Current Projects chat and miscellany

Oh, so I somehow promised my girlfriend to build her a bike while she is spending 2 months in asia with two female friends.
She is 178cm, and the most important thing is that the new bike is light!
She currently has a standard ladies town bike which weighs like its made in cast iron.
She can't live without mudguards and a basket.

Any clues on where to start?

Need some style advice, am undecided as the bike looks too plain.

Have a white frame conversion with silver deep v's and a blue seat, and a rear blue cable outers. Was thinking of painting the ve section in blue as well as the frame lugs or does that make it look to much.

Or maybe matt black wheels and frame lugs. Am just undecided.

Any clues on where to start?

Start by persuading her to ride a conventional diamond frame, not a ladies bike. 178cm is nice and tall for a girl, so there will plenty of choice of frames. Maybe something like a Giant FCR if you want light, basically a road bike with flat bars.

Just need an Izumi V chain and some carbon assembly paste for the seatpost, and its ready for the track!

looks great, are those mavic Ellipse's?

yes. would like to get some tubular wheels for it too at some point. The Conti Supersonics do seem to be pretty awesome for clinchers though.... will have to wait til the track opens in March to try it out.

I quite like the Zoncolan- do you find that you make use of the nose of the saddle that much?

yes. would like to get some tubular wheels for it too at some point. The Conti Supersonics do seem to be pretty awesome for clinchers though.... will have to wait til the track opens in March to try it out.

If you want to unload the ellipse's i'll happily take them ;) (http://www.lfgss.com/thread59960.html)

I quite like the Zoncolan- do you find that you make use of the nose of the saddle that much?

yes, thats why i got it. I tend to hover right on the nose of the saddle when (attempting to keep up with the likes of Jaygee) in a seated sprint. I dont find it too uncomfortable for longer races either.

Start by persuading her to ride a conventional diamond frame, not a ladies bike. 178cm is nice and tall for a girl, so there will plenty of choice of frames. Maybe something like a Giant FCR if you want light, basically a road bike with flat bars.

I tried! - Bikes with conventional frames looks a lot better aswell.

However, she wants something that looks like an old Raleigh Caprice, I just haven't been able to see one IRL, so I could see if its light enough.

yes, thats why i got it. I tend to hover right on the nose of the saddle when (attempting to keep up with the likes of Jaygee) in a seated sprint. I dont find it too uncomfortable for longer races either.

Would you use it for a longer stint, or out on the road?

If you want to unload the ellipse's i'll happily take them ;) (http://www.lfgss.com/thread59960.html)

I will be keeping these for using in training sessions. I'm still not convinced about tubs for full time use at Herne Hill. I don't really like the idea of having to either buy a new tyre or send it off to someone to be fixed everytime you get a puncture.

Would you use it for a longer stint, or out on the road?

not really... it gets uncomfortable for me after about 45 minutes. I love my Regal too much for long rides anyway.
Speak to Dov, he uses one on his road bike.

I don't really like the idea of having to either buy a new tyre or send it off to someone to be fixed everytime you get a puncture.

+1, also waiting for glue to dry over night.

I'll hit up Mr Bear and get his take on things.

One thing I really noticed climbing last year was that I was perching right on the nose of my Arione as I was moving my weight so far forward to stop popping a wheelie whenever I pedaled.

However, if it's not comfortable for the ride up to the climb then that's not so useful.

So close.

Just need a single speed 3/32 chain. Toying with whether to switch the brooks for a yellow turbo. I think my arse will make the final decision. Cheers to Retro de corsa for helping with the BB and working out how to install the headset properly.

Just bought these
http://i.ebayimg.com/07/!CF)mB2!!2k~$(KGrHqUOKnIE1S-Uc-hYBNWGbLg56w~~_35.JPG
to replace the cougar ones
http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lg3zmdzRZH1qatwezo1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0RYTHV9YYQ4W5Q3HQMG2&Expires=1298318780&Signature=iOVmkbYMcUhz5mEaqYiDnfgKUBo%3D

cool story bro!

hahahaha
looks awesome hugo.

such amazing detail!

Cheers. I'm quite excited to ride it. Fisherprice, my first fixie with deep rimz 'n risers.

I still need to get a Supreme sticker for the frame, but they just seem so expensive.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5462098024_1b28d7aa78_z.jpg

Looks sick.

Just bought these
http://i.ebayimg.com/07/!CF)mB2!!2k~$(KGrHqUOKnIE1S-Uc-hYBNWGbLg56w~~_35.JPG

to replace the cougar ones
http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lg3zmdzRZH1qatwezo1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0RYTHV9YYQ4W5Q3HQMG2&Expires=1298318780&Signature=iOVmkbYMcUhz5mEaqYiDnfgKUBo%3D

Nice, they should match nicely.

Gave the Fort a clean...will not be brakless for long!

That is very nice

Got the mountain bikes out and cleaned them up a bit in anticipation of the summer, GT needs more fettling before it's rideable.

Got a weird problem with the front shifter, shifts into middle fine but when you try shift into big ring feels like it's not catching the cable or something? no resistance when you push the thumb shifter...

Any ideas?

also, apologies for huge crappy phone pics. thanks HTC!

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