Retro-modern fusion gravel build madness. The new Superb!

[M_Chavez]

Don't want to offend anyone's patriotism but...
Not all things coming out of China are are crap.

There's a lot of crap coming out of there, typically because a western wise guy comes to a Chinese manufacturer and asks them to produce a £40 part for £5 so he can re-sell it for £30 over here. That's where the crap reputation comes from.

I've got sets of forstner bits in 0.5mm increments that have cost me about £2.5 each. Work a dream. Have been using them for years. Would have had to pay about £15-£20 per bit over here.
There are lots of examples of very high quality products (Luban hand planes, anyone?) that outperform western analogues at 3x the price. T10 blade steel makes old Stanleys and half of the old Sheffield marques feel like rotten cheese.
Novatec hubs just keep on turning.
Ztto headsets never gave me no trouble.
Microshift STIs seem to be just as mediocre as Shimmy stuff.

The £10 tap won't last as long as a £100 engineering grade beauty. But I will probably only need to tap half a dozen French locknuts in my entire life

So as long as they send the right tap I should be fine.

 

[Mickeyspinn]

Don't want to offend anyone's patriotism but...
Not all things coming out of China are are crap.

There's a lot of crap coming out of there, typically because a western wise guy comes to a Chinese manufacturer and asks them to produce a £40 part for £5 so he can re-sell it for £30 over here. That's where the crap reputation comes from.

I've got sets of forstner bits in 0.5mm increments that have cost me about £2.5 each. Work a dream. Have been using them for years. Would have had to pay about £15-£20 per bit over here.
There are lots of examples of very high quality products (Luban hand planes, anyone?) that outperform western analogues at 3x the price. T10 blade steel makes old Stanleys and half of the old Sheffield marques feel like rotten cheese.
Novatec hubs just keep on turning.
Ztto headsets never gave me no trouble.
Microshift STIs seem to be just as mediocre as Shimmy stuff.

The £10 tap won't last as long as a £100 engineering grade beauty. But I will probably only need to tap half a dozen French locknuts in my entire life

So as long as they send the right tap I should be fine.

Agreed not all Chinese is pants....but the one that fails like a tap when you need it like a hole in the head....
And very true about the financial squeeze for resellers profit margins....however to me I'd rather by once for life and be done.....better for the planet too!

 

[M_Chavez]

Dunno... Unless they are made in the UK by a UK owned company, so the revenue/profits stay in the UK I don't see much difference to be honest.

I've used some good quality taps in my life. They made the same crack as the cheapo stuff when they broke.

PS Also, there's no guarantee that any of this fannying about with headsets is going to work. Normal people just buy a French headset.

 

[Woz]

Noticed this myself when tooling up for my house project. I think it's a nightmare today.

The choice in the shops is over priced Chinese crap, or full on pro European level - no in between. The Bosch amateur product range is absolutely no better than the stuff Lidl sells.

I think what Mickey is talking about is something to be aware of:
- A pro (or reputable company) today can not afford a failure in the middle of job.
- An amateur DIY person potentially can.

My father still has carpentry, joiner tools, wood turning tools that have followed his apprentice life, full professional life, and retirement life. They cost a lot to him in the day, but they have put the crust on the table, worked hard and paid for the themselves many times over.

The whole outsourcing issue and willy-nilly procurement departments buying in crap with poorly specified parts and poor quality control gets my back up something chronic to be honest. It's really bad out there. I try to buy 2nd hand stuff made in France first, Europe second, then USA or Japan fourth. We should be striving going to the top in Europe, and not striving going to the bottom of the barrel.

 

[Mickeyspinn]

Noticed this myself when tooling up for my house project. I think it's a nightmare today.

The choice in the shops is over priced Chinese crap, or full on pro European level - no in between. The Bosch amateur product range is absolutely no better than the stuff Lidl sells.

I think what Mickey is talking about is something to be aware of:
- A pro (or reputable company) today can not afford a failure in the middle of job.
- An amateur DIY person potentially can.

My father still has carpentry, joiner tools, wood turning tools that have followed his apprentice life, full professional life, and retirement life. They cost a lot to him in the day, but they have put the crust on the table, worked hard and paid for the themselves many times over.

The whole outsourcing issue and willy-nilly procurement departments buying in crap with poorly specified parts and poor quality control gets my back up something chronic to be honest. It's really bad out there. I try to buy 2nd hand stuff made in France first, Europe second, then USA or Japan fourth. We should be striving going to the top in Europe, and not striving going to the bottom of the barrel.

Carpentry tools
Would you like to see my great great grandfathers tools....made just for him...
I'll post em in the pub

 

[Woz]

Carpentry tools
Would you like to see my great great grandfathers tools....made just for him...
I'll post em in the pub

Good man. I kind of felt this was straying off topic and would have been suitable over in the pub. Plus I can get on a hobby horse of money flow and geopolitics. Best keep it all uncluttered and focus how Francine is going to turn a bloody corner. We are on that level still

@M_Chavez you should pop your head over there. I'm aware you don't drink, but Imlach normally as a stash of 0.0% and the music is good.

 

[M_Chavez]

Franny-related question.

I've got a gravel king tyre with a small cut in it (about 3-4mm). I'd like to use an offcut of an old tyre to patch it up from the inside at least while I'm trying out the panaracers). What glue is best for this job?

 

[M_Chavez]

Just need to add the frame.

 

[Woz]

What hubs did you go for at the end of the day?

BTW: Was going to suggest just a few layers of duck tape for the tyre repair.

 

[M_Chavez]

Just novatecs - I've got them on several bikes and they are performing well.
Will be 9x1.
I am, however, intrigued by @Mickeyspinn set-up. Any pics? What hubs do you use? Cassette? Freewheel?

I am not very happy building a symmetrically drilled rim on an 11 speed hub. Just doesn't feel right, but I'm not an expert wheel builder. I've decided to offset the rear wheel by 3mm towards nds to reduce the dish. Might be a dumb idea, but hopefully I won't have any issues with handling or setting up the brakes.