“Re: RE: They're Talking About Me”

Basically, I was trying to steer you away from the more unconventional wheel designs and to use spoked wheels. Saw a lot of recommendations to get "nice wheels" and many times that leads to the ultralight low spoke count or unique spoke style wheels.

The combo you have is perfectly fine. In fact, I would be hard pressed to find a truly 'better' setup. I prefer the 'butted' spokes as they allow more stretch and thus more rim deflection before losing all tension. But having your wheels handbuilt instead of machine made was a good move.

How do you pick a hub? It isn't really that hard. Stay clear of the crazy lightweight stuff as they are marketed to racers who only need them to survive a race or two, and there is a mechanic with another wheel not far away. I'd also avoid the big ovrbuilt stuff that is designed for loaded touring and tandems as they carry a weight penalty that you probably don't need. In the rest, find the ones that fit your budget and then Look at them. I like the Campagnolo parts because you can replace bearings and they even have llittle ports where you can squeeze in a drop of oil or two after a wet ride. But a Campy rear hub needs a Campy derailer to operate better. They are also a bit more $$.

It is hard to beat Shimano for value. You get good stuff at a reasonable price and they can not afford the lawsuits if parts fail, so you can be assured of some good engineering.

Rims are likewise in many reepects. However, being able to see a crosssection is extremely helpful For larger riders, I recommend the more aero rims as the structure makes for a stronger rim. Although these rims do add a bit more weight. The really light "box" rims with a very low profile are not as stiff laterally and will not allow the wheel builder to put as much tension on it.

And no, you don't want me to build you a wheel at MMA, it isn't at all my best work, but probably still better than a machine.

Your description of the failure of a wheel is right on the mark. Also remember that there is a rotational piece that comes into play too as well as a rebound cycle. So as you impact a bump and deform, that deformation moves up as the wheel spins, and then the metals act like springs and contract and expand a little. So over a rough road, you have a multitude of initial impacts and cycles all happening at the same time. Not only will this fatigue the metal, but increase the possibility of structual failure when the tension is marginal. The Physics can get really complex as you add in all the various motions and forces involved.

"Unloading" refers to using your body (or bike suspention) to absorb the impacts rather than 'slamming' into them. For example, the ultra light crankset I have on my Mountain Bike was notorious for breaking in competition. I think the company went out of business because of the failures. Yet, because I ride 'light' and use my body to absorb the shock, my cranks are celebrating thier 10th year this year and I am still dreading the day they "fail".

Seriously, how you ride can play a lot more to the longevity of components than anything else.

Riding slow is not nearly as much fun, and the training rides have been quite unique in finding people to ride with that are slow. One person who I have seen on the PMC two years now is slow due to bad knees and has to granny gear almost any hill to keep the stress managable. She has been great to ride with even though it sucks to have to use brakes going uphill. (^_^)

I'm not worried about them running out of food, there is always more then they can use. The problem is that the food areas shut down at 8pm. Well these last few years have seen riders come in after 8pm. Even though I was in a van those years, I missed dinner, and I can not do that if I'm expected to rest and ride on Day 2. My biggest saving grace is that I do get to sleep in a little in the morning as the last rider does not leave MMA until about 7am or about the time the first rider reaches the 'lunch' stop.

I'm plannign to do a Century ride in July on a saturday and get up nice and early on Sunday and my 50 miler just to see how well I can recover on one night's sleep.

As I've been telling everyone, it isn't the distance that is worrying me, it is the TIME.

Anyway, good luck on the training and see you in August.

Chris