Varun's Bikes, Stayer, Cotic, that singlespeed Rockhopper....

It’s done!!! That is to say it’s done until I find something wrong with it or have a burning urge to fettle and change things. But, for now, it’s all done.

The nutted Tektros, seatpost bolt and dropout bolts arrived today which meant I could finally take it out for a ride. I did go for one yesterday too, though, with just one (rear) brake and that was a tad sketchy. Counting today as the first ‘proper’ ride ie one where fear for life < enjoyment of life.

Some thoughts:

• Running it 48-18 feels about right for rolling Warwickshire terrain. I don’t think I’d ever use the 15T tbqh, so am tempted to either go down a chainring size, or replace the 15T with a 20 or higher. I’ve got re-used to riding fixed far, far quicker than I thought too.
  
• There were a few occasions on the sharper steeper hills that I experienced rear dropout slippage. After the second time I cranked down pretty hard on the bolt and it seemed to fix it, but TBC.
  
• Out of all the components, I am least in love with the quite deep silver rims (too much silver?) so they’re a contender for change if (when) I feel like tinkering.
  
• I know I said I would BDHU, but the tops are horizontal and the hoods are in a position I feel comfy with, so I’m not going to BDHU and anyone who tells me to BDHU is not me and, therefore, wrong.
  

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