Testing on a budget

I'm starting to get impatient to get this built, even though I was supposed to take my time over collecting bits, so the budget may get stretched a bit.

I've got some 3T S bend extensions, a -20° 120mm stem and, most importantly, a travel kettle (obviously) from eBay. I just need to sort out clips a base bar and brake levers.

Ribble have the Zipp Vuka for £38 and CRC 3T Vola for £44 or I could get a Pro Synop from the classifieds, I should really just make a decision so I can stop constantly checking eBay/classsifieds - paranoid about missing a bargain after the Zipp setup on TT forum went so quickly the other day.

After a shard of glass ended my bunch on Saturday I messed about with position and I figure I want, at least as a starting point, my elbows about where the tops are and the base bar significantly lower for stability so I'm pretty set on something stackable. The best price I can find Vuka top mount clips is £65.

I keep swithering over 10 or 11 speed but I I've eventually decided just to go for a Tiagra 4600 rear mech. I can use the front Ultegra we've got unless the GF gets a team bike this year and we need it to build that up.

Deda Parabolica is cheap and stackable with Zipp vuka riser kit. I have a spare pair (straight extensions) if interested?

Few new bits have landed:

eBay brand new, 120mm -20°, <£25 :)

eBay

PlanetX
(apparently the photos I've put up in the classifieds haven't been working so I'm trying flickr now instead)

I've some clip ons coming from @jambon and just need to decide on base bars so I can decide on brake levers.

p.s. @Pifko PM'd you about the clip ons - I still need another set for Claire.

p.p.s. if anyone comes across a tiny TT frame (preferably 700c) let me know, Claires coach has been analysing her numbers on WKO4 and concluded that it agrees with what he has been trying to tell her for years and she should give testing a go. So there may be a miniTT build project at some point this summer. We just need to figure out her position so we have a better idea what top tube length we should be looking for.

I've got some Profile Airwings going spare: 26.0mm clamp though, so you'd need a shim.

Yours for a tenner, but I have a feeling that postage is a bit strong: about £6.

1 Attachment

Thanks @Scilly.Suffolk , it's not a lack of options that is holding me back, more a lack of decisive-ness. Once I make a decision on bars and actually have something on it's way to me I'll order a rear mech and a chain.

I was about to tag you, but see you've spotted the Vuka base bars and SRAM levers: good call on both.

and now paid for! Just rear mech and chain to go, I think - could do with digging out a couple of calipers and a front from the parts bin to make sure I have them and they aren't seized. That can be tomorrow nights task.

Dug out the tin snips tonight for a little arts and crafts to make the 3T extensions fit the Deda clips.

Could do with some slightly thicker ally sheet for the shim; I don't like how closed the clamp is at the moment but it'll do for now. As I need some clips for Claire too I might just bite the bullet and buy the full Vuka Alumina set up for £100 I should probably have bought in the first place. Although this should work out about half that so I'll have to think on it, especially as it looks like I now have a line on a disc that I probably shouldn't be buying... lets hope the guy I've got interested in my mtb forks comes through.

How does this work? Do I just need a set of these to use my existing Parabolica bars?

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/Zipp-Vuka-Alumina-Clip-Riser-Kit/ZIPPHBAT206?utm_campaign=Googlebase&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=Googlebase&geoip=UK&gclid=COrGutS-jMsCFUmeGwodf0ENlw&gclsrc=aw.ds

That's my understanding/plan.

Yep, spot on. Here's mine:

This looks like it's all coming together now, just waiting for the chain and rear mech to arrive - I was trying to get the mech cheap from eBay but people are will to pay way over the odds for used parts on there and I managed to miss the few I saw that went cheap, so I've just grabbed them from Merlin.

Absolutely mint condition Vuka base bars and TT500 levers arrived from @TheArchitect and I was given a steerer shim so the cockpit is pretty much set up. I'll probably get some Vuka risers to get the bars in a similar position to @Pifko above (I PM'd about some on the classifieds but haven't had replies to any of the last 3 messages I've sent on the forum; maybe I need to change my deodorant?!).

I think I've resurrected a pair of gummed up 6700 brake calipers and ran the cables for them on Saturday between bunch and driving down to Lancaster.

Last night I got to the gear cables - the front (I've decided on a front mech as there are a couple of hilly TTs I want to do) actually went pretty easily even though I hadn't ran a guide tube for it and had to do it from scratch. The rear was another matter entirely though; it took forever -it takes full length outers internally and it just didn't want to follow the inner through the frame. Eventually managed it by pulling the fork but it did kink the outer so we'll have to see if shifting is ok once the rear mech is cabled up.

tl:dr - it's coming along, more pics soon.

I have ultegra 6500 rear and front mech available for cheap as chips. On phone so skim reading.

Cheers fella but I'm going 10 speed and all but the chain have now arrived.

No probs.

Last night I spent what little free time I get of an evening searching for the front mech instead of finishing getting this built up, very frustrating and I still can't find the bloody thing, even though I had it just a couple of weeks ago. First race in just over a week now too so hoping to spend some time riding it this weekend.

http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=108357

Sorted for a skinsuit and helmet?

@Scilly.Suffolk Total Fitness Bath are doing it new for pretty much that, just without the risers. But I've got the cockpit sorted for now.

@Pifko yep; skanky eBay skinsuit - seller claims worn twice but it was either a grim day or they were wearing it for 'cross judging by the amount of grit coming out of the chamois! It's in teh wash before I wear it. Plain black so it won't make me single. Just waiting for the helmet to turn up, hopefully tomorrow. Scott Split for £50, just hope it's in decent nick - shouldn't have bought it but thought I'd sold my mtb forks to cover it, looks like that might have fallen through so it's on the never never until I get my finances in order or sell more stuff.

Saved by my very good friends at Gamma Transport Division who sorted me out with a front mech so busy building tonight.

@mustard I think you and I are on a similar buying spree. I sorted my bike at the end of last year, but I picked up a cheap hed3 last month, then a skinsuit for £9. I'm waiting till I do a proper 10 this year before 'investing' more or going back to riding on the road for fun.

£9?! - I now feel ripped off having paid £15 for mine ;)

On the lookout for a disc then I'll stop (and start a new project!). Recon if this works for me this year I might strip it down over the winter and get it painted.

My brother and I are looking to make our own disk covers. We are both pretty good at making stuff and since my bike is 11 speed I don't think I'm going to pick up a deal on a second hand disk any time soon. Again, not going to do it until I actually ride my tt bike in anger at least once.

I was thinking of making one but it's looking like I'll need it sooner than later; the frame and my wheels aren't playing nicely, I'm hoping it's just because my deeps are pretty wide and there's not an issue with the frame. Picking up a 20mm tyre tomorrow to try on the back, hopefully that'll be enough to get me rolling for now.

@xavierdisley don't suppose you know if there were any clearance issues with the back wheel on the £1000 bike?

I'm very aware this thread is somewhat lacking in pics but, just to add to the things that aren't working for me at the moment my phone has decided it's not going to save any pictures!

Clearance issues yes you will struggle to get a 23mm tyre in there. The £1k bike is right here actually, Rich dropped it off a couple of days ago as we're going to be stripping it for parts for another sponsored rider.

Thanks, that puts my mind at ease that the frame isn't borked! I don't think my Knight rims are going to work either, with being 28mm?! wide.

I don't have another back wheel that's going to work so next weekends race is going to have to be on the road bike and the search for a disc continues. Annoyingly I've passed up a coupe of suitable discs being sold locally and there's a Hed Jet on eBay - that teh seller has put PROtotype decals on :/ - but I suspect that may be too wide a rim too.