26er Do It All (or at least, Do A Lot)

In all fairness, I’ve only ever owned 2 geared bikes and they were both SRAM. I considered changing it up and even considered that BOX 9 speed drivetrain but I didn’t really fancy buying new. I was concerned about gearing jumps with the 11-50 on a 9 speed as well. Felt like 10 speed with a slightly smaller cassette would help with that situation.

Yeah those 11-50 cassettes are insane was looking at some earlier today haha, I definitely think that less jumps will be nice plus like a 46 or even 42 cassette max ring is still a great range!

Yeah I don’t really feel like the 50t would be something I entirely need.
I’m planning on doing quite a bit of touring on the bike so I might regret that statement at some point in the future on a fully loaded day in the Peak District but normal gravel grinding should be okay with a 46t cassette

Oh for sure, I reckon 46 will more more than enough. I think similar to you I’ve been riding fixed mainly and my build will be my first geared bike so I’m hoping even on my measly 1x7 the 6 extra gears will come in handy haha!

Champion thread, subbed bonny lad x

Top lad! More to come soon

One thing I’ve learned from only the initial parts to building this bike? No matter how much you plan and plan again about what you need and what will work, you’re always going to get it wrong.

And so begins the saga of the top cap bolt.

I’ve used expanding compression plugs in my fork steerer on my Surly for ages now, even before I put a carbon fork on it, so planned for the same thing with the Saracen. Bought myself a cheap-ish one from Tredz while I was picking up a few tubes and the sort a while ago, so no problems there. Installed it into the steerer after I’d pressed the headset cups into the frame and got that little buzz when I felt things were coming together. Oh how very wrong I was

The top cap bolt seemed to be around 10mm too long and ended up bottoming out in the plug. This wasn’t a problem I’d had with any other plug because they’re usually threaded all the way through, but not a problem I couldn’t fix. I knew I needed to cut it. My train of thought went something like this:

“Should probably measure how much shorter I need that bolt.. Taking the top cap off will help me do that better.. yeah I’ll just screw it all the way down to the bottom and measure the difference.. God I’m so clever, I really should’ve went into mechanical engineering”

I screwed it down to the bottom of the plug without a moments hesitation, measured the difference (all smug with myself) and went to take the bolt out, only for the plug to SPIN IN THE STEERER TUBE.

So now I’ve got an expander that I can’t tighten up again because there’s a bolt in the way. Never before have I felt so much like I deserved some slices of bread as ear muffs.

Cutting my losses, I decided I’d just hammer the star nut in and be done with it. Bought myself a setting tool cause it’s useful to have the tools anyway and spotted the Nukeproof Garmin mount cap. Since I was planning on doing some touring and longer gravel outings I thought I’d give it a go. Gotta qualify for free shipping n all that.

Fast forward another week and I’ve hammered the star nut into the steerer, no issues. Go to put the top cap on and the bolt doesn’t even reach the star nut. This might have something to do with the fact my stem stack is a bit taller than my steerer.. At this point, I deserve a full stottie baked around my head.

We all know the only way to nurse a bruised ego after all of that trauma. I went on a trawl for some longer 50mm top cap bolts and came across capsmith.cc. They claimed their 40mm brake mount bolts would work for a top cap. I’m a sucker for anodised Ti and even if it didn’t work, I’d have a use for it. ANYWAY, it worked and now I’ve got a bit of bling.

More things coming soon!

TLDR: Sometimes you don’t know it all. Instead you should just buy the nice Ti parts you want and not feel guilty about it..

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how far did you hammer the star nut in ? but tbf, that bolt on the garmin looks weedy

after fucking up 2 hope expanders doing the exact same thing, i'm now also a starnut believer too, happens to the best of us

As far as the setting tool allowed. Sits probably 15mm below the top of the steerer. I might see what the garmin mount is like on my surly, but kind of like the out front mount look.

I’m okay with fucking this expander up cause it was £8. Think I’d cry if it had happened to a Hope one lol

Hmm do you know of a friction thumbie which covers enough range for 10spd? Apart from the ~£50 microshift ones...which are tempting.

@LaserFrennox this is looking nice, forks suit the frame very well.

I’ve personally got the 11 speed Microshift I bought as a set, planning to use the friction only left side, mounted upside down on the right side so it can be under the bars. Leaving me the right side for another build.

If you wanted friction sun tour do some really nice ones, but if you’re looking for indexed it seems Microshift is the only way to go!

Time for my next insightful proverb and lesson in building bikes up. “When you assume, you make an ass of u and me” however the “u” is also me. I assumed that because a wheel had a free hub body and not a screw on freewheel that a 10 speed cassette would fit, no problem. Oh how wrong I was.

Got myself a sunrace 11-42t for cheap and got all giddy when it was sliding onto the free hub body no problem. Went to put the lock ring on and it didn’t even thread. Spent a little longer, thinking I might have not put the last cog on right. After a bit more fumbling, I looked up the hub and saw it was a 7 speed hub. After a little Googling I’ve realised that 7s freehubs won’t work with a 10s cassette. Anyone got any ideas how to resolve this or am I going to need to sell the wheels on and keep looking?

In better news, managed to sort a seatpost. I never understood why all frames don’t just have a 27.2 seatpost, but 26.2 is good enough I guess. Also bought some matchy matchy bottle cage bolts to hit the free shipping amount lol

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You can run the cassette in a ‘9-of-10’ config by ditching the 11 and 13 tooth sprockets and replacing with a 12 or 13 tooth serrated locking cog, available from Sunrace.

This will give you 9 speeds on your 7-speed freehub, and work fine providing you set the limit screws on the rear derailleur appropriately.

Never knew such a thing exists! Sick! Any idea where I can buy one from? eBay has a few results but with extortionate shipping lol

Okay so I did some more research and the 9 of 10 is definitely the best way for me to go. Cheers @ectoplasmosis! Managed to pick up a 13t for cheapish so hopefully it works out. Wanted to keep the jumps manageable so thought just taking away the 11t wasn’t too bad. I’m not that fast anyway lol

After riding by myself since June, I coerced my dad and uncle to come along for a little pootle with a dash of premium North East gravel. It may have been nice a few days ago but it’s always worth packing an extra layer or a waterproof up these ends.

Working on the Saracen so much has given me the big to do a few things on my Surly that I’ve been putting off due to a lack of funds and necessity. I really want to build up a matching rear wheel but this Halo just WILL NOT die. I can’t bring myself to replace something that is so reliable and hardy even though the white rim and hub offend my eyes. Been wanting to change up the bars for a while now as well. As much as I love Nitto for the fixie points, those For Shreds suck and are probably the most uncomfortable bars ever. Looking at either some flared drops or some Moto style bars like something from Stooge. Only time and budget will tell I guess.

Updates on the Saracen today as well. Finally brought myself round to getting the cassette installed with the ‘9 of 10’ configuration. Took the 13t out so I’m a bit worried about the jump between the 11 and the 15, but this isn’t going to be a bike where I’m in the 11 much anyway. Maybe trying to get a 10 speed derailleur to work on a 9 speed cassette when I’ve literally never worked with gears might be overestimating my ability but you can’t learn without just giving it a go.

On a positive note, I’m back to work in a couple of weeks so at least I’ll have a hipster wagon to show off to all the people who have 0 bike knowledge.

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your dad could do a good Geraint Thomas in those glasses, looks like a great time; your surly has always been really cool.

you considered just sanding and spray painting the rim? might be a PITA with it built but nothing masking tape couldn't sort

Looool yeah those white glasses really are an acquired look. I love 90s styling but that white glasses are a step too far.

I’ve considered spraying the rim but I feel like it’s one of those jobs that just never looks perfect; always a bit bodged. I’m going to keep an eye out for matching parts for now. Bars are defo a priority for that bike at the moment.

Funny you mention that you found the for shred uncomfortable, I absolutely love mine on my steamroller, even managed a couple centuries on them with 0 comfort issues

Shows the sheer variety of human form I guess. I just wish they had even a little bit of backsweep, I’ve had to turn them basically fully backwards so the rise acts as backsweep. I’m either looking at Salsa Bends or Stooge moto bars which are the other end of the spectrum

Even with my love for them you really can’t go wrong with how either of those two bars you mention look! Have thought about swapping them out for a moto styled, but all my money’s been going into the rockhopper.

If you where ever considering selling I could be interested I know a couple of people who might be as well!

On another not though, the Saracen is starting to look great, the black cassette looks cracking, glad you were able to sort out the free hub issue without loosing any of the 10 speeds range!

Yeah I’m in the same situation at the minute. Saracen is getting all the love at the minute cause I’m probably going to ride it a lot when it’s all done. You’ll get first shout if I do swap them out.

Really happy with the fact it worked tbh. Really didn’t fancy spending any sort of money on a new hub or bodying the freehub body

That’s my plan as well make the retro mtb the main steed with the fixed gear as a fun ride every now and again. You planning on doing any bikepacking once the build is done?

Fantastic choice of localé: Crammy’s finest big spoon. Excited to ride with you when I’m next yem x