1994 Serotta Colorado ATi - and a Lot of DIY Anodizing

[MuchAlohaNui]

I know they're heavier but I really like the pattern/finish/color on the Real rings.

I like them too. Though, the Grafton cranks I bought are at my parents house in the US, so I need to wait in the mail for these parts to arrive, or I continue searching for 94/58 bcd rings to go on these Kooka cranks I just got in the mail today. There's no rush in deciding. I have Shimano rings in my spare parts but still want something lighter and still holding out for titanium rings.

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

The Kooka cranks are a bit worn on the anodization, not too bad, but I will very likely dip these in another color to 'tie dye' them to some extent and fill in the bare aluminum. In my head they will look awesome, but execution is sometimes a different reality! They came with a set of Amazon chainring bolts which are quite light but meh, dumb logos. Maybe I'll stumble upon some TNT, Ultimate Machine or SRP bolts (fingers crossed).

The Flite Evolution 1 seat also arrived. I read online these were 155 grams, so this is nice knowing it's a tad lighter than advertised. In hand the quality is super high. If I happen upon a lighter saddle (not sure from who though?), I'd consider looking for one. Suggestions from 1994 or earlier?

A big find just happened too. I found Marwi titanium spokes, NOS, and all in the right MTN bike lengths for most Mavic and Campagnolo ERD's from that era. They will work well with the Nosler Ti hubs I have here ready to go. Going to be one light weight wheel set. I am definitely curious to the final weights front and rear. The wheels will be 32 hole, so out of these NOS sets I'll have extra spokes in case of failure (36 spoke sets with grease and nipples). Now I need to find some proper light rims but strong enough at the eyelets to take the suggested tensile strength for Ti spokes. I will anodize the titanium spokes too.

 

[Frankenorange]

I think the only retro rims that are light, toughish, and can be wound up tight are Matrix Mt.Titan . They come in around 370 gram on average. The Mt.Aero was lighter but not eyeletted and crack at the spoke holes. Next up is going to be Mavic like a 230.

If you go for new and light then ZTR 355 but again no eyelets, crack at spoke holes and are a pig to keep true. Depends how much it will get ridden.

Mt.Titan i would choose.

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

I think the only retro rims that are light, toughish, and can be wound up tight are Matrix Mt.Titan . They come in around 370 gram on average. The Mt.Aero was lighter but not eyeletted and crack at the spoke holes. Next up is going to be Mavic like a 230.

If you go for new and light then ZTR 355 but again no eyelets, crack at spoke holes and are a pig to keep true. Depends how much it will get ridden.

Mt.Titan i would choose.

From what I have gathered since researching titanium spokes is that if the bemchmark strong wheel is a 36 hole with something like sapim double butted spokes, then the weight savings comes from going to a 32 hole rim (of the same make as the 36 hole) and 2mm diameter Marwi titanium spokes. The weight is saved in material, titanium vs. steel, and the use of less spokes.

As a result the 32 hole is just as strong as the 36 hole BUT only if the required spoke tension can be achieved on the titanium spokes. Marwi recommends 125 kg front, 135 kg rear drive-side, 125 kg rear non drive-side. Those are very high numbers and why people tend to break ti spokes- because they tension the spokes to lower thresholds like steel spokes around 100 kg. Part of the problem is finding a light weight rim that can handle 135 kg tension without ripping its self apart.

I can only find information on a few Mavic rims from the early 90's and their recommendation is 110 kg. This is definitely a problem but a solution or three exist somewhere. I'll try and find some data on the Mr Titan's.

 

[fearfactoryüberalles]

Not mine, and only one, but fair price and is in your country too, so might worth a try...
https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s...nos-trek-mavic-kult-retro/2410015540-217-2903

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Not mine, and only one, but fair price and is in your country too, so might worth a try...

Cool, thanks for looking out!

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Spoke'ie Update:

A few more parts have slowly trickled in. I'll be trying out this titanium etch I found in Europe. Will be going over all the Ti bolts that I have done thus far to see if I can bring out more luster in the colors. I will also see if I can etch aluminum as well. Damn these Paul Thumbies! The black anodizing is so good, I am having a hard time removing it chemically. May need to just get out the dremel and a wire attachment...

I found this old Schmolke carbon seat post. Finally found a matching rear hub; a complete set of Nosler 32h titanium hubs and and AND...NOS Marwi titanium spokes in the proper lengths for the rims I am considering. Will be anodizing those too! All that is left at this point are cables, rims and pedals.

 

[Frankenorange]

Loving those hubs! Are you set on getting a pair of Mt.Titan rims?
Will make a very light set of wheels, if so.

What about tyres? There are Maxxis and Innova offerings under 300g. 300-400g, you have Continental Twister Supersonic, Schwalbe Fast Fred Light, Maxxis Klimax Lite 345g( these can come in around 330g in real weight), for example.

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Loving those hubs! Are you set on getting a pair of Mt.Titan rims?
Will make a very light set of wheels, if so.

What about tyres? There are Maxxis and Innova offerings under 300g. 300-400g, you have Continental Twister Supersonic, Schwalbe Fast Fred Light, Maxxis Klimax Lite 345g( these can come in around 330g in real weight), for example.

These hubs were recommended from @Tomato and are quite light, and completely serviceable. Plus, I swooped up a complete rear hub for sale in America and now have a spare.

From what I gather with Matrix Mr. Titan rims is that there was really bad QC at one time or another so some are really light, but the alloy was sub-standard which resulted in many returned under warranty. Those are being considered, but not my only consideration.

With tires, I am trying to find IRC Geo Claw Lite's in a 1.9. Off hand, are any of those tires you mention made in 1994 or earlier?

 

[Frankenorange]

These hubs were recommended from @Tomato and are quite light, and completely serviceable. Plus, I swooped up a complete rear hub for sale in America and now have a spare.

From what I gather with Matrix Mr. Titan rims is that there was really bad QC at one time or another so some are really light, but the alloy was sub-standard which resulted in many returned under warranty. Those are being considered, but not my only consideration.

With tires, I am trying to find IRC Geo Claw Lite's in a 1.9. Off hand, are any of those tires you mention made in 1994 or earlier?

I have seen a mention of poor QC with Matrix rims(may have been by someone who worked there and on this website!) but i thought he was talking about the Mt.Aero . Same period so I guess either could be bad. IIRC he said that some were ok and some not. Maybe if rims, or wheels, come up for sale that have been used, and survived, then they could be the better of the batch. Good old Mavic is probably the best bet.

Re: tyres......i forgot about the '94 thing and none of the tyres i mentioned are from that period. The Conti is probably the oldest and max 20 years old, i reckon.