Kona Paddy Wagon 2010 - First Build, new parts only

Big day for me and the Paddy Wagon today, Facing and fitting headset and bottom bracket. I took a few photos...

First we trundled to Brixton Cycles

Where, after a bit of a wait, as they were quite busy, a nice chap took us out the back, and did the dirty deeds.

Then we were done, for a little while.

Got a whole load more bits in the post today,

Brakes: I decided on the Miche Calipers as they should fit both front and rear.
Brake Levers: Finally decided on the Cane Creek crosstop levers, as they will fit on the bars.
Freewheel: Ordered a Shimano 16 tooth one, if I don't like the gear ratio, I can always get a 17 or 18 tooth one...

Seatpost: Having had a look around, the System Ex are looking like quite good bang for buck territory.

Shoes: Decided on DHB M1 shoes, as the Shimano ones that I'd been pondering instead weren't stocked in my size, the choice was made for me.

Mostly so that I felt that I'd got another step closer to building it, I put the crank brother cleats onto the shoes.

Only a few bits left to buy...

If you can be bothered, I would send the System EX post back, I wouldn't recommend it. I had the same one (albeit branded as PUSH) which was fine for a couple of months before the ridged bolt thing underneath wore down and it started slipping every day.

That said, i guess it's fine for £15 though... but as an alternative I'd suggest the £18 seatpost from BLB - actually really nice light, and a good finish, and a more reliable clamp
http://www.fixedgearlifestyle.com/products/blb/blb-seatpost (google search)

edit: that frame is a really nice colour, always catches my eye when i see one about

I agree about the system-ex seatpost -I had one that constantly needed readjusting after a couple of months. I'd go for something with a 2 bolt clamp like this

If you can be bothered, I would send the System EX post back, I wouldn't recommend it. I had the same one (albeit branded as PUSH) which was fine for a couple of months before the ridged bolt thing underneath wore down and it started slipping every day.

That said, i guess it's fine for £15 though... but as an alternative I'd suggest the £18 seatpost from BLB - actually really nice light, and a good finish, and a more reliable clamp
http://www.fixedgearlifestyle.com/products/blb/blb-seatpost (google search)

edit: that frame is a really nice colour, always catches my eye when i see one about

You'll find that the BLB one is hardly different from the System X, Push, Kalloy etc ones.
The 2 bolt ones like Ummar posted are the best cheap ones.

true the 2 bolt clamp would be better, but not all 1 bolt designs are made equal

no, for example the ritchey 1 bolt system is good.

Hmm, the 2 bolt ones do look like they should be better. I'll coat the bolt with threadlock, and then see how I go from there. If it starts to work loose in a couple of moths its faulty, and then can go back, and I'll look at something else at that point.

Thanks for the advice though!

Before I order the last few bits, does anyone have anything that I ought to know in regards to these:

Brake blocks: I'm thinking SwissStop green for the pads, although the mixed KoolStop blocks look interesting.
Brake cable: Don't know anything about the different brands out there, need to investigate, need for both front and rear.
Tubes: I need to pic some to go with the Continental SuperSport Plus 700 x 23C tyre Black not totally sure what size to go from, have seen different advice from different places. Any thoughts on either brand or size?.

A slight warning: A Kona 56cm is more like a 54cm: Check CRC sizing guide to be on the safe side. My 56cm (2011, I believe) was a 54cm square.

The PUSH/Kalloy/System EX are all fine, they does the job but make sure you tightened it properly.

Drem, Koolstop Salmon are probably best to go for given that it cost less than half the cost of a Swissstop green, but if you can afford Swissstop, go for them.

Koolstops are ~£9 per pair, the Swissstops are ~£22 for two pairs, so nothing like twice the price.

The Swissstop greens are great by the way, but you'll need to add compatible block carriers / cartridges as those Miche ones look like they use disposable blocks. You can get the Swissstops with blocks but they become quite expensive - I think you might be better off buying Shimano blocks and swapping the pads.

Re: cables, the 105 brake cable set is good, but make sure you use good cable cutters and get the ends of the outers really straight and flat as that will affect the performance more than anything.

Koolstops are ~£9 per pair, the Swissstops are ~£22 for two pairs, so nothing like twice the price.

Just found the description in Wiggle.

thank for pointing that out, defintely go for swissstop.

Final parts arrived over the last week or so, been too busy to get photos, but finally took some last night. Will put them up at some point.

Everything is ready to put together, just hoping that I've got everything I need. Looking forward to getting home from work and starting on it, and then getting it out onto the bridges tonight.

Re seatposts:

For the money you can't get better than the Planet X Superlight @ £25

Hey Mr. Drem,

Loving the project, considering buying a Kono frame myself, did you ever get any of the pictures of the finished, bike up here, would still love to see them,

Kind Regards - Ashe.

Beaut frame. Anyone know where to buy one these days? No longer at Chain Reaction.

Yes this is a dredge, but I've had to do some digging for an insurance claim, and have put together the following RRP list for this build:

56cm, 2010 Kona Paddy Wagon frame
£349.99
Black System EX Alloy Seat Post
£17.99
Black Charge Spoon saddle
£24.99
Cannondale Slice Carbon Audex forks
£129.99
Cane Creek Forty headset
£44.99
Cane Creek Interlock spacers (4)
£1.50 each, £6 total
Stem is a FSA OS-150 XTC in White
£72.95
TranzX Bullhorn Bars
£19.99
Cane Creek crosstop brake levers
£29.99
Shimano 105 brake cables
£12.99
Miche Caliper Brakes
£24.99
SwissStop green brake blocks and holders (2 pairs)
£22 per pair, £44 total
SRAM S300 1.1 Chainset, with 170mm cranks.
£129.99
Crank Brothers Egg Beater 1 Pedals
£46.99
V-sprint Wheels - silver Miche hubs, silver spokes, and black Weinmann DP18 rims
£144.00
Continental Rim Tape (Black) (2)
£2.99 each, £5.98 total
Shimano DX BMX 16 tooth freewheel
£29.99
Wippermann 7Z1 chain
£12.99
Vittoria Randonneur tyres (2)
£19.99 each, £39.98 total
Specialized 700x20/28c tubes with 60mm Presta Valves (2)
£4.99 each, £9.98 total

TOTAL
£1198.76

What happened?

It's in the forum rider down thread, lorry turned into me when I was in the bus lane. not too much damage I hope, but I wanted to get that list setup so that I had it somewhere.

So, this is a bit of a dredge.

The insurance has now paid out, as far as possible white parts have all been bought (picking up the last of them tonight), and the frame is off to be re-sprayed in Cadbury purple. It should be back with me on Thursday.

Quick trip to Brixton Cycles to get the bottom bracket and headset faced and installed, and the forks setup right, and I'll install the rest myself again

I need to poke someone about custom decals, maybe @roboto - thinking a pint and a half on the headtube (a modified version of the original glass and a half), LFGSS somewhere else (maybe down the seat tube), and maybe my forum nick (in Friz Quadrata Bold) on the top tube

I'm also thinking about headset caps, I think that's @mdcc_tester but can't find the thread for it.

Three (3!) years?

Pretty much. Some of that was my fault, but even after liability had been admitted the insurers dragged it out for ages, asking for proof of parts bought, etc. This thread really helped with that though, as it was a contemporary record of the build.

To that end, I'll be photographing and uploading all of the parts for this rebuild of it.

thinking about headset caps, I think that's @mdcc_tester but can't find the thread

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/238654/

Thanks, I've poked about, and moved things there for this bit.