Current Projects chat and miscellany

I want one!

You need to start putting a bit more effort into your homework then.

Looking good but not a fan of those forks really, are they alu? Would rather see either a flat crown steel track fork or some nice crabon straight bladed....

Wound Ups.

Yawn.

In fact when I first saw a picture of the bike the seller sent to me, I'd imagined it too with steel forks and I already had planned to cut some more thread on the ones I have and rattlecan them black (currently bare steel). But when I saw it in real the forks actually suit it well and are quite well made. So I'll keep them.

I know it doesn't catch up with the Negri, but it's a little more useable. Also then Negri was, despite me denying it, a bit too big with a 59,5 seat tube. This has a 58.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aKPcUinFv9M/UyXU14L4LtI/AAAAAAAAER0/giEYw_Zb9vo/w1032-h688-no/P1080636.jpg

Ritchey is done! 8 speed retroshift works a treat. Slightly less range than the previous 10 speed drivetrain but I'm hoping this'll encourage me to run and pick the bike up in muddy sections, keeping the bike a bit cleaner and preventing any more DNF.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-84HfRBSYvag/UxNobJQHTUI/AAAAAAAAEGw/n3Sh30mA7BY/w1052-h688-no/P1080610.JPG

The Cross Check is getting a low-trail disc fork, 45mm tyres (losing the mudguards) and a rear rack for late spring/summer overnight and offroad adventures.

and finally the Zullo is getting a 1" aheadset and steamroller forks as I've had enough of threaded headsets.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YDjsQ0RjnHw/Um7xd272ZjI/AAAAAAAACCY/jUJq3Hsqakw/w516-h688-no/IMG_20130827_123148.jpg

then, no more bike expenses ever, right?

Love the Swiss Cross, nice work.

So built this yesterday, including cutting the seat-mast and steerer, which was pretty scary. Went out for a perhaps ill advised century with Fox and cjr today. Conclusion: it's fucking boss. Compared to my 20 year old LOOK KG176 it feels like I'm getting about 10% more power out of sprints, it's a kilo lighter over all and the new saddle doesn't kill me, though could probably be improved. Stoked.

Ritchey is done! 8 speed retroshift works a treat. Slightly less range than the previous 10 speed drivetrain but I'm hoping this'll encourage me to run and pick the bike up in muddy sections, keeping the bike a bit cleaner and preventing any more DNF.

The Cross Check is getting a low-trail disc fork, 45mm tyres (losing the mudguards) and a rear rack for late spring/summer overnight and offroad adventures.

and finally the Zullo is getting a 1" aheadset and steamroller forks as I've had enough of threaded headsets.

then, no more bike expenses ever, right?

Sick stable, i'm so jelly of the zullo and the swiss cross in particular

So good - I'll bet you're unstoppable on it.
Planning any racing with it?

So built this yesterday, including cutting the seat-mast and steerer, which was pretty scary. Went out for a perhaps ill advised century with Fox and cjr today. Conclusion: it's fucking boss. Compared to my 20 year old LOOK KG176 it feels like I'm getting about 10% more power out of sprints, it's a kilo lighter over all and the new saddle doesn't kill me, though could probably be improved. Stoked.

Finished my new one yesterday, took it out for spin today....lovely ride and lovely weather conditions too!

Nearly €700 and it still comes with an aluminium fork!?

What is so special about these frames?

There is one bad thing with this frameset, that i cannot afford a Colossi Niteo (Columbus SL tubing) so while searching i found a frame only offer here

So good - I'll bet you're unstoppable on it.
Planning any racing with it?

I'm not really sure to be honest. Having witnessed crashes and crashed myself a couple of times while racing I'm a bit hesitant. I'm not sure I could handle not winning and have a broken bike.

Omniums installed, finished!

http://www.pedalroom.com/bike/balk-pista-16718

This is basically a Merckx, right?

excuse me sirs, how might one make a handlebar shim look slightly less anti?

its black vs silver stem/bars unfortunately

i heard some NaOH gets the anodising off, anyone tried this?

cheers

1 Attachment

Buy a different shim or cut down some coke can.

Alternately a stem that designed for those bar clamp diameter.

Omniums installed, finished!

http://www.pedalroom.com/bike/balk-pista-16718

How the hell did you finish this so soon? Did you get the bb i sent already?

I wonder where mine is?

Looks really good Nutsjes but I think a silver post would look nice because of the stem and fork.

Day 25 en route and counting

you bought it?

carbon stem?

Nah, it's not a Merckx, my Merckx Gara still had an ita bb while this has a BSA one. I think balk Only resprayed Merckx frames in the beginning.

Thrust I haven't got yours yet but did have one, will use yours for my Force group.

Indra, you may be right, last night I've put on some spotter bars and a black Cinelli stem, will shoot some pics. But drops and restraps is a bit silly imo.

carbon stem?

Eventually. Upgrades in order of importance / cash flow: black / carbon stem, OS bars (maybe carbon), carbon ergos, record / chorus rear mech. If anyone has any of these things for cheap...

you bought it?

Indeed

Nah, it's not a Merckx, my Merckx Gara still had an ita bb while this has a BSA one. I think balk Only resprayed Merckx frames in the beginning.

Thrust I haven't got yours yet but did have one, will use yours for my Force group.

Indra, you may be right, last night I've put on some spotter bars and a black Cinelli stem, will shoot some pics. But drops and restraps is a bit silly imo.

Ah yes, I forgot about that heh.

Where in London would sell tan wall Michelin World Tour tyres in 700x32?