The extra I journey the LeMond the extra I prefer it:
Sadly, the extra I like a motorcycle the extra I’m inclined to fuss with it, and the most recent object of my fussing has been the wheels.
The wheels that got here with the bike are the so-called Rolf Prima Elan Aero, and the corporate nonetheless presents primarily the identical wheel in the present day, although with out the aero spokes. They’re nearly shockingly mild, and whereas I wouldn’t search out an ultra-light wheel myself they’re enjoyable to journey. On the similar time, ultra-light wheels are like linen pants: whereas they really feel nice and also you’re tempted to put on them on a regular basis, at the back of your thoughts you’re at all times somewhat bit apprehensive that somethings going to go mistaken. (With the ultra-light wheel, that might be a damaged spoke, and with the linen pants that might be a rain bathe that renders them completely clear.) For on a regular basis driving you desire a wheel that’s like a pair of well-worn denims: cozy and comparatively mild, and but reassuringly sturdy. For that purpose the wheels I actually needed to make use of on the LeMond have been these:
They’re the one factor I’ve left of the Litespeed:
They usually’re a becoming selection for the LeMond in that it’s type of the Litespeed’s successor. The one downside is that they’re Campagnolo hubs, and the Litespeed makes use of Shimano.
Campagnolo after all hasn’t supplied hubs in a few years. They hit their peak in that division with the beautiful Report 10-speed hub, which is why delusional folks assume they will recover from $500 for them:
And the hubs on these wheels are the ultimate model of the Report hub, which is functionally the identical, albeit in black and with all of the aesthetically pleasing stuff faraway from it.
However whereas Campagnolo now not promote hubs, they do promote wheels, each below their very own title and below the Fulcrum model:
The total title of the wheel is presumably not the Sharquille O’Neal, although the bizarre character on the finish does counsel that at one level it was known as the Shart they usually modified it on the final second:
Anyway, clearly to be able to promote plenty of wheels Campagnolo must make them appropriate with Shimano-splined cassettes, and thankfully their pre-built wheels use primarily the identical hub design as these closing Report hubs, which implies you possibly can simply get a Shimano freehub physique and stick it on there:
Positive, it could be jarring to see a Shimano spline sample in a Campagnolo field:
However in making the change it opens up a complete new world of cassette availability.
So I started working. For a reliable particular person, engaged on a Report hub is about so simple as it will get. First I eliminated the cassette:
Then I eliminated this nut:
After which I pulled the freehub physique off the axle:
Simple!
From there all I needed to do was pop the brand new one on as an alternative:
So I wiped off the grime from the hub and lubed the pawls on the brand new freehub physique:
Then I slid the brand new freehub physique on, gave it a spin, and…it was grinding like a spoke in a rubbish disposal.
Eradicating the brand new freehub physique, I discovered that the round pawl spring was all mangled:
As I famous above, servicing Report hubs is simple for a reliable particular person. I, nonetheless, am incompetent, and by not taking the time to fastidiously seat the pawls I in all probability managed to dislodge the spring–although in my protection the spring is tiny and delicate and about as straightforward to see and work with as a pubic hair.
Anyway, I wasn’t about to be undone by a pube, so I fastidiously eliminated the spring from the outdated freehub physique:
This time I inserted the freehub physique with extra care, and the operation was successful:
Fortuitously these springs are straightforward to get and as soon as I’ve a alternative I’ll put the outdated Campy freehub again collectively in case I ever have to revert.
