East Anglian Tourer ( Black Shuck )

nice project, however the photo above, with the placing of the frame next to that substantial fence plus angle of shot, has the effect of making the bike look like a child's!

Yeah, i thought that as i took the shot. Funny how perspective works.

Maybe something like this, with an adjustable oversized stem.

Also, leaning towards something like this for a rear rack. I have some side packs from an Army bergen that would be ideal, strapped to the side as pannier bags.

But this ain't no "Desert Storm".

I rate Tortec's racks. Cheap and sturdy. IT really does look like a small bike in that shot though!

I thought the kaffenback came with interchangeable dropouts, cab you not use these and relieve the chain tensioner? Looks like a fantastic build though, done a great job with this. Get some gears on it!

I thought the kaffenback came with interchangeable dropouts, cab you not use these and relieve the chain tensioner? Looks like a fantastic build though, done a great job with this. Get some gears on it!

Thanks. If i remember rightly i had to choose which dropouts came with the frame when i ordered it. The horizontal ones can be ordered separately from planet x. Yes i will get gears on it. All i need are the right bars and stem. Have also considered butterfly bars as an option.

Ah I see. And I personally wouldnt bother with butterfly bars, I had them on my Brompton but never used any other hand position than the bottom bit. Personal preference eh! What's wrong with the ones you have? They look fine to me unless they are uncomfy.

Decided to persevere with the straight bars for now. Going to get some bar ends. Also going to hook up the rear cassette again with rear mech and run the bike in 9spd mode to see how it goes. I will put the front mech on as a way to keep the chain from slipping off the chainring. Probably go for the middle ring for now. Maybe, if 9spd feels good i will stick a single chainring on, either gusset or similar. Exact size, not sure, 36T -40T i think. The SS set up was 40T with a 16T cog at the back.

Oh, not forgetting mudguards. The slightly duller, but essential part of a tourer. I see from other Kaffenback projects that full guards have to be snipped to fit on the back due to the tiny clearance between tyre and front derraileur. Not sure what i will go for yet.

I thought the KAff had the same geo and clearances as the pomp?

I thought the KAff had the same geo and clearances as the pomp?

Yes, i think it does. I am sure i can find a guard that will fit without snipping. Want to get a nice finish, eventually, with this bike.

In that case yer SKS chromoplastics will fit :D

^35mm SMS chromoastic will fit fine, got them on a trek district which have very tight clearances. Great mudguards too! Fiddly to fit but never rattle or come loose.

I thought the KAff had the same geo and clearances as the pomp?

The pomp doesn't run a front derailleur, so having the same go doesn't really prove anything, no?

Indecision. Put the gears back on. Looked at the bike. Fiddled with cables. Realised either old shifters are knackered or old mechs are. Hated the tangle of wires up front. Came to a decision. This bike is going single speed for this spring/summer season. I will concentrate on getting the touring attachments and get out for some rides. Gears can wait. Instead of using the SS bits of my mtb ill get a new ss chainring,spacers and cog and get the vertical dropouts from planet x to avoid using a tensioner.

I approve. Have you ridden it yet? If so how would you describe the handling?

I approve. Have you ridden it yet? If so how would you describe the handling?

When i took it out for a ride last sunday it was great. The handling was smooth and the frame soaked up the bumps nicely. I still think i could have got away with the larger frame size. But putting this next to my mtb they are almost the same. Steering feels really responsive and the marathon plus tyres roll well and add to the smooth ride. Looking forward to loading the bike up and having a proper test ride.

Just got a Tortec rear rack. Very similar to the Topeak one, but a shade cheaper, and it was in a LBS so i picked it up. Also got some Tioga power stud bar ends. Pics up whaen i get round to attaching.
Also. My ss bits are back on the mtb as it is on commuting duty again (The other commuter got a fancy front wheel so didn't want to risk it at work). So i am weighing up gear ratios and costs to get a single front chainring and maybe a couple of ss cogs/spacers. Ill order the horizontal dropouts from Planet X and have a play round with gear ratio options.

Dropouts on order.
Also ordered bits from Velosolo. Gerbhardt chainring, Andel sprocket and Velosolo spacers. All in a bit cheaper than more blingy/showy alternatives. Got me some assembling to do. Saturday am is pencilled in. Unless a window of opportunity opens one evening. Bloody work. Money nice. Having to work for it, annoying ;-)

Shiny bits from Velosolo.

Horizontal dropouts in place, secured with chainring bolts. Loads of room for adjustment.

Getting the sprocket and spacers on and lined up. Love that shiny cog! Added a bit of bling with a gold Token lockring.

The Gebhardt chainring was suprisingly light out of the packet. Annoyingly it is also a little thinner than i thought so for now i'll have to leave the inner ring on as my chainring bolts are slightly too long to tighten the Gebhardt on it's own.

Almost done!!!
The Tortec rack went on okay, with a little filing of the square bits that fit onto the rear near the dropouts. Might saw the rods down a bit as they are a little long. Also put the Tioga bar ends on which really help to give the bike more of a trekking look and feel.
Took it out for a quick spin, not too far as i am actually ill and off work today!.
The ride is lovely and smooth still. With the new cog, spacers and chainring and not needing a tensioner the bike moves round like a ninja! I honestly think i will run someone over as the bike makes almost no sound at all. The marathon tyres hum along the road and that is about it as far as noise goes.
Maybe i'll get an air horn or bell.
So next is a set of SKS mudguards, then a window of opportunity to get in some long rides and load up with some test weight and try some gradients (East Anglian gradients are anything that isn't level).
Best bike i have ever had i think. So proud of myself for putting it all together, eventually.

Yeah that's nice. I'm not a fan of the cockpit visually but that's just snobbishness really.

That rack's sitting up quite high on the back as well.

I think the guards will actually improve the look, filling in those clearances a bit as well.

^Thanks. I agree with the guards filling the gaps. The cockpit is not to everyones taste i'm sure. It is a really comfy ride position ( that makes me sound so old) but i wont know till i do a long ride in wind and over hills whether its perfect.

Toying with the idea of mounting the chainring on the inner side of the crank arm. Then popping a bashguard on the outer. Hope do some nice looking 40T ones. A lot of bashguards only go up to 36T. Must be a DH mtb thing.
Black mudguards are a cert. Need to de-rust/replace stem bolts too. Going to try mounting some bags and stuff at some point.
Also thinking about lighting options. My shitty cateye ones are only good for the 10 min work ride. This bike needs something better ( but not silly expensive). Once i have the guards on i will post a full parts list and total cost.

^this is a good idea with the chainrings. In terms of lights look around on ebay, some of these china ones are actually really bright and good quality, cheap too.