Commuto-x bike

You must be gutted to hear that David Millar's idea of a dutch bike is your commute bike.

Was working at an event today and had the bike locked up. David Millar was there chatting to a friend of mine and pointed to the bike and said it was exactly his idea of a perfect town bike, and it's the kind of thing he wants when he retires.

Very cool indeed.

James, what did you do about the caliper? I have a V Twin setup that I don't want....

Hope warrantied the caliper (after I had bought a replacement as I needed one in a hurry). So I now have a spare caliper.

After a prang last week the bike needs an overhaul.

Shimano r685 mechanical/hydraulic sti, ultegra rear mech, front mech and compact cranks, new 40t Hope rear hub, 11/32 cassette, pacenti sl25 rims running Schwalbe 1 tyres tubeless and a genesis 2015 croix de fer carbon fork.

Parts are arriving and am getting Phil at Neils Wheels to put it all together, they did the crash repair quote so getting them to do the work.

I'm getting a croix 30 in cycle scheme, fucking excite about the Shimano hydros!

I had a play around with the stainless croix de fer, and the hydros are awesome. Mine arrived today, they are a little porky weight wise but will still be better than using the hope v twin.

Am very excited.

Who cares about weight!

What did you think of the croix overall? Apart from a bit podgy.

Pretty spot on, an otp that does what the commuto x bike was meant-to.

Aside from the overhaul, I do hope you're ok James.

am doing well, how is life with you?

went in to Neil's Wheels with a friend who is looking to buy a bike, and my frame was up in the workstand

fork had arrived 15 minutes earlier, wheels have been built, front and rear mechs are on. Phil has drilled out the brake cable bosses so it can take the hydraulic hose without the little clips

finally this will be the bike i had wanted to build when I bought the frame, full hydraulics etc and am interested to see how road tubeless works for me

am rather excite

I think I'll meet you after you get the bike .. want to see this

interested to see how road tubeless works for me

Which tyres you going for?

Schwalbe 1 28mm

I used them for Roubaix. The hardest bit was getting hold of them. Easy to get on the rim and pump up real easy.

Curiously, tho, when all the air comes out...they pop off the bead. On my Grails, anyhoo.

Life is pretty good, actually.

Glad to know that this is still rocking...

Spoke with Neil's Wheels this morning. Yesterday the tyres were not mounting tubeless so were left overnight with tubes in to get the beads seated. Plan was to then unseat one bead remove tubeand reinflate tubeless with only one side of the tyre needing to re-engage. Despite identical tyres and rims front and rear the rear is not quite behaving. Front wheel is done, rear wheel both beads disengaged when the tube was deflated. They will be trying wit a compressor later - Phil had made a 2l bottle into a charger chamber inline between the pump and the valve on the wheel but the rear wheel is not playing nicely.

Am wondering how easy adding more sealant is going to be, hopefully once the tyres are on and sealant has got between the clinching surfaces and the bead then things will slightly glue in place.

#Innertubes4lyf

Ordered my Croix yesterday, due end of month.

#fucktubes sounds so wrong

#pumpingsealantwithmychargerchamber

I found that they went in to the bead fine - they just don't stay there, when there's no air pressure holding them in place.

Even after a few rides with sealant they'd pop off the bead with the air out. Had to re-tape the rim because of this, as my first rather shonky attempt had the tyre pulling the tape with it in to the centre channel.

Rear tyre/wheel were still playing silly buggers when I went to collect. So we changed valve and it now appears to be holding. First impressions is even with brake pads not bedded in the brakes are much more responsive.

Handlebars are in the position from my Cyclefit about6 years ago, but need to drop down, at that height it puts too much pressure on my degenerating spinal discs, so probably need to drop 2cm further as riding in the drops is more comfy than on the hoods right now.

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lovely bike.

Be interesting to know how you get on with the tubeless.

Will see if it holds pressure tonight!

Fingers crossed all good.