Demon Frameworks 953 fast touring bike

Has this been resolved yet?

Has this been resolved yet?

:) Been having a few problems at work and had 2 stag "do"s on consecutive weekends (bad timing as I hadn't been on a stag for about 7 years until April) so have had zero time to start building yet. Hoping to resolve this weekend. Will post pics and ride report once complete.

Not great shots, but...

A really superb build, good to see it all together in the light.

Wow, looks great! The paint is amazing in that sunlight!

10/10 !!!!!!

So how does it ride?

PS Looks great, but you know that already.

It's quite a small bike, but I'm really surprised by how balanced the overall bike looks. Really well done, even the gauge of the seat stays looks good.

Yeah, I came back to look again.

Thanks for the nice comments.

So how does it ride?

PS Looks great, but you know that already.

Haven't ridden it yet. Hopefully will get a chance tomorrow morning. Can't wait!

It's quite a small bike, but I'm really surprised by how balanced the overall bike looks. Really well done, even the gauge of the seat stays looks good.

Yeah, I came back to look again.

:-) It's not that small. It has a 56cm ctc seat tube but only a 53cm ctc top tube. The geometry is designed to be a fraction shorter in the top tube than I'd normally run just to give it a slightly more upright, "all day comfort" ride position. Initial runs up and down the road to check the gears etc might indicate I need a 100mm stem rather than the 90mm currently fitted. Hopefully a bit longer in the saddle tomorrow will reveal more.

To my uncalibrated eye it looks short cage but I'm reliably informed it is designed to work with a 13-29 cassette.

Who's your reliable informant?

From the sprocketsuk website that I bought it from (see below). OK I don't trust everything I read online but this looks like the official Campag blerb to me:

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=200713897625&cmd=VIDESC

I realise that the link is from their eBay site but I got it from their own website which had the same description. Fingers crossed it works without problems.

Fingers crossed.

Not that you'll probably look at this, but the Daytona rear mech works perfectly with the 13-29 cassette ;-)

absolute beauty (and bit of a beast)

Initial runs up and down the road to check the gears etc might indicate I need a 100mm stem rather than the 90mm currently fitted.

A great feeling to need a longer stem than a shorter one isn't it?

A great feeling to need a longer stem than a shorter one isn't it?

Yep. Us T-Rex's normally have to go short on the stem front, but the custom geo does mean that a "normal" stem might be in order, which is a good sign.

Mine's 110mm with the non-aero brake levers, still haven't ridden it yet.

Sell it to me when you're done with it, kthxby.

:-) Won't be selling it any time soon.

Pornographic that. Green is the best colour.

Huge tyre/seat tube clearance, any particular reason for the long stays?

^ comfort?

And yes, the more I look at the paint, the more awesome it gets.

I've always fancied a custom made all round bike i.e. racing geometry but with mudguard clearance and since the advent of stainless, 953 has been top of my want list. So why not add some rack eyelets so it can handle the sort of credit card touring I'd want to do as well?

On first page.

Pornographic that. Green is the best colour.

Huge tyre/seat tube clearance, any particular reason for the long stays?

Thanks. Yeah, the chainstays are quite long. If you check out my OP on the first page then you'll see I have some fairly wide mudguards that I want to fit at some point and Tom (who built it) knew that. I did ask for ample clearance for a nice wide tyre and these guards. I guess the longer stays will also make it more stable when fully loaded, but TBH I left that sort of detail to Tom. I told him what I wanted and how I wanted it to ride and left the rest to him. Hopefully it will ride as well as my expectations :-)

Gotcha

Thanks. Yeah, the chainstays are quite long. If you check out my OP on the first page then you'll see I have some fairly wide mudguards that I want to fit at some point and Tom (who built it) knew that. I did ask for ample clearance for a nice wide tyre and these guards. I guess the longer stays will also make it more stable when fully loaded, but TBH I left that sort of detail to Tom. I told him what I wanted and how I wanted it to ride and left the rest to him. Hopefully it will ride as well as my expectations :-)

I would be interested to see how those guards work on the front, it looks like you may have a bit of a toe overlap issue, always difficult to resolve with a short TT. But it doesn't really matter when it looks so sweet! Nice job.

I was warned of toe overlap as well (and was recommended to go for 650b over 700c), but to be honest, I'd rather the bike to handle brilliant and not compromised just so my toe won't hit the mudguard.

That was my thought actually. The clearances will be a lot tighter to the frame on the front guard. I've offered it up and it's ok, but toe overlap could be an issue. It's fine without guards (at least for the few tight turns for the runs up and down the road I've done). Probably won't keep the guards on all the time, likely to fit them for touring only. I've got a langster for wet days.

Nice nice nice!!!

:-) It's not that small. It has a 56cm ctc seat tube but only a 53cm ctc top tube.

I ride 60cm squares, everything looks small to me.