My Upgraded Synapse

[Doc333]

I took the standard wheels off as they were forever puncturing, noisy hubs due to crap local road surfaces. I had some Stans Alpha 400 wheels built with Hope hubs. fairly expensive upgrade, but very light, roll well and seem to be bomb proof. I have taken the guards off since these photo's were taken

 

[adscrim]

I have taken the guards off since these photo's were taken

Hi

Can I ask a couple of questions about the mudguards...

Are they Blackburn Cloudbursts?
Is there a fixing point at the bottom bracket?
Did you have the bend the stays on the front guard?

Thanks - I'm considering a synapse disc as a new commuter/winter trainer on C2W but need to ensure I can get full mudguards on it, which, from the above pictures, it looks like I can.

Adam

 

[Doc333]

Adam yes full guards and fully fitted and bolted to eylets on the forks, and bolted on between the fork. Stays need a slight bend to fit tight, but all in all a good product and work well.

 

[jowwy]

Adam yes full guards and fully fitted and bolted to eylets on the forks, and bolted on between the fork. Stays need a slight bend to fit tight, but all in all a good product and work well.

Hey doc - who built the wheels for you and how much??

I got the same bike and want to get the wheels ready for when santa drops the bike off

 

[Doc333]

Jowwy I had a local cycle mechanic build them for me in Cheshire. The guy is great and has spent years on the pro MTB tour as a mechanic, he now does the oily stuff full time and gives courses etc, and still rides out but more on the road these days. We had a very long chat about options and value for money, with the main requirement being 'bomb proof', great roller, light and have top hubs. He was able to source me the Stans No Tubes Alpha (Disc) wheels and Hope hubs for around the £450 mark. I can however tell you that the wheels we took off without rubber is still twice as heavy as these baby's with hubs and rubber fitted. I had plenty of punctures on the standard wheels, and a lot of noise coming from the hubs, discs and brakes on the standard wheels after pot-hole incidents. The only sound I get with these Alph's is 'swooooosh' even on rough road surfaces. I'm no top end cyclist but my average speed increased, comfort increased, no punctures, stops even better. I know from looking these wheels up on-line that they were going for around $650 without hubs and spokes etc, so I think I got a great deal. The guy is in the process of doing some wheels for my nephew who lives down south, so he obviously uses the Royal mail too? (Not sure what wheels he's building for him)

 

[Drago]

Very pleasant indeed.

 

[jowwy]

Jowwy I had a local cycle mechanic build them for me in Cheshire. The guy is great and has spent years on the pro MTB tour as a mechanic, he now does the oily stuff full time and gives courses etc, and still rides out but more on the road these days. We had a very long chat about options and value for money, with the main requirement being 'bomb proof', great roller, light and have top hubs. He was able to source me the Stans No Tubes Alpha (Disc) wheels and Hope hubs for around the £450 mark. I can however tell you that the wheels we took off without rubber is still twice as heavy as these baby's with hubs and rubber fitted. I had plenty of punctures on the standard wheels, and a lot of noise coming from the hubs, discs and brakes on the standard wheels after pot-hole incidents. The only sound I get with these Alph's is 'swooooosh' even on rough road surfaces. I'm no top end cyclist but my average speed increased, comfort increased, no punctures, stops even better. I know from looking these wheels up on-line that they were going for around $650 without hubs and spokes etc, so I think I got a great deal. The guy is in the process of doing some wheels for my nephew who lives down south, so he obviously uses the Royal mail too? (Not sure what wheels he's building for him)

Im just about to commission a set of Velocity Aileron rims on ultegra cx75 with cycle clinic , so i can get rid of the stock wheels on the synapse

 

[Doc333]

Good luck with that mate, they look pretty cool.