Current Projects chat and miscellany

I saw your build thread. Do you have the 631? There's a review of the 725 which says it's still held back by its frame weight, which surprises me as it's 725 and has a crabon fork... Maybe compared to full crabon it is a beast.

I really do need to work out what I want; I already have an audaxey type thing (that 'Raleigh' above), and a posh summer bike. I feel like the equilibirum would fit somewhere between the two. I'd really need it to be able to operate as a baby carrier/town bike as well as a bike for Coast-to-coast type things.

Looking at a purchase list of this:

Frameset (equilibrium 725 w/ crabon fork) £420
BB7 + rotors £80
Wheels - archetypes £100, spokes £40, hubs £60.

The rest I have in abundance... So not too bad really.

I am warming to this colour way but I think Yellow is better.

Was looking at that yellow disc Equilibrium today, was nice! Have you thought about the CDF frameset? A bit more interesting looking than the above, but marginally heavier: http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/frames/croix-de-fer-frameset

oh actually it's heaver than the non - disc frameset...

and only £400 notes here...

http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m90b0s899p15191/GENESIS_Croix_de_Fer_725_Frameset_2015

Definitely interesting, particularly with the Carbon fork. Lots of discussion online about how fucking heavy it is, though that might be the older model. Lots of positive talk about the Kinesis Tripster as well.

I can't believe anyone would wail about weight for any half decent modern frame. They're all pretty light, and the steel will be around long after you've dropped it for the next greatest thing.

I found the Crosscheck too much of a tank, but I know that 725 is going to give a better ride, particularly with carbon forks. I think Bikeradar's attitude to a steel road bike is always going to come from a position of "it's not as light as carbon," which is obvious.

As I've never owned a new frame I am thinking that I deserve a 'treat'. I don't know whether that means an equilibrium or a CdF though.

I'd go CdF, just for the colour. I think the moaning about weight is probably for the older model - can't remember if it was 725 as well. Doesn't look like there is a listed weight for the Disc Equilibrium on the Genesis website but I can't imagine that it would be much lighter than the CdF.

Doesn't @Alb usually know about all things Genesis?

Mine is the 631, I think the fork is heavier than the frame, so the carbon fork would be an improvement. It still won't be a light bike with the carbon, but it won't be any worse than an old Raleigh tourer like you have.

It does ride really nicely so I can definitely recommend the Equilibrium, and I know @spotter would recommend his Croix de fer as well.

But why not carbon?

I think where it fits in to my life is as a replacement for my cross bike (which is very, very occasionally used on unpaved roads, no racing...) and my town bike/child carrier. I don't think a carbon road frame fits the bill and a carbon CX frame won't have the mount points for luggage if I decide to so something bigger on it.

The Graham Weigh bike is pretty much done now, but the slippy seatpost woes continue. I might try with a 29.6mm > 27.2mm shim next (it's currently 29.4mm).

Still, it rides nicely, and I'm pleased with the way it looks. It's good to be riding fixed again.

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What I'd like to do, although it's completely daft and unnecessary, is have webbing put in the main triangle. I had that webbed 853 Claud Butler I really liked, and it would make this frame look a bit less gate-like. More likely would be getting some kind of seatpost sleeve put in so I could trust the clamping a bit more.

Fair enough. If I had a spare brown envelope of notes I'd go for:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genesis-Volare-853-Reynolds-853-Road-Bike-Frame-Full-Carbon-ENVE-Fork-2014-/171448068108?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Fragrances_Women_s_Fragrances_PP&var=&hash=item27eb19e80c

853, Enve fork and brand new - that would put a smile on anyone's face

Oof. Wouldn't mind, like.

I've just returned home after being at the in-laws and tried to get a grasp of my bike situation.

As it stands, I'm probably selling my Maxi Sports 58x56 SLX track frame and a 'dale R600/800 frame (with normal, non-extended dropouts), a 56cm black CAAD X frame and fork and some C Record era Athena cranks, mechs and shifters as well as some campag 8 speed hubs to open pro wheels.

If anyone is interested in any of that lot before I list tomorrow, hit me up. I'll do pictures when it's light in the morning.

What seeing that list does do is make me realise I can fund this build with parts I'm not even using...

(Though that kind of defeats the object somewhat)

Crazy price, those forks are £250 alone!

Budget at the moment allows for TRP Spyre but not hydraulic (that'll come later hopefully) - is it best to go for 6 bolt or centrelock for hubs (assuming I get XT for best value for money)?

6 bolts, better choice of hubs/wheelset this way.

Make sure you get the latest Spyres, as they should come with cable and housing.

Hub-wise, what should I be looking at then? XT are very affordable, is there a novatech equivalent for disc hubs?

Edit: Should have UTFS - Novatec make disc hubs. Twice the price of XT though...

(Looking to run 10 speed)

Ditched 50t ring and front shifter, now i'm in the 1x10 fashionista club too. Gonna get narrow-wide next spring anyway but will go with this now...

Get OTP 29ers wheelset instead, budget wise they work well, On One I think have a discounted budget 29ers wheelset that's usually found on their Kaffenback.

Worth that over building my own Novatec/XT > archetype? Seems silly to buy OTP if I can build my own quite happily and not have to compromise on rims/hubs/spokes.

Cost of Archetype to Novatec 771 with competition spokes would be ~£250.

£100 more than Aksium One Disc and about the same as these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kinesis-crosslight-disc-v3-roadcx-wheelset/ which are meant to be much better. Huh. Hadn't thought about OTP.

Kinesis is defintely a bette value for money, especially when you don't need the extra weight of the braking surface on the Archetype.

Disc rims can easily be lower than 400g without breaking the bank, the Pacenti's offering is a good example (discounted ATM from On-one or Planet X).