Current Projects chat and miscellany

No idea on frame chap but glad to see it is that time again :-)

I reckon you're making a mountain out of a molehill, if you lock it well, and look scraggy enough, it should be fine.

Well I do have Tektro R559 brakes and the rychtarski frameset with few bits (cranks, handlebar etc in parts bin) bit of a @edscoble question but whats stopping me from 650b conversion? The frame has loads of clearances. I could get 5700 shifters, rear mech and some wide-narrow ring for cheap 1x10 set up. Pit lock stuff isnt pricey either for road bike ..

No, no, just no. Don't make a handmade one-off custom Columbus Max road bike into a outside-only rat.

Just my opinion of course :)

:P its the most financially viable option with minimum expenditure; wont lock it outside ALL the time but yeah it will see occasional locking ..

so do PL23 have bad rep for cracking compared to SL23? SL23 are pricey ..

You're not factoring in selling stuff first...

On a different note y u 650b? Isn't the cheapest option just put some 700c wheels on and ride?

thicker tyres; guards .. already have brakes

It's more expensive buying a 650b wheelset (Freshtripe) than a 700c shimano.

Plus while there are great 650b tyres out there, you won't get those heavy puncture resustance type in 32mm, though I never had puncture resistant on my lightweight 42mm tyres, and the girlfriend ride the 32mm grand bois on her London commute, and rarely suffer punctures (5 a years probably).

It's just easier to put cheap shimano wheel, 25mm gatorskin, and mudguard.

And I think you're being a #buyer again, surely get the charge plug that's on sales and use that for commuting is a better bet? You can get 650b fixed if you really want from freshtripe.

It's the most financially option and you're going for Pacenti rims.

yeah 700c will be cheaper; was just window shopping ..

Or this

You could build a crosscheck. I believe @jontea is selling one. They come recommended with the cupcakes seal of approval. Big fat tyres and guards, no problem.

Get a Dutch bike from Dutchie and lock it outside only.

Just buy the plug, any bike you build will end up being expensive and you'll worry about leaving it locked up over night.

Because prolly

This

This is like talking a nutter off a bridge.

@amey you need a Moulton (with sram red wireless obvs).

Of all of the bikes I've owned that GT is the only one I really miss ..

Going through a lot of bikes is so much fun; I dont get it why everyone doesent do it

@miro_o you did a 650b conversion project didnt you? What are your experiences/thoughts?

Winter! Is there a hack to get raceblade longs to fit nicely round 25c tyres? It all gets a bit tight around the rear brake, hence the ugly bump in the guard.

I went 650b after several years of ^this type of annual tyre/guard fiddling.

On my steel road frame the conversion was pretty straight-forward. It gave me the 32mm tyres + full guards that I really rate for winter/night riding. My winter bike has reached a state of low-tech nirvana. It also looks particularly heinous now it sports a crabon™ SMP and huge lights.

Things to bear in mind if you go for it...

• tyre choice isn't huge. I think there are plenty of good tyres but you can't walk into a LBS and pick some up, so buy a bunch (and make sure they're folders if you want to tour).
  
• pedal strike can be an issue, so don't use wide pedals.
  
• I think maybe braking isn't quite as tight as on the Campag short-drop Centaur brakes I had before, I'm not sure this is related to the new rims or the nature of (very) long drop calipers. The difference is really tiny.
  

Nice frame !
I'm building the same !
I was thinking of building it with D-A 7400, but I changed my mind to D-A 7700 !

I went 650b after several years of ^this type of annual tyre/guard fiddling.

On my steel road frame the conversion was pretty straight-forward. It gave me the 32mm tyres + full guards that I really rate for winter/night riding. My winter bike has reached a state of low-tech nirvana. It also looks particularly heinous now it sports a crabon™ SMP and huge lights.

Things to bear in mind if you go for it...

tyre choice isn't huge. I think there are plenty of good tyres but you can't walk into a LBS and pick some up, so buy a bunch (and make sure they're folders if you want to tour).
pedal strike can be an issue, so don't use wide pedals.
I think maybe braking isn't quite as tight as on the Campag short-drop Centaur brakes I had before, I'm not sure this is related to the new rims or the nature of (very) long drop calipers. The difference is really tiny.

With disc brakes giving no penalty to differing rim sizes on the same bike I wonder about having a set of 700c summer wheels, alongside some 650B winter wheels.

Depends on what tyre I could get into my fork of course.

Going through a lot of bikes is so much fun; I don't get it why everyone doesn't do it.

Just buy the damn Plug, if it got stolen, you can easily get a new one.

Depends on what tyre I could get into my fork of course.

32mm definitely, unsure of 38mm* , I can bring some Hutchinson to Matt for you to fit, it's the same tyres as @miro_o, nothing special, just average.

*I will have some lightly worn 38mm lightweight tyres to find out.