The Two Bicycles of Varonha.

How do you plan to rebuild the Varhona?

Honest answer, nothing certain, yet.
Have had a few thoughts whilst riding it around, maybe get Winston to put canti mounts on it and stick some knobbly tyres on with Nitto bullmoose bars up front, or stick with calipers and get the Paul Racers.
Whatever I decide will wait until components start getting restocked properly, so that I can get what I want rather than cobbling it together (how I usually do these things). Gonna ride the Equilibrium for the rest of the summer and see how we get on, then decide whether to go for a second Varonha, so I have one more road bikey and the other more chunky commuter, who knows though? Could end up selling everything and spend the rest of my days contemplating my navel!

dibs ; )

Wow! The vultures are circling already. You're first in line.

Few bits going up for sale soonish (when I can be arsed to get everything out the shed and take pics).
Specialized SL stem 1 1/8th, 31.8mm, black, 90mm, 12°, like new.
Ritchey Venturemax Classic 46cm bars.
TRP brake levers, silver in great condition, black in used condition.
Specialized Power Pro 155mm saddle, ti rails.
Shimano Dura Ace 2x10 downtube shifters.
Nitto S65 polished seatpost, 250mm.

Registering interest in the downtube shifters!

Your interest is noted.

First chapter of stuff for sale is now in classifieds.

Loving this bike, took in some of the Peak District today, too bloody hot, but a lovely morning out.

Sat here twiddling my thumbs, contemplating my belly button fluff, staring at tinterweb, thinking how to rebuild the Winston bike (or just not bother), and I know many of us are guilty of this, but fuckin ell, I've wasted shit loads on bikes.
Anyway, what did I come here for, oh yeah, is Dura Ace 9100 as lovely as it looks, do the levers make you want to never let go, are the derailleurs buttery smooth and silent shifting, will it offer me a zen like riding experience, will it cure all the world's ills?
(I realise I'm expecting a lot from some bits of metal n plastic)

Sat here twiddling my thumbs, contemplating my belly button fluff, staring at tinterweb, thinking how to rebuild the Winston bike (or just not bother), and I know many of us are guilty of this, but fuckin ell, I've wasted shit loads on bikes.

if bikes are like clothes, you can put them in the loft/ parents sspare room/ bottom of the wardrobe for 5-10 years and you'll eventually forget about it, only to trip over it one day and think you were just wanting something like that

either that or when you find it you look back on it with fond memories and sell it, appreciating the money it made having shed the guilt of the depreciation

I generally just send unworn/unwanted clothes to my local charity shop.
My wardrobe isn't big enough for a bike frame, I've never been in my loft (high ceilings, no ladder, and I'm a shortarse), and my parents would probably tell me to fuck off (obviously in a loving way).
I have adopted a 6 month rule on stuff I own, if it sees zero use in that time period, off it goes.

I predict:

1. you will regret not holding on to the Winston bike
   
2. DA will not make you happier than 105
   

Sorry if this is a thick question - what are the main differences between the Genesis frame and the Winston frame? Is the Genesis just a bit lighter and more fun?

Winston bike needs to see a roughstuff build. Big tyres, maybe albatross bars+little rack+weathered Carradice with a thermos full of tea, picnic blanket and a couple of squished sandwiches. Poncho optional.

@Psmith, you are most definitely correct with your first prediction, even before I'd seen your comment I'd given myself a damn good talking to, won't be selling it yet (never saying never), not too sure about your second prediction, shiny stuff makes people happy (but I get your point, so I'm going for the middle ground with Ultegra).
Gareth, I honestly don't know why I currently prefer riding the Genesis, maybe because it's green? Or I just had Winston bike set up wrong for the riding I do.
@atk, funny you should mention roughstuff type build, when we went out I kept making little mental notes of your bike setup, I already own a Carradice and bagman rack, not too sure about the picnic blanket though, damp grass suits me fine, and I don't think I've ever owned a poncho, but with my facial hair, cycling cap, and denim shorts, a poncho may throw me well over the hipster line.
Will post little snippets of the Winston rebuild in the coming days/weeks.

I don't think I've ever owned a poncho

I'll start a crowdfunding campaign.

Look forward to seeing the bike built back up!

I'd actually debate that Ultegra is the most pointless groupset in Shimano's 105>DA lineup.

105 is fantastic. Truly, truly fantastic. You have the same shift internals with Ultegra, but it's just a teeny, weeny bit lighter and much more expensive. Really, the best bang for buck would be a mixture of 105 with DA parts. But in reality, buying anything more than 105 (in the rim brake variant anyway) is a fools game - unless you're chasing grams - which you're not because you bought a steel frame :-)

And you already have 105, so I wouldn't bother making any upgrades there. Maybe some carbon cranks would satisfy your hunger for bling?

Little bit of progress. Stem and seatpost pictured will not be used in the final build.

Is there a go to brand of poncho?

Ha, to late, Ultegra has been ordered, if everything is in stock (I won't believe it is until I get shipping confirmation) it doesn't work out that much dearer than what I paid for my 105 bits. It's not upgrading, it's as well as, 2 bikes=2 lots of shifty bits.
I have been looking at blingy cranks, but can't find anything in stock in my desired combo of 165mm 46/30.

Ah - okay. Thought it was a replacement. In that case as you were.

Was gonna say Praxis have Zayante Carb's (which I thoroughly recommend) in 165 but not 46/30, only 48/32.

Been looking at Rotor, but not familiar with them, and to get 46/30 needs direct mount rings.
Could maybe find summat 110bcd and run 46/33 as I do currently.
Also played with etap (friends bike), but SRAM, and seeing Mollema kicking his rear derailleur in Le Tour makes me wonder. (Like SRAM cranks, that's why I mention etap).
Then there's full hipster wankiness of White Industries, and of course Middleburn to keep it local.

40 / 36 will tend to need direct mount rings (guessing that's why they invented them).

Dolan have 165mm / 40-36 Sugino OX1-901D in stock for £330... which seems stupidly expensive but includes a decent bb, so actually works out okay (in comparison with Rotor / WI, anyway). And the chainrings are apparently excellent.

Graphics are bit meh but you could prob acetone them off.

You don't even need acetone, they'll pick off with an old credit card or the like.

£330, though! I remember getting a couple of sets for about £90 a pop back in the day.

Yeah, I like them very much, kinda cheating though, more like a triple with outer ring missing, and not that different from my cheap ass spa cycles cranks.
If I stick with alu cranks I'll probably go Middleburn, made just down the road from me.
I think I'm getting well ahead of myself anyway, I'll get the shifty bits sorted first, then add stuff if I'm sure it's a keeper.