Neutrino Mini-Velo Suggestions, Methods, and FAQs

by Connor

With our latest cargo of Neutrinos having arrived earlier this month, and with mini-velo wheelsets on the way in which any day now, we determined it will be a good suggestion to brush up on the technical specs of the bike itself and provide some ideas of how one can construct up an entire bike. This fast and concise rundown is designed that will help you discover the right construct and match to your personal Neutrino Mini Velo. 

Dimension Information

You are not going to start out a construct equipment with out shopping for the fitting body measurement first, so let's get into match. Our Neutrinos are available Small, Massive, and XXL. Due to the non-traditional nature of the frameset, we designed the Neutrino in solely three sizes to span a broad vary of heights and physique dimensions. 

The Small is greatest fitted to people within the sub – 5'6″ (167cm) top vary. Due to the low-slung, BMX-esque form of the body, inseam and stand over are largely irrelevant with regards to body measurement, making this bike ultimate for people struggling to discover a bike sufficiently small for them. The Massive is our hottest measurement, and is designed for people between 5'7″ (170cm) – 6'1″ (185cm). The XXL is for the taller people, designed with these taller than 6'1″ in thoughts. A better and longer high tube boasts correct slot in a tiny package deal, and the metal building of the body offers a sturdy basis for all kinds of tall riders. The XXL measurement body does not actually match right into a checked bag, however we had lots of people asking for a measurement bigger than Massive, so there you go.

Notice that because the headtube size will increase as you go up in sizes, people with extra attain searching for a more-relaxed match should have so as to add a good variety of stack spacers to seek out the right match. Remember that you possibly can at all times lower extra steerer off and punch down the star nut – you possibly can't add it again on. It is at all times greatest to throw the wheels, cranks, seatpost/saddle, and headset on together with your desired bars, and play with top. Scoot round, coast and mushy pedal, and discover a usually ultimate place for the kind of driving you propose on doing- then add 10-20mm of stack above the place your stem is mounted, and lower that a lot above. You may at all times shave that down, but when after a few rides, you discover your stem is just a bit too low, you will be glad you waited and saved the additional 20mm or so.

Interjection from Igor: the steerer tube is metal, so be at liberty to stack them up as a lot as you need. Chances are you'll get some bizarre appears from the Slam Your Stem Society, however I believe it's best to embrace the tower of energy. 

Components

Bars/Stem

The Neutrino is a cool animal at first look, that a lot is definite. Nevertheless, it is the distinctive form and low-slung design that permits it is rider to set it up virtually nonetheless they like! Many bikes these days are designed solely for flat bars or drop bars. However, like the remainder of our bikes, the Neutrino is designed with very impartial “efficient” geometry that permits the usage of both bar model. So be at liberty to make use of drops, flats, uprights, or alt-bars. 

As with all bike, given the size of an individual and their bike, flat bars provide a wider hand positioning, bringing the arms out and the shoulders large. This has an analogous impact on attain as a drop bar with a barely longer stem. I believe again to my drop bar conversion on the All Metropolis Nature Boy I rode at GRUSK final 12 months (I wrote a weblog submit about changing this bike from flat to drop bar). I used to be operating a 780mm riser bar with a 40mm stem. After going to a 44mm large drop bar, I used an 80mm stem, and felt that I used to be in about the identical place, if not barely extra ahead than earlier than. Suffice it to say, should you're planning on operating a drop bar setup, take into account your stem size. You might have considered trying it barely longer than you think- it is easy to take a look at the Neutrino and suppose the attain goes to be too quick. 

Relating to stems, everybody's received their very own preferences. A lot of this can even be depending on what bars you run, and can have an effect on your stack spacing as nicely. If you happen to're operating a riser bar or one thing like a Klunker, you might discover that a normal, straight threadless stem is your greatest wager, as the form and rise might be predicable and tuneable by adjusting stack. If you happen to're searching for large rise and a little bit bit of fashion, some quite common stems to run on the Neutrino are Cigne and Completely happy stems – a Cigne with a Nouveau Randonneur is probably our most wild trying and enjoyable to journey Neutrino we have had right here. Utilizing riser stems additionally reduces the quantity of steerer tube protruding of the headset, and reduces the variety of stack spacers wanted – an aesthetic desire, after all.

Usually talking, we are likely to advocate individuals begin with a 90mm stem. That is probably the most medium place for many flat or drop bar setups. You may discover fairly rapidly should you want a shorter or longer stem to get place.

Seatpost

Once we got here out with the 2nd-gen Neutrino, we added a stealth-routing gap for a seat-tube exit for dropper seatposts. Clearly, you are greater than welcome to make use of a normal, inflexible seatpost, however the availability of the dropper permits extra adjustability, compact measurement, and ease of dismount when driving in congested areas. 

With both choice, please word that it is greater than seemingly that you're going to be having fairly a bit extra seatpost protruding of the body than you'll on a normal bicycle. Additionally understand that should you're on the taller or heavier facet, you need to just be sure you have a secure quantity of seatpost within the seat tube. All seatposts have a minimal insertion, so remember. We now have a protracted, Medium Setback Seatpost we advocate for the Neutrino.

Shifty Bits

We have achieved a bunch of various builds with numerous drivetrains, so use this as a information from our testing. Our objective is to maintain issues easy in an effort to benefit from the journey quite than worrying about your drivetrain.

The Neutrino was designed to be a 1x particular bike. That's, due to the constructive backside bracket rise you want to purchase a particular mini-velo/folding bike entrance derailleur with a 35.0mm clamp – which in keeping with my Google-fu doesn't exist.

Our suggestion is to make use of a street/CX 1x crank. The Neutrino has a 68mm backside bracket shell (English threading) so you possibly can run a sq. taper setup like our 1x Crankset with Slender-Huge Chainring (coming again in inventory in about 1 month) or with a 2-piece crank like a Sram Apex, Shimano GRX, and many others. You may match as much as a 48-50t 1x chainring, however the bigger chainring you go, the weirder the angle will get between your cassette cog and the ring, making for delayed shifting and fewer slack within the chain to make up for chainline. We have discovered that 42-44t is the candy spot for many builds. 

The rear finish makes use of 135 disc QR spacing, so any trendy QR disc hub in 135 ought to match. This leaves a few of the drivetrain selection as much as the client, however we have at all times discovered that the Shimano HG11 freehub physique affords probably the most versatility with regards to sourcing and utilizing drivetrain components. The important thing for a rear derailleur is that it must be pretty quick.

Whereas commonplace Shimano/SRAM short-cage street derailleurs are seemingly the most typical to be discovered, they'll solely often deal with a 28/30t max cog. If you happen to wished to suit a barely taller cassette, the Shimano Zee MTB derailleur is a brief cage-size derailleur that matches cassettes starting from 11-32 to 11-36. That is the perfect derailleur for this bike, as it's sufficiently small to not rub on the tire, however has the capability to run as much as a 36t cog.

The rationale you possibly can't use something longer than medium cage rear derailleur is because the dishing of the wheel, and the depth of a normal cassette rear hub, leads to the tallest cog being very near inline with the widest a part of your tire. Since a 20″ wheel could be very small, this leaves little room for a derailleur to wrap round a tall cog, whereas not rubbing the top of the cage on the tire, buzzing your derailleur. Belief us, we have tried all kinds of derailleurs in testing.

So far as drivetrain setups here's a sampling of our favorites:

Alternately, you possibly can at all times run a single velocity! Igor is operating 42×16 on his Neutrino, which is nice for operating errands round city and cruising to the park with the household. I would not go any decrease as a result of you then'll be spinning on a regular basis.

Wheels and Tires

As said earlier than, the Neutrino is designed solely for normal 20″(406 bead seat diameter) wheels, with a 135xQR disc rear spacing, and entrance 100xQR disc spacing. The advantage of the Neutrino's 20″ commonplace measurement is that you should utilize most any BMX rim (recognized for his or her sturdiness and wider tire width), and a few even include tubeless choices (oooh).

We promote Neutrino-specific wheelsets on our website, utilizing our Rear and Entrance Disc Hubs, and Velocity Cliffhanger rims, assembled by hand at Velocity with shade matched spokes. Demand is excessive, so make sure to join product inventory notifications, and preserve your eyes peeled – they're going to be gone earlier than you recognize it.

As for tires, we advocate one thing between 2.1-2.3″. That is the candy spot for bmx and 406 tires. One factor you need to search for in a BMX tire is whether or not they use single or double ply building. Until you are hucking your Neutrino down a 7 set or doing a gnarly smith grind, go for single-ply tires. Double ply is for exhausting landings and tips, and single ply is for bmx racing. Single ply is lighter and extra compliant and extra enjoyable to journey for 99% of us. After all, should you discover a cool tire shade…..then all bets are off on building.

So there you've gotten it! A fundamental rundown of the necessities you want to know for build up your first Neutrino. Clearly, when you have any questions, please consult with the product information web page on our web site, or attain out to us straight at [email protected].