http://handspunwheels.com/index.php en Handspun Copyright 2010 2010-02-19T15:10:39+00:00 http://handspunwheels.com/blog/wish_you_were_here/ http://handspunwheels.com/blog/wish_you_were_here/#When:15:10:39Z 2.19.2010Function + Fashion Every year we like to crank out a load of spoke bracelets for giveaways at Frostbike. Of course we only use the best- 100% DT Swiss spokes and nipples to ensure that our spoke bracelets are lightweight, stong, and oh so durable. Every single one painstakingly crafted by hand by our new rookie, Amy C. If you’re at the show this weekend please stop by to grab one and check out the booth. DT Swiss & Handspun teaming up: Big thanks to our own Eric T. for the photo! 2010-02-19T15:10:39+00:00 http://handspunwheels.com/blog/frostbike_preview/ http://handspunwheels.com/blog/frostbike_preview/#When:19:05:57Z 2.18.2010Frostbike 2010 preview Frostbike is the industry trade show hosted by Quality Bicycle Products here in Bloomington, MN. As a subsidiary of QBP, we get to be hosts for this event as well as vendors. We’ll have plenty of photos of new and interesting product to show next week, but here’s a sneak preview of some of the items that Handspun is bringing to the show this weekend: Crow’s Foot w/red & black DT Swiss Aerolite spokes: 2x twist lace: 2010-02-18T19:05:57+00:00 http://handspunwheels.com/blog/velocity_a23_vs._mn_winter/ http://handspunwheels.com/blog/velocity_a23_vs._mn_winter/#When:17:43:51Z 2.12.2010A23 vs. MN winter We’ve been having a typically harsh winter here in Minnesota, and aside from the snow, the ice cover on the roads and trails has been particularly difficult this year. The result of constant freezing & thawing is that every riding surface is covered in ice- slippery, very bumpy, and ultimately unyielding ice. Commuting in these conditions is an open invitation to calamity- be it slipping on the ice, or destroying your components through the constant hammering of the riding conditions. Commute Vehicle- Surly Cross Check + 105/A23 wheels:We’ve spent the past two months commuting on a set of wheels built up with Shimano 105 hubs & the new Velocity A23 rims, and the new offerings from Velocity do not disappoint. These wheels have stood up to ice, potholes, and curbs and have remained 100% round and true. We’ll continue to put these through the wringer for the duration of the year, but after what they’ve been through thus far, they are looking like they can handle whatever comes at them. Ready for anything: Handspun & Velocity- bringing it to you in the twenty-ten: 2010-02-12T17:43:51+00:00 http://handspunwheels.com/blog/what_do_tt_tri_and_hson_have_in_common_more_than_youd_think/ http://handspunwheels.com/blog/what_do_tt_tri_and_hson_have_in_common_more_than_youd_think/#When:15:56:16Z 2.2.10H+Son Custom TT/Tri wheels Our own Chad Stone wanted to build up a set of TT/Tri wheels that would be tough enough to take some serious miles, but at a reasonable price. The solution was to get some custom drilled (18h front, 24h rear) H+Son SL42 rims, and build them up to Shimano Dura Ace hubs, with DT Swiss Aerolite spokes. The end result is a reasonably light (Ft-842g, Rr-990g), definitely tough, aero wheelset- for less than the price of one carbon rim. The SL42 rims are all alloy, have a brake track, and they only weigh about 40g more than a carbon clincher from a brand that starts with Z and ends with IPP. Aero benefits, reasonable weight, low price, and unsurpassed durability: Super Aero: 2010-02-02T15:56:16+00:00 http://handspunwheels.com/blog/no_substitue_for_customs/ http://handspunwheels.com/blog/no_substitue_for_customs/#When:15:41:09Z 1.25.10Freedom of choice Our pal Justin from QBP wanted a new wheelset to go along with his new XX equipped Yeti, and rather than go with an off the shelf wheel system, he opted to go custom and get the wheels he really wanted: Hope Pro 2 convertible hubs, DT XR400 rims, DT Competition spokes, with white XX lace pattern on the drive side.The business end of Justin’s Yeti: A complete 5” travel trail bike tipping the scales at 26lbs: Another satisfied customer, rolling on custom wheels that they designed and Handspun built. 2010-01-25T15:41:09+00:00 http://handspunwheels.com/blog/velocitys_new_23mm_wide_road_rim-_the_a23/ http://handspunwheels.com/blog/velocitys_new_23mm_wide_road_rim-_the_a23/#When:14:24:35Z 11.16.09Open it up Velocity has unveiled another new rim for 2010 that (like the the P35) takes a proven design and makes some subtle, yet substantial improvements on it. The A23 is a 700c rim that utilizes the proven shape of the Velocity Aerohead, but the rim width has been opened up to 23mm, rather than 19mm on the Aerohead. The result is a rim that allows your tire profile to be more constant, rather than getting pinched into the rim. The overall ride quality is improved, as the tire can more effectively compress and conform to the road, much like a tubular. In the end you should end up with tubular-like ride quality from a clincher tire. The A23: Profile: So the obvious question is how does the A23 compare to the HED 23mm wide alloy rims: At a glance, the HED rims are available in C2 alloy and Scanduim, they are 23mm wide x 24mm tall, and are approximately 465g (C2) and 420g (Scandium). The Velocity A23 is an alloy rim that is 23mm wide x 19.5mm tall, and they weigh approximately 425g. For 2010 Handspun will be building on both of these rims, and we look forward to putting both of them to the test. Winter should be arriving here in MN any day, and there’s no tougher proving ground for a rim than being dragged through a Minnesota winter. We’ll check in on these two in a few months to see how they’re holding up. 2009-11-16T14:24:35+00:00 http://handspunwheels.com/blog/sneak_previews_for_2010/ http://handspunwheels.com/blog/sneak_previews_for_2010/#When:12:55:05Z 10.27.09Wide to Receive Coming in 2010- Handspun will combine the new SRAM 506 6-bolt hub with the new Velocity P35 rim to make a great do-it-all trail wheel. As the name implies, the P35 is 35mm wide, allowing you to get the most performance out of your tire. The wider rim profile allows the tire to have a wider footprint, which helps it to conform to varying trail conditions. 35mm wide- let your tires do their job: The man with the plan, Kirk Pacenti: Coming in 2010: 2009-10-27T12:55:05+00:00 http://handspunwheels.com/blog/interbike/ http://handspunwheels.com/blog/interbike/#When:12:55:05Z 10.05.09In case you didn’t feel like showing up, here are some highlights from Interbike ‘09: Sram’s new X-9 mtn hubs will prove to contest Deore XT in the off-road market. Look for these hubs on several Handspun wheels in the coming months: Handspun Belgian Series wheels will be ready to take on the Spring classics. The PRO Series are shown here on the Ridley Damocles- HED Belgian Series 23mm wide alloy rim, DT Swiss 240s hubs, Aerolite spokes w/alloy nipples. Check the Belgie flag represented in the spoke nipples- it’s all in the details. Since Vegas is all about luck, we wanted to join in the spirit by giving away a set of wheels. But we didn’t just give away any old wheels- these were some of the nicest 29’er wheels available- Stan’s Arch 29’er rims, Hope Pro 2 convertible hubs (in red), DT Competition spokes (black, with one white cross)- 100% hand-built with love. Congratulations to Stephen Vaughn from Black Bar Bicycles in Winchester, VA- enjoy your new wheels!  Twist lace- all-show or all-go? You decide. Either way, it builds an eye catching wheel:  Handspun Blackouts on the Ridley Oval- in the business world we’d call this a Synergy.  Vegas is full of things that make you do a double take- this Surly was in the QBP booth and drew a lot of attention. Tragically beatiful or beatifully tragic- you decide. This gentleman was on the strip with his Crazy Bicycle. If you rode 20’ you won some cash- I don’t know what the scam was, but I’m sure it involved wheels that didn’t turn or a breakaway stem. The safe money gambled on the TI buffet. Katie Compton took out the women’s field at Cross Vegas with extreme prejudice. Here she’s showing top form on the back stairs: 2009-10-05T12:55:05+00:00 http://handspunwheels.com/blog/interbike_approaches/ http://handspunwheels.com/blog/interbike_approaches/#When:14:09:57Z 9.14.09VEGA$- We’re just over one week away from Interbike 2009, where the bike industry comes together to show what’s new, what’s hot, and what everyone will want to be riding next year. Rumors are flying, and it’ll be exciting to see what everyone brings to the show. Handspun will be showcasing wheels in the QBP booth, as well as on BMC, Ridley and All-City bikes. We’ll have lots of photos to share when the show is live, but here’s a sneak peek: Garish: PRO Belgian Road tech: All-City New Sheriff: All-City Dropout (go here for video): 2009-09-14T14:09:57+00:00 http://handspunwheels.com/blog/placeholder_for_video/ http://handspunwheels.com/blog/placeholder_for_video/#When:13:11:05Z 8.17.09There’s no school like the old school. August 1st, 2009, Red Wing, MN- The 3rd and final round of the Jolly Roger DH race series. Our own Erick K. shows what a salty dog he is by winning the overall, despite a rough start. Erick had some bad luck on an initial run and had to work his way out of the loss bracket, which, when it was all said and done resulted in him taking 14 runs, compared to the 2nd place finisher who only had to take 8. Did I mention that Erick’s competition for 1st place was 20 years younger than him? Oh yeah- since this is MN the only way to get to the top of the run was to walk whilst pushing your bike. To recap:• 14 runs• Pushing his bike to the top for every run• Pushing 40 years oldAnd in the end Erick’s experience, athleticism, and sunny disposition shone through to allow him to just edge out his 18 year old rival. Or maybe it was that sweet Crystal hockey jersey. At any rate, Erick pulled off an extremely close victory, and proved that experience can trump youth. Check out the video below, courtesy of our pal Kris Yahner. Family man, Bandi champion, master wheel builder and general ripper on the trail: Yes, he’s this happy all the time. What wheels was Erick riding? Nothing too flashy- XT 6-bolt hubs on Sun Rhyno Lite rims, which he built up about 5 years ago. A true testament to well built wheels and the fact that it’s the rider, not the machine. Congratulations, Erick- don’t spend all that prize money in one place. Erick K. getting some: 2009-08-17T13:11:05+00:00