Polo Bikes

the disc brake protectors for my bikes are 18£. they protect both rotor and the brake itself. although you can, it doesn't make any sense to buy them separately, as you don't have the interface on your bike. you can see the old version here http://www.maxpowercycles.de/builds/ (misses the protection for the brake itself)

i'm just about to re-order, so if somebody might be interested in protectors that mount on is2000, i would make a new design for that. 18£ per piece. delivery time 2 weeks
anyone?

Thats the chopped one I am using on the back Luca. I am thinking of doing one on the front.
I'll need to read up on what maximum means, I dont know what is2000 is.

But maybe I'll go the DIY route.
I really need to get into making my own shit again instead of being lazy and just buying it.
What thickness aluminium sheet did you get gabes?
And you just cut it up with a standard hacksaw? I must take a gander at it next time our paths meet.

I dont have access to a bench vice though, and my girlfriend doesnt take too kindly to me using the wooden floors or the kitchen table as ballast for hackin', drillin', and other in's.
How did you clamp it, or steady it, when you were slicin' it up?
Might use the neighbour's brick wall instead...

On another note:

I know the deal with travel agents for a short pull lever with long pull brakes...
But what problems are there, if any, with having a long pull lever on a short pull brake?

My problem (well, one of them) is that I've got a short pull rear brake and front v-brakes, with a long pull lever. I can never seem to find the right balance between the two.

but snoops doesn't have one… explain that!

I do.

Curved seat tube is almost beyond a trend now.

On another note:

I know the deal with travel agents for a short pull lever with long pull brakes...
But what problems are there, if any, with having a long pull lever on a short pull brake?

My problem (well, one of them) is that I've got a short pull rear brake and front v-brakes, with a long pull lever. I can never seem to find the right balance between the two.

short pull disc breaks? I didn't know such a thing existed, I thought they were all long pull?

sheldon explains both the long pull with short brakes and vice versa, look at too much/too little mechanical advantage:
http://sheldonbrown.com/rim-brakes.html#ma
basically either get a travel agent (you can fit it in reverse in your case) or disc brakes that are long pull?

short pull disc breaks? I didn't know such a thing existed, I thought they were all long pull?

sheldon explains both the long pull with short brakes and vice versa, look at too much/too little mechanical advantage:
http://sheldonbrown.com/rim-brakes.html#ma
basically either get a travel agent (you can fit it in reverse in your case) or disc brakes that are long pull?

Avid BB7 Road Disc Brake Caliper

Specifications:
• Caliper Type: 74mm Post Mount
• Brake Lever Actuation: Short Pull
• Hub/Brake Compatibility: 6-Bolt Disc

Thanks for the Sheldon link, I'll have a look.
Might try and get an MTB disc caliper.

Ha! that's excelent, I've been wondering how I can have discs and sti's (not for polo obv)!

If you get long pull I might take the short pull off you :-)

They are gold/silver in colour with a R code. Long pull are black, without the R code.

short pull disc breaks? I didn't know such a thing existed, I thought they were all long pull?

sheldon explains both the long pull with short brakes and vice versa, look at too much/too little mechanical advantage:
http://sheldonbrown.com/rim-brakes.html#ma
basically either get a travel agent (you can fit it in reverse in your case) or disc brakes that are long pull?

Avid BB7 Road Disc Brake Caliper

Specifications:
• Caliper Type: 74mm Post Mount
• Brake Lever Actuation: Short Pull
• Hub/Brake Compatibility: 6-Bolt Disc

Thanks for the Sheldon link, I'll have a look.
Might try and get an MTB disc caliper.

I'm not sure if this is a good deal or not but I saw bb5s on crc for about £30 and bb7s without a rotor for £35ish, I think.

BB7 is £55 on Chain Reaction, and the BB5's are out of stock, as they seem to be with a good few places.

Not cheap, but I might pick one up anyway.
Louis if you're interested in the short pull road BB7's let me know.

There's a Hong Kong seller on ebay who is willing to mark down the item when posting and for that same amount IIRC you get a pair. Not too sure BB5 or BB7 though...

BB7 is £55 on Chain Reaction, and the BB5's are out of stock, as they seem to be with a good few places.

Not cheap, but I might pick one up anyway.
Louis if you're interested in the short pull road BB7's let me know.

I got a pair of BB7s from the HK guy, no import taxes etc. I think was £55 for the pair, but don't come with rotors.

Still a bargain.

Also BB7s much better than BB5s

BB7 is £55 on Chain Reaction, and the BB5's are out of stock, as they seem to be with a good few places.

Not cheap, but I might pick one up anyway.
Louis if you're interested in the short pull road BB7's let me know.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=67747 bb5 2012 in stock although probably worth getting a pair of bb7s from HK for £55

Gabes do you have a rear BB7 up for grabs then, if you're running front brake only?

I got mine from pinkbike. Good if you want second hand.

Can I open up the discussion on raw frames?

I'm getting some work done on my Traffic which means it will be half stripped of it's paint.
Id like to do the cheapest option of sorting this out that doesn't look too shite but doesn't leave the frame rusty.

I understand Armortex charge £60.
Mario Vaz says clear coating alone won't stop the rust.
If I strip the rest of it a clear coat it myself, maybe it will have an 'acceptable level' of rust.

Clear coats are rubbish in my experience: you get one (tiny) chip and then the rust spreads underneath before expanding and dislodging further bits of varnish.

If you looked after a clear coated bike it'd probably be fine? But for polo and all-weather riding it's not going to last very long.

J, I wouldn't mind getting the foffa powdercoated something plain like black. If we can find somewhere that will maybe do a discount for two frames in the same colour I'm in.

Have heard that about clear coat now you mention it, cheers Jon.

So basically it's either raw and rusty, or powder coated?

C, my mechanic has a couple of frames he's sending in so I guess you could get in on the bulk buy.
Sad about the cool stickers on the Foff though.

So, TwoTone bikes, gash or new trend?

Can I open up the discussion on raw frames?

I'm getting some work done on my Traffic which means it will be half stripped of it's paint.
Id like to do the cheapest option of sorting this out that doesn't look too shite but doesn't leave the frame rusty.

I understand Armortex charge £60.
Mario Vaz says clear coating alone won't stop the rust.
If I strip the rest of it a clear coat it myself, maybe it will have an 'acceptable level' of rust.

I don't totally understand the process of painting a steel frame, but I can tell you that in my experience, powder coat is the most cost efficient way to get your frame protected from rust, which is the biggest killer of steel frames (apart from Horatio).

I have seen a lot of diy paint, and it just doesn't last. If you take a close look at my RB-1, the original paint, by & large, is holding up, whereas the diy (around the rear drop-outs) is pretty much gone.

On the other hand, powder coat is nauseatingly pig-ugly, and if done poorly, chips off in great big flakes, so overall, considering aesthetics, function & cash, you're probably best off going to someone like Colourtech (I have had many frames painted by Vaz, and have not been impressed), and getting a decent stove-enamel.

But what the f*** do I know?

So you think it's worth shelling out for a proper job on a polo bike?

I know Vaz doesn't have a good rep but I'm not too fussed about aesthetics.

I guess it does make sense to get a decent job that will last, assuming that I keep this bike for the rest of my polo ing days (it could happen).

Will look in to Colourtech.

Thanks Bill, seems you do know some stuff. ;)

So, TwoTone bikes, gash or new trend?

Depends on colour?

Green and pink for the win! :)

Vaz's paint chips really easily... Take it to Armourtex, Joni...