16 Comments
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Jesse Starr's avatar

James, have you heard much real world feedback on that Topeka mini e pump? Wondering how it compares to a Fumpa.

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James Huang's avatar

Sorry, I have not.

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David Walker's avatar

Okay. Explain this to me. If a rim has no spoke hole in the rim bed how are they made? Are the nipples inserted before the final bed molding step? Can the nipples come completely out of place once the rim is done? Like rattling around inside the rim.

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James Huang's avatar

I'm not sure how Light Bicycle specifically does it, but Fulcrum/Campagnolo (who have long built wheels without drilled outer rim walls) first thread a short section of steel on to the nipple and then guide it into the hole with a magnet.

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Nick's avatar

Park tool has a good video demonstrating this technique!

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David Walker's avatar

Makes sense but sounds like a pain to do.

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Nick's avatar

I recently built an LB rim like this for a custom build and while yes, it takes more time, with 3d printed nipple holders it really wasn’t too bad (made enough to hold all the nipples for one flange of the hub). I definitely think it’s worth the trade off considering I never have to tape the rims!

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James Huang's avatar

It does, though thankfully Light Bicycle builds the wheels for you (unless you order a bare rim that way, of course). I'd also imagine this is one of those things that becomes easier with repetition. Either way, it's also something you should only have to do once, and then you get to enjoy not ever having to deal with the hassles of tubeless tape *ever*.

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Brad Stutesman's avatar

"Lazer’s KinetiCore technology features pillars that are molded into the foam, which supposedly fold and crumple in a crash to provide protection against rotational forces. It hasn’t yet managed to land a five-star rating from the Virginia Tech lab, though."

To me this caption (incorrectly) reads as if "Lazer’s KinetiCore technology...hasn’t yet managed to land a five-star rating from the Virginia Tech lab, though."

I believe you mean the Tonic model has not landed the rating yet.

There, nit picked.

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James Huang's avatar

Fair point! Thanks for pointing that out. I'll edit to make this more clear.

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Russ B's avatar

That Stinner’s paint!😍

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Patrick McIntyre's avatar

If you have a Lazer shaped head and 100-110 USD, it's been a good time to be alive the last couple of years. They really have that covered.

Also, those Light Bicycle rims are neat. They really seem to have figured out light, strong, and inexpensive. I have 2 sets of the similar AR25 rims built up and even at ~195 lbs most of the year, they have been fine. 2 CX seasons (with inserts) on one set. I appreciate the boring look so I'm the only one that knows how much of a tool I am for daily driving a 980 gram wheelset.

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Ian Bennett's avatar

Hope those anodes are silicon and not silicone...

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Eric Hancock's avatar

Are you telling me my spatulas can’t generate electricity?

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James Huang's avatar

Gahhhhhhhh!!!!! I get so annoyed myself when I see stuff like that. Drives me nuts, and now I've done it. I quit :(

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Carson's avatar

No. Quitting only becomes mandatory when one uses “dampening” instead of “damping”. We, your faithful following, will allow “silicone” to slide.

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