56cm XACD Titanium Commuting Hack - Cracked / Welded / Cracked / Welded - Ongoing project...

Hi all,

I thought I would start a thread for my new XACD Titanium project.

XACD is Chinese Ti company that make 'basic' titanium bicycle frames using certified aerospace Grade Ti3AL2.5V 100% seamless tubes (3% Aluminium,2.5% Vanadium,94.5%Titanium).

I purchased the complete bike on eBay from the original owner who had it made to measure back in 2008 and used it as a daily ride until one of the bottom bracket welds cracked this year.

The BB weld probably cracked because the build was soooo ugly. Hopefully I will do better.

I sent a few emails to try to get quotes and only Vernon Barker (Dave Baillie) got back to me to fix this up. The initial quote was £80 but we will see how that evolves:

I have pulled all the parts off the bike and posted the frame for repairs.

Not sure how long it is going to take but in the meantime, I have sold/traded/donated all the components which will help paying the frame repair bill.

The plan is to put a disc front end - I have never ridden a disc brake bike let alone build one so I thought I would give it a go.

I will use this bike to cycle to work so I'm not going mental on parts and I will run 700x28 or 32 tyres.

Here is the parts list:

• Wheelset: 50mm UD carbon 'wide' 23mm rims - Novatec hubs, rear 120mm track, front 100mm disc. Ordered from the far east and should arrive in a couple of weeks.
  
• *Front End: *Not yet located buy the forks will need to have an axle to crown circa 385mm so the geometry isn't too skewed.
  
  
  

That's it for now but I will update this thread when more parts are found.

Don't hold your breath though, it should take a couple of months...

Cheers

********* Forks Update ***********

I have found a set of CXR carbon disc forks, 1 1/8th steerer, 385mm axle to crown so now sorted.
Will take an IS Mounted Disc Brake and also has a hole for cantilever brakes.
Holes for Rack mounts half way up the fork and also by the axle.
Cable guides pre attached for disc brakes.

They look like this:

Vince

************************ Spring 2016 Update ************************

After finally finishing the project with a Thomson finishing kit and a Rolls Titanio saddle.... THE FRAME CRACKED AGAIN.

I guess the #madskids where too much stress for an already weakened point.

I will split the bike and sell the frame on eBay...

JUNE 2016 UPDATE

Frame has been re-welded by Vernon Barker, free of charge. Thank you David Baillie / Vernon!

Not sure what I am going to rebuild it as but will give it a good clean and think about options...

Will you be running drops? with cable disc?
Are you planning any other Ti parts?
I'm looking forward to seeing this.

Not too sure what the plan is, probably swept back bars or risers linked to cable disc brakes so I still have flexibility for levers. Something more relaxed.

I'm not going mental on Ti this time, the headset spacers will be Ti but that about it - unless a cheap seatpost comes up....

Forks wise, there is enough clearance for 35mm tyres and mudguards:

I had a phone call from Vernon Barker saying that the frame has arrived and will be repaired by the end of the month.

I have ordered the 160mm Brakeset from eBay, it will look like this :

The wheels have also arrived and I got stung by £50 of VAT / Import charges...

They look great and are as requested so that's good news. (50mm UD clinchers, 23mm wide rims, front disc hub, rear track).

Next step is tyres then cockpit...

I'm probably wrong but that BB shell weld shows characteristic signs of oxygen being present during the welding process, hence the darkened coloration.
Good luck with the project.

I believe the previous owner has tried to fix the cracked BB weld and didn't have the right equipment hence the discoloration.

Hope VB can fix it up.

If not, I shall be looking for another frame...

Nice project.

Fucking ti though ... if you can't get it sorted just go for steel on a bike for flat country.

stuff looks good. it still has to come together but i think now with time you're learning how to build attractive bikes. or at least not total anti..;)

Thanks @Rodolfo, it's just going to be a plain ride-to-work so no need for fancy colour coordination ;-)

I went to pick up 700x32 Panasonic Panaracer Pasela from @nyoro and fitted them on the wide clinchers.

I think they look great and they fill the fork gap well, I could go for 35mm or even 42mm but I am not 100% sure the frame can take it.

Nice. Good tyre choice!

50mm carbon, such a sensible commuter...

50mm carbon rims, 24 holes.

Less holes = more carbon = stronger rim.

Peter Griffin maths right here.

Joke aside, the profile height of the tyres (about 35mm) makes the 50mm rim look ok. Anything deeper would have been silly.

I would have thought Archetypes would be the sensible option if there was one, do like the no holds barred approach though for a hack bike.

24 holes on a disc brake though?

@edscoble I could have gone with radial lacing too but I thought 24h should already be dangerous enough

Make sure you flip the fork the wrong way round for additional radiness.

Don't be a windup Scoble.

A Woundup would look rather neat, good shout @TM.

The brakeset has now arrived - at £20 all in I didn't expect miracle but they seem decent for the money.

I have also fitted a security skewer on the from wheel, a 17t Andel sprocket paired with a DA lockring and covered the freewheel thread with a Halo cover.

Still waiting for the frame to be repaired and returned.

where did you buy the brakes? Im looking for a budget disc set up they look alright if they are half decent

@markxrat Here is the eBay link to the auction.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-BB5-Disc-Brake-Calipers-G3-rotors-160mm-Front-Rear-set-Levers-Free-Ship-/251473910048?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item3a8d035920

£20 all in, it arrived within a week and I didn't have to pay extra.

PS the Ted of this Parish can repair Titanium- he did a fantastic job on my fork if you're looking for someone.

I did contact SuperTed, Vernon Barker as well as Enigma to get quotes for repairs.

Enigma didn't bother getting back in touch.
Ted took 8 weeks just to email me back.
Vernon Barker got back to me within a week.

It looks like customer relationships are not Ted's forte.

I went for VB

After seeing the pic of the brake set I was going to ask what they were. Then I saw the price. Think I'll stick to Spyre SLCs on my project.

Quite a few people on tandem forums complaining about the arm (where the weight saving is) breaking on the SLC version of Spyres.