GT Pulse

Since the forum is looking pretty fresh these days and with the introduction of the project specific forum, I though I'd share.

After feeling my GT Edge Ti was too small I was lucky enough to find another enthusiast who'd trade the frame for a GT Pulse in pretty mint condition.
The plan for the build was to build a nice training frame that I'd enjoy riding and maybe do some racing on.

The day I got the frame:

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/860/dscn1203e.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4377/dscn1202k.jpg

Came with a nice Hatta Swan super deluxe headset which I haggled for. With the cranks I know DA would have been the obvious choice,
but decided on Campag and matching BB because they'd performed great on the track previously. At the time I thought the light weight carbon post and SLR looked smart.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1060/dscn1393e.jpg http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/6733/dscn1019l.jpg

The first of the many cockpit changes started with an A-Head/quill converter coupled with deep drops.

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/1868/dscn1238u.jpg

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg19/scaled.php?server=19&filename=dscn1224t.jpg&res=medium http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/6966/dscn1225g.jpg

Looked pretty messy so decided on the quill stem route.

Next was a 10cm Cinelli 1R with Cinelli 67-39

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg845/scaled.php?server=845&filename=dscn1257o.jpg&res=medium http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/2974/dscn1366r.jpg

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/7468/dscn1285p.jpg http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg528/scaled.php?server=528&filename=dscn1299e.jpg&res=medium http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg403/scaled.php?server=403&filename=dscn1300a.jpg&res=medium

Finally after riding the bike for half a season on the track (only training mind) decided I wasn't Michael Huebner and felt silly with the deep drops,
so looked to replace them with something more compact. In regards to the wheels set-up, I'd had conti ultras on for a while and upgraded them to grand prix supersonics
which really surprised me how sticky they felt in comparison. Felt a lot more confident in the banking particularly.
Couldn't fault the ellipses either, haven't ridden any other wheels on the track so had nothing to compare them to.
With the Deda Drittissimo post it mainly got on my nerves, slipping when riding and being too scared of crushing it when tightening but being inline it complimented my t-rex anatomy.

In it's current incarnation I went for a 110 Cinelli 1A which I polished up and Bontrager SSR VR-C drops.
Did a lot of searching around to know what 26.0 clamp compact drops are on the market and this was my list if anyone's interested:

Deda 215 - Drop:142 Reach:86
Deda Newton - Drop: 135 Reach:80
Deda Piega - Drop:143 Reach:87
Bontrager SSR VR-C Drop:125 Reach: couldn't find
Soma Highway one - Drop:130 Reach: 75
Nitto M106 Neat - Drop: 128 Reach 78
Origin-8 Pro-lite compact handlebar Drop: 120 Reach: 70
Also ITM Super Italia pro 260

May have been my imagination but since changing the post from carbon to alu I felt like it stiffened things up with more raw power being laid down.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg35/scaled.php?server=35&filename=dscn1413t.jpg&res=medium http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg853/scaled.php?server=853&filename=dscn1416p.jpg&res=medium

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/5163/dscn1427y.jpg

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/117/dscn1428x.jpg

http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/7219/dscn1429k.jpg

Full Spec:

Frame: GT Pulse (56)
Fork: Easton Kinesis
Headset: Shimano 600
Crankset: Campagnolo Record Pista 49T
Bottom Bracket: Campagnolo Record Pista
Pedals: Look Keo Classics
Drivetrain: Dura Ace 15t
Chain: KMC singlespeed
Handlebars: Bontrager SSR VR-C 40cm
Stem: Cinelli 1A 110cm
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite
Seatpost: Thomson Elite
Wheels: Mavic Ellipse / Continental Supersonic Grand Prix
Weight: 7.3kg

Apologies it's not massively detailed, never knew I'd make this thread.

Do you wanna trade for a flite titanium with white writing instead of red?

Go full black!

very nice man, shame you couldnt get the ahead converter to work out. Did your researches throw up any 25.4 clamp compact drop bars? - i hate the idea of a shim

Finally after riding the bike for half a season on the track (only training mind) decided I wasn't Michael Huebner and felt silly with the deep drops, so looked to replace them with something more compact.

i would say a typical step forward. deep drops and track stems are looking good, but really unpractical if you're doing miles and miles for training. have a look at madison races, all of them riding "road looking" stems and handlebars. good decision and great build.

Do you wanna trade for a flite titanium with white writing instead of red?

Cheers for the offer but I quite like the red, I guess maybe white lettering would look more in-keeping with the build but can't be bothered with the hassle of changing.

Go full black!

Yeah you know that was my initial thoughts on the build, but after mocking it up on photoshop it seemed to look characterless.
I think the stealth look is quite hard to pull off on a threaded/1inch frame.

very nice man, shame you couldnt get the ahead converter to work out. Did your researches throw up any 25.4 clamp compact drop bars? - i hate the idea of a shim

Cheers. With the 25.4 clamp it makes a hard job even harder. Compact bars are quite a recent innovation and I think 25.4 is the oldest clamp size for quill stems.
If you're set on using a quill, then 26.0 gives you the best chance of finding compact drops (baring an a-head converter).
Also it's worth noting cinelli giro d'italia bars are the original compact bars which are 26.4.

i would say a typical step forward. deep drops and track stems are looking good, but really unpractical if you're doing miles and miles for training. have a look at madison races, all of them riding "road looking" stems and handlebars. good decision and great build.

Couldn't have put it better, especially when using the tops on deep bars is such an annoyance. Many times I''ve heard "Tops or drops" shouted at me, ha.
Yeah I thought I could increase the stem length when reducing the reach which works and performs better too.
I think more Iljo Keisse than Michael Huebner, and taped my bars all the way to the stem in recognition.

oh man, love all of this. this is #3 on my list

wow!!!
i love it ;)

i'm also thinking about changing the "pista" handlebar. I do alot of kms (ok ok, miles) and it's far from confortable. Yeah, much better for pics but...

great bike jambon

oh man, love all of this. this is #3 on my list

I've got to admit a cannondale track like yours is also on my list.

wow!!!
i love it ;)

i'm also thinking about changing the "pista" handlebar. I do alot of kms (ok ok, miles) and it's far from confortable. Yeah, much better for pics but...

great bike jambon

Cheers, kms *or *miles I'm sure your body will thank you for switching to shallower drops. I'm starting to think they look better too.

wow!!!
i love it ;)

i'm also thinking about changing the "pista" handlebar. I do alot of kms (ok ok, miles) and it's far from confortable. Yeah, much better for pics but...

great bike jambon

A road stem and non-ano shallow drop drops looks and feels good. Definitely the way forward whether or not you're on the track.

Track drops and stem only look good if your in the drops, I'd rather see shallow compact bars being ridden in the drops then aggressive bars on the tops

Track drops and stem only look good if your in the drops, I'd rather see shallow compact bars being ridden in the drops then aggressive bars on the tops

yeah! I can't agree more ;)
Sometimes i see bikes with track drops with tape only in the drops and than the rider only use his hands on the tops... well, that's cleary a bike for pics.

I still want some ellipses for my GT.

yeah! I can't agree more ;)
Sometimes i see bikes with track drops with tape only in the drops and than the rider only use his hands on the tops... well, that's cleary a bike for pics.

Real men rock White bar tape and just the part on the drops is dirty and used (runs off to clean the top half of my bar tape) ;)

How are you getting on with the bars? I've been looking for some compact drops with a 26mm clamp and the ones you've got here seemed good value. Would you recommend them?

That's a lovely build Jambon.

Real men rock White bar tape and just the part on the drops is dirty and used (runs off to clean the top half of my bar tape) ;)

Can't believe I'm admitting this; but after a heavy roller session when I'm glazed in sweat I make an effort to wipe it on the drops to make them look more used.
hangs head

How are you getting on with the bars? I've been looking for some compact drops with a 26mm clamp and the ones you've got here seemed good value. Would you recommend them?

Really like them, as well as being compact (in drop and reach) the top is dead straight which makes using them easier on the wrists.
Also I imagine this would be a good bar with hoods because of the same lack of vertical sweep. Superjoe's lovely brigestone is an example: http://i994.photobucket.com/albums/af63/shackleton03/DSC_0194.jpg

With a negative sloping top tube like mine, it doesn't give much room for your hands when they're in the drops, and with the bars being compact it can be easy to hit your forearms on the tops. Not really a problem unless you've got a lo pro-esque frame.

That's a lovely build Jambon.

Cheers

Yeah I was thinking of hoods as well, thanks for the info, I reckon I'll give them a go if I ever have any money ever again.

Can't believe I'm admitting this; but after a heavy roller session when I'm glazed in sweat I make an effort to wipe it on the drops to make them look more used.
hangs head

Can't say I've ever fixed a puncture or put my chain back on and made a conscious effort to ride in the drops after whistles quietly

Nice build! Looking for a GT as well. Looks like yours would love Sweden. :)

nice clean build for sure! Definitely good choice on the stem!