My first ever build - Leader 725

@Danny, that depends entirely on what you want to build...

I personally wanted to hand pick everything so I'd stray away from it. But that is just me.

@Mouse, when I did mine I left the end of the brake cable in the lever housing on purpose and just cut the rest off, so the level still thinks 'there is a cable attached to it.' Rattle free :-)
hmm - sounds like a good idea.

There's nothing particularly wrong with the Tektro levers on that Leader. They're just mounted in the wrong place on the bars.

You lot are sending him round the houses with this 'advice'.

What happens when he spends a ton on an Selle Italia and still isn't comfortable? You tell him then that saddle preference is personal, or just think of another for him to save up for?

Tried the biro spring trick?
Nope, is there a youtube vid for it? :)

I'm not usually a fan of the 725 frame, especially not in Leader's Bianchi-alike baby blue colour, but I actually like this. Clean.

Just change the saddle - what the heck is that thing?!

@Mouse - I think the biro spring trick, not that I have any idea how it works, sounds like it'll be better than my trick. Which by the way was an accident..

@jadias That thing my friend is....

Ah who am I kidding I have no idea. Got it off a forum member for a fiver as my last saddle was wrecked in a crash and had no money for a nice one.

@Miro_o - I've too come to this conclusion, as much as I want those SRAM leavers, I can't really justify 55 pounds just because it looks a bit nicer. So the only thing I intend to change in the near future is the saddle, but I won't be spending loads, probably just get a Turbo or a Spoon...

I'll be changing my saddle soon so I can lend you my Charge Knife to try out.

I've got a selle flite titanium you can have for £15

@Mouse - I think the biro spring trick, not that I have any idea how it works, sounds like it'll be better than my trick. Which by the way was an accident..

I'm a bit dim, hence the need for pictures or preferably a video, and a helping hand, if I'm going to have any success.

@Miro_o - I've too come to this conclusion, as much as I want those SRAM leavers, I can't really justify 55 pounds just because it looks a bit nicer. So the only thing I intend to change in the near future is the saddle, but I won't be spending loads, probably just get a Turbo or a Spoon...

Good call.

Sounds like that might hurt my bottom ed! Thanks but I ordered a Spoon about five minutes after posting my last post..

Mouse, one would assume you just plonk a spring between the top of the lever and the inside housing? Who knows!

I'm a bit dim, hence the need for pictures or preferably a video, and a helping hand, if I'm going to have any success.

Step-by-step... here

Hero

@jadias That thing my friend is....

Ah who am I kidding I have no idea. Got it off a forum member for a fiver as my last saddle was wrecked in a crash and had no money for a nice one.

I've got an ORA saddle in red and black leather you're welcome to have for the cost of postage. Uh, from Japan. Really nice saddle for a stock one, though!

ORA are the 'in-house' parts section of Opus Bikes, if you're wondering. Not sure if you can buy their stuff without actually getting an Opus.

I really am very excited. I have finally found the perfect combination for me. I have now fitted a Charge Spoon and a set of Soma El Toro pursuit bars (courtesy of apolloxl) wrapped in Fizik bar tape.

The bars have completely changed the way the bike feels to ride. It feels smoother, more responsive and is just fantastic. The Spoon needs no introduction, very comfy and very cheap.

It is a shame the Spoon isn't more black, but I am just being very picky. The very last thing I would change is the fork, to something that is full carbon.

Pictures attached.

3 Attachments

Glad you've got it working.

...the very last thing I would change is the fork, to something that is full carbon.

It wont ride any differently unless you spend 300+ on really top end forks, which wouldn't make any sense for its use.

I would angle your brake lever down (inline with your forearm).

nice final build, really tasteful. pursuit bars are really nice to ride on.

I like it a lot!

bars look great!

I would definitely slap on a 49t ring and get some real speed :)

...rather than by another cog for the other side of the wheel?

LFGSS advice at it's best.

:)

Glad you've got it working.

It wont ride any differently unless you spend 300+ on really top end forks, which wouldn't make any sense for its use.

I would angle your brake lever down (inline with your forearm).

Will have a play with the lever later on. I guess so, there is nothing wrong with the fork per se, just don't like the way it looks and want something more aero shaped, like the frame..

nice final build, really tasteful. pursuit bars are really nice to ride on.

Thanks man :-)

I like it a lot!

bars look great!

I would definitely slap on a 49t ring and get some real speed :)

Yeah thanks for the bars dude, like I said yesterday they are awesome. Would that make hills much harder? I live near lots of hills! I have to say I do find myself spinning out too easily sometimes though.

Well I used to ride 52/17 and hills were a bit of an issue, but on 49/18 they are not so bad...

Best advice I could offer is borrow a bike on a higher ratio and see what it's like

...there is nothing wrong with the fork per se, just don't like the way it looks and want something more aero shaped, like the frame...

Ok.

It would be cheaper to adjust your perception of what forks are suitable.

'Aero' bits on a bike with clips and straps... are a bit of a joke. But it's all good.

Well, when I say aero forks I meant something that is shaped like the tubes on the frame, and not that I would buy it, but this Leader fork

also you may find that an aero fork doesn't suit the headtube, that this fork does

also if you gear up by say 2 teeth you may not need to lengthen the chain, and the rear wheel will come closer to the cutout in the ST. i.e. more hipster points.