Orlowski Commuter/Winter Trainer/Light Tourer

I've had enough of riding single speed. Riding up Highgate Hill/Archway Road every day has done my knees no favours. I decided I wanted gears, then wondered if I might be able to craft a bike that could do more than just one job and relegate the Carbon bike to racing and fast riding only. Wandered into the Orlowski appreciation thread and decided I might as well go custom at that price.

In the process of finalising the geometry and would appreciate any advisings. Current racer has stack/reach of the race bike is 520/380 w/540mm TT and 20mm of spacers under a 90mm stem. Aiming to make something a little more upright and allow for no/minimal spacers and a 100mm stem.

Any advice for reasonable modifications for a half arsed touring set-up appreciated. Thinking more single night bivvy, multi night B&B rather than any extended outdoor stays. Bikepacking, not true touring so no need for pannier mounts. Currently considering a front dynamo and some form of battery charging deal.

Gearing will be Rival or Force 1x.

The below is with a stack/reach of 545/375 and a tt of 438mm.

given that you've already got mudguard mounts on there you might as well spec seat stay rack mounts on the off chance you ever want a rear rack no? I imagine they'll be a negligible amount more from orlowski and it's easier to add them now rather than later

Cue disc suggestions :)

/\ Discs?

Cantilever bosses, discs are a passing fad

No discs.

get a macho man ;)

Wots dat m8?

http://allcitycycles.com/bikes/macho_man
http://allcitycycles.com/bikes/macho_man_disc

Sorry. Sarcasm. I don't want an all city. I don't want dics.

Why, out of interest?

Well. I don't like discs or cantis because I have never used them really, don't know how they work and am not particularly keen to learn. I've never had any issue getting the right amount of stopping power out of regular caliper brakes. That rules out the macho man in both orientations and only really leaves the Mr Pink which doesn't do it for me aesthetically. For the EUR850 that Orlowski charges for a fully custom frame, why not?

Was on about discs - for this type of bike it's a nobrainer to me. Not just about stopping power IMO, but it's your bike.

does the stack include external headset cups? If not increase the stack, put more of a gap between this and your race/roadie bike. Maybe reduce reach and have a longer stem? Are you going to put cable guide for FD? Rear brake cable internal or external? I'd keep it simple and external. Are you getting TRP brakes? Have you decided on wheels/tyres and mudguards? If I was you I'd send the calipers and wheelset with tyres and mudguards to Jacek and ask to max out the brake clearance. Maybe a third bottle cage and a pump peg? Optimise the front triangle space with whatever bidon sizes you prefer so you have room for a frame bag.

I will get a cable guide for FD, just in case. But no braze on. Also will take the above suggestion and get brazes for racks too. Can't hurt. All external.
Just going for the relevant SRAM ones for now. Not Canti.
No decisions made on wheels/tyres or guards. Plan to run it with 28s and leave the guards on most of the time. Wondering if I should spec a dynamo front hub etc. but not thought about spoke counts or rims yet.

Also think I need to check both the race bike and what Jacek will use for stack relevant to the frame or the headset. I think in both cases its the former.

Sram would be the worst choice for the brakes due to their shape if you dont want mid reach like the TRP RG957 then just get shimano due to their shape they are more accommodating.

They come in silver too.

You could fit a 32 and mudguards I reckon. Again it will put a bit more of a gap between your roadie and this .. 25 to 28 isnt really a massive leap.

Get the fork drilled for dynamo cable and some sort of mount for the light. Since its steel maybe even the rear light.

That geo is mostly exactly an Inflite.

I figured as much. Links were mostly for the curious.