Upgrading to a Post Cursa

First time in CP thread, looking for advice and suggestions mainly!

Bought my Pre Cursa in November last year and I've been loving it ever since

Frame: 50cm Pre Cursa
Forks: Alpina
Cranks: Sugino RD2
Wheelset: Navigator Street

This coming year having upped from commuting to longer rides with groups and lots of RP laps, I'm looking to enter some crits this year and do a lot more social riding as well (anyone near Woolwich let me know!)

I'd like to upgrade parts of this build, namely the wheels and possibly the crankset, but not sure what to go with. Cranks would be Omniums most likely, but its quite an outlay for something I "think" I need, never having ridden anything other than these and those on my beater before it.

Wheel wise, @umop3pisdn advised that Mavic Ellipse could be surpassed with formula hubs and DT Swiss R460 rims, anyone else have and suggestions? I considered aliexpress rims laced in a store, but probably over budget.

My priorities (in order, at the moment):
new lighter wheelset
new crankset

Anything that comes off of here, will be going on to my old beater for wet weather commuting as the roadie and I aren't seeing eye to eye at the moment (half tempted to sell to fund this!)

Beater:

Roadie:

Also excuse the half baked pun title, its the best I could do!

Deep Carbon wheels. Sugino DD cranks

Suginos probably out of the budget even further down the line, is there a noteable performance increase from Omniums? Carbon rims are tempting, if this was in 32 I'd probably talk myself into buying two but I think the more affordable option and more easily replaced would be alu rims. Have you much experience with carbon wheels over alu?

A colleague recommended the H Plus Son SL42 to me today, other than aesthetics and weight, what would the differences be between this and a lighter lower profile rim like a DR Swiss R460?

width, sl42 are 19,5, r460 are 23mm.

vs

you want wider (the r460s) rims, more comfortable, better cornering due to/and better tyre profile with wider tyres.

plus if were talking about aesthetics, the dt-swisss look better. if i would build a new wheelset now ild use those rims

I'm looking forward to following your build!

If you do decide to grab some Ellipses then I've got a brand new set I'm not gonna need.
Send me a PM if interested.

Thanks @Rodolfo and @bkromann for the input, this is on hold for the moment! Focusing on actually riding more inside and out before I upgrade. As a short term fix, I'm thinking of getting some Phil Wood bearings for my current wheelset. I saw on insta the Cycle PS had build an awesome looking set of DA hubs to R460s which looked petty fine, be interested to know the weight. Once I knock up my diy workstand this weekend and give her a clean I'll post a "current" photo and go from there!

Great! Looking forward to seeing it.

with the hopeful incoming sale of my Bianchi, I will have the funds to further this! Need to decide on hub, the DT Swiss track hubs seem like a good shout but this is where my lack on knowledge fails me. For a wheelset almost entirely aimed at crit and road fixed use (occasional Herne Hill if I ever get round to it), what would the key points in a hub be? Rim wise I believe I'm looking for something wide and light, possible DT Swiss R460s although they don't come in a 20h drilling so wouldn't marry up nicely with the aforementioned hubs.

Other nice to haves that will hopefully be incoming will be the new gunmetal frameset, when they've sorted the stay issue which I believe they are from the Pre Cursa thread, and some Omniums/Pistard Air cranks. And a new finishing kit for the ratty stuff on there now!

Resuscitating this thread to try and keep myself moving on getting back on the bikes. Having left London to Falkirk in 2020 I’ve done a pitiful amount of cycling which I’m trying to rectify. Stable currently sits at 2.

Pre Cursa

Bought in 2015 and it’s been everything since then. Commuting, Kent lanes, fixed crits and anything else I could think of. Last few years has been as pictured getting some use for very basic turbo to keep fit in winter. Did a lovely loop with a friend up to Stirling and it made me realise how much I want to start riding more regularly.

Jobs to do:

130mm stem made sense when riding without hoods but with them it’s far too long. Will pop a wanted add to see what folk have - but aiming for 100/110mm

The bottom bracket has done more than its fair share in all weathers and is very crunchy. I’ve tried to remove it a few times in the past, stripping the threads using a normal tool and chipping a lot of the back of the DS arm using a gear puller. Actual penetrating oil, blowtorch and as @ioreka nicely put it, B&Q Mjolnir and it finally gave way.

The DS arm damage has me thinking perhaps a new crankset would be nice, the knock off ominums I’ve seen on Aliexpress could en up being about the cost of a new BB and chainring. Plan after that will be just to ride it, trying to find some people to ride with in central Scotland and see some new areas.

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Bike 2: Raleigh Outlander

Bought cheap of Facebook when we first moved, some new tyres and brakes later and it’s been very useful for runs to screwfix or the shops.

Plans for this are again quite reserved and focused on getting into riding more thinking more regularly. I’m thinking Shimano 9/10 mtb shifter so if desired I could use the 5700 shifters I’m currently using on the Pre Cursa to put drops on to it. If I do get a new crankset for the Dolan maybe a narrow wide on the old one from there.

From there would love to get it fully mudguard and flap with a front rack but one step at a time. Also need a new saddle as these two have been sharing for a while.

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I didn't realise you were in Falkirk! Can I interest you in some bike polo in Inverness/Glasgow/Edinburgh?! (pre cursa is a popular choice for a polo bike JUS SAYIN). Glasgow have an annual halloween tournament I'll be up for in a few months if you want to come hang out!

You bloody well can, always fancied giving bike polo a go. Drop me a message when you start making plans!

Jeezy peeps I’ll be flying round if this is what I was dealing with before

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Cranks & BB fitted over the weekend, I was hoping to acetone off the logos but they are well and truly on there. If I get the frame powder coated at some point, I may get the cranks done, or strip and polish them if it matches the new look. Shorter stem is just the ticket, sadly also non actetoneable logos.

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That old BB set my teeth a-grinding. Must feel nippier now.

It's ridiculous, you can almost here it moving to each bearing in the race. I am running 48x19 previously which I knew sounded silly but felt needed when I was still in London. Now definitely can drop to 48x17!

48/19 is a great city gear light to light or when riding hilly or windy conditions.. your knees will thank you in the long run.. I'm running the same crank/bottom bracket and just brushed on flat black paint to mask the logos.. can't avoid having paint come off with ankle rub but hoping they last long enough to expose bare metal

Yeah I have considered this, I think once I start riding more I'll see how they wear then take stock of what's left.

crankset off the Dolan now on the Raleigh with a new chainring. Keeping an eye out for a replacement rear hub/wheel so I can move to a 9/10 speed mtb setup that could be compatible with 5700 levers I'm using on the Dolan at the moment.

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Picked up some silver Blumels for this today, annoyingly none of the eyelets are threaded so will grab some nuts from Screwfix tonight. Also picking up some clip on Zeflal Shield guards for the Dolan. Need to redress the balance and spend time riding these bikes not just working on them!

Full coverage mudguards oh how I love thee, so quick just to nip to the shops and not get covered in rain from the ever threatening Scottish weather. Needs a front rack & basket as carrying tote bag and cycling is not a good idea.

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Have been heeing and hawing about getting a "proper" bike on C2W now it's an option with my company. I've been being doing my usual compulsive research and I think I've settled on the Dolan (surprise surprise), either GXA or GXC depending what I can budget.

I'm most likely going be riding roads predominantly, but this gives me the option for larger tyres mudguards and get stuck into some more gravel. 105 12spd with hydraulic brakes. If I end up wanting to be full gravé I know the GRX rear mech is interchangeable with the 105 stuff so could get a clutched mech.

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So after an inevitable extension of delivery dates from Dolan on the carbon version, they have kindly sent me out a loaner of the aluminium version. Geo I think is spot on for me, need to fiddle stem length and bar width so hopefully when the full spec one comes to me it'll be spot on.

Tyre pressure gauge on my track pump must be off, I felt every tarmac bump today. Going to experiment with just letting air out and seeing where I get to. Really happy I decided to go for the carbon frame (when it arrives) should help with the road noise and also has fully integrated cables which the alu doesn't.

Otherwise lovely ride in the sun with a new group of people from the local tri club #csb

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Please also fiddle with that saddle angle...