Current Projects chat and miscellany

What have you changed? Just started the tape at the bend?

Moved the levers a bit, fiddled with the reach, the tape is only long enough to reach to where it does- this is the second set of bars I've used it on.

it sounds/looks like you're planning to leave things this way, including spacers stack?..

Then you'd be making assumptions. I've got a pair of SuperSix high-mod forks on the way, they'll be cut down once I've established the height that suits me. The high-mod fork is stiffer.

I'm going to keep the SystemSix fork uncut, with it's majestic spacer stack, in a box to go with the frame if I ever sell it.

I've asked for some new bar-tape for Christmas- it's a handy sort of size money wise for relatives.

Shimano R600 brake levers replacing the SRAM ones.

Out of interest why did you replace the S500 SRAM? I was toying with getting the carbon version (S900) as I have small hands also.

Out of interest why did you replace the S500 SRAM? I was toying with getting the carbon version (S900) as I have small hands also.

I think I mentioned it elsewhere, but after initially thinking they were very nice, I didn't get on with the hood shape all that well. I'm not sure what it is, exactly, but they felt a bit wide and not very supportive. Maybe too flat? Also, they have a large hole on the underside of the hoods (where the shift lever and mechanism lives on the road version) that I found irritating.

The Shimano ones look a bit old school but they're smaller and stiffer, and definitely more suited to me, personally.

I do like the way the SRAM levers splay outwards slightly, I would like to have that on the Shimano ones. Plus on the R600s if I'm braking from the hoods I need to reach a bit further than is ideal to get the best leverage (and power). But that's starting to become real princess and the pea stuff.

Then you'd be making assumptions. I've got a pair of SuperSix high-mod forks on the way.

Does yours have a tapered steerer?

Yep

I gotz wheelz. Velo Orange PBP's laced to ubiquitous System Ex on The Wifes™ single speed town bike.
Question time though. I wacked my stem and bars on to get a feel for reach.
Now, her arms are 2 inches shorter than mine and I ride with this nitto 10 (100mm) stem on a 54cm top tube. This frame is 53 tt and I intend on getting some swept back town bars like the velo orange Milan or Tourist.

So is a 100mm fine considering I'm going to be sweeping back and with a shorter top tube or would a 90 make sense as a 100 is undoing the work of the bars and frame in bringing the contact points closer to her . I don't want it too twitchy but what I've never really got is the idea that a part of the bars or stem should be directly above the hubs and a 90 might screw with that.

Opinions please and oh, merry christmas.

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finally finished my London bike

No justice done here,
barely finished but at least i can ride it now.

Opinions please and oh, merry christmas.

Nice.

90mm doesn't make life *too *twitchy, but 100mm is better. So go with 100mm.

From the looks of the VO bars, there is enough grip room for it not to make too much difference either way - because she can move her hands up and down more than 10mm.

I don't know what grips you're planning on using, but if I were you, I'd go for some bmx type ones like these as a temp solution with the flanges cut off. They're recommended by lots of people and cheap. It means that if you want to pop a shorter stem on then redoing the bars is quick and fairly painless, plus they'll be useful for the parts bin. Anything too fancy and it'll never get changed.

Cheers hugo7, that's good advice on the cheap grips as I was going to drop silly money on self stitched leather ones. I get your point !

I've got a pair of SuperSix high-mod forks on the way

You could have bought a new bike by now the money you've spent!

^^ I had a feeling that might be the plan.

It'll be a beautiful bike when it's all done.

new project, got the frame fork and headset for £65. Going to be my more well looked after bike, just for nice bike rides. Put it together with some old bits and bits ive been collecting and gave it a ride, so light!

Thinking silver seatpost with the black concor. The bars are nitto, maybe a silver stem? Came with silver miche cranks but need to buy a new chainring. Thoughts? Unless you reckon it would look better with black post + bars.

Also need to sell/trade the carbon forks for ones that are drilled for brakes.

will also need a new wheelset as thats nicked from my other bike, deep-ish silver rims?

wasnt pistoffski selling a carbon fork earlier this week think they where drilled too, they were 1"

thanks for the heads up

Nice.

90mm doesn't make life *too *twitchy, but 100mm is better. So go with 100mm .

Actually the shorter the headtube, the shorter the stem need to be.

Says, on a 57cm frame you'd probably need 110mm whether on a 49cm frame, 60mm (rough estimation)

Ever wonder why smaller frame also have shorter stem and vice versa with big frame?

It's due to the headtube angleX the longer the headtube, the nearest it'll be to you.

So the saddle doesn't move backwards when you raise it?

If you can find a way to increase the individual's legs to compensate, by all mean go for it tester.

Actually the shorter the headtube, the shorter the stem need to be.

Says, on a 57cm frame you'd probably need 110mm whether on a 49cm frame, 60mm (rough estimation)

Ever wonder why smaller frame also have shorter stem and vice versa with big frame?

So is it the case that 90mm or less is the answer here Mr Scoble. What of this legend of something about the bars being above the hub ? The frame is 52 ctc seat tube with 53 tt but the forks have a crazy touring rake, town style bars will give her some comfort so will a 100 be too long?

I know, I got a Nitto Pearl 10. I'll buy a 9 and we can fight over them. I could do with a shorter stem but can live with a longer. Women, their proportions are crazy. Or is it men's ?

You could have bought a new bike by now the money you've spent!

I like the one I have, just tweaking it.