jonathan-harris profile

I wasn't referring to just hardtails, but steel bikes in general...

Agreed. Pretty insufficient given the riding they will see and not exactly a big hit on the scale.

Ha, funny that you noticed. I actually pulled my sleeve up for that shot. Plus on the worst of days I'm not really one to stop and shoot photos!

I will throw the bike onto my scale tonight but I seem to recall it being around 33lbs when I first weighed it. Given that the bike was built with a mish-mash of parts, it's not running tubeless and there are some obvious components that could be lighter, I think that is reasonable.

The theory is that could be the case. It's much the same with some carbon bars being too stiff while others do a great job of dampening vibrations.

I've been told that some wheel builders are lacing these rims 2x to give some of that vertical compliance. Goes to show that so many things can vary based on the whole wheel build.

You would be surprised actually. It's something about the sort of higher frequency "chatter" that just feels sharper on the rims with a deeper section. It's subtle and can be influenced by tire pressure, sidewall stiffness etc, but as I mentioned in the article I switched my wheels around between bikes and definitely noticed that the WTB rims translated a little more of the trail into the bike.

Yeah sorry about the exchange rate issue right now. Don't see that changing soon either.

Without writing another article I'd sum it up that these rims ride very similarly to the first and second generation Enve rims (I haven't had any time on the recent wider profile models). Also quite similar to the Reynolds rims. They are stiff laterally but also vertically as I mentioned.

I have lots of time on the Nobl TR33 and NOX Farlows and those two rims definitely seem to have more vertical complaince to their ride.

Claimed weights seem to be very similar but so often we have wheels fully built up sent to us so don't have a chance to check rim weights individually.

It's so hard to go toe to toe with these things as you'd have to build the wheels up as close to the same as possible. Same spokes, spoke tensions, hubs…

WTB turns out great product and these rims certainly seem to be continuing that habit.

I don't mind gear cables running internally but brake ones with stupid little holes so you have to remove your fittings is just dumb in my mind. Makes for a load of mess, way more work and way more swearing as I'm fishing around my downtube trying to retrieve the thing.
I actually quite like the external/internal combo on the Evil bikes. The brake is totally external and under the top tube with the rear derailleur cable which then goes internal through the rear triangle. That's just sensible to me.

I was eluding to the NOBL Wheels article and my chat with Dustin Adams. Check it…

Posted by: shoreboy

Nice bike!  Custom steel is pretty darn cool.  Not sure I could stomach the price of that one though.  Enjoy!

Shockingly not as pricey as you might think. Keep an eye on what starling have in store for 2018.

Posted by: HeyZeus

I'd guess they are the alloys based on the shape where it meets the crank-arm.

sweet looking ride for sure

You are correct. I'm very impressed with the pedals. They just feel right.

I like to tease.... but fine I've edited the original post with the details.

I've been hiding this one for too long...

Details:

• Starling Murmur frame custom painted by 7Pot Customs in the UK
• DVO Diamond fork set to 150mm travel and Emerald rear shock
• Steerer tapped for a OneUp top cap and EDC
• We Are One Agent rims laced to P321 hubs (such a nice wheelset)
• Race Face NEXT cranks, 30t chain ring (now a OneUp Switch chainring)
• XTR shifting over a EThirteen 10-44t cassette
• Renthal Apex 33mm stem, Fatbar carbon 35 trimmed to 780mm wide
• Hope Tech 3 E4 brakes
• 9Point8 175mm travel dropper post
• King headset and bottom bracket
• Ergon saddle and grips
• Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5" WT front and 2.3" rear (likely will swap the rear for a DHRII soon)
• OneUp flat pedals (these are so good I'm back to running flats full time)

As built with the EDC it weighs in at 32.5lbs.

Ride wise... silent, smooth and picks up speed and maintains it exceptionally. I'm shocked with the grip that this bike seems to find and have been reveling in the slingshot effect when I let it run tear through a corner. Admittedly getting the rear shock set up took some time but now the bike is dialed for my tastes.