Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

it´s there a good randonneur forum? im thinking in build a custom bike, but need more information on the 650b vs 700c wheels, and need some complete geometry charts. the builders here in chile are only two.... and they only make good race and cheap beach bikes.
im thinking in something like this

If you're short, use small wheels.
If a frame can be built for you in 700 without geometric compromises, go big.

There seem to be a lot of US builders here:
http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum/content/

They seem to be plugging the market for NewFolkRandoBeiks, ehem.

Yeah, the front light. Would have thought the light would be a bit vulnerable stuck on the side of the fork, and also the shadow thing out in front might be annoying

v

If you're short, use small wheels.
If a frame can be built for you in 700 without geometric compromises, go big.

im middle size 180cm, im thinking in 700x32 or 650x38. any bigger than 700x32 and im think it´s going to be to slow for aceleration, im in a hilly country, otherwise 700x 32 could be to narrow for mid loaded dirt roads. for me 650x38 looks ideal, but i need to buy everything out (rims, tubes, tires...)

Same height as me, though a lot of my length is in my legs.
There's some pretty light tires out there in the 33-35mm range; with your height I'd go 700 and avoid the extra hassle and expense of having to source 650B components.
I think the frame would look better too with bigger wheels.

made by same guy

that is so awesome

put in a deposit and ordered a custom built LHT from mosquito on saturday, really looking forward to picking it up in a few weeks time. it's got a great honest spec that's a bit better than their standard issue, and I've got nitto raddoneur bars going on there too which i'm excited about.

next task is to pick some pedals, specify which brooks saddle to go with it, and find a rack and panniers.

pedals, i'm thinking some MKS road pedals with toe clips. don't want cleats on this bike. any suggestions for supportive, well built pedals with a classic look?

saddle, either brooks b17 or the one with stiff springs on the back. not sure whether springs are a good shout. i'm about 160 pounds, reckon it'll make a difference?

grateful for any thoughts on sprung / unsprung saddle questions and the pedal search, it is a functional bike after all.

your height I'd go 700 and avoid the extra hassle and expense of having to source 650B components.

Whats the matter with 26" mtb sized wheels?

Same height as me, though a lot of my length is in my legs.
There's some pretty light tires out there in the 33-35mm range; with your height I'd go 700 and avoid the extra hassle and expense of having to source 650B components.

700x35 is heavier than 650bx35, of which mean less toe overlap, even with mudguard.

pedals, i'm thinking some MKS road pedals with toe clips. don't want cleats on this bike. any suggestions for supportive, well built pedals with a classic look?

flat MKS rivendell style pedals, or the recent MKS Urban;

Would recommended the latter, the massive lips make extraordinary light work of flipping the pedals round.

Was very very happy with my (otherwise expensive) White Industries Urban pedals, the MKS one should just be as good.

The only sprung one I've used was the B67
http://www.brooksengland.com/en/ResampleImg.ashx?imgurl=~/images/shop/shop_saddles/Classic_Saddles___City___Transport/B67/colors/b67_Honey_1.jpg&Width=344&Height=280&format=jpeg&bkColor=FFFFFF&vAlign=bottom&halign=left

...and that was on this in this position:
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/22144_300198302663_8063279_n.jpg

...which I found comfortable. However, if it was going to have a mixed road/rando style position then I think it would be a bit too big. But I did like the springs and do plan on buying a flyer/flyer special at some point:
http://www.brooksengland.com/en/ResampleImg.ashx?imgurl=~/images/shop/shop_saddles/Classic_SADDLES___Trekking___Touring/Flyer_Special/colors/flyer_special_Black.jpg&Width=344&Height=280&format=jpeg&bkColor=FFFFFF&vAlign=bottom&halign=left

As for the pedals, I'd worry less about looks and buy some of those one sided shimano pedals so you can run clips if* when* you decide to:
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/public/oDe_C2qiYNABFltx89KdDGykatv9iZU3wvuHwXWSkfrkwKpWwCQECQC6QHf09079WYCuO5MOlJqQrOaStAXL-P5PAWZ6CphgshNSlKKkBBtdTegKbG5nPFCw-oK62opZAzuDqMemC-MKJS8THzBJLlxzLBKW

Don't think it's necessary to need spring, especially when you're getting a bicycle that you can put bigger tyres on at lower pressure to compensate.

flat MKS rivendell style pedals, or the recent MKS Urban;

Would recommended the latter, the massive lips make extraordinary light work of flipping the pedals round.

Was very very happy with my (otherwise expensive) White Industries Urban pedals, the MKS one should just be as good.

Would these really be comfortable when touring though?

I've got MKS track ones I think. very comfortable.

Would these really be comfortable when touring though?

how would they not be? they're flat, wide, and have a clip.

had used mine for such.

Cheers Ed, Hugo, I'll check those pedals out. I much prefer riding with cleats but, aside from being my new touring steed, this will also be my about-town bike at the weekend and I get fed up wearing SPDs when I'm just dicking around locally. Double sided is no doubt the way forward. Presume you can't fit toeclips to those shim pedals?

Hugo, the flyer is the one I was thinking about - stiff springs, and I think it's basically a B17 in profile right? I'll have a chat in the LBS. If the springs damp potholes but don't give spongy acceleration then I'll go for it. I've never had a Brooks so I can't relate to the comfort claims for the non-sprung saddles. I've never really had a comfortable saddle. The ritchey pro streem 2 I just put on my road bike is akin to self harm, but it has dented the weight of the bike. Weight (thank god) is not a concern on this bike.

how would they not be? they're flat, wide, and have a clip.

had used mine for such.

They just looked small that's all, probably just the picture.

Might put my flats back on for a bit. But rely on the clipless when fast road riding.

^^ I don't know about those pedals - I just googled single sided pedals and picked the ones that were cheap and didn't look too ugly.

As for the saddle, yes. I have a B17 narrow and really like it both in a relaxed seating position and something a little closer to a road position on my beater. As a reference, my arse also likes turbo's and flite's.

that bike has everything I want, even Ritchey Breakaway style separation.

Looks good.

Not sure geared/hydraulic disc brakes lend themselves to breakaway?

I think all the Breakaway frames are geared. The cables bent.

Look like they coupled. I guess it must be cable discs.

Hugo (or others), re. Brooks, what's the performance benefit of special over standard build? Or is copper riveting and plating purely aesthetic?