Boyd Cycling

Ceramic bearings. . .nope

2011-07-02T19:42:00.000-07:00

We have gotten a lot of questions lately about whether we will supply wheels with ceramic bearings. The quick answer is that we don't, we use very high quality steel bearings in our hubs (made by Enduro which is considered the top quality bearing in the bicycle industry). A good high quality steel bearing rolls just as nice as ceramic bearings and last much longer.

A lot of times when you see explanations of why ceramic bearings are better they show wheels spinning upside down with no load on the wheel. Under these conditions the ceramic bearings will spin longer, but none of us ride with our wheels in the air (hopefully). With load on the bearings the high quality steel bearings spin just as well as a ceramic bearing. Ceramic bearings are also much harder than standard steel bearings, this hardness can actually wear grooves into the race surrounding the bearings. When the grooves start to appear this bearings do not roll very smooth and need to be replaced. This is why the ceramic bearings usually need to be replaced sooner than steel bearings (at a much higher cost).

Many of you know that I have also been a developer for the iBike power meter. Doing this has taught me exactly where the energy needed to overcome forces comes from. Bearing friction accounts for a very small percentage of rolling resistance, and rolling resistance accounts for an even smaller percentage of forces you need to overcome when riding a bike. The difference in wattage even possible from bearings is a fraction of a fraction of a percent at best. A much better investment at a much cheaper cost is to get better tires with a lower rolling resistance.
Here is a great article showing the rolling resistance of various tires so you can see which ones will help you the most.
http://www.biketechreview.com/tires_old/images/AFM_tire_testing_rev9.pdf

Why do so many companies push for ceramic bearings? Because they can make more money off them. There is a big markup on more expensive bearings but we don't like to play those games with our customers. We know that the high quality steel bearings will perform just as well as ceramic bearings, last you longer, and keep your costs down for the wheelset. This is why we do not use ceramic bearings in any of our builds.

Note: If you still have your heart set on ceramic bearings, the bearings in our hubs are easily replaceable. It is very easy to take the Enduro bearings out of the hubs and replace them with the bearing type you prefer. This is the only way to get ceramic bearings on our wheels.

New carbon rim shape being developed (this was an April Fools Day post)

2011-04-01T05:09:00.000-07:00

Here at Boyd Cycling we are proud to announce the development of a whole new shape of carbon rim, never before used. Wide is the the trend nowadays and we are definitely wanting to get on that trend while it's still popular. Our new rim will start off with a wide 23.4mm brake track then expand outward to a massive 52mm at the widest point before coming back to the spoke bed. With this new design we are finally able to provide the widest possible rim to our customers. As with any of the new wide rim technologies, weight increase is going to happen but we are happy to report that we have managed to keep our weight increase down to a very reasonable 414 extra grams per rim.

When asked about the new rim shape and the benefits this will have, Boyd Johnson had this to say, "Being a small start-up company wind tunnel time and carbon fiber moulds can be very expensive. Fortunately we have teamed up with a group of mechanical engineer scientists from Nigeria who happen to own a wind tunnel. Do I feel lucky to have found them? You bet, since starting to work with them I have already won the lottery and found a long-lost uncle."

With the new rim shape we also realized that interaction with the fork blades is just as crucial to the airflow. By forcing air through the smaller area between the rim and the fork blade you create a very turbulent area where the air has to compress to pass though. We have moulded our own fork blades to go with the new rims. The shape of the fork will mirror exactly this new rim shape. By doing this we have managed to close the gap between rim and fork blades to literally nothing, allowing no air whatsoever to pass through this area.

The hubs are another crucial part to the wheel. Much debate has been had about ceramic vs. steel bearings. We have decided to use a porcelain ceramic bearing each craft-fully painted with an image of Elvis. Only 5,000 of these bearings were produced last year so the value is only guaranteed to go up. Hurry now, orders taken in the next 15 minutes will qualify for free shipping and we'll even throw in a book light for reading in bed.

(edit now that it's not April Fools Day anymore): Yes, this was an April Fools Day post. We are definitely not planning on releasing a rim with a width wider than most forks out there that would weigh over a pound more than our normal rim.

Boyd Cycling featured on the Today Show!

2011-03-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here is the segment that aired on Tuesday March 29th on the Today Show in New York City. The iBike Dash was being featured and displayed on the B930 frame with 58mm carbon clincher wheels. You also may notice that this was the debut of the new decals, these will be coming on all the wheels starting soon and they look hot!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Wheels built with Power Tap hub now available

2011-01-08T03:03:00.000-08:00

So, there's this little fad right about now that some cyclists are trying. It's called training with a power meter. If you really know me, you'll know how funny those first two sentences are. I have been training with power since 2003, owned every type of power meter than has been on the market, and even have a role in developing the iBike line of power meters. Needless to say, there is a huge benefit in being able to train with power and we are now able to offer that benefit to you guys.

Currently we can only offer the carbon wheels with a 24 hole power tap hub, but are working on options for a 28 hole version down the road. We can also provide different head units with the power tap (Garmin Edge 500, Garmin Edge 800, Power Tap Cervo, Power Tap Joule, and the iAero).

We will build any of our wheels (except the 20mm tubulars) with Power Tap rear hubs, but will continue to only offer our own front hub (it's much better anyway). Since you won't need our rear hub, that has been factored into the price of the wheels. With that...

Pricing will be as follows:
Power Tap SL+ Hub (no computer head) - Add $1300 to price of wheels
with Garmin Edge 500 - +$249
with Garmin Edge 800 - +$449/$649
with Power Tap Joule 2.0 - +$250
with iAero - +$659

Power Tap Pro+ Hub (no computer head) - Add $900 to price of wheels
with Garmin Edge 500 - +$249
with Garmin Edge 800 - +$449/$649
with Power Tap Joule 2.0 - +$250
with iAero - +$659

Power Tap Elite+ Hub (no computer head) - Add $800 to price of wheels
with Garmin Edge 500 - +$249
with Garmin Edge 800 - +$449/$649
with Power Tap Cervo - +$150
with iAero - +$659

If you have any questions about the different models or what option may be best for you, feel free to contact us. We'll love to help out and build you a set of wheels that will definitely make you faster!

www.boydcycling.com

Announcing the winners of the sets of wheels!

2010-12-15T14:54:00.001-08:00

It's December 15th (already, really?) which means it's time to announce the two junior riders who will win a set of wheels from Boyd cycling for Christmas. As you may recall, this contest was not based purely on talent, but rather on finding two well behaved and hard working juniors who need some help with equipment. The response to our contest was overwhelming, we received tons of nominations and it was very hard to choose the winners. I have a very good feeling about the future of the sport in the Carolinas.

But we had to choose the winners. From South Carolina the winner is Kysmin Huff. Kysmin rides for the Spartanburg Junior cycling Team, a team that helps get kids into cycling who may not usually have the opportunity. They work to help teach the cyclists about the hard work and dedication it takes which in part helps keep them out of trouble. Kysmin is working on getting a cycling specific scholarship, using his developing talent to attract different universities. We hope that these wheels will help with that and show that he has what it takes to keep riding and use it for important things like a degree.

For North Carolina the winner is Gabe Allie. Gabe has been racing triathlons for a while, sometimes getting up as early as 4am to get a swim workout in before school. He was also working to save up for a used Trek bicycle that he has been using in his triathlons. Recently Gabe decided to focus on road cycling and since he doesn't have a trainer has been riding outside everyday (even when it's as cold as 30 degrees out). Obviously very competitive and determined, Gabe is also extremely kind, earning the respect and friendship of many of his competitors. It's this kind of sportsmanship, determination to succeed despite any drawbacks, and enthusiasm that makes me happy to award a wheelset to Gabe.

As I said before, I wish that we could have given all the applicants the wheels for Christmas. We are doing a program in the Carolinas this next year where we will be supplying five sets of wheels for neutral service at all the races. At the end of the year we will be doing the same program, giving away those wheelsets to deserving juniors. So, if you are a junior rider in the Carolinas, keep riding strong, acting responsible and mature, and it can pay off next year. To Kysmin and Gabe, Merry Christmas and keep up the great work. . .it's being noticed!

Video from the Hendersonville Grand Prix UCI Cyclocross race

2010-11-23T05:32:00.000-08:00

Globalbike rider Josh Whitmore took this awesome video of the recent UCI cyclocross race in Hendersonville, NC. Josh was using the 50mm tubulars for this race and as you can see from the speed, terrain, and challenges from the course a strong and lightweight set of wheels was needed.

This video gives you a great rider perspective of what a bike, rider, and wheels go through in a cyclocross race

NCGP UCI Cyclocross Elite Men 1st lap from Josh Whitmore on Vimeo.

A Christmas present from Boyd Cycling

2010-11-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

We are going to give away two alloy wheelsets this Christmas to two juniors in the Carolinas who need better equipment. It's no secret that cycling can be an expensive sport to get into. Often times very talented riders don't get an opportunity to see how far they can go because of a lack of funds and/or equipment.

So, we would like to help out a bit by giving a little assistance to a couple of junior riders who don't have access to the nicest equipment. If you know of a junior rider who could use this, please email me at boyd@boydcycling.com and let me know who they are and why they deserve to win.

The two riders will be picked the week before Christmas and the wheelsets will arrive to them a couple days before Christmas. To be eligible to win requires that the rider displays a very good character, strong work ethic, and determination to succeed. I am not just looking for the rider with the most amount of talent, or one who will be seen swearing in public while riding the product. I want to show that through hard work and having a good character more can be accomplished than buying the most expensive bike out there.

One winner will be chosen from North Carolina and one from South Carolina. Let's make this next year a great one for two junior riders that deserve it.

The 2011 B930 frame

2010-11-02T02:50:00.000-07:00

The Boyd Cycling B930 frame returns to the lineup for 2011. Used by the Globalbike Elite team in 2010, the B930 was ridden to more victories in the Southeast than any other frame. Using a high quality T800 carbon fiber this frame also has smooth inner walls. This will create a lighter stiffer frame.

For 2011, the frame will be a sleek black and white color scheme. It will also have a matt finish instead of a glossy clearcoat. A BB30 bottom bracket ensures that no matter how much power you put to the pedals, the frame will transfer that directly to your rear wheel. For Shimano (or people who already have a crankset) users, a FSA BB30 adapter can be provided with the frame.

The fork steertube is also a tapered design. With this you can directly feel the front end of the bike stiffen up when you stand out of the saddle. For sprints and climbing, you do not want a bike to have a flexy front end.

The other major change from 2010 is that this frame is now offered with an Integrated Seatpost (ISP). The ISP design lightens the bike a little bit, removes any possibility of a seatpost slipping if hitting a pothole, and ensures that your seat height is never a question. Also, because of the larger tube running all the way up the frame to the saddle, road vibration will slightly dampen giving you a more enjoyable ride. And don't worry, I know it can be a little scary to take a saw to your new frame, but the benefits speak for themselves. There is still a good amount of vertical adjustment that can be performed with the seatmast cap, and the tubing that you cut can even be used to make spacers. We will post a video about the proper way to cut down an ISP frame to size.

More information about the B930 can be seen at http://boydcycling.com/bikes/B930.html
As of November 1st we are currently awaiting our first batch of inventory and all sizes should be in stock and available by mid-December (just in time to get that special someone, even if it's yourself, a Christmas present they'll never forget).

What makes a good wheelset?

2010-09-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

A bicycle wheel is a pretty simple concept. Spokes attached to a round rim makes the bike roll. While it's not hard to make a wheel that will roll, making a high performance, lightweight wheel that you can rely on is a form of art.

One of the most important things to building a good wheel is to have an experienced professional wheelbuilder. You can have all the best components in the world but if the quality of the build is lacking then your wheelset will not ride well. At Boyd Cycling, we have an in-house wheelbuilder who meticulously trues and tensions every wheelset. After the set is finished another wheelbuilder goes over and double checks to ensure every wheel is built to spec. With this system in place you can be sure every wheel has been inspected by at least three people before being shipped out.

While the build is important, you need good components in the wheels to hold everything together. Our hubs are made for Boyd Cycling in Taiwan by a company that has over 20 years experience in the hub making industry. They are lightweight, roll extremely well, and are very easily serviceable. We are using Enduro sealed bearings (4 bearings in both the front and rear hubs), and the rear hub had 6 independently operating pawls. The flanges on the rear wheel are very tall (61.8mm diameter) so this allows for a shorter spoke length and a much stiffer feel to the wheels. You will appreciate the feel of this as soon as you stand and put pressure on the wheels.

With the spokes we are using Sapim CX Ray spokes. Considered almost unanimously to be the best spoke in the industry it's a no-brainer to use these spokes. They are stronger, lighter, and more aero than any other spoke on the market. This means we can tension them to higher tensions for a more balanced and stronger wheelset. We are using brass nipples on all of our builds. The brass nipples, although a little heavier than alloy, are much stronger and durable. It can make for a long ride home if an alloy nipple cracks on you during a ride and we find the extra 18-20 grams of weight is well worth the durability. We also use external nipples. Having the nipple hidden in the rim looks cool, but can be a huge pain if you ever have to true a wheel (especially a tubular wheel!). All of this is done to make a durable wheel that is extremely easy to work on should you ever need a quick tune up.

Our rims are also top of the line. Obviously a lot of attention has been made to our new and improved carbon clincher rims. So far every customer has been extremely satisfied with the ride quality and performance. The braking surface has been beefed up for smooth braking feel on a surface that will dissipate heat evenly throughout the whole rim. Our carbon tubulars are very lightweight yet extremely strong. Now that fall is fastly approaching many people are using the carbon tubulars for cyclocross racing. . .they are that durable!

As you can see, we have spent a lot of time making sure that we are building up some of the nicest quality wheels on the market. With the emergence of so many wheel companies we are striving to make sure our quality sets us apart from the rest. We believe that you should be able to put the tires on the wheels and have them ready to ride.

Purchasing a set of nice carbon wheels is a big investment, one that should last you a long time. At Boyd Cycling, we are passionate about making sure the quality of our builds is amongst the best out there. We will use the best materials and have the highest build quality. You should expect the best from a wheelset! And if you are buying a nice set of wheels, make sure you know they are handbuilt by a professional wheelbuilder.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and hopefully it will show you how much I value quality.

A few things we are working on for 2011

2010-09-01T06:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates over the past couple weeks. We have been very busy planning out 2011 products and direction. . .and it's very exciting!

We just booked plane tickets to Vegas for Interbike, we will have some products on hand there in the iBike booth. Being a first year company, it doesn't make sense to get our own booth (especially when we mainly go direct to consumer). However the iBike booth will receive a lot of attention due to the new iBike Dash product.

Our new logo and website is almost completed as well. It's a much more polished look and easier to navigate. The focus will definitely be on wheels moving forward and making the best possible wheelset for you guys. So far every review has been very positive with the carbon wheels and we really want to build on that momentum.

We are working on some very exciting products for next year. Two things that we're testing out right now are a 920gram set of 20mm tubulars and a 1115gram set of 50mm tubulars. These will be in a premium line-up that will accompany our normal wheels.

Yes, we are working on a disc wheel as well. We are hoping to have it be in the mid-900 gram range and retail for under $1000. This will hopefully be available Q2 2011 although making a good disc is a very complicated procedure.

Cross wheels are in the mix as well. Our current tubular wheels (especially the 38mm and 50mm) make for excellent cross wheelsets. We are also working on a new alloy clincher cross wheel that could be a game changer in the industry. Some of these may be available in October of this year in a very limited supply. Next year we also begin work on a carbon tubular rim specifically designed for cyclocross racing. . . who knows, maybe it will be used in Louisville in 2013 for the cross world championships.

So, although the blog posts have been a bit scarce lately, things are going great here at Boydbikes and we are really focused on bringing you even better things in the future. Of course we will still continue to bring you these at excellent prices.

The reviews are coming in from the new and improved carbon clincher wheels

2010-08-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

and so far, people are loving these wheels! We have spent a lot of time to make sure that we can build up some of the nicest wheels out there while keeping them at a very reasonable price. Our customers that have been getting the wheels have been emailing us super excited after riding them. Here are a few of the emails and pictures from those customers.

Got out on the new wheels today for 75 miles and the wheels performed fantastic. Everyone in the club commented on how great they looked, the high quality, and the price. Some were very interested and I gave them the website. Anyway…I am extremely happy with these wheels. They spin up great, it’s easier for me to hold a high speed and they are even lighter than my Bontrager Race Lites, making it a bit easier for me on the hills. Thanks again for the great product.

_________________________________________________________________________
Just finished a 3 day, 300+ mile ride and all I have to say is WOW! I have had nice wheels before, but never experienced such a dramatic faster ride compared to my training wheels (King hubs, Open Pros...).
My favorite and most noticeable difference is when cresting a hill, it feels like I am being shoved down hill -kind of like sitting in the first few rows of a roller-coaster.

LOVE the wheels!

If you would like to submit a review of the wheels, we love to hear feedback from the customers. Pictures are also greatly appreciated as we want to showcase you, the customer. We will continue to look for ways to bring you the best possible products and keep our prices low.

Thank you everybody!

Is your team interested in bikes and wheels next year?

2010-08-06T13:14:00.001-07:00

Here at Boydbikes we like to work with teams, and for next year that is going to be our primary form of advertising. While you may start seeing an ad here and there for Boydbikes, we find word of mouth works just as well. And we truly believe we have products that people want to tell their friends about. Plus, when you see those "other guys" taking multiple full page ads in large cycling publications you start to realize why their wheels have to retail for almost three grand.

So, lets say you have a team and want to save some money for next year. We would like to help with that! While we can't arrange to give away any free product, we would like to extend discounts if you can get five or more of your teammates together for an order. It's a pretty simple concept, the more teammates you get in on the order, the better the savings (often referred to as a 'group buy'). We are starting talks for next year and orders will be due by November 2nd.

Products available for the group buys are road frames, time trial frames, all wheels, as well as full bicycles (built with the groupo of your choice). The full bicycle purchase is going to be the best deal as you will save on the frame, components, and wheels! Also, if you have a team that wants bicycles to match your team kits we can do this assuming an order of 10 frames. The decal design will stay the same as our current models, but the colors will be matching your kit. At this time we are not going to be charging extra for this service, but there is the minimum order of 10 frames.

If you would like to find out more and get in on the savings for next year, email our director of sales Nicole Johnson at nicole@boydbikes.com

We hope to see your team on our products next year at a great price!

Announcing a new and improved carbon clincher rim!

2010-07-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

Boydbikes is proud to announce that effective immediately all order for the carbon clincher wheels will be built with a new and improved carbon clincher rim.

It became apparent to us a few months ago that our previous factory for carbon clincher rims would not be able to keep up with the production demands. Lead times were being missed and every estimate delivery time kept rising. While the quality of the rim was excellent we knew that moving forward something would have to be done to ensure we received the rims.

We started working with a new factory and developing a new carbon clincher rim. I have personally been testing a few wheels with this new rim and so far everything has passed through the torture test I like to put all products through (this includes a lot of treacherous dirt road riding). All was set to release the new carbon clincher wheels in Q1 2011.

Then our previous factory ran into more production delays and we started to realize they would have a hard time filling even out current orders. I flipped the switch and decided to immediately switch over to the new carbon clincher rim. The rim itself is a little bit lighter than the previous version (about 20-40 grams depending on model). It is also slightly stiffer and the braking surface has been reinforced. The previous rim had a lowered braking surface meaning you would have to slightly adjust your brake pads to line up with the braking surface. This new rim has the braking surface at the edge of the rim and has been designed to disperse the heat that can build up with prolonged braking on carbon rims.

This means a lighter, stiffer, and more convenient wheelset for you. Of course with the improvement of the rim our costs have gone up and we are going to have to raise the prices on the carbon clincher wheelsets. The new prices will be:
38mm - $1000
50mm - $1050
58mm - $1050
85mm - $1100

But we are planning on gradually introducing these price changes. They will go into effect on July 22nd. Until then you can order the carbon clincher wheels at the current prices and you will receive the new rims.

Our alloy wheels and carbon tubular wheels have not changed at all and so the prices on those will remain the same.

We truly believe that with the improvements to these rims we can offer quality on par with any other wheelset. And even with the small price increase you will still be paying a half to a third of what it can cost for some of the larger brand name wheels. All Boydbikes wheels comes with a two year warranty.

Boydbikes wheels in action at the Demaine Crit

2010-06-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Various athletes in the Greenville, SC area competed in the Demaine Criterium on June 19th, 2010. Here are some pictures and videos of them in action. As you can see, the wheels carried to multiple podiums and a victory! Increase your chances of making a podium by going to www.boydbikes.com

Congrats to all racers who made the podium, and we look forward to helping more of you get there!

Wheel decals for car tires

2010-06-14T18:17:00.001-07:00

Courtesy of Noah's Honda Fit. After driving for 20 hours it's amazing what starts to become a good idea.

sent from my Android phone
Boyd Johnson

May's Wheel Deal. . .it's not too late

2010-05-12T11:21:00.001-07:00

Well, if there's one thing that our customers love more than a great set of carbon wheels, it's getting those wheels on sale!

The April Wheel Deal has come and gone with many people taking advantage of the savings. If you missed your opportunity, that's ok. It's not too late!

That's right. If you pre-order your carbon clincher wheels before May 15th, you can save 10% on the wheelset. This program has been extremely popular and makes a great value even better. Also, don't forget to take advantage of adding the yellow Swissstop brake pads to your order. These brake pads are by far the best carbon specific brake pads out there. They normally retail for $50 for a set of four pads, but when you purchase a set of wheels from Boydbikes you can add them to your order for only $35.

For more details on May's wheel deal, visit:

http://boydbikes.com/wheeldeals.htm

The sad part about racing nice carbon fiber bikes

2010-05-03T07:13:00.000-07:00

Ben Renkema was the first rider on Globalbike to receive the brand new B930 frame. We quickly built it up and after a few rides he proclaimed it was the best bike he has ever ridden.

But then this past Sunday this happened:

If you look closely in the slow motion replay you can see a rider landing on top of the chain stays, breaking both of them, and also putting a crack into the top tube. It should be noted that with the speeds of this race, and the way the rider landed on the chainstays, any bike would have met it's demise due to this accident.

So, he'll be without the new B930 for the next week as we get the new one built up. But at least he is fine and ready to join the rest of the team as we try to rip it up at Joe Martin stage race starting on Thursday.

Customer review of the alloy tubular wheels

2010-04-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

It's not the flashiest or most popular wheelset that we offer, but the 25mm alloy tubular wheelset is an all around great wheel for people who want a light weight (600grams front / 800 grams rear), very strong, aluminum braking surface wheelset. Built with Sapim CX Ray spokes, these wheels make a great climbing, training, or even racing set with the added benefit of the feel of tubular tires. . . and they are also a very economical wheelset at only $500.

We just got this review back from a very happy customer who has been riding his 25mm tubular wheels.

Boyd,

Just wanted to let you know I really like the 25mm aluminum wheels….. I took them out on a windy day for their first test ride doing a loop from Pumpkintown over the Slater and back through Marietta….lots of exposed areas and short jump climbs….

I was so impressed I decided to use them at Rock Hill instead of my Zipp 303’s. They performed outstanding, leaving me refreshed enough at the end to take a flyer with 1 ½ mile left and although I could not hold the pack off, I managed to take 4^th in the Cat 1,2,3 50+ race.

They only weigh slightly more than the 303’s, are still, handle extremely well, and feel really good when you jump on the bike for a quick climb or a sprint.

Great Wheelset. Plus they look great with the Time VX

Thanks

Just a couple pictures of the c50s

2010-04-22T08:33:00.001-07:00

Two different Giants both with the 50mm carbon clincher wheels. These wheels are by far the most popular wheelset we offer. With that perfect balance between aerodynamics, weight, and handling ability, the c50's are the perfect choice if you need one wheel to do everything!

http://boydbikes.com/50mmclincher.html

Remember to order before May 15th to take advantage of our "wheel deals" sale. Details can be found here:
http://boydbikes.com/wheeldeals.htm

A good problem to have

2010-04-15T05:57:00.000-07:00

It appears that the customers have spoken! Our carbon clinchers have become wildly popular, gaining national attention faster than even we predicted they would. As of April 15th we currently have one set of 38mm clinchers and a couple sets of 88mm clinchers left in inventory. We also have a few extra 88mm fronts (perfect for time trialing or triathlons if you are running a disc wheel in the rear).

With this being said, we have already ordered our next batch of carbon clincher rims and they are due to arrive in late May. We know people are wanting the wheels, and we have a plan to reward your patience! Effective today on all wheelsets where there will be a wait, we are offering a "pre-shipment" sale.

From April 15th through April 30th, any carbon clincher wheelset will be marked down 15%
From May 1st to May 15th, any carbon clincher wheelset will be marked down 10%

This means that the already low prices on full carbon clinchers is even better! For example, the 60mm carbon clinchers that retail for only $900 can be yours for only $765. Like the ketchup commercial suggests. . .good things happen to those who wait.

Quick update from Rock Hill

2010-04-09T18:19:00.001-07:00

Dave Forkner wins the street sprints on the Boyd B101 bike with 60mm carbon clinchers! Ben Renkema was second on the 58mm tubulars. Another great victory for Globalbike and Boydbikes.
--
Sent from my Android phone.
Boyd Johnson

Ben Renkema keeps on winning. . .on Boyd wheels

2010-04-07T11:27:00.000-07:00

No, this is not a double post. Yes, Ben Renkema won again on the 58mm tubular wheelset from Boydbikes. Only this time, it was a circuit race in a downpour. With puddles on the course close to half a foot deep in places, Ben was able to still have control of his bike flying around corners and powering to a sprint win. Afterwards he said the braking performance, even in the rain, was better than any wheelset he had used before. He was using the Yellow Swissstop pads, which are a very nice upgrade to any carbon wheelset and can be purchased at a great deal with a set of wheels from Boydbikes.

This weekend, the whole Globalbike team will be racing in Rock Hill, SC. . .can we have another update with a win?

Photo credit thanks to Dawn Lovo at:
www.lovopixs.com
She has great pictures of many of the Florida races available for sale on her website.

Trey picking up his 88mm tubulars

2010-03-29T20:28:00.001-07:00

This wheelset is great for time trials and triathlons where the rider is experienced in gluing tires. Tubulars give a lower weight but are usually reserved only for race situations.

This wheelset weighs in right around 700 for the front and 900 for the rear, a few years ago considered to be a low weight climbing wheelset.
--
Sent from my Android phone.
Boyd Johnson

Thad Dulin wins the Paris Mountain Time Trial

2010-03-28T05:42:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday, the Cycle4Life LLC organized a time trial up Paris Mountain in Greenville, SC. This uphill time trial is 2.2 miles long, averages 7%, and uses the same climb featured every year in the US Professional National Championships.

Riders were greeted with beautiful weather, cool and sunny for the event. Most people would have times around 13-16 minutes, while the winners were expected to ride right around 10 minutes.

Also in attendance was reporter Neil Browne who just launched the new website for cycling news in the Carolinas. This is going to be a great resource for riders in the Carolinas and you can bookmark the webpage at http://carolinacyclingnews.com/
There is a great write up from Neil about the event here

Afterwards there was an interview with winner Thad Dulin. Thad was on his first ride on his new Boydbike B101 built with Sram Rival. Despite being on his first ride on a bike he hadn't adjusted to, Thad blazed the time trial putting in a time of 9:30 and winning the race by 36 seconds. Here is the interview with the champ

Congrats to Thad Dulin on winning the time trial and bringing another victory to a Boyd bike, which is quickly becoming the bike with the most victories on it in the Southeast US.

Two races, two wins!

2010-03-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, the Globalbike team traveled to Columbia, SC to race the Forest Acres Crit and Blythewood Road race. They were well represented with a very strong team, looking good with their new Boyd wheels, Boyd bikes, and brand new Hincapie Sportswear clothing.

Saturday was a very windy race along a hilly course that led to the race coming down to a battle of attrition. Josh Whitmore, sporting a set of the Boyd 58mm tubulars wheels spent the vast majority of the day off the front with one other rider, and then by himself. He finally succumbed to the harsh wind conditions with about 11 miles left in the race. At this point, Boyd himself made an attack and caught out everybody establishing a quick gap. Boyd was also using the 58mm tubular wheels and that aerodynamic advantage helped him hold the gap for the last 11 miles to solo in for the victory. There were times when the heavy wind would make the front of the bike a little hard to control, and for the majority of riders in these wind conditions, the 50mm wheels may have been a better option for the day.

On Sunday, the team was racing in the Forest Acres criterium in Colombia, SC. This was the second race in a series that helps to benefit the Forest Acres Junior cycling team run by race promoter Tom Sunday (word is they may be on some sweet bikes and wheels next year). The course featured some tight narrow turns and one steep kicker of a hill. It was also very windy again.
The racing on a technical course like this means the action will be hot from the gun. Powerhouse rider Thad Dulin, riding a 60mm clincher in the front and 88mm clincher in the rear (he loves this combination and has ridden it in almost every race this year), soon found himself off the front solo. Back in the pack, panic ensued as everybody knew that if you give Thad a few seconds you won't see him again until the race is over. A few laps later, the pack driven largely by the work of Matt Howe reeled Thad back in where Boyd was sitting and waiting.

Boyd launched an attack immediately upon catching Thad and got away for another solo ride. However, this was only ten minutes into an hour long crit. After spending a few laps off the front solo, a chase group of four began closing in on Boyd (including teammate Noah Metzler). Once the junction was made, the group of five began working together and quickly establish a minute and a half gap on the field. Noah was doing a lions share of the work to protect Boyd who stood the best chance for a sprint finish. On the last lap, Noah got to the front with Boyd on his wheel and gradually increased the pace higher and higher. Coming into the last corner, Chris Harkey from the Subaru Fischer team launched an attack but Boyd was able to get onto his wheel and then sprint around him to take a second victory in two days. Noah, riding the B101 frame and the 30mm training wheels (until his carbon wheels are done) was able to still take third place. Back in the peloton, Thad Dulin was able to solo away from the rest of the field to earn 6th place with the aide of those super aero wheels, and Ben Renkema (using the 58mm tubulars) easily took the field sprint for 7th place.
This gave Boydbikes and wheels two spots on the podium and was by far the most successful bike and wheel line of the weekend. So if you are looking for wheels and bikes that obviously pass the test of race worthy, without breaking the bank, check out www.boydbikes.com

driving the break through a rough corner

Noah staring down the cameraman

Taking the win in the final sprint!

Ben Renkema wins on a set of Boyd 58mm tubulars.

2010-03-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Globalbike cyclist Ben Renkema for winning this past weekend at the Chain of Lakes criterium in Florida. On Sunday, Ben bridged up to a breakaway that was already up the road (railing around this corner)

Once up to the break, Ben continued to drive the pace to contribute to the break staying away.

Even though he bridged across and continued to do a lion's share of the work, Ben had enough to time the sprint perfectly and give a great bike throw at the line to pull off a great victory.

With the win on Sunday, Ben was also able to clinch the overall victory for the two day omnium and got to stand on top of the podium.

Boydbikes is definitely proud of the results from this weekend and glad that top level cyclists such as Ben are digging the wheels! Look for more wins coming from cyclists of all levels using Boydbikes products.

http://boydbikes.com/58mmtubular.html

Team Globalbike has it's first races on Boyd bikes and wheels

2010-02-24T04:56:00.000-08:00

Boyd got in the first race miles on the Team Globalbike Edition Road Frame this weekend. On Sunday, he rocked the 88mm(rear) and 60mm(front) carbon clincher wheels. The rest of the team will be on Boyd Bikes in March. Some riders will be on the B101 frame as shown above, while others will be testing out the all new B930, set to be released soon. Boyd provided custom colors to match the Globalbike cycling kit, and can provide the same for your club.

Josh got to try out the Boyd Wheels in the 58mm Tubular variety - seen here with the Team Globalbike Custom logos. He liked them so much, he just had to give them a little ‘pat’ to say thanks.

Josh also spent many years as a wheelbuilder for Cane Creek. He tensioned his own wheels and after sent Boyd an email:

"PS, I built up the carbon wheels last night when I got home. They built up really nice. I was impressed with the quality while building. Very true with no tension on the spokes so super easy to to tighten up. I didn't have to massage it into compliance like most rims."

Local cycling superstar Thad Dulin also got to test out the 60mm front / 88mm rear combo on Saturday's race. After, he posted to his Twitter account "@boydbikes first race today on the new wheels. Give them 10 out of 10.

Team Globalbike is an elite team based out of upstate South Carolina. Boydbikes has partnered with the Globalbike cause that provides bicycles to healthcare workers in developing countries. Many times these healthcare workers were having to walk up to 15 in a day just to see one patient. By providing bicycles they are able to see many more patients everyday and bring them necessary medicine and help. You can learn more about the Globalbike cause at www.globalbike.org

Amputee In Action Athletes Invited to Olympic Training Center

2010-02-17T17:54:00.000-08:00

Almost 20 Paralympic athletes gathered at the Chula Vist Olympic Training Center in California to train together as well to check their fitness level in preparation for the 2010 Cycling season.

Three athletes from the Team Amputee In Action Presented by Prosthetic Care participated in the training. Bryant Young, the team captain, had the opportunity to ride on the new Boyd Bikes 88 mm full carbon clincher wheel set!

Bryant had a PR during the 15k time trial and attributed his fast time to the Boyd wheels. "I could not believe how fast the wheels were," Bryant said after the ride. "When I passed my first two minute man in front I new this was going to be a fast ride, but when I passed the 2nd person I realized this was going to be a solid TT for me."

The training week consisted of a few 50 mile group rides at tempo, some climbing repeats, a 7 mile up hill TT with an average grade of 6%, as well as some pace line practice followed by a nice climb which ended with a 16% grade that put some pain in the legs.

Amputee In Action is thrilled to be riding Boyd Bikes wheels in 2010 and is proud to have Boyd Bikes as a sponsor for the 2010 season.

Visit Amputee in Action at some of the upcoming race events in Greenville, SC and check out their website. www.amputeeinaction.org

Pics of the Bow & Aero fully built up

2010-01-18T06:23:00.001-08:00

I'll just post these here and let the pictures do the talking. The Boydbikes Bow & Aero time trial frame completely built up with Dura Ace and the 60mm carbon clinchers weighs in at 17.9 pounds. As you can see from the frontal view, the wind doesn't see much.

2010-01-15T18:27:00.000-08:00

Here's a video of the 88mm clinchers in action from a first person perspective on the rough roads south of Greenville, SC. These wheels are very fast, but you may not want to use the front wheel on a fairly windy day. Don't watch this video if you have vertigo.

www.boydbikes.com

The 38mm clincher wheel ready to roll at 70mph

2010-01-06T06:35:00.001-08:00

At least while it's still on top of the car. This is a great way to increase gas mileage versus having a regular alloy wheel on top of the car.
--
Sent from my Android phone.
Boyd Johnson

Darren's Felt just got a little bling

2009-12-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

Here you are seeing a set of Boyd carbon clincher wheels on a very nice Felt time trial bike. Darren wanted an aero solution that would still give him control on those windy days. After talking with Boyd, we decided a mix set of wheels would be best.
The rear is an 88mm clincher, very deep for excellent aerodynamic advantage. Since it's on the rear of the bike and has more weight over top of it, this can be used even in windy conditions.

The front wheel is a 60mm clincher. It's still quite deep and very aerodynamic. But because of the shallower profile, this is still manageable as a front wheel in crosswind situations.

By allowing a customer to use different profile rims, Boydbikes gave Darren the most optimal wheelset for the events he would be riding. It's just another thing that we do to give our customers the best product at the best price.

There's a lucky guy

2009-12-03T17:40:00.001-08:00

Who will soon be riding both of these. The Boydbikes Bow & Aero Time Trial frame and a set of 88mm tubular wheels. Look for pictures of him soon, but don't be surprised if the shutter speed isn't fast enough.
--
Sent from my Android phone.
Boyd Johnson

Boyd's father picking up his brand new frame

2009-12-02T14:42:00.001-08:00

Boyd's father has an old bike. It's a hand-me-down that Boyd gave him many years ago when he was done racing it. It's a 1998 Cannondale Caad3 with very old CXP30 wheels and 8 speed shifting.

Needless to say, he needed a nicer bike as he has started riding a lot more with the Hollyloft Cycling Team http://www.hollyloft.com/ based out of Jamestown, NY. Boyd had one of the first prototype frames (El Matador) made up for both him and his father.

He can't wait to build up the complete bike and hopefully get outside a few times with the harsh Western New York winter that will soon have it's grip on the Jamestown area.

Craig Fischer picking up his wheels

2009-12-02T14:38:00.001-08:00

Triathlete Craig Fischer receiving a pair of his 50mm Carbon clinchers. His first words upon picking up the wheels? "Wow, these things are light!"

Check out the info on the 50mm clinchers (our most popular wheel) here:
http://boydbikes.com/50mmclincher.html