Current Projects chat and miscellany

That looks great. Available as a frameset?

These bars would put your fresh, newly built bike straight in the anti.

Just go 650b on the CAAD?

Nah full bike only. It's a good deal though, you get your basic SRAM + hydros, carbon seatpost, novatec-based disc wheelset (wouldn't be surprised if the rims were forum favourite Kinlins). Also hidden mounts but you'll only clear 35c.

sub 1000mm wheelbase @amey

That is not a bad shout.
Would it fit 32c tyres maybe?
Fast enough for road and accelerates faster than 700c so ideal for commuting where's there's constant traffic lights. You'd get lower trail and bike would be lighter.
It should be easy enough to lend a pair of wheels and try it out before buying anything

From my brief foray in 650b, 38mm G One Speeds tubeless made a dull bike feel exciting.

But it’s London with London weather so needs full guards and caad doesn’t have any mounts or even a seatstay bridge

This, and I honestly don't know why. Going from 35mm 700c to 42mm 650b felt like I was riding a completely different bike. Thought it might have been the smaller wheels so I tried 700c 28mm; boring ride again

Psychological factor? I mean, 28mm good quality tires on a 700c wheel really ride great. Can’t see how they’d be beaten by a 42mm

More likely the lower trail.

Yeah, that could be the explanation however there’s also tire weight and rolling resistance that should be taken into consideration.

I say Phil should borrow a 650b wheelset from someone and give it a go, I’m curious as to what his observations would be ;)

tire weight and rolling resistance that should be taken into consideration.

Wheel weight should be about the same, as is rolling resistance ..... about the same.

Effectively slightly lower gearing and less cetrifugal force perhaps (if overall diameter is smaller on the 650b setup),

Park life.

CAAD12 isn't going to fit 47mm 650b which means the geo is going to change quite significantly. And the geo (with 700c) is what he likes about it in the first place, and wants to recreate on the other bike! And CAAD12 doesn't have the mudguard mounts etc. that he wants

650b in Arkose on the other hand might liven it up a little bit.

I'm guessing that he wants ~73/73 angles, <1000mm wheelbase, short chainstays, but with 42mm tyres + mudguards, and not £2000. Never really got my head around BB drop but smaller than the 76mm on an Arkose is probably a criteria too.

Another option might be steel CX race geo bike, and get some things brazed on for mudguards

Salsa Warbird? Probably few framesets floating around second hand for good money

Just for the sake of the discussion I’ve compared the weight of 650b and 700c rims:
Weight 425g/650B, 475g/700C for Kinlin TL-23
I doubt you’ll be able to find a 650b 42 mm tire that weights only 50g more then compareable 700c 28mm tire. 100-150g difference per tire would be a nice score I’d assume?

So the weight of the wheels being roughly the same is perhaps a myth?

There’s also inner tube and shorter spokes weight difference that should be taken into account. Wonder how much that would be? ;)

EDIT: Regarding rolling resistance - how come a wider tire run with lower pressure has same rolling resistance then a 28mm tire with higher pressure?

Are you not commuting in cycling gear?

@PhilDAS maybe this?

http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/fog-cutter-frame-set

The Fog Cutter is an endurance road/road sport design. We designed it to fit fatter tires, but the frame angles are more road bike than CX or gravel bike. It can float you over chewed up asphalt better than most bikes in this category. This is the frame you want for long days in the saddle and the most demanding commutes.

Max.Tire Fit: 700c x 42mm (38mm with fenders)

Geo is ~73/73, 1012-1026mm WB, 72mm BBD, 424mm CS

Would have to live with IS tab disk brakes but gotta compromise somewhere

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^ he wants alu/crabon

How about a custom frame from Mielec? They're aluminium, cheap and well... custom.

@PhilDAS: what disqualifies the Midnight Special?

Honestly he doesn't know what he want :)

I probably should buy a thinner cog right? The lockring has some spare threads on it.

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It’s steel which isn’t a deal breaker but steel fork and straight headtube is.

steel fork

Carbon fork (in the picture, and is also an option).

Hey!
I know what I want :) I just can’t find it cheap.
The BMC CX01 would be perfect if it just took mudguards. The newer CXA01 I don’t like. Also they’re spenny anyway.
I want a gravel bike that will take fat tyres and mudguards with aggressive road geometry. It’s not to replace the road bike. Just to liven up the gravel bike and commuter.
I do commute in cycling kit and don’t mind getting wet but wet feet and shoes is no good. Putting on wet sidis to ride home in is grim and when it’s 0c outside, riding wet isn’t pleasant at all.

He’s still going?