Goodbye gravel bike, hello recumbent

The Radon is now built up with the parts of the Open. I must say it does look good. Maybe even better than the Open.

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Lol shit do you just have a matrix style infinity rack full of gravel frames or something?

“Yeah, sure, a chain might have eaten this one’s chainstay but let’s see what else is in the old wardrobe”

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Did you do anything to prevent the same fate as the OPEN? Or are you just winging it.

I ended up winging it in last weeks race. I did buy an XTR 10spd derailleur with clutch for a bit more safety.

Old school XTR is a surprisingly good match with the silver chainring.

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I have decided to take a shot a road racing next season. The Koga Y-Tec is a fun road bike, but not my first pick for racing. That is why I am going to build a new bike.

I recently picked up a NOS Milani frameset at a great price. Tubing is Columbus XCR. Groupset is going to be something Campy or weight weenie al the way.

That's funny, a while ago I visited that same guy I guess? for the other Gran Corsa frameset he was selling which was an absolute steal too. Unfortunately the geometry wasn't right for me. Great catch! Campa sounds v promising

Definitely the same guy.

I just managed to buy the groupset off this bike minus the cranks, so I will probably go all weight weenie on this again: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=147920#p1352612

After breaking my vice trying to budge the seatpost on the steel cx frame, I bought a big ass vice. Sadly still no movement in the seatpost.

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I do between 5-10 of these a year, with a 90% success rate. I start by squirting brake cleaner around the frame/seatpost join, until it can be seen in the BB area. Then we move to GT85, and finally to WD40. The brake cleaner just seems to be able to make a gap that the GT85 can't on it's own.

Also it helps if you can stick a solid bit of metal bar inside the seatpost, so that the jaws of the vice do not crush it, if that happens it's easy to rip the seatpost, leaving you nothing to work with.

The other 10% I do by using a hacksaw blade down it's length - takes and hour max. Use the blade so that it cuts when you pull it upwards. I put a small bolt through the hole in the blade that is inside the frame to prevent it sawing into the frame tube.

Thanks for the tips.

The brake cleaner is new to me. Will definitely try that. I already used WD40 and Finish Line chill zone, with no effect.

This vice has a fancy pipe grip which is great for seatposts, so no crushing happening in this case.

Can you elaborate on the bolt in the hacksaw blade? I don't mind cutting it out, but am afraid I might ruin the frame in the proces.

Got this cheap so I figured it was worth a shot. First ride was surprisingly comfy. I wonder how it would ride without the padding.

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I put a small bolt through the hole in the blade that is inside the frame to prevent it sawing into the frame tube.

Very clever! I am stealing this hack

This thread is wild! 15 pages of madness

Weight weenieism to the max. Titanium cables, carbon hoodz, etc. etc. Not sure if and how to put this to good use yet.

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Using parts from a donor bike, I got the Milani frameset up and running. A bit too much red for my liking, but beggars can't be choosers. Seatpost (and probably the seat) are temporary.

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Not bad!
Have a look here though;
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/375298/

The Milani now has a rack. Rode it for the first time today. Super happy with everything so far.

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Fast commuter. How does it ride?

The frame filters out road buzz very well. Glad it does, because the saddle does no such thing. Otherwise the whole package feels nice and solid. Looking forward to racing it in the near future.

It turns out mud tires also make good hardpack snow tires.

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My offer on these wheels has been accepted. They should come in at 920 grams. Should be a nice match for the groupset I purchased earlier. Now all I need is a plan how to put all this weight weenie stuff to good use.

Nice wheelset! Are you going to put these ww parts on the Milani?

I am considering it, although it obviously is not the ultimate weight weenie candidate at around 1600 grams for the frame.

Parts list for the weight weenie road bike is now:

• SRAM Red 10 speed shifters tuned, left side gutted
  
• SRAM Red 10 speed rear derailleur tuned
  
• SRAM Red 10 speed cassette
  
• KCNC Ti cables (hopefully long enough)
  
• Bontrager XXX light integrated handlebar and stem
  
• Tune Skyline wheelset with Reynolds KOM rims and Conti Competition tubulars, unfortunately Campy freehub body
  
• Tune Wasserträger 2.0 cages
  
• AX Lightness Europa premium seatpost
  
• AX Lightness / SMUD / Pro Stealth Team saddle
  
• Bebop VP One Ti pedals
  
  
  

Still need to find the following stuff

• Skewers
  
• Brakes
  
• Crankset
  
• Bottom bracket
  
• Campy cassette or replacement freehub body