Know the rules The Paceline Forum Builder's Spotlight


Go Back   The Paceline Forum > General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-11-2024, 07:30 PM
mass_biker mass_biker is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 677
“Z” couplers

Saw this as another option vs. Breakaway and S&S couplings.
Anyone with real life experience with this protocol?
Best
MB
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-11-2024, 08:39 PM
Hakkalugi Hakkalugi is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 351
I have both formats, and they work great. That said, I want Zs on every bike now. If you have a choice, go Z.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-11-2024, 09:19 PM
ltwtsculler91 ltwtsculler91 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Greenwich / Nashville / Florida
Posts: 1,373
I went with Z couplers on my Hampsten titanium frame, and have seen a few of the No22s with them. I wouldn't go S&S as these solve all the annoyances about those - open/close with just 1 bolt on each coupler and don't/can't loosen over time. Plus, you can't even notice them on the frame unless you're looking closely. Full thread on my bike here: Pig in a box

Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-11-2024, 10:04 PM
mass_biker mass_biker is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 677
Z for the win I think!

Oh goodness. I can barely tell they are in the frame.
I have breakaway couplers on my Ritchey Ti Cross.
I’m considering a fixed/free single speed Ti travel build (via Carver) utilizing the Z couplers for really-easy-travel-choice.
But looking at your sweet, sweet road bike it has me thinking “road bike with 32c” instead…as I think I have most of the parts banging around.
Thank you for the link. It’s getting me thinking and plotting.
Best
MB
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-11-2024, 10:53 PM
echappist echappist is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,941
Quote:
Originally Posted by mass_biker View Post
Oh goodness. I can barely tell they are in the frame.
I have breakaway couplers on my Ritchey Ti Cross.
I’m considering a fixed/free single speed Ti travel build (via Carver) utilizing the Z couplers for really-easy-travel-choice.
But looking at your sweet, sweet road bike it has me thinking “road bike with 32c” instead…as I think I have most of the parts banging around.
Thank you for the link. It’s getting me thinking and plotting.
Best
MB
With the right fork (say Whisky No. 7 Rd Plus), one can go up to 700 x 35 mm; this fork also supports fenders. 32c tires can be accomodated with a Falz fork.

Hampsten's titanium frames are welded by none other than Brad Bingham.





For further inquiries, operators are standing by. Or you could just send a PM to @hampco.

Last edited by echappist; 11-11-2024 at 11:03 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-11-2024, 11:48 PM
Bob Ross's Avatar
Bob Ross Bob Ross is offline
Registered (ab)User
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tucson AZ
Posts: 4,603
Quote:
Originally Posted by ltwtsculler91 View Post
I wouldn't go S&S as these solve all the annoyances about those - open/close with just 1 bolt on each coupler and don't/can't loosen over time.
Are you saying that S&S couplers can loosen over time?
As the owner of a bike with S&S couplers for the past 14 years, I can confirm that nothing like that has ever happened...mostly because it seems like it could happen, and so I'm paranoid and check them regularly. But in these past 14 years I have never had to (re-)tighten them.

That being said, if I were to buy another coupled bike it would probably have those Z-couplers, because A) I really like the idea of not having to carry a proprietary tool, and B) I think they look super slick.

Any idea if they weigh less than S&S couplers?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old Yesterday, 04:50 AM
saab2000's Avatar
saab2000 saab2000 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,821
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Ross View Post
Are you saying that S&S couplers can loosen over time?
As the owner of a bike with S&S couplers for the past 14 years, I can confirm that nothing like that has ever happened...mostly because it seems like it could happen, and so I'm paranoid and check them regularly. But in these past 14 years I have never had to (re-)tighten them.

That being said, if I were to buy another coupled bike it would probably have those Z-couplers, because A) I really like the idea of not having to carry a proprietary tool, and B) I think they look super slick.

Any idea if they weigh less than S&S couplers?
I don’t know if they loosen over time but I definitely check them when I ride that bike.

That said, I’d go with this solution if I ever got another coupled bike. The proprietary tool is kind of too much. The Z couplers are definitely more elegant.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old Yesterday, 06:19 AM
rapid_ti's Avatar
rapid_ti rapid_ti is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 16
Interesting to see the Z-couplers on a solo bike. I previously thought that was an option only on a Santana tandem.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old Yesterday, 06:39 AM
mass_biker mass_biker is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 677
Z coupler thoughts

Great feedback folks - thank you.

Currently the thought is to get this built up with rear-facing dropouts. I don’t have a single speed/fixed gear bike in the quiver. So maybe this is a “kill two birds” play - and having traveled with derailleur-ed bikes (Ritchey, Bike Friday), while not the most cumbersome thing to do in terms of build up/break down, having one less item to fuss with sounds appealing. I suppose with only a front brake, you could not have to worry about splitters at all.

Carver (which contracts with one of the Asian Ti builders) has been helpful in looking at a target spec (for me - standard 56 geometry - modeled after one of my Ritchey RLs or an All City Mr Pink) and has offered the choice of either S&S or Z couplings. Based on all the feedback above, the Z seems to be the way to go for this project if it materializes.

I’ll keep folks posted.
MB
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old Yesterday, 07:24 AM
charliedid's Avatar
charliedid charliedid is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Chicago
Posts: 13,512
Quote:
Originally Posted by rapid_ti View Post
Interesting to see the Z-couplers on a solo bike. I previously thought that was an option only on a Santana tandem.
It's been licensed to others at this point. No22 was the first if I recall.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old Yesterday, 07:34 AM
AngryScientist's Avatar
AngryScientist AngryScientist is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: northeast NJ
Posts: 34,123
Personally, for a travel bike, I like the industrial look of the S&S couplers. I've never had one come loose unexpectedly.

That Z system does look pretty slick though. I would consider it if I had another travel bike built, or of course if something came up used I wanted.

I would like to handle a bike with them in person before making a decision though. When I travel with my bike, it gets "roughed up" a bunch, and I'm usually building it and breaking it down in a hurry. I know the S&S system well now, and it's pretty well bulletproof.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old Yesterday, 07:37 AM
echelon_john echelon_john is offline
extremely tall
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: paris, france / southern vermont
Posts: 4,436
Do we know which builder Carver uses? Is it Waltly?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mass_biker View Post
Great feedback folks - thank you.

Currently the thought is to get this built up with rear-facing dropouts. I don’t have a single speed/fixed gear bike in the quiver. So maybe this is a “kill two birds” play - and having traveled with derailleur-ed bikes (Ritchey, Bike Friday), while not the most cumbersome thing to do in terms of build up/break down, having one less item to fuss with sounds appealing. I suppose with only a front brake, you could not have to worry about splitters at all.

Carver (which contracts with one of the Asian Ti builders) has been helpful in looking at a target spec (for me - standard 56 geometry - modeled after one of my Ritchey RLs or an All City Mr Pink) and has offered the choice of either S&S or Z couplings. Based on all the feedback above, the Z seems to be the way to go for this project if it materializes.

I’ll keep folks posted.
MB
__________________
Enjoy every sandwich.
-W. Zevon
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old Yesterday, 08:22 AM
mass_biker mass_biker is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 677
Carver’s builders?

Great question…I emailed back and forth with Walty a bit and I figured that I might save some hassle sending the specs directly to Carver and have them work with their providers. I’ll ask Carver directly.
MB
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old Yesterday, 08:54 AM
echelon_john echelon_john is offline
extremely tall
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: paris, france / southern vermont
Posts: 4,436
Thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mass_biker View Post
Great question…I emailed back and forth with Walty a bit and I figured that I might save some hassle sending the specs directly to Carver and have them work with their providers. I’ll ask Carver directly.
MB
__________________
Enjoy every sandwich.
-W. Zevon
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old Yesterday, 08:59 AM
AngryScientist's Avatar
AngryScientist AngryScientist is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: northeast NJ
Posts: 34,123
Can these be added to a bike as a retrofit or new build only? Anyone know?
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:43 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.