You are reading a single comment by @KarlMarx and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@KarlMarx
I bought an Inflite AL SLX in 2017, this one:
It's a lovely bike and has served me well. But when I bought it, it was a toss up between that and something a bit more solid with guard/rack mounts and the like. In the end I opted for the Canyon after it was reduced in a sale. But I've recently moved further out from central and my commute's gone from 10km > 25km each way. As a result, I'm hankering for a bit more comfort, full guards for when it imminently starts pissing it down regularly plus some way of carting in clothes/shoes/lunch/laptop for work without using a rucksack. At the same time, I want this bike to be just about 'roadie' enough to do some winter training rides, longer rides, a bit of light touring/bikepacking.
So I've just ordered a Straggler in black, 58cm. It was a tough call between plain black and the 'Salmon Candy Red' but after seeing the latter in the flesh the other day on a ride into work I've gone for black (it was a bit cheaper than red which sealed it).
Plan is to transplant the groupset and wheels onto the Straggler then sell the Inflite frame. Things I need to work out:
Seatpost and stem/bars - do I swap the VCLS from the Inflite onto the straggler? Same for the bars. I'm leaning towards no, being that I can probably get a better deal on selling the Inflite if I include post, bars and stem to match. The VCLS is a really nice post but if I swap it out I'll likely go for Thomson on the Straggler, with Thomson stem and then a slightly flared handlebar like a Salsa cowchipper/cowbell - mostly because when I've bikepacked on the Canyon, I can't get on the drops when using my handlebar bag.
Tyres - currently riding 28mm GP Four Seasons on the Canyon and really rate them. They are a great tyre and have had very few punctures on them. So I'll probably ride these until they die and then switch to something bigger, probably a 38mm slick gravel king unless anyone has a better suggestion. Probably tanwall.
Guards: Probably the SKS Edge AL 46 in all black, or Bluemels longboard. The DT Swiss wheels coming over from the Canyon have silver hubs, so not sure how much silver to introduce into the rest of the build (if any).
Luggage: Pretty torn on this one. Initially was going to go with a small front rack with a rando bag, but after thinking about it i'm not sure I'm going to get everything for the daily commute in it. I need clothes, lunch and occasionally shoes and laptop. The other option is a Carradice Nelson, or a rear rack with a pannier. Not sure which option is best.
Eventually when budget allows I want to replace the wheels with a dynamo set, so charging lights is a thing of the past. Also if I'm a good boy I might get a Brooks saddle from Father Christmas, who knows.
I should collect the frame next week some time, then I'll begin switching everything over. I'll post some photos of progress as it happens. Any input on this welcomed!