I've been collecting bits to build a touring bike for a couple of years now, but recently my partner was offered a paid research PhD. in New Zealand. This means touring Europe is off the cards (although touring NZ is very much on), and it also means I've ended up with two frames and enough bits to build a decent road bike for this summer.
The starting point is my Champion Mondial, which I've been running as a singlespeed. I chose not to build up the touring frame as the CM is more fun to ride, and the tourer needs a bit of attention from a framebuilder which'll cost money, and more importantly, time. Here it is in 'warts-and-all' glory with mudguards and pump clip.
I'm not sure where to go with tyres. Currently it has 28c Randonneurs which fit under the guards... just. I would like to fit Grand Bois Cerf tyres, but I don't think the 28cs would fit as Randos are narrow for their stated size... perhaps the 26cs would be a better choice. Or I could always go with the larger tyres and just not run mudguards - it is a weekend bike after all. Put the Randos and guards back on if it rains...
I've been collecting bits to build a touring bike for a couple of years now, but recently my partner was offered a paid research PhD. in New Zealand. This means touring Europe is off the cards (although touring NZ is very much on), and it also means I've ended up with two frames and enough bits to build a decent road bike for this summer.
The starting point is my Champion Mondial, which I've been running as a singlespeed. I chose not to build up the touring frame as the CM is more fun to ride, and the tourer needs a bit of attention from a framebuilder which'll cost money, and more importantly, time. Here it is in 'warts-and-all' glory with mudguards and pump clip.
The whole build will be a hodge-podge of parts - most of which I have harvested from other bikes and then sold on what I didn't need. Drivetrain will be late 80s/early 90s Shimano Deore 3x7 with some odd old Shimano ratcheting shifters, brakes and levers are Shimano 600 (not pictured, they're in a box somewhere...), with headset and seatpost being Campagnolo Record (which I also have in a box somewhere...). The wheels are 32h Deore hubs on MA2 rims - I've also got a pair of 36h Shimano Santé hubs (in a box) which I might build up since the hubs are so handsome. And I've got some M520 clipless pedals somewhere, too.
I'm not sure where to go with tyres. Currently it has 28c Randonneurs which fit under the guards... just. I would like to fit Grand Bois Cerf tyres, but I don't think the 28cs would fit as Randos are narrow for their stated size... perhaps the 26cs would be a better choice. Or I could always go with the larger tyres and just not run mudguards - it is a weekend bike after all. Put the Randos and guards back on if it rains...