The Bike that Phill Built: Wheels

My second purchase for the bike was a set of wheels - there were three components I had to consider:
1. The rims
2. The spokes
3. The hubs
Once these were picked I had the option of putting the wheel together myself or allowing professionals to do it for me. In the end I opted for the professionals after research into the process. Installing spokes and than adjusting spoke tension is highly involved and I decided that after this bike is finished I can pull apart the wheels on my old bike.

I'm smiling as I'm yet to see the price - honestly who would have thought wheels could be so expensive. On the upside the store threw in rim tape for free

1. The rims I chose were an Australian brand known as Velocity. They produce extremely high quality wheel, but due to the fact their Australian they are not well known. The rim size is 700c (29") and is standard for touring bikes - as far as I know its the largest wheel diameter. The rim I chose is called the DYAD and is shown below. Its made slightly wider than usual rims suiting loaded touring. While its not the lightest rim available its the far from the heaviest and it offers the strength necessary for long distance rides.

700C BSD: 622
Weight: 480g
ERD: 596

Black

2. Spokes are a little less involved, really all I had to decide on was how may. The more spokes there are the more weight the wheels can hold without buckling - esp. on rough roads/tracks, however they do add overall weight and this is an easy, nonexpensive area to cut down on weight. I was planning on having 28 spokes front and 32 back but in the end I took the advice of Phil Byron, my bike mechanic, and ordered 32 spokes front and back (in case I decide on front panniers on day).

3.Hubs were decided for me when I jumped on the net and realised how much they were. I allowed for Velocity to install their stock (space sealed cartridge bearing) hubs. The job of the hubs is to allow the wheels to turn freely without picking up grit, and this is what the rear sprockets attach too so the hubs I choose can limit the gearing system options. These allow for 9-speed cassettes which is ideal. You can also check the Rear Dropouts from the first post - this spacing was crucial towards allowing the hubs I wanted to allow the sprockets I want.

The bike so far - not much to it...yet

Velocity DYAD 700c wheel set $550 - (10%) = $495
Due to my project I am now getting 10% off all purchases
Total

Frame Set $1099+
Wheel Set $ 495
$1594

The Bike that Phill Built

I've moved on from houses - now I'm builing a bike. After mcuh discussion with a bike mechanic friend of mine (whose name is also Phillip - you might remember him from such entries as Trailwalker 2008) I was advised that it is much more expensive to build one than buy one - but I don't care! Who needs to worry about money during a financial crisis. I've done much background study and I have decided to order my bike piece buy piece. When a new part comes in, I'll order another. It will be a touring machine!!!! Seriously - How hard can it be?

Excuse me! Sir! Mr Bike assisstant - what the hell are these? I bought a frameset, how do these belong to the frame?

The first thing I order was the frameset. This was quite a tough decision that took a bit of research but I finally decided upon a Surly Cross Check in brown (the most ugly colour, but I'm not purchasing for looks.

This is my frame and in baby shit brown - my favourite colour

This is a 52 inch frame that built for options - if I want it I can put it on (nearly). the only thing I can't have are disc brakes, but after mcuh deliberation I decided I'm not going to purchase disc brakes (not necessary) so why extra for a frame that supports them?

I will be transforming this...

...into this

(except way cooler!)

Specs

Tubing:	100% Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. Main triangle double-butted. TIG-welded
Rear dropouts:	Semi-horizontal dropouts with adjusters give you single-speed compatibility and wheel base adjustability. Our Gnot-rite spacing (132.5mm) allows you to run 130mm road hubs and 135mm MTB hubs
Braze-ons:	Bosses front and rear to take cantilever or linear-pull brakes, eyelets at the dropouts, rear rack bosses, dual water bottle mounts, downtube shifter bosses
Seatpost diameter:	27.2mm
Seatpost clamp diameter:	30.0mm, Surly Constrictor included
Headset:	1-1/8" threadless
Bottom bracket:	68mm wide, standard English threaded 1.37x24t
Tire clearance:	Fatties Fit Fine (FFF) stays and our beautiful slope-crowned custom fork provide room for tires up to 700 x 45 with mud and fender clearance. For real!
Chainring clearance:	Manipulated stays so you can fit the size rings you want. Go nuts
Color:	Beef Gravy Brown
Weight:	56cm = 4.88 lbs (2.2 kg) Fork - uncut = 2.19 lbs (.99 kg)

Confused at all these specs? Never fear as I go through and purchase new stuff I describe how it all fits in.
And finally the running cost of it all - the economic setback couldn't have come at a worse time for my little project adding a cool $300 to the cost of the frame (compared to last years model)

Surly Cross Check Frame Set $1099

Next I gotta get me some wheels!

Finals Pressure

For five consecutive years yours truly has guided the Fenner girls to a Softball GrandFinal. Although never lacking in talent, the players of all the teams I have coached have possessed a range of experience. One of Fenner's attributes has been the experienced nuturing the inexperienced through their first season so that when the inexperienced play again next year they can pass on their acquired knowledge.

Bec becomes opening batter after a steller preseason - the crusher of spirits she is personally responsible for many of our victories

In 2009 Fenner went undefeated to the finals, - a big hitting team that intimidated all opponents with sheer strength of bat,

Kristine steps up to the plate - our star pitcher who also holds a coveted home run hitter spot.

but unfortunately for the fifth consecutive year Fenner Hall has exited the competition in second place.

Flick makes a succesful play to first. A new recruit along with Kristine who takes the field at shortstop, a position reserved the best fielder. She also steps in to bat at #3 as my biggest hitter.

A hard fough final against eventual champions Burgmann 10-9, it was a game that came down to the final second last better with last out coming just after the final run was scored.

Super coach or super dud? Five consecutive losses in five consecutive grand finals. Maybe its time I changed lucky caps?

In other news the Fenner Rugby League team made the grand final for the first time in about a decade. After taking an early lead against favourites John XXIII the boys were severly disappointed to enter the second half at 6 all. This one eyes supporter believes that Johns may have had an extra man on the field dressed as a referee after witnessing some terribly inconsistant calls and nasty high tackles. However after what was a close game until the last ten minutes Fenner finally lost to a rugby team that has won the last 8 GF by a substantial amount.

Take home value...

So after two years of this event (The North Face 100) I now have two silver belt buckles and...
...another toenail that will definitely fall off (its all loose and gooey)!
That'll give you nightmares

TNF2009 - Faster, Stronger, Better

I shaped up to this years North Face 100 with a goal similar to last year - earn the Silver Belt Buckle. This year the feat required the 100km course to be completed in under 14 hrs, an hour quicker than my previous best.

Only 100km to go!

I fronted up once again, sporting new top of the range equipment - $230 shoes (plus a pair of backup runners), $170 9L bag, and a $130 torch (this was really bought for Inward Bound).

The Camelbak M.U.L.E and my new trailrunning shoes
I was also not alone - I met two fellow ANU and IB runners at the registration - Andrew Williams (or AJ) from Bruce Hall, and Elliott Wise from John XXIII College. We stuck together till the first checkpoint talking shop (mostly IB related), I also met a delightful fellow named Matt from Brisbane, a young bloke who won the under 25 category called James, and much to my surprise Beth, a gorgeous girl I met last year.

A crowd of people all ready to hit the road

Just like last year I was stoked to see my mother at the 56km checkpoint where I could top up on supplies (there was also a mandatory equipment check and they asked for an emergency info sheet I didn't have. However never underestimate the guile of an IB coach when it comes to compulsory equipment - we know all the tricks).

Isn't it cute - he's trying to smile (66km checkpoint)

This year I wanted to push myself early and see how long I could keep it up, a tactic that worked admirably - here is a comparison of my times this year and last year.

2008

	Split	Race Time	Split Time	Overall Pos
	13k Narrow Neck	02:08:00	02:08:00
	36k Dunphys	04:41:00	02:33:00
	52k Old Ford Reserve-Out	07:11:00	02:30:00
	66k Katoomba falls Oval	09:25:00	02:14:00
	86k Queen Vic Hospital	13:00:00	03:35:00
	100k Fairmount	15:05:00	02:05:00	37

2009

	Split	Race Time	Split Time	Overall Pos
	17k Narrow Neck	02:11:24	02:11:24	53
	38k Dunphys	04:30:26	02:19:02	42
	54k Old Ford Reserve-In	06:34:23	02:03:57	32
	67k Katoomba falls Oval	08:15:50	01:41:27	25
	89k Queen Vic Hospital	11:20:32	03:04:42	22
	100k Fairmount	13:02:36	01:42:04	21

The course was modified slightly, hence the discrepencies in distance between the checkpoints. Also our positions weren't recorded at each checkpoint in 2008.

I was keen to finish in under 13 hrs and by the last checkpoint it seemed possible. All I will say is I won't die wondering - I ran my little heart out, overtaking one other solo runner and numerous team runners (two people who run 50km each).

Yes - there is actually a running trail in there

Just under a kilometer from the end a lost the ability to navigate stairs and I was relegate to slowly slogging out the hills.

I had to get to the top of that cliff and it is as high as it looks.

Suddenly I stumbled across the green glowsticks that mark the end and I paced the last few steps to fall into the waiting arms of my Mother and her friends for a time of 13hours 2mins - 2 hours faster than last year and once again earning my silver belt buckle. I still can't believe anyone was willing to stand that close to me

Overall I placed 21st and only three of the 32 team runners finished before me. After the race I was unsure if I would run again,

This is the most painful part of the event - my mother looks like she is having too much fun

but of course by Monday I was already analysing how to improve my time for next year!

A more successful, although somewhat creepier, attempt at a smile

Community Ambassador

Megan, Myself, Melanie, and Carmen

ANU has started a new program to seduce rural students with the glamour of a higher education. ANU students can vounteer their time to visit Young, a rural town about three hours inland, and engage with school students.

Yup, we're definitely out in the country now

The idea being that through class participation, tutoring and offering a new perspective on studying and education we will be able to entice more students to tertiary education, and hopefully to ANU. On the 6th and 7th of May I joined fellow Fennerite Megan (arts), ambassador organisor Melanie (law), and Carmen (visual arts, arts, pschology - she's done it all) on our first visit to Hennesy Catholic College

Megan and me at Henessay, ready for our first day at school

and Young High School. I spent the two days helping prosective science students with diseases (yr 12), building model atoms (yr 8), and working through chemical equations (yr 11). Shy at first, even the most unstudious of students were quick boast their knowledge with a miniscule if prompting.

This library is not quite as comprehensive as Chifely, but it does feature TinTin

The evening allowed for the four of us to bond in the local pub before we retired to our cabin at the Young Caravan Park (the same one I stayed in while on tour with the science circus in 2007!). Most importantly I got the double bed, they say it's because I was the only male but I think its because they all think I'm old.

The grass looks awfully green given this so called water crisis.

4 from 4

Fenner continued its art shield dominance in the recent recent Big Night Out. A huge event that is essentially a battle of the bands involving residents from the ANU Halls and Colleges. Seven bands were entered this year, with one from Johns, Burgmann, B&G, Ursies, Bruce, UniLodge, and Fenner Hall. The competition has been running for three years and this year I was able to drop by the venue (Bruce Hall Courtyard) and see Fenner's musicians in action.

Boof and I at the concert

Dubbing themselves 'The Frank Fenner Project' (after our patron), no words could do their performance justice. An idea cooked up last year (by a first year muso and yours truly), it was decided that instead of entering the usual three or four piece band with a couple of guitarists, a drummer, and a singer we would scour the halls for students of ANU's music school - a highly prestigious school that requires a far amount of talent just to be accepted. This year Fenner's band consisted of

two guitrists (Josh and Matt),

a drummer (Luke),

keyboard- for piano and synth bass (Paul), a trumpter and two saxophones (Ax, Morti and I don't know his name),a violinist (Michael), and two vocals (Alex and Michaael).

Shooting out three hit songs; Another Brick in the Wall (Pink Foyd), a Daft Punk song I don't know the name of, and Devil Went Down to Georgia (The Charlie Daniel Band - chosen by the violinist naturally), they wholly engrossed the crowd.

A wholly engrossed crowdInside the wholly engrossed crowd

Another first place has meant that Fenner has now taken first in all four arts event this year - and with our debating team led by two residents on the first and second ANU debating teams we are quietly confident we can make it five.

Matt is actually studying music composition (ie a composer), it just also turns out he is a genius on the guitar