So, for wheels on the Crook project, I elected to use our man in Team Lope East, Joe Nocella of 718 Cyclery, to create for me the most perfect wheels possible. And by perfect, I mean, you know, aesthetically pleasing, in other words fly. He was able to acquire all the parts I wanted, though due to delays in availability of the original hubs selected (All City) we elected to go with good ole SOMAs. Joe has been building wheels for awhile now, and he’s been doing a great job. He built a sweet rear wheel for Lung’s soon-to-be-named Leader, and on the basis of how wonderful that wheel came out (and how solid a build) I decided to do same.

These are the SOMA hubs used. I’m using a gold rear driver so the hub was to be gold to match my coggery. These are great hubs. I wish they hadn’t stripped the anodizing off of the free-side threading, only so that I could have left it alone and had more gold showing (this side is intended to be naked, until a crisis warrants it’s use) but I understand why they would ship them thus, from a liability standpoint.

Black brass nipples! Just like Lung likes in things not bike related or tangentially bike related.

I wanted to try H+Son rims this time around. I minus D out of San Jose has been riffing on them for a season now, and those look like fine rims, but I wanted to try the originals. This is actually a pair comprised of different rim designs. The front is a machined rim, the SL42, and the rear, a smooth rim, the Formation Face. Both are a deeeeeep 42mm. They WERE the deepest until recently when someone came out with a 43mm. Let me tell you, not only can I not eyeball a 1mm difference? 42mm is deep ENOUGH. These are massive. I’m sure I’m going to be whacked with crosswinds and be blown off course. Probably in San Jose. Probably right into the I Minus D shop.

Black spokes! Gorgeous.

Here’s a shot of the completed rear. What a gorgeous finish.

Joe sent them to me via UPS, who was one giant cluster this weekend as I tried to actually take possession of the package in time to work with them on the holiday. They arrived in Northern California Friday, but refused to change the delivery so that I could pick them up. They had HAD them scheduled to arrive Friday. Now they were coming Monday again. On the holiday. When my office was closed. So Saturday, they were much closer, basically South San Francisco. I tried again to intercept them. Again, denied. Nothing we can do! They replied. At least Joe had changed the address so they’d be delivered to my house on Monday instead of work. Knowing UPS Home can come as late as 8pm, I didn’t have high hopes. Monday morning at 630am, I called and found out they were in Marin, in San Rafael. The reason for my call? The delivery update showed ‘rescheduled’ for TUESDAY. For no reason. So I called ready to unleash fury, which I rarely do with courier services. But the agent could do nothing. I asked for a supervisor callback. Fortunately, vitriol unneeded: the supe called armed for bear with good news: she fast-tracked it, though no explanation of why the delay was posted. She said, to my surprise, that she sent it out on a truck heading to MV and I’d have it by noon.

They arrived 11:58am.
SOLID!

Thanks again to Joe for a fabulous build up. They look unbelievable on the bike, and will stay that way for about 33 feet until they get dirty and pinged by rocks and doored by a Yukon. Let’s admire them now, as they are.

Joe’s build report, from whence these photos came, here:
http://718c.blogspot.com/2010/02/aids-r … -lope.html

http://718c.blogspot.com/2010/02/aids-r … -lope.html

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Related posts:

1. Bike Build Process Log: Crook – The Extrusion-ish
2. Bike Build Process Log: Crook
3. Bike Build Process Log: Crook – Prime Assembly

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