Current Projects chat and miscellany

Picked up a frameset recently, plan was to make a cheap gravelmuncher from mostly leftovers. I've had this plan for years to have fewer bikes but more wheelsets so I can change according to what I'm riding. I can tell you right off that doesn't work.
Much more fun to have more bikes :D

Seems like Finnish brand Tunturi were years ahead of their time in the late 90's. Long toptube (610mm), clearance for 622x45mm, slack ht. Pretty much every gravelendurancebike right?

Still, the geo didn't suit me. Weird handling and way too long despite shortish stem. So I proceeded to chop off the headtube and shorten the frame, also decided to modernize the headtube standard from 1" to 1-1/8". Ended up having to adjust the downtube as well but I think it turned out pretty good.

Also received some CrMo-tubing so I finally have tubes to make stems with proper tolerances. Pretty dodgy to make them out of mm-spec tubes, 29mm ID steel tubing doesn't really want to grab onto a 28.6mm OD steerer tube no matter how many clamps you braze on.

So I made this classic 100mm -10deg stem with internal steerer clamp to complement the build.

Don't think I'm gonna paint this one just yet, kind of like the look right now.

That's super cool man! Good to see an old frame being made into exactly what someone wants. Does it ride better now? Also, why is the paint from the top of the fork stripped off?

Yes!! These are the best projects

For sure! It's a real ripper high bb eurocross machine. Darts around potholes and apexes like a champ.

I think the fork is some OEM deal. It's a Easton EC70X that's never been painted. Not sure what brands used these as stock but surplus none the less. I think it matches nicely with the frame modifications.

hell yeah!

Hah, how awesome it is to say something like "didn't like the geo, so I chopped it off and brazed something else on it".

Another envy-inducing tinkerer with the ability to weld. Nice!

This is so good

anyone got any good sources for alloy 27 x 1 1/4 wheelsets? Helping a friend out - they’d like to replace the chrome steel wheels that they have currently.

Tempted to get a pair of Kinlin t10 rims and rebuild their hubs onto them. Bit more work than I’d like to do though tbh 😅

Kinlin t10 - that is an answer to a problem I had forgotten about. 40 hole drilling as well! Looks like some day I will be able to bring my old Carlton back to life with the original hubs.

wow! and the stem also!!! superb!!

Is there any issue with cutting the threaded portion of a steerer off to make threadless forks for a much smaller frame? Can't seem to find a definitive answer, maybe one for the hacks/bodges thread

Is there any issue with cutting the threaded portion of a steerer off to make threadless forks for a much smaller frame?

No. Just measure twice, cut once.

Thanks, always quick with an answer in my hour of need!

wrapped some jazzy woven bartape around my brothers handles yesterday.
really comfy tape, not sure about durability though...
#keepitjazzy

1 Attachment

I use it on my touring bike. found it pretty durable. lasts longer than lizardskins which isnt saying much.

Searched the web for an eternity without success. Does anyone know of a N/W chainring with 5 bolt 94 bcd pattern?

On the subject of NW and bcd...

Did any square taper cranks come with 104bcd? My noob search only seemed to turn up more modern style cranksets with integrated axles.

Edit: scrub that. As is usually the case when I ask a question I then find my own answers. There's a current set by Thorn. There are numerous Chinese sets on eBay. Doesn't look like there are any classic or retro sets, however.

Reason I asked is a lot of my tools and bike bits are at work and I can't get them until July because of 12-week isolation. Looking at what I can bodge up in the meantime with the square taper BBs I have here that I can sell on later without losing too much $$$ in the process. E.g. can't justify £30 on cheap Chinese cranks that will only be good for the bin/Freecycle after I've used them.

my specialized 4 arm square taper are 104 BCD. fitted with j&l nw from ebay

(excuse the shit photo and ratty pub bike aesthetic)

1 Attachment

I think some XT-M75X variant was square taper still? But yeah, there's definitely some around.

some XT-M75X

FC-M750 was square taper, it came in two flavours, -5 94/58 5-bolt and -4 104/64 4-bolt. The latter seems to have been more popular.
Not that I'd go looking for a set of 20 year old MTB cranks, they're either going to be destroyed or NOS and priced to account for the fact that the people who lusted after them as teenagers are now in lavishly compensated management jobs🙂

First ride out on this earlier. Plenty wrong with it: brakes are shit; derailleur hangar is bent; bar tape is fucked; it’s got shitty plastic pedals as the decent ones that were supposed to go on it are locked up at work.

But - after two years of riding nothing but a Surly Troll - it’s fucking fun. I love the Troll, but it’s not exactly lively or responsive or fast. Had a quick blast around Wanstead Flats and Hollow Pond, felt comfortable on a variety of surfaces. Just need to get the shit bits sorted out now.

1 Attachment

Speak to your local bike shop and they should be able to source some from Bob Elliot.

BC is my local bike shop ;-)