Author Topic: St Johns Cycles Wheels  (Read 7123 times)

The Solo Socialist

  • Age Is Just A Number Just Wish By Body Agreed
  • Age but a number,which grows ever larger.
St Johns Cycles Wheels
« on: 30 July, 2018, 05:58:06 pm »
Has anyone experience of their fixed/fixed hubs and wheel builds ?
Boots an Spurs

Re: St Johns Cycles Wheels
« Reply #1 on: 05 August, 2018, 08:23:48 pm »
No experience of their fixed hubs. Never had any issues with the quality of their wheelbuilds - Stayed true and well tensioned.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: St Johns Cycles Wheels
« Reply #2 on: 06 August, 2018, 08:18:54 pm »
They used to have a thing for plain gauge spokes, which I would never use unless I needed a weird length where butted spokes aren't available from DT or Sapim.  I don't believe you can build and sell a rear fixie wheel for £60 with butted spokes; the parts alone are about £60 if you shop around.  My last one (basic good quality stuff: System EX hub, Sapim Race, Ryde Chrina 32h) cost almost exactly that but I built it.

The only review is very poor.

I've never ridden anyone else's wheels that stayed perfectly true except a pair from Merlin (also very cheap).  Hewitt, Thorn, DT...none of them were perfect.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

The Solo Socialist

  • Age Is Just A Number Just Wish By Body Agreed
  • Age but a number,which grows ever larger.
Re: St Johns Cycles Wheels
« Reply #3 on: 04 February, 2019, 07:23:41 pm »
An update, I went ahead and purchased a wheelset in August. However mid January Rear Wheel Bearings failed, possibly due to my incorrect chain tensioning? However last week in January the Front Wheel Bearings have failed. When I replaced these at w/end it now seems some of the spokes are loose on the front wheel....
Not the best of starts ?????
I weigh 72 kg and have ridden some 3000 kms.
Boots an Spurs

Re: St Johns Cycles Wheels
« Reply #4 on: 04 February, 2019, 08:11:43 pm »
For clarity, is this St John Street Cycles?

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: St Johns Cycles Wheels
« Reply #5 on: 04 February, 2019, 09:10:54 pm »
Are the hubs the usual Formula/System EX ones?  They may be unbranded but it usually says Formula somewhere on a nut or lockring.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

The Solo Socialist

  • Age Is Just A Number Just Wish By Body Agreed
  • Age but a number,which grows ever larger.
Re: St Johns Cycles Wheels
« Reply #6 on: 05 February, 2019, 05:52:59 pm »
Yes Ian St Johns Cycles.
I've looked for any Brand Names but cannot see anything rogerzilla (bearings are standard 6001)
Boots an Spurs

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: St Johns Cycles Wheels
« Reply #7 on: 06 February, 2019, 07:00:40 pm »
The Formula hubs don't have a reputation for bearing problems (which are a minor thing on cartridge hubs anyway), just cosmetic rust on the axle and locknuts.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

The Solo Socialist

  • Age Is Just A Number Just Wish By Body Agreed
  • Age but a number,which grows ever larger.
Re: St Johns Cycles Wheels
« Reply #8 on: 08 February, 2019, 03:17:52 pm »
Just my misfortune then, basically what SJS Cycles have said. :-[
Boots an Spurs

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: St Johns Cycles Wheels
« Reply #9 on: 08 February, 2019, 07:21:25 pm »
Are they plain gauge spokes?  These are more likely to loosen than butted ones, because they aren't as elastic and are more likely to lose all tension when you hit a big bump, especially if the wheel wasn't built very tightly to start with.  The wheel can be trued, but I'd also add a lot more tension.

A couple of years ago, I bought some pre-built wheels because it was cheaper than getting the parts separately (this is sometimes the case).  Deore hubs, DT Competition spokes and ceramic rims, all for about £100.  They weren't bad but were a bit slack for my liking.  I added another half turn of tension all the way round and then re-trued them.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

The Solo Socialist

  • Age Is Just A Number Just Wish By Body Agreed
  • Age but a number,which grows ever larger.
Re: St Johns Cycles Wheels
« Reply #10 on: 10 February, 2019, 07:12:17 pm »
Thanks Rogerzilla, they are plain spokes, I'll tighten them all half a turn...
Boots an Spurs