Current Projects chat and miscellany

Anyway, I'd be interested to hear what other people have and what the thinking behind the choices is.

I'm having to work out what I want to keep as I'm moving in with my GF. Although technically there's room in the flat, I've had to carefully consider my choices.

Current:

1. Condor - nice everyday fixed
   
2. Giant TCR - road bike
   
3. Dawes CX thing - ...ummm sort of tourer
   
4. Dawes KinPin - propper pub bike beater
   
5. 531 track - beater/rat (stripped at the moment)
   
   

Pretty much based on the replacement cost and how nice they are my planned stable is:

1. Condor - nice everyday fixed
   
2. Giant TCR - road bike
   
   

... but with the KinPin cheekily locked up outside for pub and shopping trips. It was so cheap it doesn't really matter if it gets nicked. Although I hope it doesn't.

Also when I really thought about it for the time I have available and my riding habits that's all I really need. The rest is just "wants".

pinarello in the making yh booy

Which one?

can somebody tell me where can I get a schmolke top cap in UK?

in other news, after this conversation I took a close look at CK's crown race (fuck this baseplate bollocks) and decided to sand/file it down a little from the bottom so it sits flusher on the forks.
Took a dremel out, and with couple of different tools achieved quite a satisfying result
Ignore the little gap, the crown and entire headset is yet to be pulled in a little by expander which I need to borrow from somebody

This is for everybody else, since 1000aa has me on ignore:
1: Do not, regardless of aesthetic whim, file down the underside of your crown race. There is no way you'll ever get it as flat as it's supposed to be.
2: If your crown race moves when you tighten the headset adjuster, something is very seriously wrong

I unignored your post - its not wrong, its just not installed properly yet - only the cups are, but thanks for the concern:)

Which one?

a blue one

Have begun the transformation of my Dahon SS. Cranks are on, wheels have been dismantled awaiting micro-drive hub.

polo gearing?

^^ needs more pictures.

39/10 - 72gi

Good start.

Now do this;

can somebody tell me where can I get a schmolke top cap in UK?

You could try http://poshbikes.com/ .. In Europe http://r2-bike.com has always provided a fine service for my orders, the delivery is a bit high unless you make a decent size order

Got this yesterday.

Built this today.

Few more things to get next payday, but rides great!

Huge thanks to my mate Josh (owner of the Dolan) for his help with building it.

The huge lack of weight must've helped you soar like a bird compared to the old porky Dolan.

39/10 - 72gi

won't you be replacing the 10t every couple of hundred miles?

Not if my 9t driver is any guide

I'm having to work out what I want to keep as I'm moving in with my GF. Although technically there's room in the flat, I've had to carefully consider my choices.

Current:

1. Condor - nice everyday fixed
   
2. Giant TCR - road bike
   
3. Dawes CX thing - ...ummm sort of tourer
   
4. Dawes KinPin - propper pub bike beater
   
5. 531 track - beater/rat (stripped at the moment)
   
   

Pretty much based on the replacement cost and how nice they are my planned stable is:

1. Condor - nice everyday fixed
   
2. Giant TCR - road bike
   
   

... but with the KinPin cheekily locked up outside for pub and shopping trips. It was so cheap it doesn't really matter if it gets nicked. Although I hope it doesn't.

Also when I really thought about it for the time I have available and my riding habits that's all I really need. The rest is just "wants".

Looking at buying somewhere that'll inevitably have less room than our current spare room + shed setup.

Current stable is:

531c CX bike
531 ST Raleigh Tourer
Don Brooks Road bike
853 HHSB/fixeh
French SLX Track bike
Concorde Everyday fixed bike

• bikes in bits including many wheels and a few frames
  
  

I'd really like to get down to 3:
Fixed everyday/commuter
Track/best bike
Road/Audax/Light tourer. I rarely ride geared and when I do I think it'll be for longer trips I imagine. I've had a full tourer that's never been used so I'm debating making the CX 531 bike a light tourer as it has good clearances/cantis....

I also really, really don't want to sell my road bike as it has an awesome story. It just doesn't ever get used, unfortunately.

I really can't be arsed to sell bits individually - I just wish someone would buy the £1000 or so of stuff in one go.

Anyone fancy sharing a table at the next HH cycle jumble?

Selling bits individually has been almost enjoyable for me recently.
No eBay, just Craigslist. This means local cash sales only - I guess you could do the same with Gumtree.
It's practically enabled me to entirely fund the build of a new frame (Pompino) whilst hanging onto a rare-ish 1999 MTB frameset I've ridden from new.
To me, the frameset is much more special than any of the components | had on it, so I want to keep it in the hope I might build it back up one day.
Plus, I made sure it could be kept in the house in a way that wouldn't displease the missus...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8415652264_80d443e3fe_o.jpg

Got this yesterday.

that looks lean and mean... feel the real.. i cant stop/i wont stahp LoL

no really, niice.

I'd really like to get down to 3:
Fixed everyday/commuter
Track/best bike
Road/Audax/Light tourer. I rarely ride geared and when I do I think it'll be for longer trips I imagine. I've had a full tourer that's never been used so I'm debating making the CX 531 bike a light tourer as it has good clearances/cantis....

I also really, really don't want to sell my road bike as it has an awesome story. It just doesn't ever get used, unfortunately.

How often do you tour? The "I think it'll be" is quite telling to me.

I bought my cx thingy as an upgrade to my beater that never happened. Then my GF needing a loaner got it finally built two years later. It's final guise is as a tourer for touring that never happened because of work and then weather.

Ultimately though it hasn't been used enough and not for what it was intended. I'll brake it and store so later this summer I can do a tour. But there's no point in cluttering up the place.

So I wouldn't go on what you think you *might *do, but what you actually do. If you've used your road bike more and you like it, keep that. If you do a long tour you can bike pack or if not suitable, borrow or buy when you actually need it.

/2p

Another important factor, any bicycles can be suitable for touring nowadays, even without racks.

^Nowadays????
We used to do all our touring on cheap mtb's and 70's/80's 10 speeds - that was 20 years ago.
Back in the 90's I rode across the Pyrenees on a £30 10-speed I bought via Loot.
I've always assumed touring bikes were for bedwetters, CTC members and retired gentlefolk

Yes, nowadays, especially with the evolution of bikepacking that's becoming as popular as 650B Randonneur bicycle, it have the unique ability to not make a non-touring bike feel horrible and noodly to ride, which mean anyone can take their high end Road bike and still enjoy it while touring, while in the past you have to compromised.

Camping equipment are getting lighter, smaller and more advanced, meaning you can actually be self supported and be 1/3rd the weight and size comparing to your touring counterpart in the 90's.