Big Ted’s Second Midlife Crisis Build

Here’s another seatstay bridge shot for you

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Not remotely what I expected from "splatter" - much more bold and pronounced. Looks really cool.

Just received these photos (components model/builders own), exceeds expectations including the paint (frame and fork were powder coated black but all the rest done by hand).

Can’t wait to go to collect it!!!!

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Wow. Especially love the head tube cat.

Looks great fun!!

Awesome!

Looks great!!

Oh bugger just realized I have the right bolt for that fork!! I should have stuck one in the post!!

Fully sick <3 that headbadge is so good

Hope this will get black tyres btw:)

The painted cat head tube is certainly getting a lot of love, might even think of some themed merch

Tyres still to be determined….

It’s more ‘Salsa A LA Carte jellybean inspo’ than splatter but the artisan has done a fantastic job, really like it

Collection Saturday, handover slated for the car park of an Italian restaurant.

Beside myself

The handover

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This looks really good. Your pal has done a great job!

With 10 weeks lead in, I had everything in stock, no detail overlooked, all ready to fit and ride.

And so the build ‘started’ with a flurry of “damn I forgot that” (who knew that a carbon steerer bung would be needed 🤷‍♂️) mixed with a blizzard of incompatability and a frenzy of online shopping; soon I should have two sets of “that’s not going to work”.

Taking positives where I can, the seatpost is the correct size and I’ve managed to fit the saddle to it (albeit then deciding that I’d fit another saddle but, exhausted by inertia, having a beer).

Still exceeds expectations though

Getting excited for you, and looking forward to seeing the finished article :)

Parts have arrived and been discarded, mind has changed several times, freehub fell off the wheels and brand new b/b I’d just bought turned up under my bedside table (who knew?). Oh, and the shifters arrived with a Euro set up (which I’ll keep for the quirk and LOLs when I forget).

But I have bolted most of it in and it’s starting to resemble a bike - dropping it off later to the LBS to set up the brakes and generally sort out the myriad mistakes I’ll have made.

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And so, it winches ever slowly, towards being rideable.

The LBS has had it for a week. Thankfully cranks went on fine with satisfyingly Goldilocks clearance to the stays.

Then, the first snag - no bolts to mount the callipers to the frame mounts and they are specific. A quick call to the place where I got them and they put some bolts for the front calliper in the post. But what about the rear? They didn't have any (strange countersunk items, look a bit like an off-road SPD cleat bolt) but offered a slight refund which was appreciated; I've now sorted out some that 'might' work otherwise it will require 'technical innovation' to resolve.

And then the chap who was building it went off sick.

Anticipation palpable, fingers crossed for early next week.....

Oh, and the LBS owner, accredited to build with 753, is impressed with the frame and that feedback has made the frame builder really happy!!

And it’s done!!!

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👌

👏

Are you happy with it?

Wow . Looks super fast. ..