Open Bicycle

…Recycled soda-pop cans?  We were here checking out the Halo hubs on BlueLug (via PedalConsumption) and came across these aluminum alloy axle nuts – terrible idea.  By laws of metallurgy, aluminum alloy will forever be more prone to stripping than any steel alloy.  I’ve stripped a few steel axle nuts using adjustable wrenches instead of 15mm’s, the last thing I would want it to be cursing at a rounded-off pretty purple anodized axle nut in the rain trying to change a flat.  Aluminum alloy nuts would be a little more practical if they used a tool with more surface engagement, but I still don’t think it would be that great of an idea – stick to steel.

Stay tuned – next week Joshua plans on writing a short article about a new set of carbon-fiber 115mm (yes 115mm) ultra-light track axle nuts he’s been developing to match his Chubb hubs & aero bars.