“Gaining some clarity”

I need to “gain some clarity” on the bike collection. I’m hoping that indulging myself In a current projects thread will help. It’s not like I don’t have time. It’s Christmas. It’s Covid. What else is there to do?

Also I enjoy reading other people’s, so someone may enjoy mine.

Cannondale Supersix Evo road bike

I think of this bike as the pinnacle of cable-operated double-diamond road bikes. I bought it as an unused second-hand 2019 OTP 105 complete about four months ago. I began by switching out the Fulcrum wheels for some custom wheels I have (PMP/HedBelgium+, now for sale in classifieds), adding a carbon Save post, my preferred Ritchey EvoCurve bars and Zipp Service Course SL Absolute Black stem. Then I switched the 105 groupset out for DA9100 with FSA K-Force Dual Pivot brake callipers and switched the standard forged Cannondale SI cranks for a Hollowgram Si with 52/36 Spidering. I have yet to make the final cut of the steerer for the gbj_tester top cap.

It is now pictured with Zipp 101 wheels and Flinger mudguards. 

Things I’m looking forward to: 

• switching from 25c GP5000 (excellent) to 28c Corsas in the spring. Embrace the squish.
  
• finding a rear DA9100 calliper to go with the front I have to complete the DA9100 group and upgrade the braking performance. 
  
• adding an oversize pulley to the derailleur to tart up the rear end. Not Ceramicspeed; something like KCNC or a carbon Aliexpress job with upgraded sealed bearings.
  
• building two new wheelsets for the bike: Hope RS4 rear and Hope Aero front to Arkane 30 deep alu rims for winter; Hope Pro 3 straight-pull aero hubs to LB50 carbon rims for the summer. Both wheelsets will be black hubs, silver bladed spokes, black rims.
  
• looking forward to setting the final steerer height in spring and tidying the cockpit up. Maybe nudging the hoods down a touch.
  
• switching the stem, which I think is too slim, to Zipp SL Speed or Ritchey C260. No rush.
  
• installing Jagwire Link outers to lighten the brake feel and help with tight cable routing.
  
• custom paint. The big one. If this feels like a keeper, I’ll get it painted. There are some great custom-painted Supersixes out there. I think the frame lends itself to a single block colour. The current paint job has grown on me, but I still think it looks a bit like a hire-bike. I’m thinking deep metallic Merlot with a champagne same-era Cannondale logo on the top tube near the head tube junction. Paint suggestions or inspo welcome.
  
  

Yes I am aware this reads like the ravings of a mad man.

Builds to come…

• Cascarsi Columbus steel MGOF road bike
  
• Midnight Special 650b gravel rando
  
• Dolan Pre Cursa fixed road bike (new project)
  
• Specialized Rockhoppeur off road tourer/commuter
  
• Specialized 1982 Stumpjumper towny project
  
• Claude pub bike
  
• Specialized 29er hardtail
  

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Surly Midnight Special all-road bike

I bought the frame new last spring and built it up as a retro-modern all-road bike, inspired by the builds I had seen in Bicycle Quarterly. Much of the original build has remained but the downtube shifters had to go as they were holding me back on some rides.

Apart from the frame and brake calipers, I think the entire build is parts bin or second hand. I think it’s my favourite bike to ride as it’s very comfortable but has responsive handling, which is a combination you rarely find on bikes nowadays.

To do:

• consider new wheel build on wider and lighter rims. Possibly carbon.
  
• make DIY half-frame bag for long-distance capacity.
  
• Add mud flap to rear mudguard.
  
• possible GRX groupset in future, but it’s working very well as is and I like the character.
  
• considering having the frame rebuilt in lightweight tubing.
  

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The midnight special looks cool in the larger size not quite so snub nosed

adding an oversize pulley to the derailleur to tart up the rear end. Not Ceramicspeed; something like KCNC or a carbon Aliexpress job with upgraded sealed bearings.

You've built crazy tasteful bikes. Don't go down this route.

100% with you on this! I have the previous-series SS Evo HM with manual DA9000 group and SiSL cranks. Wheels are RS700 C30. Basically, completely vanilla. I don't futz around with it, just ride it. For that, it's perfect.

Yeah, I hear you. I’m thinking it might actually work with the Spidering.

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The supersix got mucky today with its older brother.

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Threads like these need the word 'stable'

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I've done a season now with one from RockBros, cost about £50...it feels pretty flimsy in my hands but actual shifting hasn't felt any better/worse and with no weird carbon effect nor graphics, it looks ok.

There’s a review of one on a YouTube channel called TraceVelo that seemed promising.

Ha, noice.

Got a zipp SL if you wanna try it out. Looked a bit weird on mine, but used to suit my old cinelli well. Reckon the new pro vibe may look good if you're set on a stem change.

If you were to ever paint it I personally prefer the traditional downtube logo rather than toptube. The one you've linked to is great. 'Merlot' would be classy, or the classic icelandic green. Or purple, orange or yellow.

Also maybe getting a caad7 optimo would help you gain some clarity.

Yes, please. I’d like to try the SL, if it’s the squarer profile like this. 110MM?

The top tube logo position I linked to is a bit retro but they have issued Supersix frames (nano edition) with a top tube logo. So it’s not inappropriate. But I am coming around to the fat downtube logo. And it could play more with the main paint colour than a small top tube logo.

Paint thoughts keep coming back to a metalic merlot with off-white or pearl-white logos. The silver spokes I’ll use in the new wheel builds will go well and gumwalls will be essential.

Yeah that’s the one. Think it’s 120, but either way it will at least serve to see whether it suits.

Thinking of going for the latest logo on the supersix. EF did use it on 2019 team bikes.

Plus there’s a nice contrast-fork custom paint job with it that looks good.

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Newer logos looks like a good idea as does the black (or contrasting) fork.

Dead nice bikes! How are you getting on with the mudguards on the cannondale?

Thanks. Yeah the black fork is looking likely.

The mudguards are very good, but you have to add mud flaps as the guards aren’t long enough to protect feet or riders behind you in a pace line. RAW Flaps will sort that out. I think the Flingers are the best option at the price point.

Resolved stem, bars, cages. Just DA chainset and summer wheels to complete.

If anyone wants this pair of Easton EA90RT with new freehub bearings and lots of miles left on the wear indicators, let me know.

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Big day out. Pretty happy with set-up over 180k.

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Looking at others CP threads is a nice way to postpone any update on mine. @snoops how's going clarity wise?

Crikey, this is a throwback. I’d say clarity has been achieved. I’m down to 4.5 bikes. Maybe 5 soon.

Core set, regardless of spec:

• Town bike (the Midnight Special is now on towny duty, and it’s perfect)
  
• Road bike (supersix became a 2018 HiMod and is now a TCR)
  
• Gravel bike (now repping the hallowed Arkose)
  
• MTB (I’ve been wintering on a Fairlight Holt, but building up an Orbea Oiz for summer. Hence I treat this position as a n=1.5, but if the bikes don’t share components the MTB position will become n=2, which may become problematic.)
  
  

The clarity came from eliminating all spurious side-builds and focusing all attention and funds on dialling in the core set.

The Arkose will get 105 Di2 shortly. And the Oiz needs to be built, but other than that, I’m good for a year or two…I think.

Rim brakes are now dead in this stable.

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Your Midnight Special is one of the tasties builds of that frameset I've ever seen.

Also big envy for the Holt, i can't get behind the 27.2 seatpost and the lack of an xxl size.

Cheers. It’s now my porteur. Hydro discs and phat tyres in London is so nice. Need to fettle front mudguard tho.

After initially thinking the same as you, I’m glad the Holt has 27.2 as you don’t need a mega dropper and I love the svelte rear end. It’s mired by the mudguards but is truly elegant when exposed. And the XL is pretty big! Are you sure you couldn’t make it work?

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I think i could make it work somehow, but after trying and selling promptly a couple of "delusional" hardtails (too small, too steep, too harsh) i'm struggling to see an use case for such a bike. I much prefer splitting the offroad duties between a light FS bike and a dropbar monstercross with proper tires (knowing full well that the Holt could somehow cover greatly both use cases).

This must be the best looking Midnight Special there is

That midnight special is "chef's kiss"