100% british bike

thefonz78

I've just enrolled in a tig welding course. The first stage in my dream to learn to build bike frames. This got me thinking. Wouldn't it be great do build bike that are completely hand built with only UK manufactured products. I wish some brit boffin in a shed somewhere would invent a new gearing system to blow shimano etc out of the water! I know you can get internal gear hubs up to 8 gears, but has there ever been any viable alternative to derailer gear system?

thefonz78

Apart from gears can you buy every other component from British manufacturers? if so what brands for what part?

unixnerd

Depends if you want all new kit. I'm sure that when I bought my Raleigh in the 80's almost every bit of it was made in the UK. But I'm not sure I'd want those steel wheels these days!

Hope spring to mind as someone who could supply hubs, rims, cranksets, etc.

MrChuck

Do Hope actually make their own rims? I thought they were rebadged.

Sturmey-Archer were British weren't they? They were probably at one stage made here too.

unixnerd

Sturmey Archer are now owned by an Asian company.

Hope make an awful lot of their own stuff, but you may be right about the rims.

Monty Dog

Rims, brakes, tyres and transmission will be your problems. You could at least use Mavic Exalith rims as they're coated by a UK company. Brooks, USE, Hope and Middleburn could help in the other areas.

thefonz78

hope do disc brakes. Why do road bike not use discs? I'm guessing weight. Hope have a set of discs that weigh 265g regular brakes can't weigh any much less. Surly v brakes are the lightest why don't they use them?

P_Tucker

Dunno, I'd rather buy something much better for a third of the price. But to each his own.

unixnerd

Why do road bike not use discs?

Some tourers do.

Monty Dog

FWIW disc brakes now permitted for CX, but you'll need an Trickstuff Doppelmoppel if using hydraulic brakes with drop-bar levers!

thefonz78

catchy name

redvee

unixnerd wrote:

Sturmey Archer are now owned by an Asian company.

Sunrace IIRC.

rake

thefonz78 wrote:

hope do disc brakes. Why do road bike not use discs? I'm guessing weight. Hope have a set of discs that weigh 265g regular brakes can't weigh any much less. Surly v brakes are the lightest why don't they use them?

disc brakes have more highly stressed frame mountings which isnt as convenient for building light weight frames. the closer the friction material is to the axle the more load you get on the brake mountings, which on discs are at the thin end of the fork.with regard to v brakes they force the fork legs appart with equal force applied to the pads, whilst with centre mounted brakes this force is carried by the calipers only and is not transfered to the frame. centre mounted calipers are conveniently mounted at an allready strong point on the bridge of the fork.

Monty Dog

I know of an ex-pro rider MTB rider who on getting their first set of disc brakes about 11 years ago had one of their old MTB race frames designed for canti brakes modded by having brake tabs brazed on for a trip to Moab. First ride in Moab, applied brakes, snapped seatstay, broken collarbone and next flight home.

markos1963

Are Huret still in business? I go passed a factory in Diss, Norfolk regulary and see the name on the outside.

balthazar

markos1963 wrote:

Are Huret still in business? I go passed a factory in Diss, Norfolk regulary and see the name on the outside.

Bought by Sachs, then Sachs bought by SRAM, I believe. I don't think SRAM have used the brand since ownership.