Varonha custom frame... And other ongoing stuff

Hence why I have never comitted to a project/stable thread..

Wrong attitude for this forum. Aesthetics is always greater than functionality!

Conveniently, I quite like the spider in black...

Smashing!! I have a spare spider taking up space if you want to try polishing one risk free, that being said the black looks good

Thanks for offering this! When the bike is complete I'll Photoshop it and see if it's worth trying...

Busy holidays with young kids, very little time to get anything done, but ahead of the holidays work was mad and l didn't order everything I needed. I'm short of a few bits, some of which I've just ordered on eBay.
I don't have pedals. My favorite ones at the moment are the MKS Sylvan Touring in black, last time I ordered these from Germany it took forever. Any UK available alternatives anyone could suggest?
(I know the "stream" version is available, but they are too narrow)

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Crankset on:

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Looks great, polished arms/black spider works very well.
Could always buy silver MKS from Spa, then get the plates anodised black?

Then brakes (again thank you @Hulsroy they definitely are the perfect option for the bike). No cabling yet. I'll use a power hanger on the front, and normal hanger to the back.

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Could always buy silver MKS from Spa, then get the plates anodised black?

The plates aren't removable I don't think, riveted in. I'll try Germany and put some place holder in the meantime (meh)

Ah, didn't study image properly, thought they were allen bolts, my bad.
This is coming along very nicely indeed.

Ooof its getting there!

Chainset looks great

Pedals - Tokyo Bike do a few bits and UK have these in stock and could look good - https://www.tokyobike.co.uk/mks-xc-iii-bear-trap-pedals.html?id=225732239

i have a set (or two) of these and honestly now my favourite flat pedal,

if you're not looking for cages. lovely wide platform for fidgeting, just spikey enough to keep your foot firm if you hit rough stuff, i believe they even got the ol' Ronald romance seal of approval

zip tie = genius

cc/ @pastry_bot

Good but doesn't look like it will function as a brake

A bit like all of my rear cantilever brakes I guess 😂

Argh, quite like them... But a bit over budget. Twice the price of the Sylvans

... But tempted...

Get some shinpads while you're at it.

These or get in the sea :)

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I was planning on allowing myself only one gimmick-y thing on the orange theme, and bought orange twine to finish off the handlebar tape... Tried it today but I'm going to get rid of it. I concluded that I like twine with cotton tape, but not so much with leather...
The Brooks leather tape is really great, had it for over 4 years (I used the bike daily for a lot of that time) and this is the third set of bars I'm wrapping with it. Solid durable stuff!

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The good thing about a bar tape that's happy to be re-wrapped is that I'll be able to change my mind about cockpit cabling. The power hanger isn't the easiest thing to manage, I've had to swap brake sides, a la française (that's how I learned after all) so it wouldn't look completely stupid. I've also gone "old fashion" with the bar end shifters cable route, as this is what I have on my Dawes Galaxy and I quite like it... The bars are fairly high so would only partially restrict carrying stuff on a front rack if I ever fit one. No room for a handlebar bag though.

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I've had to swap brake sides, a la française

That sounds a bit, I don't know, drastic? It's more than a decade of braking habits after all.

It'll be fine, when I ride my old mountain bike back at my parents that never is a problem for me.

That said I'll have a closer look at the power hanger device, I might be able to turn the V shaped thing around so the cable exists on the other side...

[Morning edit] just checked and this would work, so no need for me to swap sides, only a slightly restricted access to one bolt, but the cantis having an adjustable screw that shouldn't be an issue