Current Projects chat and miscellany

+1

*m.f showing his age there ^^. It's 20 years since Cannondale earnt that moniker. It's also at least 15 years since they fixed the problem.

If I was buying an OTP cyclocross bike I'd go for a Cannondale, a Focus (especially with the 20% discount at the moment) or the Boardman mentioned above.

i'm also tempted by the colnago....
because.
its.
a.
colnago....
(£999 currently)
http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/world-cup-laterale-2010-zoom.jpg

^photoshop fail on the reflection of the wheels

Who is holding it? How does it work?!

Go for it! I'm thinking about a CX bike myself. I'm up to some mucky fun on Sundays.

Henry, i was recently looking into CX bikes, and nearly pulled the trigger on a Boardman - not the most glamorous of brands, but for the money it was hard to beat, and had the nicest ride of all teh bikes i tried.

Only reason i didnt get it was an impulse snowboard buying session got in the way.

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/cx/CX_Pro.html

Got a new board? What did you go for?

i'm also tempted by the colnago....
because.
its.
a.
colnago....
(£999 currently)
http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/world-cup-laterale-2010-zoom.jpg

we have that at work (and in 55cm I think).

I don't think it's worth getting frankly, doesn't seemed as good as the Genesis (and the other mentioned above).

Ed, stop talking nonsense.

Ed, stop talking nonsense.

is that not like dividing by zero?

One bike is made by Colnago, who've supplied high end race bikes to some of the legends of the sport and currently supply 'cross bikes to Sven Nys.

The other is made by Genesis, a Ridgeback owned brand that mainly supplies cheap bikes to those shopping on a budget.

not to mention the finishing kit, the weight.....
etc.

the colnago is probably the best finishing kit of the lot

my first fixed build, unfortunately done on a budget so its not as refined as i would have liked, but its a smooth ride!
Also thanks to this forum and the people on it who helped me with the parts!

also credit to 'spotter' for the camera work.

Just bought a bike, not really a proper project, more of a rolling project where I change a couple of bits to make it more my own.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1133.snc4/149508_615761040622_284100563_6858637_2309975_n.jpg

Just bought a bike, not really a proper project, more of a rolling project where I change a couple of bits to make it more my own.

Fucken rubbish. Why you listening to absolute radio on the tv?

Get a BMX etc.

I've got one, cunt. Also, by telling everyone I was listening to Absolute Radio, you've just told everyone you were listening to it too.

Just bought a bike, not really a proper project, more of a rolling project where I change a couple of bits to make it more my own.

Shit house

Shit house

Your mum's a shit house.

the colnago is probably the best finishing kit of the lot

Cheap Colnagos are made in China along with everything else. FSA would be my last choice of finishing kit; you can tell how shit it is by the frequency with which it turns up as OEM kit on budget bikes, their business model seems to be huge discounts to OEMs and suggested retail pricing at twice what it's worth to make the OTP builds look good. Shimano R500 wheels are archaic, R550 cantilevers are not cyclocross brakes. Overall, it's about what you'd expect for a grand, but don't kid yourself that you're getting anything from the Colnago heritage apart from the decals. The Focus Mares 2.0 at £150 less looks a much better buy.

its not as refined as i would have liked

Still looks very sharp

What he said, low end Colnagos are shit, if you are seriously wanting to race get the Focus or a Jake the Snake but the Genesis Croix De Fer seems ideal for multipurpose use (touring, off road, commuting), the current round the world record is held on one!

Have you ever ridden a Colnago?

Their low end ones might be made in Taiwan but they are open about it, unlike so many other manufacturers like Pinarello or Cervelo, and they charge lower prices for those frames. That aside, they also invest heavily in R&D and build bikes that are perfect for racing.

The Croix de Fer is a perfectly adequate bike but it weighs over 10kgs, which for cross racing is a major impediment.

CX frames fall into two catergories in my mind.

Ultility - has all the braze-ons for commuting and light touring.
Race - Is totally aimed at performance.

You need to decide which one you want. As a short guy, riding a small frame, seatstay length really effect a bikes handling for me. So for ultility cycling I'd like long stays to keep a resonable wheelbase, yet for racing I'd want the opposite. Basically unless you buy two bikes you need to make a compromise somewhere.

For performance I'd get a Guerciotti. Not entirely for performance reasons though ;)
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FRGUXC/guerciotti-x-crow-xc01-frameset

For utility I'd get the Salsa Vaya above.

Personally I'm in more in need of a utility CX, so will likely pick up a Vaya at some point to upgrade my current frame. I have already upgraded my wheels to some with disc compatible hubs.

That Guerciotti would fly around some of the local mountain paths though. Its got smile written all over it.

Get a BMX road bike ;0

I think you've done a great job there, really tasteful.

I'd quite fancy a bike like this for a bit of a laugh, skidz hopz and wheeliez like a hudlum. wouldn't want to cover any distance on it on that gi though.