Croix de Fer tourer project

Thought I'd start this project build thread as its my first full build. Trying to put a cheap winter tourer together.

Frame: 2014 Croix de Fer 50cm (from @nickvonfiction)
Group & Wheels: Aksium Disc & Shimano Tiagra (from @Sebbb)
Finishing kit: Deda bars, Fizik seatpost...working on the rest.

Have pretty much everything except for disc brake cables. Does anyone have any recommendations? Worried mostly about making sure I've got the right length as I've heard this can be a faff.

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I use standard shimano brake cables, never had a problem. Others recommend compressionless, so jagwire or yokozuna.

I tried standard outers at first but got no pressure on the rear disc. I put jagwire compressionless on the rear and it's much better. Nothing like the hydraulic on my mtb and I'd not want to descend and also with them but they fine for commuting.

Which ever cables you go for, make sure any cut ends are clean and straight, no tatty ends, park cable cutters are the best buy in my tool box.

Jagwire road pro XL cable kit will see you sorted.

Anything but a proper cable cutter won't even touch the cable outers on the compressionless brake outer in that kit anyway.

I got my last set from A Cycles in France. Reliable and cheap...

Getting there...

Getting there...

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My shifter cable doesn't seem to be sitting comfortably in one of the shifters. What dopey thing have I done?

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Needs to be like this:

If that's clear.

Shift it all the way down, and then you can put the barrel in the slot.

Either way I shift I can't seem to get it in there....

nice photoshop work :)

If you shift the lever all the way to the smallest chainring, there should appear a round hole to put the shifter cable barrel through. I don't have a better camera, but it should look like this:

If you look closely, you can also see the barrel recessed in the shifter.

Looks good already! Needs bigger tyres though

+1 for bigger tyres. Sell me your veloflexxx

Those veloflexes were meant to go on my winter bike/potential tourer (Lynskey)....I put them on to see how the gumwalls will look with a brooks purple handlebar tape I hope to put on.

But open to recommendations on some wider gumwalls....for some spongey soft feel touring :)

what wider gumwalls would you recommend?

You missed the ribble sale! :(

I would say 32mm panaracer paselas

I've been looking at Compass too. Supposed to be quite supple.

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2016/09/08/new-compass-tires-naches-and-snoqualmie-pass/

Seem to be sold out online though (only UK retailer I could find was velovitality)

are they nice and supple/spongey?

Vittoria Voyager Hypers are not gum wall, but they are awesome slick, lightweight 120TPI folders, very low rolling resistance, high comfort, next best thing to Grand Bois/Compass at a third of the price or less from Planet X: http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYVIVOHY/vittoria-voyager-hyper-folding-tyre I have had Paselas and these are better, plus the sidewalls won't go all manky if you ever ride in the rain.

32mm & 38mm are £16 each, 35mm are £13 each, but be warned they come up big: 32mm measure 33mm wide on a 17mm rim, 35mm measure 37mm on a 19mm rim.

Thanks for the heads up - just got a set of 32mm.

Let me know how you get on with them. Worth playing with the pressures: they roll well at really low pressures and you get added comfort- I ran 32mms on a PX Kaffenback at 40 psi front and 60 rear.

Shall do. 40 seems crazy low (I'm used to running 80/85 on 25mm) but I'll play around.

Tried 'em offroad/gravel at all?