So I got a Robin Mather...

Yes of course.

I weigh 90kg. I've been reading and thinking about spoke counts, seems a good idea to have fewer spokes on the front. Think I might speak to a few wheel builders and see what they say. Maybe 28rear and 24front?

With good wheel building, these shouldn't be a problem, my old bike used to have F&R 28h hubs and I used to weight that much too.

How much power did you put out?

Going for T-V's hubs.

Any progress on the wheel build?

Not yet. Need to wait for next pay day. So in a couple of weeks should have them sorted.

Liking the hubs though, thanks.

Is it me or do they have a strange pinkish green tinge to them in the light?

There is definitely a finish on them that is slightly pearlescent.

Hubs sent to Strada for wheel build.

H Plus Son Archetypes in grey anodised finish. Sapim CX-ray spokes, silver, laced 3-cross. Silver brass nipples.

Might take a couple of weeks though...

Look what's just arrived

+1

See:

Does anyone no where I can get grip tape like this? Brookes has discontinued it and sent me the perforated version which I am not a fan of.

Also I think this tape would look sweet on your build. Not that the cork doesn't :)

Happy with the wheels?

Happy with the wheels?

Well they look good so far. Not got them on the bike yet, so not yet got to ride them (they just arrived today).

Will post an update with pics when I can, although I'm moving house next week so might be a tad busy for a while...

Does anyone no where I can get grip tape like this? Brookes has discontinued it and sent me the perforated version which I am not a fan of.

Also I think this tape would look sweet on your build. Not that the cork doesn't :)

The tape in the photo is perforated.

Toshi did a black untextured tape at one point. I can't see it in the line-up here but it may still be out there.

Check out handlebra.com

Best leather tape ever. Costly as hell tho. But they last a looong time!
Ive had more than a few rolls and was always pleased. The white keeps white! Have to change tape alot if running white usually but this one lasted me 2.5 years while still lookin good!

Not nearly as harsh as a brooks, a more luxurious feel to it.

Great looking bike btw!

Got the new wheels fitted to the bike last night and went for a quick ride.

Really really nice feeling wheels, smooth, sturdy and fast, exactly what I wanted... but damn - that's a noisy freewheel on the Royce hub! Will take some getting used to, normally I don't like noisy bikes but at least it's a nice positive sounding ratchet. Kind of negates the need for a bell!

Will try to get some pics up at the weekend when I've cleaned the bike and before I've taken the anodising off the braking surface, but they look stunning. Understated yet slick. I like.

Some shots of the new wheels (I'm not much of a photographer)

I think I'm going to strip and polish the bars next.

I'd quite like to get a custom stem made as well.

Are the bars 26.0 or oversized ?

Velo Orange do quite a neat ahead stem.

Those are OS bars

I want a steel quill stem for oversize bars.

You can with custom stem, like this M.A.P.S. Cycles one;

Or just ditch the bar and go for the Soma HY1;

I have the same bar if you like to borrow it.

That's very decent of you Ed, thanks.

I think I'd like to stick with oversize bars though, I don't think you can get compact and 46cm width in standard size can you? I'm pretty happy with the shape of the ones I have and I like as much stiffness as I can get up front really.

I'll see about getting a custom one done. Not sure who to go for for this yet. I'll contact Robin and see if he could do one otherwise I'll have a look around, unless anyone has any recommendations for a builder who'll do custom stems?

stiffness depend on the stem rather, quite a handful of framebuilders in London do it, Oak Cycles, Ted James Design to name but a few.

If you're going to spend a lots of money on a custom stem, would it be idea to get a bike fit first? apologise if you had already.

Not a bad suggestion, was considering it for the stem anyway.

I'll check out those builders too. Cheers.

Edit: damn double posting.