Recent content by Retrorockit

Solfiane has been held until November for pretrial detention. He could face up to 2 years in prison. “He’ll probably be convicted and imprisoned,” said the source. “And they’ll add him to the list of political prisoners who can be exchanged...

Saint M800 derailleur. The special 10mm Thru axle was only sold with the Saint hub. So NLA. ( the ones on Ebay are all too short) The Saint hub only takes the oversized spline Saint Centerlock rotor, also NLA. Rapid Rise, no 9 speed RR shifters. I own a few of these. They're cheap, and NOS...

My current thinking on this is. Rene Herse lightweight racing tires didn't exist back in the day. At least not in wide MTB sizes. Neither did Berd rope spokes. I'm looking at how fast weight weeny gravel racers are going on wide 700c, and I think 26" would be even weenier. So I'm going to do...

Those remind me of this. Medicine Wheels. https://www.kachinahouse.com/native-american-artifacts/dreamcatchers-and-medicine-wheels/native-american-made-dreamcatchers-willow-willow6

If string spokes have come and gone before, I'd like to know more about that

I reamed out the valve stem holes to Schrader valve size. The web between the flanges was quick and easy. The hole at the spoke bed took quite a while. It's a lot thicker there, and the material is hard as hell. I think it dulled the reamer.. I'm glad I got rims that were just 25mm deep. Deeper...

I went and talked to a friend who works on old cars (the Red ones). Covering up good plastic with bad plastic doesn't seem like such a good idea. Tire levers would probably chop it up. Powder coating in his experience doesn't have a very nice finish. Then there's the matter of baking to set the...

I also came across protective rim wraps. They were clear and came in all sizes except 26" Looking into this further there are some colored options for trials bikes. 19" 21', again no 26" No sanding, no baking of the new rims like paint or powder coating. Removeable. So what do you guys think?

I'm leaning towards the Blue rim idea. The Silver seems kind of fake.. I can leave the spokes white, and color them later if desired. The Rockshox SID isn't blue, but it could be.....

Thank god Berd Spokes are made here (US). They're more than expensive enough as is.

Russian prison might be more relaxing than being a bicycle messenger in Paris right now. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/09/18/france-wakes-up-to-massive-protests-and-strikes-against-budget-cuts

I now have my plastic 26" rims for my all metal Sikver XC bike (OK vintage Carbon handlebars). I don't want all black wheels. Every new bike seems to have those, even the very cheapest ones. High end plastic still looks like plastic. I could have gotten the fiber weave finish to show off the...

Solfiane is in a Russian Prison until Oct.4 for pretrial detention. I would guess they don't have a lot of illegal immigrants there. Apparently there is no border crossing for French people on bicyles. They should post a sign in French "NO FRENCH PEOPLE ON BICYCLES ALLOWED"...

The 26" Carbon XC rims arrived. 280g. each Nobody asked for any tariffs. No idea how that works. It's different for each country, and changes all the time. But I got them at the agreed price.

My rims are in country (US) and nobody has asked for any tariff money yet....