Custom steel road bike (Rychtarski !)

By the by, the head tube and bb have now been faced (thanks fitzrovia). I considered having the fork crown faced, too, but king say it's not critical unless the fork is grossly out of square, which it isn't, so hurrah.

So ready by weekend? :)

I somehow suspect there will be more faffing about :)

Weekend after next is my target. Depends if I pull the trigger on a new wheelset and force 22, or if I leave it.

Thinking about this more, if I can't handle the colour then it'll go back to be swapped for a black or pewter.

I had to google it, but Pewter is reeeaallllll nice.

And it would match the grey accents on Force 22 :)

Hello, I am glad that your frame arrived safe this time.
How are the overall aesthetics (paint job ,brazing, tube mitering …) of your frame.
Thanks

Buy force 22... Is amazing.

Cheers. The aesthetics are great. I'm really happy. I will post pics when I have a moment!

Pewter might happen; the pink has arrived and its not a great match for the lettering on the down tube to be honest.

Ach that "not quite right" middle ground is the worst. Pewter = Super.

pictures!!
of that frame I mean, not just random pictures

Further recommendations welcome for the colour of the king headset.

I don't think the pink works, and nor does orange. I'm thinking play it safe with black? I noticed that the rychtarski I posted on the first page of this thread has a pewter CK with a black stem and it doesn't look so good, so that's put me off.

Also, latest thoughts on Sram Force 22 is tat I want it, but buying that plus 11-speed wheels is at least £900 so it's a silly way to burn money. I'm going off the idea; a ride on my simple singlespeed cross bike this afternoon has reminded me that bling bits don't really affect the ride.

I'll also take recommendations on the seatpost. Alloy, black (matt, to match the pro plt stem I just bought), 20mm layback, needs to work with carbon railed saddles.

I have a ritchey logic post on my cross check which I might well borrow for a bit just to get rolling.

With the lighter, more modern colour, plus prodomipredominantly black components, I'd say black sotto voce.

But then looking this makes me think silver... but that might be the white tail/writing. If you do go silver definitely get a silver seat post clamp to balance.

Don't go for a 'colour'. Unless you've got an exact match for an accent on the bike it will look naff. In which case red anodized all the things!

Why alu seatpost rather than carbon?

I'm not certain that it matters how close the colour match is between the decals and headset, it's just nice to get some colour on there.

Totally agree with Hugo.

If it's not gonna be an exact matchy matchy where colour is concerned, I think Black Sotto Voce. It'll match the rest of your components, and and "all black everything" will keep things nice and quiet visually and draw people's attention to the frame, which is probably where it should be?

I think you're on the right lines. The pink one is going back, to be replaced by black sotto voce.

I've also ordered another pair of rival 10speed cranks. Gonna build this up 10speed with my existing wheels at first, and enjoy the feeling of the extra £800 in my wallet. Sensible choice is sensible (if boring).

Just a preference to avoid carbon on my bikes. (I have carbon rails on the saddle as I already own it).

Any thoughts?

Zipp Service Course SL.

Not bad, I have been mulling that over.

I have one, very nicely made, solid clamp, does what it needs to do.

Black sotto voce king ordered, along with a thomson black seat clamp (I need a 28.6, and only have a 29.8 in the parts bin).

Should be able to build this weekend :)

If it's possible to get it that is.

The Zipp post is good, but it's gloss black. Fizik Cyrano or the older Deda Zero 100 are worth a look.

I'm mulling over one of the 2014 zipp service course (not SL) seatposts for this. Benefits: matt black, cheaper, 20mm offset. Not so sure: are the graphics wipe-able? Newer zipp stuff is laser etched bit I can't find any info on the older ones.

Album I bought some cable stops (gold anodised token, which might look awful but I couldn't find brass ones for sale anywhere) and bar tape (old faithful lizard skins). Build is lagging a bit as I have my arm in a sling so its turbo only for a bit (boo!)