Current Projects chat and miscellany

Einstein famously summed it up in a slightly pithier fashion when he worked out that;

T = Bp

where T is likelihood of theft, B is bike, and p is the quantity and coverage of fecal waste.

Einstynan famously summed it up in a slightly pithier fashion when he worked out that;

T = Bp

where T is likelihood of theft, B is bike, and p is the quantity and coverage of fecal waste.

fixed.

Heh!

here's my latest build in the setup I use most (going to work and cruising about and that). Had a proper ball-ache with this frame. Didn't know it had a special filler on the aero bit on the front (the toblerone as my mates call it) and on the welds. This all popped when I had it powdercoated so it took ages to find similar metal filler and get it powder coated again (it has a really thick layer of satin black now). Then I couldn't get a headset to fit for ages but eventually got a pro-lite one to fit (which makes me think that my frame is more similar to the pro-lite ones than I thought). It is not 100% finished (need to cut the steerer down more once I'm 100% sure what height / stem combo I want) but is a nice solid ride with no toe overlap, is really stiff and fast. Managed to get everything on the cheap off ebay. Here's some shit pictures but you get the idea:

http://yfrog.com/41img3475xjx

Here's the spec with some prices:

_Chance T1 frame (£150 new off ebay)
_Easton SL90 full carbon with a stupidly tight weave (£80 new off ebay)
_Navigator track wheels (brand new with ultremos for £120 off ebay)
_giant / fir composite wheel sprayed black (£40 off ebay)
_unknown carbon risers with black ourys
_fsa aluminium stem with cabon plate
_USE carbon seatpost (£30 off ebay)
_surprisingly comfortable unknown carbon seat ((£30 off ebay)
_black / silver KMC kool chain
_FSA vero crank (£40 new) until I get some FSA carbon ones or anything better for cheap
_Odyssey BMX lever and shimano 105 calliper (spaced out to clear the toblerone!)
_shitty MKS pedals, plastic double toe clips from brick lane and christophe nylon straps (gonna upgrade soon)
_continental ultra gatorskins (not ideal but were £20 for 2)

For longer rides I put deda newton drops on (with salsa cross lever) and the front navigator wheel on

Not everyones cup of tea I'm sure but I'm happy with it and it was done surprisingly cheap really. Seen loads of bikes with the same or very similar frames (leader, pro-lite and Louis Garneau) and noticed the prices vary loads. Maybe different aluminium used but the welds on mine looked better than some of the more expensive ones. Just seen this today too which looks really similar (different headtube and seat tube but same everything else):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8772455@N05/sets/72157620606039941/

Spot brand make some good stuff....they had a rep for being overpriced a while ago....but that's probably because they were one of very few singlespeed companies around back then....maybe their prices are better now?

I personally love 29ers though so let me know if you go for it :)

The longboard 9 frame was on EBay, and I did'nt win the bidding :(

Had to unplugg the wireless router in the loft because of a major electrical storm, so could'nt do any last minute bidding. (did'nt do it last time and lots of stuff got fried).

Spot Brand seem to have gone into belt drives in a big way, and their belt drive frames cost $$$$$'s. Thought I may of had a chance of picking up one of their few chain drive frames cheap, nevermind.

BTW like the fork mounted water bottle cages. Seems like a good placement to me.

I have huge panniers on the back of 'the mongrel' and if I over load them I find the front end becomes too light, and this effects both handling and climbing. IMHO for long distances, you want the bike to feel as stable as possible. I'm thinking of getting some small front panniers just to balance the weight (dont really need the storage space).

carbon h/s spacer, I've got to get me one of those. looks good man. ^

scott- those brakes look ridiculously powerful! i love paul components especially the brakes.

whats the deal with all the lights, is the silver one removable to use if needed for general use, or was the massive black one just not powerful enough by itself? are the knogs there for when its not really dark enough to waste the big lights batterys but somthing is still needed to make you visable?

how is it useing the aero bars on a loaded bike, i dont have any experience but i always assumed heavy loaded bike + aero bars = bad.

i get that you have a frame bag so no room there, but im not keen on the bottle on the forks idea. doesnt this really bog down the handling or is not really noticable?

I nearly went over the bars just trying the brake in the hallway....i wasn't expecting so much power due to the rims being painted....only problem is that now it's starting to remove the paint and leave residue on the pads it sounds like i'm being chased down the road by a flock of angry geese every time i pull the lever.

Regarding the lights....the silver one is attached with a removable zip tie and has a seperate bar mount if i should need it. The black one is hugely powerful...but as i'm gonna be riding right through the night i want to save the big light only for when it's really needed. Mounting the silver one there takes up no extra bar space. The knogs are just to make me extra visible or for when i'm in lit up areas.

The aero bars are fine on a loaded bike because you only really use them on the straights.

The bottle mounts on the forks are great as even with full bottles they weigh far less than a set of low rider panniers, so affect the handling far less...most of my weight is gonna be mounted centrally on the bike, which is another reason why the tri bars work fine.

Summer projects.

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Funny to see how you made the pictures, especially the last one ;-)

^

I like the fact that there is a brew in the first one .... no job in England can be completed without a gazillion cups of tea.

Went up to have a look at my frame at Steve Goffs yesterday.
I'm so excited...should be ready in around a week! It's a forward sloping triple triangle

As I'm sure you can tell the real triangle bits are all just rested in place, so the geoms not bang on, but you get the idea!

Shit the bed - i am in love! - Is it a lo pro, and if so are you running a 650, or 700?

700 front and rear, barspinnable ;)

See the line drawn across the desk? That's level, so you can get an idea of the slope...

thats gonna look really nice jammy.
good work.

My Steve Goff ...

@Jammy, you will be so pleased with yours

Mine is at the chrome platers at the moment... :-)

700 front and rear, barspinnable ;)

See the line drawn across the desk? That's level, so you can get an idea of the slope...

That will look amazing!

This is my current project trying to get this in original condition someone sent me the original sales sheet with the price in 1987.

It's getting there.

I think it looks nicer with plain black tyres but each to their own.

so er.. been a bit sneaky over the last few days. and I finally got me a new bike to build up

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muchos gracias to spuds, the hombre who flagged this up on the classifieds thread.. I owe you a beer if we ever meet dude.

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That looks amazing. I look forward to seeing it built.

gotta say - it's gorgeous Andy...

long two months getting parts together now - dying to just swap everything off the dawes but I need it to ride properly... :)

Looks lovely P, especially enjoying the headbadge..

Enjoy the building process

That looks amazing. I look forward to seeing it built.

Looks lovely P, especially enjoying the headbadge..

Enjoy the building process

+1

That looks amazing. I look forward to seeing it built.

makes 2 of us...
PAJAMAS' PINK PIPER - Whoop whoop!
Shins is gonna be a comin' for ya

Pjs thats gotta be the best suited bike to anyone on the forum.

Ps.... its baaack!
taking a leaf out of sns's book I might get a front Disc tab brazed on the forks for funsies.
new wheelset is in the works for when I get back.

The frames for two of four projects, 90's nos Moser and Hussy's Nag revamped.