Talbot Path Racer

You don't need a powermeter on a bike you're commuting on, surely? Or is this going to be used for more than just commuting?

Goal is for this to be a general training bike, which is also used for commuting.

Ratio?

Not sure, probably 52/18 to start off with.

The ratio of kings

No that would be 52/19

Sorry, what I meant was, the ratio of people-who-bought-chainsets-from-Dammit-but-then-were-too-tight-to-buy-a-new-chainring-so-bought-a-larger-sprocket-instead

P2M survey on a track powermeter

^Done, thanks.

Headtube!

The Serotta is 158mm:

Entertainingly, and with no reference being made between the two, the bar height of the Serotta is close to the System Six (my fit reference):

My thinking behind the extended head tube is that with an ahead-set style headset being used you don't have the large stack that a threaded headset gives, so you either end up with a short headtube and a big stack of spacers, a tall headtube and minimal Scoble, or I suppose one of those fillet brazed faux-quill stems that causes Tester to feel as if he has moisturised with Tabasco.

Just go with the extended head tube and ignore the naysayers.

Miguel Indurains bike, before internet posing.

The extended headtube would finish exactly where the top of the threaded headset on the Serotta is.

Which would mean that a -17 ahead-stem would be using minimal or zero spacers.

The extension could be cut down if I develop more flexibility.

Currently I am running a 13cm saddle to bar drop.

Surely just raise the top tube?

Am I missing something here?

In the words of Dario Pegoretti : It's not a headtube extension - It's a Dropped Top-Tube

It makes for a smaller (thus stiffer) Triangle. Innit

Who am I to argue with Dario P?

Who am I to argue with Dario P?

Indurain's bike referenced above was very likely made by Dario P as he was subcontracted at that time and although not confirmed by either Panarello or Dario there is a lot of here-say evidence to suggest he made those team bikes

One thing I was debating was whether or not to use slanted road dropouts rather than track ends in order to make fitting and removing the rear wheel easier for when a mudguard is fitted.

So far I had thought to use the PDW 'guards, which fit to the axle and would therefore move backward with the wheel.

Eccentric BB and vertical dropouts?

Eccentric BB's can be creak-city, I'd prefer to avoid that.

more extended head tubes please.
I honestly don't like the look of them, but as my current project has it, I want to convince myself.

Looks good, I think Fox should take a look at this thread.

Will you get it drilled for rear brake?

I was not going to drill it for a rear brake, but the wishbone will be drilled and tapped for an M5 bolt to hold the mudguard.

A road geo Talbot fixed with all the practicalities (bottle bosses, mudguard eyelets, rear brake) is what I'd like really but can't spare the cash at the moment.

Dammit if you're getting the wishbone drilled for guards why get a fork without mudguard eyelets?

Oh you're not getting any eyelets but axle fitting guards?

I must admit that I've not really got on with axle mounted guards on the Pearson and am thinking about fitting some eyelet mounted guards.

They do make getting the wheel out more of a pain.

Dammit drugs his punctures does not take the wheel out.

A few guys at work have road going fixed with forward facing dropouts. No reported problems.

Come look at them if you want, there is a Rourke, Yates and a Teague

Sliding dropouts? Fixed transmission and mudguards in perfect harmony...