So I got a Robin Mather...

what wheels you putting on btw? royce on ambrosio ultralight would be sexpiss fountainous.

^^Yeah it was also the ony Campag gruppo that I could see in my affordability range that came in silver. I thought it would suit the frame nicely.

Regarding the monster allen key and cranks though - it says 42 Nm. Which I reckon is pretty tight, but how do I gauge exactly how tight without the use of a torque wrench??

eh... i use the tried n tested 'lean on it till it feels solid but doesnt hurt your hands' gauge. this seems work... i did get a really annoying click because of the fact that the BB spindle length is fixed and there is quite a narrow margin of error in the tolerance, so if your BB shell happens to be slightly narrow, it can shift. for this you may need some kind of shim, I just used an extra spring washer (2.99 from ribble) and it stopped.

what wheels you putting on btw? royce on ambrosio ultralight would be sexpiss fountainous.

Yeah I'm wary of the wheel issue. To start with it will have a set of Mavic Aksiums. Not ideal, I know, but it's what I got so will have to do for now...

I'm open to suggestions for when the time comes to upgrade but I quite like the idea of some handbuilt Open Pros...

can highly recommend a shop up in Scotland. Super cheap and will ship them down here no worries, he even builds wheels for a couple of guys that work at Condor (he said i wasn't to tell anyone this but he tells anyone who'll listen himself so...)

just don't ask him for black spokes-he won't like you.

Ha. Ok thanks for the tip but I quite like building my own wheels so might give that a go..

Quick update.

Build so far. Now waiting for: silver seatpost, gear cable stops, bar tape...

Comments, thoughts, suggestions welcome.

Ooo that's looking really nice only negative is the seatpost, but you seem to know that yourself so its all good, the saddle looks fantastic. If they're stickers, de-sticker the rims, and it'll be one heck of a nice bike..already is, envy envy

Quick update.

Build so far. Now waiting for: silver seatpost, gear cable stops, bar tape...

Comments, thoughts, suggestions welcome.

meh

Ooo that's looking really nice only negative is the seatpost, but you seem to know that yourself so its all good, the saddle looks fantastic. If they're stickers, de-sticker the rims, and it'll be one heck of a nice bike..already is, envy envy

Thanks very much.
Yeah going to be a silver in-line post. I will de-sticker rims, was planning that anyway.

Can't wait to ride this thing!

was just kidding with my comment before, tis a beauty

^ Ha, no worries, I thought so. Cheers.

I'm open to criticism too. I know there's a high standard here but as I'm not nesessarily looking to make it a fully porn build I do want it to be right..ish. The stem is annoying the perfectionist in me but that could all be sorted later, maybe with a custom job...

Also - what colour bar tape? I've got some old black standard cheap foam stuff that will have to go on first but should I upholster it in matching tan leather or something?

dibs pint of guiness on mantle.

nice build btw.

^ well spotted, too late though I'm afraid.

Ok since you want it, I don't like the stem either, looks cheap(?) and there may be one or two too many spacers, but I'm sure that is out of practicality.

But I would go for black tape, fizik microtex soft touch ftw. but I don't like colour coordinated tape anyway, so I'm not the best on that front.

If you're in doubt about the stem and don't want to pay Mather price for a custom one, the Velo Orange (or alternately, SJS sell the aftermarket one) would be fitting;

Interesting Ed, got a link to buy? What's the length and rise/drop angle? Does it clamp straight onto the 1" steerer or would it need an adapter still?

Not tempted by matching the bar tape to the saddle? Bit pricey but it will look lovely.

Definitely the way to go if that saddle is staying.

Yeah saddle is staying so that's what I'm thinking.

I've seen some leather bar tape on a bike, which I think is Brooks but it's smooth, not perforated. I'd prefer that, if I can find some.

Edit: This is what I want, but now all the stuff you can buy is perforated.. Anyone know where I can get this stuff?

gridds: I think that's the old version of the Brooks bar tape, which has been replaced with the perforated version. So it's probably gonna be pretty hard to get a hold of new at least.

Cinelli makes some non-perforated, but it's somewhat lighter in color and has lots of logos: http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/cinelli-leather-btape-zoom.jpg

Hmm, ok thanks ArthurFrayn.

Er matchy tape & saddle is 'definitely' the 'way to go'.? Why? It'll look like a charge.

White bar tape from the Giro onwards. End of.

white bar tape. don't stay white for long. I occasionally scrub mine with washing powder to bring it back a bit but one long ride and it looks like it's been salvaged from an egyptian mummy's crotch wrappings again.

White!!??

No.