Which wheels to get: Rolf Sestriere or handbuilt?
Bruce Gilbert
were stopped (foot down) at the stop sign and a car turned into our street,
in our lane. They missed my kid by an inch but hit me square on. The Colnago
got the worst of it. I'm bruised up but alive.
It looks like insurance is going to take care of the new bike. I race on a
Trek 5500. The Colnago was my recovery and pleasure riding bike. I am
probably going to get another 5500. They now come with the Rolf Sestriere
wheelsets. I have not spoken to anyone who has ridden them yet. Hopefully
someone in this newsgroup has some knowledge of what they are like.
I am thinking of building myself another pair of wheels for the Trek. I
usually have good success (thank you Jobst) with a rather plain vanilla
wheel, Dura Ace hubs, DT 14/15 spokes and an Ambrosio Excellence rim. Will
the Rolf Sestriere ride any better? My daughter's team uses the Rolf Vector
Pros. I do not like the way that wheel performs for me.
Here is the question: Rolfs or handbuilt?
Gentlemen, start your keyboards!
Bruce Gilbert
Houston, Texas
Mike Jacoubowsky
kinda cool as well. Durabilty so far has been better than I would have
thought for a wheel so light.
You could also go custom with pretty light stuff too, but you may have to
use a considerably lighter rim than is used on the Sestriere if you want to
approach such a low weight. The danger in doing so is rim
durability..."stupid light" rims tend to have very thin sidewalls that don't
last long when used in nasty weather (your brake shoes pick up grit that
grinds down the sidewall until it's too thin to support the tire/tube and
the sidewall blows out). The "secret" to the weight of the Sestriere is in
the hub.
Nothing at all wrong with custom wheels either. Ultimately, what matters
most is what is going to make you want to ride your bike more, and in this
regard, aesthetics *do* count.
By the way, I have to add my usual disclaimer, which is that I'm totally
biased because I sell one heck of a lot of TREK and Rolf products.
Fortunately, there's far more balance on this newsgroup than there is in our
next presidential election, so you should hear from informed alternate
viewpoint shortly!
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Bruce Gilbert" <bgil...@urjet.net> wrote in message
news:MsGJ5.14968$TC6.6...@news-east.usenetserver.com...
Qui si parla Campagnolo
probably going to get another 5500. They now come with the Rolf Sestriere
wheelsets. >>
<< I
wheel, Dura Ace hubs, DT 14/15 spokes and an Ambrosio Excellence rim. >>
Pros. I do not like the way that wheel performs for me.
Here is the question: Rolfs or handbuilt? >>
Easy->handbuilt-similar performance, similar weight, easier to maintain if
damaged(call around for Rolf spokes)-
Package wheels are the stuff of marketing departments, not racing departments-
Peter Chisholm
"Vecchio's" Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl ST.
Boulder, CO
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
Mike Jacoubowsky
> damaged(call around for Rolf spokes)-
Just to clarify about Rolf spokes etc...
The all-purpose miniature Rolf Wheel FAQ--
#1: A damaged spoke in a Rolf wheel can be replaced with any conventional
spoke of the same length. There's nothing unusual about either the head or
threaded end of a Rolf spoke. For Vector Comp and Vector Pro models, use a
14 gauge spoke. 15 gauge would be too lightweight for the extra tension in
those wheels. For all others you could go either way.
#2: Rolf Vector, Vector Comp and Sestriere road wheels, as well as all Rolf
mountain wheels, use standard spoke nipples, and may be trued using standard
spoke wrenches.
#2b: The Rolf Vector Pro spoke nipple is different from the norm and
requires the use of a 3/16" nut driver. You can either buy one through a
Rolf dealer, or make one using a Craftsman (or similar) nut driver and grind
down the sides slightly so it will fit through the hole in the rim.
Adjustment is done from the top of the rim, requiring that you remove the
tire, tube and rimstrip for access. The spoke, as mentioned above, can be
replaced with any 14 gauge straight (not double butted) spoke of the
correct length.
#3: Truing a Rolf wheel isn't much different from any other, and certainly
takes no additional time once you understand how "paired" spoking works
(where working on an individual spoke tends to affect a smaller section of
the wheel than on a conventional wheel...this can throw you off at first).
In general, if you replace a damaged spoke, all you'll need to do is insert
the new spoke, bring it up to proper tension, and all will be well.
#4: If you're looking to rebuild a Rolf wheel yourself, two things to
consider-
a: If you've built a lot of conventional wheels, your first Rolf is going
to be confusing as all get out if you don't have another one handy so you
can duplicate the "pattern."
b: Don't even try to rebuild a Vector Pro, unless you have the proper
equipment...in this case, tension gauges and a device that pre-stresses the
wheel (big nasty thing that delivers a calculated side load to set
everything in place). No such issues with the other Rolf wheels.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Qui si parla Campagnolo" <vecc...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20001026091746...@ng-ce1.aol.com...
michal_knudsen
> news:MsGJ5.14968$TC6.6...@news-east.usenetserver.com...
> Just had my new Colnago Master Light wrecked in a head-on with a car.
We
> were stopped (foot down) at the stop sign and a car turned into our
street,
> in our lane. They missed my kid by an inch but hit me square on. The
Colnago
> got the worst of it. I'm bruised up but alive.
>
> It looks like insurance is going to take care of the new bike. I race
on a
> probably going to get another 5500. They now come with the Rolf
Sestriere
Hopefully
> someone in this newsgroup has some knowledge of what they are like.
>
> I am thinking of building myself another pair of wheels for the Trek.
> usually have good success (thank you Jobst) with a rather plain
vanilla
> wheel, Dura Ace hubs, DT 14/15 spokes and an Ambrosio Excellence rim.
> the Rolf Sestriere ride any better? My daughter's team uses the Rolf
Vector
> Pros. I do not like the way that wheel performs for me.
>
> Here is the question: Rolfs or handbuilt?
>
spoke tension is way to high to be easily servicable, most Rolf wheels
have pretty darn heavy rims too, to handle spoke tension which is over
double of normal wheels. Custom is really the best way to go. You can
even buy aftermarket straight-pull hubs if you are concerned about
spoke breakage. Where Deitrich really gets the consumer is on the
flats. Riding a heavier than normal rim gives the rider that "feels
fast feeling" on the flats due to the increased kinetic energy of the
bike and rider due to the increased weight at the rim (also known as
the flywheel effect). When a hill approaches, look out though! Other
than the straight pull spokes, I can not think of a single reason why
anyone would want Rolf wheels. This is probably why they include them
on the bikes many times, so you don't have a choice. Mike Knudsen
> Gentlemen, start your keyboards!
>
> Bruce Gilbert
> Houston, Texas
>
>
--
Michal Knudsen
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
gary_...@my-deja.com
michal_knudsen <michal_...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>Where Deitrich really gets the consumer is on the
> flats. Riding a heavier than normal rim gives the rider that "feels
> fast feeling" on the flats due to the increased kinetic energy of the
> bike and rider due to the increased weight at the rim (also known as
> the flywheel effect). When a hill approaches, look out though! Other
> than the straight pull spokes, I can not think of a single reason why
> anyone would want Rolf wheels. This is probably why they include them
> on the bikes many times, so you don't have a choice. Mike Knudsen
> > Gentlemen, start your keyboards!
I've heard it said many times here that the benefit of low rotational
mass at the periphery of a wheel is so small as to be not worth
bothering about. Given that, can it really be true that a rider could
feel the effect of a heavy rim in a wheel that is quite light overall?
Gary Young
A Muzi
dodos.
michal_knudsen wrote:
--
Yellow Jersey, Ltd
http://www.yellowjersey.org
http://www.execpc.com/yellowje
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
michal_knudsen
realize that lighter rims climb and accelerate better. The difference
between a 550 gram Rolf rim and let's say, a 350 gram tubular rim is
quite profound, whether this fact is scientically mute (which I have
seen)or not. On the other hand, you will often see time-trialists
using heavier wheels on flatter courses (Ulrich, Olympic time trial for
instance with a Shamal). The best thing for you to do is try a light
set of wheels and decide for yourself. You can pick your hubs, spokes,
and rims for less than Rolfs!
--
Michal Knudsen
michal_knudsen
take the extra time to put extra spokes (length being an estimated
straight pull calculation depending on hub shell thickness) when they
ride? You can't even ride to a shop if you bust one because the wheel
will be too out of true. Rolf, our eyes, has pulled many wool over!!
--
Mike Jacoubowsky
>take the extra time to put extra spokes (length being an estimated
>straight pull calculation depending on hub shell thickness) when they
>ride? You can't even ride to a shop if you bust one because the wheel
>will be too out of true. Rolf, our eyes, has pulled many wool over!!
Don't quite get what you're saying here. Of the maybe couple thousand road
bikes we've sold with Rolf wheels over the last three years, my guess is
that three or four customers purchased replacement spokes at the same time.
And why would one have to estimate or guess the length? It's not that big a
deal...any shop that has many spokes could come up with the right length
within three or four tries if they didn't have a ruler and simply placed the
spokes up next to the existing one to figure out the length.
As for riding with a busted spoke, well, I broke one myself (decided after
11.4k miles it was time for a rebuild anyway) and had no trouble riding home
with it. I have also seen conventional wheels break a spoke where it became
unrideable. It depends far more on the clearance between the wheel and
frame or fork than it does on the wheel in question.
Regarding rotational weight, I thought we'd already been through all that
and determined that the difference pretty much drops out of the equation as
noise. Whatever the case, the *only* riding I do is climbing (and, of
course, descending) and I actually prefer the feel of the Rolf V-Pro to the
dramatically lighter Sestriere. I'm sure this is one of those "your mileage
may vary" things though, and it may be a factor that I weigh 182 lbs.
Chris Thurrott
Thanks for the FAQ, it puts Rolf Satellite back in the running for my second
wheelset. One question - is the freehub body replaceable a la Shimano, or
are you screwed if the freehub body blows (as it did on my Fisher Aquila
with house brand hubs - my LBS fixed me up under warranty)?
Thanks,
Chris
"Mike Jacoubowsky" <Mik...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:LxYJ5.9452$NP.7...@news.flash.net...
Qui si parla Campagnolo
The all-purpose miniature Rolf Wheel >>
<< #1: A damaged spoke in a Rolf wheel can be replaced with any conventional
spoke of the same length. >>
UNLESS the customer wants a black one-
<< The Rolf Vector Pro spoke nipple is different from the norm and
requires the use of a 3/16" nut driver. You can either buy one through a
Rolf dealer >>
The local 'Rolf' dealer doesn't have one for sale, the other 'Rolf" dealer
doesn't have one at all.
Bob Mitke
><< #1: A damaged spoke in a Rolf wheel can be replaced with any conventional
>spoke of the same length. >>
>
>UNLESS the customer wants a black one-
They have black spokes...
Any resourceful dealer willing to go the extra mile can have some
in the next day...
><< The Rolf Vector Pro spoke nipple is different from the norm and
>requires the use of a 3/16" nut driver. You can either buy one through a
>Rolf dealer >>
>
>The local 'Rolf' dealer doesn't have one for sale, the other 'Rolf" dealer
>doesn't have one at all.
Did you check SEARS? How about True Value? Maybe Home Depot?
Lowes? Or, even better, you should support your local hardware store
and buy it from Judy's Family Discount Hardware of Boulder...
Do you or someone you know own a grinder? The modification is
easy if you can operate simple shop tools - and you are a mechanic
so it should be pretty easy...
-Bob "It is only difficult if you make it so" Mitke
Anthony Wesley
Bob Mitke <bikes...@aol.comnojunk> wrote:
>Peter Chisholm wrote:
>><< The Rolf Vector Pro spoke nipple is different from the norm and
>>requires the use of a 3/16" nut driver. You can either buy one through a
>>Rolf dealer >>
>>The local 'Rolf' dealer doesn't have one for sale, the other 'Rolf" dealer
>>doesn't have one at all.
>Did you check SEARS? How about True Value? Maybe Home Depot?
>Lowes? Or, even better, you should support your local hardware store
>and buy it from Judy's Family Discount Hardware of Boulder...
SEARS sells Rolf Vector Pro spoke nipples?
True Value? Home Depot?
Jay Beattie
Anthony Wesley wrote in message ...
Oh yes, under the Kenmore name. Also check out
the Kenmore C40. It is a rebranded Colnago for
half the price, and it comes with a free set of
steak knives. -- Jay Beattie.
Bill Fecht
Bob Mitke <bikes...@aol.comnojunk> wrote:
[deleted stuff]
>Do you or someone you know own a grinder? The modification is
>easy if you can operate simple shop tools - and you are a mechanic
>so it should be pretty easy...
>
>-Bob "It is only difficult if you make it so" Mitke
It took me 10 minutes with a table grinder.
Bill
Mike Jacoubowsky
under-appreciated wheelset, probably because at $200 it's too low priced to
get the respect it deserves. We've now sold quite a few, and customers like
them. In all seriousness, I didn't even know there was a Rolf wheelset in
that price range until recently!
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Chris Thurrott" <nospam_Chr...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:A0eK5.6521$_17....@typhoon.ne.mediaone.net...
Mike Jacoubowsky
Let you in on a trade secret. Black felt tip marker. Works wonders on a
silver spoke. We've been out of the black spokes in the correct length from
time to time, so we'll temporarily toss in a silver one and "paint" it with
a felt tip marker, offering to replace it at n/c when the "real" black spoke
comes in. Rarely does anyone ever take us up on the offer, because it's
almost impossible to tell the difference between the "real" black spoke and
the felt-tip version.
As for the nut driver, I actually prefer a slightly-ground-down Craftsman
wrench. I can get you the part number if you need. Don't even have to go
to Sears...I bought mine across the street at an auto supply store!
Hmm...maybe they've got that Campy cassette body that everyone else has been
out of lately...
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Qui si parla Campagnolo" <vecc...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20001027091559...@ng-ce1.aol.com...
S Venn
> Oh yes, under the Kenmore name. Also check out
> the Kenmore C40. It is a rebranded Colnago for
> half the price, and it comes with a free set of
> steak knives. -- Jay Beattie.
>
>
Excellent! Does it come in Mapai colors or is it only available in avocado?
Scott
A Muzi
They are fairly thin walled so they don't need much grinding to fit inside rims.
Get 5mm, 5.5mm and 3/16" to cover all hex nipple systems.
Anthony Wesley wrote:
--
Bob Mitke
Hmmmm...
Sometimes actually reading the posts before replying helps...
As is obvious by now, I was speaking of the 3/16" nut driver
that Mr. Chisholm could not find at his local "Rolf" dealer...
-Bob Mitke
Anthony Wesley
Bob Mitke <bikes...@aol.comnojunk> wrote:
>Hmmmm...
>
>Sometimes actually reading the posts before replying helps...
It's a good recommendation. Altho' in your case, I recommend
a tad of work on unambiguious writing.
>As is obvious by now, I was speaking of the 3/16" nut driver
>that Mr. Chisholm could not find at his local "Rolf" dealer...
Are those the ones in Avacado sold under the Kenmore name?
>-Bob Mitke
Qui si parla Campagnolo
They have black spokes >>
Black bladed spokes?
Don think so
<< Any resourceful dealer willing to go the extra mile can have some
in the next day... >>
Like I said, the local TREK dealers don't have them, when I was repairing a
ROLF wheel, I had to get them from Mike at ChainReaction(thanks Mike)-
Black and bladed is the problem-
<< Did you check SEARS? How about True Value? Maybe Home Depot?
Lowes? Or, even better, you should support your local hardware store
and buy it from Judy's Family Discount Hardware of Boulder... >>
Lighten up BOB, I have the tool, the local TREK dealers are the ones that
don't-
I am not a TREK dealer-
<< Do you or someone you know own a grinder? The modification is
easy if you can operate simple shop tools - and you are a mechanic
so it should be pretty easy.. >>
The tool I have was not in need of grinding, it was from Quality-
Qui si parla Campagnolo
Sometimes actually reading the posts before replying helps... >>
<< As is obvious by now, I was speaking of the 3/16" nut driver
that Mr. Chisholm could not find at his local "Rolf" dealer... >>
Should try this yourself, reading all the posts-
I have the tool, had it before the local TREK dealers. Of the two local
ROLF/TREK dealers, one has the tool, only one, for the wrenches, have no
replacement spokes last time I called.
The other doesn't have the tool at all, last time I called-
Qui si parla Campagnolo
wrench. I can get you the part number if you need. >>
Quality has a really nice one that doesn't need to be ground down-
As for the casette body, I use a 1998/9 Veloce hub complete, then use the
freehub and/or axle-cheaper than a freehub body alone-
Somebody tell 'Bob' that the Rolf spokes are bladed and black-
Mike Jacoubowsky
want a Chorus piece on their Campy bikes...sigh.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Qui si parla Campagnolo" <vecc...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20001028091539...@ng-fn1.aol.com...