Current Projects chat and miscellany

Just got these for the John Major (recently acquired from Object).

I really can't afford them but I'm turning 30 next month and may be having a mid life crisis. I guess it's a case of more money than sense (although that's only because I also have f all sense). Never ridden track but I'm moving to Herne Hill next week so when the arrive and the build is done I'll be giving it a go. Any advice on gear ratios? I was thinking 46 15.

Loving this!

[QUOTE=Fruit;1168560]picked up my first geared bike today, a Colnago export with pretty much all Campagnolo parts, i am pretty happy with it. i think i am going to put some black bartape on and change the brakelevers to some Campag ones, anybody knowwhat groupset and year the derailleur and shifter levers are from?

Any advice on gear ratios? I was thinking 46 15.

46/14 or 50/15 would be more typical at HH

I prefer to amble around on 48/15

I just spent the last half hour with a hammer, screwdriver and hacksaw blade removing half of a shimano plastic non drives side bb cup. Damn I hate those things (and my inability to not over tighten them).

Oh, and avoid carbon stems too, that's one place where nobody has really made a better product in carbon than any number of generic Taiwan 3D forged alloy units.

good to know, I was looking at some carbon stem (being a weight weenie), but since your opinion are pretty trustworthy, I'll probably go for a Thomson stem instead.

46/14 or 50/15 would be more typical at HH

Thanks, I have a 46t chain ring already so I'll stick with that. Then I only have to shell out £15 for a sprocket.

(being a weight weenie),...I'll probably go for a Thomson stem instead.

Non sequitur.

It's still lighter than the heavy one I have current, any recommendation? (my bar is a 26mm)

I prefer to amble around on 48/15

I have a 48t ring too.I see how things go. Guess it's trail and error really. Just didn't want to turn up on a ridiculous gearing and get in everyone's way

Start on lower gearing. It is fun. You can go up when you get twitchy. I will continue to amble. Can't wait for March.

any recommendation? (my bar is a 26mm)

Budget/length?

At the high end, Extralite RoadStem UL2 and Syntace F99 260 are the weightweenie choices, mid range people like the Ritchey WCS 4-axis and the KCNC SC Wing Scandium is pretty light too. Lower down, there are several 3D forged stems which are light - Planet X, PostModerne Smica for example - and some CNC machined ones like ProLite Pelmo. Any of those should be <140g in 100mm length, with the very light ones being <100g. Thomson don't even list any 26.0 stems any more, but when they did they were in the 200g area.

I've got a 110mm Planet X at 113g and a 120mm Ritchey WCS 4-axis at 132g for sale in this thread https://www.lfgss.com/thread28042.html

Thanks, I'm looking for an 90mm stem so the stem you're selling a little too long for me.

I'll check out the Planet X website, your help are much appreciated.

I'll check out the Planet X website, your help are much appreciated.

This is the 90mm version of mine
http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/info_STPXS3DFS90.html

Would personally still go for a Thomson as to me they look far nicer and match my seatpost (very important !)
As for weight a 90mm X2 is 139 grams which is not an earth shattering difference from testers high end examples is it so they are far from heavy.
You just need to get into 2010 and use 31.8 bars :-)

I have a lovely 90's Modolo handlebar that doesn't have brake groove and are at least 43cm wide, if there's a 31.8 bar without brake groove and a bit of anatomic, then I'd defintely go for a decent 31.8 stem.

FSA carbon seatpost - The clamp area (saddle to post) is spinning in the post. I've had it for about 8 months but not fitted it until Thursday. Can I glue it with contact adhesive or is it goosed?

you could try as they are bonded in anyway.

...

• Gumwall tyres: I agree would look good. But practically speaking there are no good enough gumwall tyres for the back of a fix (in terms of thickness of rubber)...too anyone after gumwalls I recormend the NOS handmade veloflex tyres at work. £25 a pair at the moment too. Fucking amazingly nice tyres.
  
  

...another good option for anyone else are Schwalbe Lugano's.

Only 23c I think (25 if you looked hard?) so prolly not enough for you^ but IMO really nice for the price.

Good grip and I had no punctures when I used them for a daily commute thru london.

Panaracer Pasela TG is a good option, not sure on how long it'll last when it come to skid (if you like doing those stupid long skid), but it's pretty good as a durable tyres;

Cheers Mr 31

Today, my friends, is new bike day. New tourer day, more specifically...

A sit-up-and-beg town bike?

Nope, a tourer. My faithful assistant should be arriving with a workstand any minute and I'm going to get building.

The Orrell from eBay very quickly built up. The beater has been temporarily sacrificed while I source some new components. Nitto drops, Brooks Swift saddle and Phil hubs on silver Mavic CXP 33's are my thoughts so far. Also I've got some Ofmega Mistrel cranks which are stunning.

I'm going to get it re-painted, but I can't decided on a colour. I was thinking possibly black gloss, with gumwalls.

Or my other choice was metallic blue. I made a quick mock up from a GT I found on Flickr to show this one (ignore the drivetrain - couldn't be bothered to photoshop that). In the photos, the frame already looks this colour; it's not. It's baby blue. Bleugh.

Opinions?