Orlowski CX

This happened to the IF last September due to the non-UK friendly sealed tube design (ok, my lack of drying out the seat tube didnt help).

I contacted IF but the warranty replacement was going to be almost the cost of a new frame so an alternative was required, but what....

A deal on a dream ti frame and fork was agreed but fell through at the last moment so I continued to look for something 'special'. Then someone here linked to an Enve cross fork with a tapered steerer at something crazy like 70% off and a seed was sown - get a frame built around a fork purchase. I already had an Orlowski so the decision seemed easy.

A couple of e-mails later and I had this

a nicely contradictory mix between steel rim brake simplicity and tapered headtube sturdiness.

And now it has arrived.

Plan is to build with a silver Rival group set (I also have black but need a compact) although with the devil in the detail I'm sure I can cock it up.......

Looks wonderful! Tire clearance looks ample, but maybe the lack of chainstay bridge is deceiving. Whats the reasoning behind that btw?

Not sure about the rationale for lack of the chainstay bridge as I didn't specify either way.

I did go for clearance for 40c and tried out a 45c on the front today and it fit fine although there wasn't huge room for any mud. Which is ok as I'm planning on mainly using 35c,

looks mint

Looks great man.
Can i ask you where did you find the piece to invert the functioning of the front derailleur? I'm after that too but can't find it anywhere. Thanks a lot.

If you mean the little wheel it came with the frame but just Google 'Sturmey Archer pulley wheel' e.g. https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/hub-spares/sturmey-archer-pulley-assy-118-inch-dtube-hsj521/ and http://www.cyclerepairman.co.uk/Old-school-vintage--sturmey-archer-gear-pulley-wheel-/-clamp-assembly-N.O.S/631.htm

As far as I'm aware the chainstay bridge has no structural role, it's just a place to mount a mudguard.

On a cross bike it can act as a shelf for the collection of mud so, if you have no intention of fitting guards, it's best to do away with it.

I see. Makes good sense to leave it out if its got no structural purpose and guards aren't needed.

Im no expert, but i was under the impression that the seatstay bridge is quite important for lateral stiffness, therefore making the chainstay bridge have a similar role. Maybe not quite comparable now that i think of it. A quick google shows lots of mountain and cross specific bikes dont have a chainstay bridge, so probably unnecessary.

Nice frame. What tubing are those? Hows the waiting period like for Jacek's works?

Seat stay bridge is quite a bit down the tubes though isn't it, compared to their length. Chain stay bridges go so close to bb shells that I can't see there being much flex there anyway

Yea i think you're right, that was actually what i thought of when i wrote "not quite comparable" :)

The seatstay bridge plays a bigger role with rim brakes, without the bridge when the brake is applied the seatstays would flex outwards. Some frames with disc brakes have done away with it though.

Thanks.

The tubing is Deda Zero Uno and a couple of hundred extra for what Jacek described as profiled tubing.

I ordered late April and it arrived late July.

The build is gathering pace, starting to look like a bike. Have gone with black Rival 10 speed although really need a compact chainset rather than standard and probably black Frogglegg's rather than the silver ones I have. Keener to have it built and get to ride it than have perfect matching stuff though as under mud, who really cares (well, me, but only a bit).

And now ready to ride.....

Now with added happy dust from first ride this afternoon.....