Current Projects chat and miscellany

^^Currently building this. :)

http://www.lfgss.com/thread90254.html

I should really finish it before thinking about the next one! I think it's all the 2013 bikes coming out at the moment that have kick started my internal " want! " mechanism.

^^ Spent a couple of hrs exploring the world of CX bikes and as I'll probably buy second hand, think I've got it down to two bikes - the Boardman CX Team and the Specialized CruX.

Any helpful comments or advice on choices?

I will be using this as a road bike too, but also fair bit of tow paths, and other gentle off road exploring, which knowing me will not end up gentle at all!

Also, as I'm a heavy fucker, pros and cons you might know on either frame could be useful.

Boardman has discs, Specialized has very stiff and solid frame, both will need new wheels if I'm gonna use them much, and will probably gradually upgrade the rest of the components to save weight/as they brake/cause I see shiny/if I didn't get along with predecessor!

You're welcome to have a go on my Boardman if you can get on it- it's an L, 57cm effective top tube.

Thats my size, I think, having trouble working what bike size I am at mo!

Whereabouts you at Damnit?

Thanks for the offer too mate.

Angel, don't what size requirements you have, or if you even want to build a cx from scratch, but I've got a cheap Focus Cross Expert frame in M:

More photos > http://www.flickr.com/photos/79025741@N08/sets/72157629997574491/

£20 - why so cheap? Well the drive side BB thread is stripped so it'd need a velo orange threadless BB, from freshtripe

Just a thought anyway, carry on!

Thats my size, I think, having trouble working what bike size I am at mo!

Whereabouts you at Damnit?

Thanks for the offer too mate.

I'm 187cm tall, if that helps, saddle to pedal is 97cm and nose of saddle ot middle of bars is 57cm.

I'm in Forest Hill.

so i have 5 bikes and now 2 with drop handlebars but the drops on the mercian just feel a bit crap to ride in because the old vintage hoods are comfy when climbing so to have the full range of position my steeds will now be...

MKM TT bike with bullhorns
brompton with risers
pinarello with compact drops
mercian with moustache
singlespeed mtb with riser (one day with h bars when i get my hands on a pair)

rather happy! going to tootle on this this afternoon and make sure i'm happy before taping though

moustache bars I think by monomaniac(tom), on Flickr

moustache bars I think by monomaniac(tom), on Flickr

moustache bars I think by monomaniac(tom), on Flickr

Angel, don't what size requirements you have, or if you even want to build a cx from scratch, but I've got a cheap Focus Cross Expert frame in M:

£20 - why so cheap? Well the drive side BB thread is stripped so it'd need a velo orange threadless BB, from freshtripe

As I've destroyed 3 BBs in the past, I don't think I'd feel comfortable with that fix!
Also, I'm looking for a large, and preferably a complete bike I can ride straight away, then can replace parts as I go.
Thanks anyway though!

I'm 187cm tall, if that helps, saddle to pedal is 97cm and nose of saddle ot middle of bars is 57cm.

I'm in Forest Hill.

Pretty similar setup as I've got then really, just have to drop the saddle a 4cm (shorter legs).
Knowing that alone is a help really.
Forest Hill is unfortunately a 2 hr journey for me!
But I will pop into local Halfords and give them a gander.

^^Tilover, that looks a rather splendid setup.
Looks more comfortable, more in keeping with the frame, and just really rather nice really.

I was using a lot of 'rather's and 'really's in that last post!

^^Tilover, that looks a rather splendid setup.
Looks more comfortable, more in keeping with the frame, and just really rather nice really.

thanks!

i think once you've ridden with modern hoods and compact drops it's really hard to get comfortable on old drop bars - i used to ride moustache on my mtb and nothing beats them for climbing (something i'll be doing a lot of at l'eroica!)

it's pissing it down so am trapped in the office rather than riding and thought i would measure the MKM

now remember the seattube is slanting so it goes away further back than a normal bike BUT tyre to tyre the measurement is just 225mm - i challenge anyone to beat that!

arsenal.jpg by monomaniac(tom), on Flickr

photo.JPG by monomaniac(tom), on Flickr

tyre to tyre the measurement is just 225mm - i challenge anyone to beat that!

Not mine and not measured, but it's less than that

895!

on a 'normal' bike that is :)

33cm (road bike), 34cm (cross bike), the latter would be a smaller measurement with 34c tyres on of course.

Exciting this eh?

^^^^ Lolz! My new desktop background!

Damnit - Whats the OLD on CX bikes, 130mm or 135mm?

^^ Spent a couple of hrs exploring the world of CX bikes and as I'll probably buy second hand, think I've got it down to two bikes - the Boardman CX Team and the Specialized CruX.

Any helpful comments or advice on choices?

Without knowing much about either, the things I'd think about are boring things like whether you want discs, do they have useful braze-ons and do you need them.

Damnit - Whats the OLD on CX bikes, 130mm or 135mm?

It depends. Nowadays they'll mainly be 135 or 132.5 (ie to allow both 130 and 135).

Got my brothers old raleigh MTB. 24" frame so slightly too big for comfortable off road but perfect for on road use. Thinking about shoving on some drops and cantilever brakes with Schwalbe big apples for your perfect winter tank.

so where to put the levers before i cut down the outers and fit the tape?

photo 1.JPG by monomaniac(tom), on Flickr

photo 3.JPG by monomaniac(tom), on Flickr

further round than the top one so you can rest your palms on them

i think the second one so i can hook my thumbs in

I would say the top one. I have no experience of moustache bars though...

that 4th one just isn't comfortable...