Dawes CX

Finally ticked off a few of the things on my TDL... although when I say ticked a couple of them have been worked around more than resolved.

New issues;

~~* wider rim means the front vbrake pads don't clear the fork properly

• gear cable ferrals still aren't right dispite measuring a million times before purchase
  
• rear mech set-up is a pita ~~
  
• BB is now loose (possibly install error, possibly not having the sides shamferred, possibly just not that good)
  
• outer chainring is the wrong way round and the DS crank has a bolt and my wrench bits are at my folks
  
  
  
  

Pics will follow, but I thought I'd just give a little summary of some of my thoughts.

Overall, it's been a massive PITA and has more or less put me of old bikes completely for anything other than beaters.

#1 The forks do my head in. I'm guessing this was an actual proper cx bike in it's day and had skinny rims with cx tyres, possibly tubs. I am now seriously considering picking up a pair of 1" surly cross check forks... but it's yet another expense.

#2 I've been sold on the virtues of threadless/ahead for a while, but fuck me has this confirmed it! Dialling in the headset was a bore. Arsing about trying to make a Nitto stem and a Nitto handle bar fit together...etc....etc.. it's really a overly complicated and unnecessary design.

#3 Cantilevers look nice, but really are an antiquated brake set up. I am sure lots of people out there can set them up neatly, efficiently and easily. But in my book a brake that needs 3 hands and has +4 moving parts which all seem to require adjustment is just overly complicated.

#4 Bar ends are great.

#5 I know contact points are personal preferences, but I really do think modern leavers are significantly more comfortable than the old 105's I've got.

#6 I still like the ride. It's got a good balance of stiffness and comfort for an old lugged frame.

#7 It has way too many gears for my current use and I'm seriously thinking about getting a road cassette and a single speed front 44t chainring for a 1x9.

#8 I wish it was a 10speed so I could use one of my spare cassettes. Again with using outdated technology!

#9 Ed is right! Good quality fast 32mm tyres on wide rims in the city feel great! Not slow, nice and stable. Would definitely use again.

So in summary, when Wiggle are doing the basic Charge FIilter for £400 or even the disc Charge filter with Apex for £780 I can't help but feel this build is over-priced, out-dated and seems very hard to rationalise.

http://barndoorcycling.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/rivendell-bicycle-cult-i-mean-company/