Current Projects chat and miscellany

Do love BMC frames, aspire to own one at some (very vague) point, and this is a nice build... but what are the bars (Easton EC90 SLX?)?!

It is. Yes. Comes stock on the Teammachine.

Ha ha. Sometimes it's better not to be precious about these things.

Probably not going to drill these though...

Apart from the principle of it, those round track fork blades aren't designed to take braking forces. Steel road forks use ovalised blades for that reason but it makes the fork a bit less stiff laterally, which is why steel track forks often stick with round blades.

Combined with tight downtube clearance (although admittedly that frame doesn't look excessively tight), running a brake on drilled track forks can cause nasty problems on the road.

Didn't know that! Thanks.
Clearances are pretty relaxed, aye.

Office Depot's new line of half-bike-half paper tray cycles I picked up on the way to work earlier this week. The Mecacycle Turbo model. Thinking to change the front wheel for something a little more zippy and may even add a crankset too (all the rage I hear).

A whole bunch of ills to undo on this bike obviously and it rides nice enoughth then down the line I reckon 10 speed silver Campagnolo bits should be quite nice, as would some not-shit photos.

paint porn alert

metallic french

It is. Yes. Comes stock on the Teammachine.

Damn. They're the only "compact" bars I've seen with the tight radius curve at the hoods as normal, but a deeper curve in the drops more like traditional drops, which for my big hands look more comfortable than anything else I've seen or had, AND they come in a 46cm version too. But I don't really fancy carbon bars, or the £120+ price tag. >_<

BMC is very nice.

Too nice. Ride more, clean less.

Seen here in wet weather mode (due to this morning):

Damn. They're the only "compact" bars I've seen with the tight radius curve at the hoods as normal, but a deeper curve in the drops more like traditional drops, which for my big hands look more comfortable than anything else I've seen or had, AND they come in a 46cm version too. But I don't really fancy carbon bars, or the £120+ price tag. >_<

Take a look at Salsa Pro Road bars - they do three varieties of drop, all with a tight-ish radius up top. Guessing the Large or Medium might suit you. Come in 46cm too.

Seen here in wet weather mode (due to this morning):

I don't know why but I love this...

such a silly bike Neil :)

My new frame came today.... pictures and shit next week.

Why? is Multi Grooves taking the photo?

Apart from the principle of it, those round track fork blades aren't designed to take braking forces. Steel road forks use ovalised blades for that reason but it makes the fork a bit less stiff laterally, which is why steel track forks often stick with round blades.

Meh.

My old Mercian had round forks and it was drilled. My current beater had round track forks until I switched to carbon threadless. As I recall they both worked fine from a braking POV.

As they are the original forks it seems a shame to fuck about with them from a history POV, as it's not ever going to be a "proper track bike" again. Plus the fact that you can get 1" chrome drilled forks fairly easily. But equally drilling a hole isn't the end of the world if it means you'll use it more.

such a silly bike Neil :)

Yep- tremendous fun though. Just over 1,000 miles on it now, rumbling around Londons famous London.

I thought the ovalised fork blades was so you can fit larger tyres/narrower fork crown?

I *thought *it was just a simpler design and (like a lot of things) road forks developed oval tubes to give more comfort that wasn't needed one track forks... and so wasn't just adopted, rather than being a specific advantage.

But then I'd never ridden a bike with 700c wheels when this debate was raging, so I really wouldn't know.

Probably that, a combination of those factor.

IMHO, buying a steel chrome fork that's already drilled is probably the best option.

such a silly bike Neil :)

My new frame came today.... pictures and shit next week.

Preview:

new bartape to strike fear into my opponents at the track

I don't know why but I love this...

Yeah looks good. But what saddle height is that? 85ish?

From where to where Bjorn?

Meh.

My old Mercian had round forks and it was drilled. My current beater had round track forks until I switched to carbon threadless. As I recall they both worked fine from a braking POV.

It's just the theory as I understand it, it's not something I've ever tried/experienced. Same reason chainstays are ovalised in the direction they take the most stress. It's just stiffer that way.

Many people have drilled track forks and not died, of course.

As they are the original forks it seems a shame to fuck about with them from a history POV, as it's not ever going to be a "proper track bike" again. Plus the fact that you can get 1" chrome drilled forks fairly easily. But equally drilling a hole isn't the end of the world if it means you'll use it more.

Yeah, I agree.

Same reason chainstays are ovalised in the direction they take the most stress.

Except they are not. Ovalised stays have the major axis vertical, whereas the greater stress is lateral, so it would be better to turn them through 90° if stiffness were the only criterion.

Seen here in wet weather mode (due to this morning):

Saw this outside LMNH yesterday, bloody lovely.

I think that's what my seta will end up like eventually.

Except they are not. Ovalised stays have the major axis vertical, whereas the greater stress is lateral

Shows what I know about frame stresses...