollar per gram but still cheaper and lighter than buying the Ti Zeros.
At that rate, for about $10,000 you can make the entire bike vanish. Seems like a good price to me. ;)

[akelman]

That bike is is the baddest of the bad asses. Also: "Corvid" is the best name for a black bike that there will ever be. That is all.

[garth]

@RPS - I know huh. I'm going to keep trying. :banana:

@ari - Thanks!!! I thought the same thing too when I first saw the Corvid pics from Interbike.

[jgspin]

If you don't mind and if you have time would you post your component list and their weights?

Do you just touch the head of the screw with the tip of the gun and for how long?

What cable housing are you using?

[AngryScientist]

hot damn, a 13 lb bike with clinchers and a thomson alloy post, looks like you've done a very good job on a very ride worthy bike.

what are the current wheel specs?

i too would be interested in your full build list.
:beer:

[54ny77]

dayum, that is hot. nice ride! :beer:

[Louis]

Only steps left now (to be performed before every ride):

1) Shave (everywhere, every single strand of body hair).

2) Clip finger and toe nails.

3) Visit men's room.

NOW you're as light as can be. BTW, do you really need your pinkie finger to ride?

[93legendti]

@old_fat_and_slow - Yep, its just as rugby said.

@akelman - Right now it comes in at 13.4lbs fully built with alloy clinchers but it will drop into the 12.75lb range after I get my new wheels built (Tune hubs laced to Stan's Alpha 340 clincher rims) and a few other minor parts tweaking.

I'm building it light but robust and there aren't any boutique'y parts that will break in a week. It's really a solid build.

Here it is at 13.9lbs.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5470746082_96000f92f8_b.jpg
Looks great. I'll bet it's a fun bike to ride.

[garth]

@jgspin - Yeah, you hold the tip of the soldering iron to the head of the bolt for about 2-3 mins. Make sure to use a Torx 20 bit not an allen key.

The cables are Alligator iLinks. I haven't weighed out individual parts as I never intended it to be a weight weenie bike it just kind of happened.

@AngryScientist - Wheelset build specs: Tune Mig 70/Mag 180 hubs laced with DT Aerolite spokes, 20/24 2x to Kinlin XR-300 rims. Weight is 1397g.

Current build:

56cm IF Corvid frame
EDGE 2.0 fork
King Inset Headset
Thomson X2 stem - 120mm (tuned)
ENVE 42cm bars
Lizardskinz DSP Race bar tape
Thomson Masterpiece 27.2mm/240mm (tuned)
Selle San Marco Regal-E carbon
SRAM RED front/rear derailleurs, shifters, cassette and calipers
Cannondale SL Hollowgram Crankset
Speedplay Zero Track Special (tuned)
KMC X10SL chain
Tune/Kinlin wheelset
Soul Kosak steel skewers
Continental Supersonic clincher tires
Generic butyl tubes

Other than the new wheelset I have ordered there are still a few more things I can do to get the weight solidly in the 12lb range.

[Fixed]

black beauty
go climb a mountain looks like a fun climber
cheers

[bobswire]

So, spill! What's your Corvid, fully built, weigh? (Or is this like asking my grandmother her age? You're going to tell me 40 for the next 27 years?)


Akelman, when folks ask me my age I reply I just celebrated the 26th anniversary of my 40th birthday.
Full disclosure my bike and I together weigh exactly 165 lbs.
Beautiful build Garth, does it ride as sweet as it looks?

[fuzzalow]

Dang that is a sweet looking ride. Nice setup too. Hard to believe it can be built as light as it is without carbon-rim tubulars.

None more black.

[garth]

@bobswire - It rides even better than it looks. :D

@fuzzalow - It just goes to show how easy it is to build a lightweight bike these days.

Once I get the new wheels and a few little tweaks I'll post it up in the Custom Bikes thread.

[akelman]

EDGE 2.0 fork

Enve is blowing out Edge-badged 1.0 forks right now. That would save you a bunch of weight for not a lot of money.

[akelman]

Sorry, I didn't mean to be an enabler. I just couldn't help myself.

[straightegde]

What kind of tuning went on with the Thomsons? Just ti bolts or filing and drillin?

[garth]

@akelman - I saw that ENVE were closing out the old 1.0 forks last month but the 3k weave on my current 2.0 fork just looks better. At this point with the new wheels it will be in the 12lb range so the 50g savings from the fork won't help too much.

@straightedge - Yeah, just tuned with titanium hardware. I saved 12g with the seatpost and 10g with the stem however I am going to swap the Thomson seatpost for a trimmed down ENVE post. The setback Thomson just looks too weird to me. I might also swap out the Thomson stem for a TUNE Geiles as it's a tad lighter and will match my hubs.

[straightegde]

Uh oh, now you've maxed out your standard parts and boutique is the only realm left. I agree about the Thomson lay-back. I want a frame with the right ST so I can run a straight one, but no-go until then.

[garth]

Exactly. Breaking into the 12lb range with standard parts (except for the Tune hubs) is pretty good IMO. Everything spec'd is robust and won't leave me stranded along the road so I'm real content with how it came out.

[jgspin]

I just checked out the source for the Ti spindles and it says "Sorry I will no longer offer parts for speedplay pedals". Seems like he received a cease and desist warning.

[weiwentg]

I just checked out the source for the Ti spindles and it says "Sorry I will no longer offer parts for speedplay pedals". Seems like he received a cease and desist warning.

there's a thread about this on Weightweenies (http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=80010). Speedplay asked him to cease and desist, something about copyright infringement. ridiculous imo. I'd dump Speedplay if I weren't addicted.