Current Projects chat and miscellany

11-25
53-39

htfu

Why all the low gears?

:)

I knew this would spark a gearing debate because it's so personal, compact is probably more practical for what I'm going to use the bike for. I just need to make a choice and see how I get on I suppose!

I finally finished the build for my girlfriend, we went on a little ride from Liverpool st to Greenwich and back and apart from the brooks being uncomfortable as its brand new, she loved it. Success.

I knew this would spark a gearing debate because it's so personal, compact is probably more practical for what I'm going to use the bike for. I just need to make a choice and see how I get on I suppose!

Don't listen to these bedwetters, if you can't get up an English hill in 39-28 then you can't do it at all.

Compacts are reserved for the retired amongst us.

Wrapped these up last night, not too sure about the leavers or the twine..

edit: sorted

If you're not racing or race training there's no need for a standard double. Use a set up that suits the pace you intend to ride at. You said "longer distance riding ... maybe some light touring ... it won't be raced fit mudguards and panniers ... an all rounder", none of which suggests a race double to be the best choice. But then again, if you're using 6800 the BCD doesn't change so you can swap between compact and double rings any time you like.

/sick of internet hardmen rant

Compacts are reserved for those who don't want to cross chaining.

ftfy.

I've got standard doubles on both my geared bikes. Neither was by choice but defined by what came around at the right price, and I would exchange either for compact. I think the only time I used 53x11 was down a big hill in Essex, which was nice.

On all this talk of compacts, my girlfriend has a campag veloce (at least i'm pretty sure its veloce) 53/39 172.5 crankset that I'm looking to change to a compact for her.

She has a bit of trouble on the hills with the 39 despite having a 29t sprocket on the rear

Anyone like to swap? smaller crankarms would be better as well

here's da beik

Don't listen to these bedwetters, if you can't get up an English hill in 39-28 then you can't do it at all.

Compacts are reserved for the retired amongst us.

Talk of a 28t? You fail at even being internet hard.

Mechamorgan said HTFU to your girlfriend.

Ordered Ultegra 50 34, 11 28, from shiny bikes £514 delivered.. I rang first to check they had it in stock and paid with credit card just in case they are shonky!

Cause it's expensive as fuck, trade cost as much as the Brooks does in retail.

I loved mine, really comfortable, for the first 10 minutes I thought I have less pressure in the tyres only to realised it's the saddle that was giving.

Only nag is that it's missing the cut out that I enjoyed from the Selle Anatomica saddle.

Moment I lend it to a friend, Brooks announced a cut-out version that's coming out;

Motherfuckers. I haven't even fitted mine yet.

Ordered Ultegra 50 34, 11 28, from shiny bikes £514 delivered.. I rang first to check they had it in stock and paid with credit card just in case they are shonky!
I thought that voice on the phone sounded familiar.

''Ultegra groupset....erm, yeah, whatever''

books holiday

I thought that voice on the phone sounded familiar.

''Ultegra groupset....erm, yeah, whatever''

books holiday

Could have saved £1.01 at Ribble. Jus' sayin'

I finally finished the build for my girlfriend, we went on a little ride from Liverpool st to Greenwich and back and apart from the brooks being uncomfortable as its brand new, she loved it. Success.

On mixte's the rear brake is often mounted on the middle stays, I cant see if yours has a place to mount there. But even where it is, you should sort out your cable routing, it should come from the underside of the brake not the top. You'll be getting a whole lot of friction how it is, which will probably jam the brake as the cable gets older.

Also, unless your GF is into speedway, you may want to adjust bar angle.

Wrapped these up last night, not too sure about the leavers or the twine..

Whats te frame/fork?

Im always bit split about first real cleaning after / during winter. As good as it feels to roll on clean bikes its also when you learn about the scars of winter. Part of the reason i like ti so much is it really doesent happen much even when they are covered in grit for a while.

Ti road needs new tape abit overdue. Need new decals. Its going to get new wheels fitted in time for spring too. Corima aero + with the hideous decals removed which makes em a very attractive wheelset imo. Should look good on there and ive never had corimas before. Always fun to try new stuff. Frame itself shows a few marks that wont wash away which i think is from riding in asphalt last fall that had not fully hardened. but is in general good nick, perhaps refinish in a year or so.

Club racer has picked up a few imperfection in the paint over the winter. The most obvious one on the fork. Not too bad but still annoying. General paint condition isent really super on this frame but fortunetly its black so still looks awesome even with the somewhat "dull" paint. Needs new chain / cassette. Noticed the rear rim show a pretty deep groove in the brake track. Need to be replaced before and accident :/
Plan is to run the 202s with a wider tire when spring is here.

Ti cross. Basicly not a single mark that dident wash away, i like it! Going to get some grifo 32s and the reynolds from club racer once i get time / cash to replace the rim. Studded tires on there now, dont think theres been a single day this winter where i actually needed em. Very mild winter, perhaps the most so i can remember.

Ive been neglecting service and finish on these bikes a bit lately so was pretty relieved there were no really nasty surprises not that this crap photo would reveal those anyways :)

Club racer funnily looks smallest but its actually a tad larger then the ti irl.

I like the Indyfab the most TBH.

Possibly me too tho i dont think either look particularly good in the photo .)
It rides extremely nice as well.

image by sbunzek, on Flickr

image by sbunzek, on Flickr
I'm just going to leave this here...
75s and a DA 53t ring go on tomorrow

Untitled by 40 skid patches, on Flickr

^^^^Thorough, I like it

Talk of a 28t? You fail at even being internet hard.

I didn't mention myself, I was legislating for other from my ivory tower of internethardmanship

Personally I run a 11-22 11-speed cassette.

11-34 ftw