Marcootsee's self-indulgence odissey (aka this bike will be the last one)

With a grand investment of 8 euros, i got rid of the noisy and (to me) useless triple setup, putting on a fresh Kmc chain and a nice Stronglight 42 Chainring from the parts bin. Basket back on (with a proper amount of zip ties) but the rack now is gone on the Fairlight...

...more to follow

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Well, this post was meant to be the first one about my trip on the Ciclovia Alpe Adria, but a series of unfortunate events stopped the tour three days in.

I still learnt some useful lessons for the next time, which i'll write down below hoping to share some knowledge:

• Tubeless tires are a blessing for long days of riding, even just for the peace of mind.

• Aero bars are more comfortable when level to the ground, not angled upwards (like these photos).

• Sporty frames like the Fairlight don't like heavy rear-biased loads and (at least mine) start wobbling as soon as you lighten your weight on the bars.

• The framebag is as useful for cargo space as a pita when you're forced to take it off and carry it with you; also, don't load slim stuff that can crawl his way down the bag, because it can widen it and get it too close to the cranks and the knees.

• Thermal bottles are a must have for cycle touring (at least one, if you can refill frequently).

• If you plan on riding multiple days, pick a side between "light credit card packing" and "full on motorhome". I managaed to miss some useful stuff and, at the same time, pack too much for the available cargo space.

• Be sure to have easy to open and easy to remove luggage space. You don't want to dismantle half of the bike to get a usb cable. At the same time, keep some spare free space and don't fill every square inch you've got.

• You'll never bring too much food and you'll never put too much sun cream.

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On a lighter note, these three days were very hot but very memorable, not to mention a very well made cycling infrastructure and the local's hospitality and positive attitude toward bikes

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Those last two pictures, what amazing infastructure!

If you plan on riding multiple days, pick a side between "light credit card packing" and "full on motorhome". I managaed to miss some useful stuff and, at the same time, pack too much for the available cargo space.

This is what I've observed over in the French Alps, a split camp. Loads of people touring with a small saddle bag with sandles strapped to the outside - presumably little more than a pair of shorts, tshirt and pants for the evenings, then the rest have have 4x pannier setups.

Those last two pictures, what amazing infastructure!

Indeed. It's a giant cycle way that starts in Saltzburg and comes down in Grado, on the Adriatic sea. We camped the second night in front of a repurposed train station (being this path an old railway).

My only advice would be the direction: start from Saltzburg and enjoy the constant 2% descent to the sea. Don't do it like us and uselessy grind up to the mountains!

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That last photo in particular looks incredible!

I had the same ‘rear load’ thing with my Strael, so sold it and bought a ten year old croix de fer.

(Which now has 4 panniers)

I'm lucky enough to have another "heavy duty" bike, but having had the need to transport it by train (in a bag) and knowing the route was mostly flat and tarmac, i choose to pick the "roadiest" one.

Still, in my future endeavours i'll probably split between light touring (frame bag, seatbag and bar bag) on the Secan and 4 pannier setup on the Cabra (below)

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As cliché as it sounds, it's really a no filter picture, straight from the camera folder. I'm already missing it!

Secan

Find the Faran works nicely with 4 light panniers.. not to encourage, as you're already on your last bike right 😁

Did you manage this trip with trains from the UK?!

Nope! I live in Italy but i went to the other side of the country (7 hours with the fastest available train).

I really like the Faran, but i still think that the Secan is better for 95% of my riding time (and the burnt orange is, by far, my favourite color) :)

Lo and behold, a new frameset has just joined the Marcootsee's Head Quarters (N+0).

Right after the abrupt end of my trip, my partner's brother asked me to find a suitable bike for his commutes. Being the same height as me, i immediately thought about finding him something cheap and functional like my Spillo, staying tight on budget and bling points.

Casually scrolling through my local marketplace, an ad for a black farm gate got my attention. A Fuji Touring frame, in 64 cm size.

Being my partner's brother completely uninterested about bike stuff, i immediately thought about killing two birds with one stone: giving him the Bianchi for a symbolic price and keeping the Fuji for myself. This way, not only i'd manage to leave behind some stupid stuff like the 1.1/8 threaded headset and no fork mounts, but i'd get a nice steel frame with a comparable geometry to my Fairlight and the most common standards in existence.

The frame itself it's quite heavily scratched, but it's recent and it's not rusty. For the price of two nice gravel tires i managed to snatch both the frame, the fork and the rear rack that came stock on the complete bike, from a nice bloke who transferred all the pieces to a NOS Cross Check (RIP).

I'm looking forward to build this bike with modern but very understated stuff, keeping it fairly nice but theft proof at the same time. Before all of that, though, it needs a bit of prepping (mainly rust converter in a couple spots and some frame saver inside).

This crappy photo is the only one that was uploaded on the ad, i'll post some new ones in the coming days with any possible question that might spring to mind. Cheap bikes are the best bikes, no doubt about that!

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This is taking a bit longer than expected, but we're getting there eventually. The clearances on this frame are astoundingly good, but for now i'll stick with 35mm tires and 45mm fenders because that's what i already have.

I was going to put on a 50-34 chainset, but the lower chainstay won't permit it. I'll probably try an old square taper triple Mtb chainset i have from another bike; it comes from a rotted Ritchey P21 that i rescued from a dumpster years ago, glad to have kept all the parts for such a long time.

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Success! This is the clearance with a 32-42 setup. I'll get some TA Spécialités rings, probably in a 29-44 setup, that should pair nicely with a 11-34 cassette.

Fwiw, these cranks are Suntour CW-XP10 in 175mm.

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Another bit for the Fuji...i have already tried a couple of double sided options in the past, but in the end the platform for the "flat" side has always been too small and not supportive for my big shoes.

These should play nicely with my usual commute footwear and some longer rides with proper cycling spd cleats. If anything, i can always go back to flats on this bike and slap these pedals on the Cabra!

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Also, after having to accept the lack of any real option for quality cantilevers on the second hand market here in Italy, i treated myself with these...

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Good choice and well-priced. Some Kool Stop pads would finish them off nicely as I found the stock ones quite squishy.

I'm on the same boat! I'll use these pads hoping to squeeze some power, but Kool Stops are definetely the next in line

Drivetrain is on. Is this the so called beusage a lot of us is striving for?

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Bike's ready, more photos and first impressions tomorrow.

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Here it is. Still quite a bit of minor jobs to do, but it's completely rideable and mechanically sound. I have to bodge something for the front fender, to lower the mounting point and get a better fender line.

Other than that, the next steps are:

• Trim the fender stays
  
• Trim the rack stays (but i'll probably keep them as they are for future occurrences)
  
• Swap bars to a narrower and shorter pair
  
• Get better at taping (and maybe get something more colorful?)
  
• Desticker the rims
  
• Try some ghetto tubeless (these wheels do have the correct lip on the sides, but the inner channel is way deeper and more curved than other tubeless ready rims)
  
• Wear out these pads and get some Kool Stops
  
• Swap out the headset (or manage to get it torqued properly)
  
• Polish the crankset
  
• Swap the chrome bell with a black one
  
  

I'm really satisfied with the fit and the general ease of maintenance. I expected the frame and the riding quality to be a lot stiffer than it is, so even when unloaded it's really flexy and confidence inspiring. As it sits, it's around 13,4 kg.

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A couple more shots

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A fine looking bicycle.
Before you cut the front mudguard stays bend the fork crown bracket, that'll lower the tip of the guard towards the tyre a bit, and give a better line.

I was going to suggest something very similar to @jontea - if you lengthen where the lower stay is attached, that should also tilt the nose of the guard down. Won't get it any closer to the tire, though, if that's what you meant.
Bike is properly stately too.

@jontea @vthejk my main problem here is that the fork crown bracket is not long enough (is already bottoming out in the pics).

Ideally i'd put something like a daruma bolt, but the Honjo/VO ones are probably too short, and a Problem Solvers fender flute might be too expensive (considering that piece alone is half of the guard's value). I'll dremel out the fork bracket or i'll put a tab with another nut/bolt probably!

I agree with you though, trimming the mudguard stays is definitely the last piece of the puzzle