Chris King Lefty SuperMax wheel set review

I put my hand up. I don't really need Chris King hubs. DT Swiss would do. In fact, the Cannondale Lefty SuperMax hub itself is pretty good, but neither have the bling or lust factor of Chris King.

However, the Chris King Lefty SuperMax hub is a work of machined art. It's stunning to look at and when I stick my finger in the hub shell, the bearing movement is sublime. It's so precise that at first I thought that there were no bearings because you can't see the join between the hub and bearing shell. It really is bike art.

I've since sold this wheelset with the Cannondale Trigger that they were attached too. No discredit to the wheels, or the bike, but I fancied a change. I do miss the wheels for sure!

The wheel set

• Chris King 32 hole Silver hubs
• Lefty SuperMax front
• 142 x 12 rear
• Sapim spokes
• Black alloy nipples
• Stans EX Flow ZTR black rims
• Stans 25 mm rim tape
• Stans valve

What will the wheels be used for?

Generally I only ride light trails on a regular basis. My primary trail is Swinley Forest, Bracknell. There's nothing really technical in there and a lot of the routes flow and pop, but there's no significant jumps or drops that would harm the Crest rims I used before, let alone the Flows on the new wheel set.

The real reason I made the upgrade from Crest to Flow was for future-proofing and for Alpine fun. Crest rims aren't cheap and re-building a wheel is worth the expense when you have a decent rim, but for the sake of 100 grams between the weight of the Crest and Flow, I may as we well accept the extra weight for the peace-of-mind they bring.

Who built them?

I have another set of Chris King wheels, single speeds, on Crest rims, that were built by Clee Cycles, UK. They've stood up very well and the price was fantastic. I had no hesitations about buying a new set from them and am already eyeing up a Chris King R45 disc wheelset that I'd ask them to build for me as well.

I had to wait a few weeks for the parts to arrive. I doubt many bike shops keep the Lefty hub in stock, so that was expected and absolutely fine.

How much were they?

Including hubs, rims, rim tape, spokes, building , no-tubes valves and delivery (in two solid wheel boxes), the total price was £740.

How much do they weigh?

I honestly don't know. If I had a decent set of scales, I would have weighed them, but I'm not a weight weenie, so don't. I didn't even compare them to the old wheelset (Lefty hub and XT rear on Crest rims), but the new wheels certainly don't feel heavy for such a robust set of wheels.

Fitting the Chris King Lefty SuperMax hub to the fork

At first I sunk my shoulders and cursed my name that I should have checked to see whether I needed a tool to fit the hub to the Lefty. You see, the instructions made mention of a spline tool that held the bearing in place while you can do and undo the hub bolt. Turns out, that's only if you have the wheel off of the fork in the first place.

So to fit the wheel, follow these few instructions

• Inset the Cannondale bolt into the hub shell
• Place the Chris King hub bolt over the top
• Using a 10 mm allen key, tighten the bolt counter-clockwise / left
• Here's where it was handy to start the thread off of the bike and hold the rear bearing to  help provide some resistance for the hub bolt to screw into
• Place the hub over the Lefty axle (obviously remove the disc brake)
• Screw in the Cannondale hub bolt with a 5 mm allen key til tight
• Then, again counter-clockwise, screw in the Chris King hub bolt 'til it's flush with the hub
• You may find that the precise fit of the Chris King hub bolt forces the Cannondale hub bolt to come loose, that's fine. Just re-do up the Cannondale bolt and go back to the Chris King
• Voila, you should now have a perfectly flush Chris King hub bolt, Cannondale hub bolt and a Chris King Lefty SuperMax hub

Maintenance

I've had the wheelset a good 6 months and have put in around 500 miles of riding. I've not yet had to adjust them beyond a slight bearing adjustment 6 weeks into ownership (as expected). They've been smooth since day 1 and I've not had any odd noises, grinding or anything untoward at all.

Thoroughly recommended!

10 reasons why I love the Centurion North Downs Way 50

I love this race. Best race of the year. And if I can, I think I'll be like good ol' Ken Fancett and run it every year.

It's the weather, the people and the route that make it (isn't that everything Sean!?). The sun is out, it's an opportunity to get a tan, just to feel human even, and know that the grey of Winter and early Spring is finally gone.

10 reasons why I love the North Downs Way 50

Always smiling out on route

The stepping stones before the stairs
Photo credit: Centurion Running website.

1. Everyone is as happy as you are that the sun is out and you feel like Summer has arrived and will last forever
2. The ground is hard and that means fast running with minimal effort
3. You'll get a tan if you show your skin
4. You don't need to carry that much kit or wear that much either
5. There's plenty of water at the stops to get some over your head, and the refreshing water stop at the church is a dream come true
6. You'll get in before dark where you can have as many sausages as your face desires and watch other runners come in
7. The route is full of hills, twists, turns and stunning views
8. And it's extraordinarily easy to follow as well
9. Plenty of other runners to get to know and millions of Duke of Edinburgh teens to nod at
10. Volunteers are ace and want you only to succeed

2019 is full (it fills early), but the North Downs Way 100 still has some spaces and happens to be another favourite race (at least up until the last 15 miles).

North Downs Way 50 route

Thoughts and tips on volunteering at an event - North Downs Way 100 2018

Helping others achieve their goal, however slight your effort or their recognition, is incredibly satisfying and answers a very human need to be part of something greater than yourself.

For me, that special feeling of being connected to a social group is what makes the decision to give time, diesel and a nights rough sleep to volunteer at the North Downs Way 100.

Here are my top tips for volunteering

1. Lose the ego - it's not about you or your experiences, it's about theirs
2. The customer is always right - even if someone gets angry, you signed up to help them, so get on with the job and chin-up
3. Prepare yourself for the day - don't be the volunteer who needs another volunteer to support them because you left your jacket, trainers, sun lotion or car keys somewhere else
4. Don't be a dick - the rule to rule them all. Be present, competent, keen and useful (or funny), but don't let yourself be bossy, rude, stubborn or selfish
5. Know the route around you (before and after) - you'll get a ton of questions, like 'when's the next check-point', and 'are the hills done?', or my favourite 'where can I pee in privacy?'
6. Stay committed - expect to be at the check-point for longer than you signed-up for, and don't leave early

If you can do all of that, then I think you'll be rewarded with a great day out. You'll have given more than you could ever imagine, affected the event for hundreds of people and you will live on in the memories of those people you helped when they needed you the most. - for the 100, there's a lot of thinking time to be had and a kind gesture, eagerness or immediate support will stick with them through the miles.

Further thought

It also helps that I've been where they are. I've run the NDW100 twice. I've felt the trepidation of the unknown and the harsh conditions. I've gone white in moments of panic as to whether I've forgotten something. I've had tears of frustration, relief and of happiness as I've ran, walked and trudged my way around the stunning route. I've been there. I've felt what they will be feeling and it only makes my connection to them and their goals all the more real and worthy.

If you've not yet volunteered for an event, then I thoroughly encourage you think about doing so; especially with the Centurion Volunteer Army.

Running events for 2019

Running

• The Leith Hill half marathon
  3rd March
• North Downs Way 50
  18th May
• The Midsummer Munro
  23rd June
• Devon AONB Marathon
  30th June
• North Downs Way 100
  3rd August
• A Run With No Witty Name (50k)
  12th October

Waiting list or thinking about

• Giants Head Marathon - March - unlikely to get in
• Endurancelife Exmoor Marathon or Ultra - April - not 100% sure whether I want to attempt one of their runs again

Volunteering

• Thames Path 100
  4th May