Custom Oak Cycles 650B French Randonneur Project.

Had heard of them, similar construction to Brooks, TBH it's not hard to get comfortable with a leather saddle as it's the one that mould to the shape of your sit bones, not the other way round.

Selle Anatomica is the only one that actually think outside the traditional box (laminated leather, cut out, flat instead of hammock etc.).

Tried it out on a CAAD8 Claris, was surprisingly comfortable in a very "what saddle?" way.

Claris is impressive for the price/range, shift feel nice and precise (not as sharp as the old Ultegra/DA thought).

I'll put it on the Oak after I pay for it and give it a good try.

I think I'm going to get a rivet when I get paid. The pearl to be precise. Seems like very very good value for money.

Tried it out on a CAAD8 Claris, was surprisingly comfortable in a very "what saddle?" way.

Claris is impressive for the price/range, shift feel nice and precise (not as sharp as the old Ultegra/DA thought).

I'll put it on the Oak after I pay for it and give it a good try.

The Cambium? I've ended up ordering one so I'll see how it goes. It's for the old man bike so I think I can deal with the way it looks...

If anyone asked, said it's a regal.

Exactly.

what mudguards? x

That's Hufnagel's work.

In other news, completed a 1400k randonneur, bike worked exactly as it should, very pleased with it, only issue is the rear derailleur was busted and quickly fit a cheap one (hooray for friction) and truing the rear wheel.

The drivetrain is clean! even after 1400k, all i got was a bit of dust on the chain, but it still in it's original wax.

Giles Berthoud 60mm long. stalker

JakeScoble

The Cambium? I've ended up ordering one so I'll see how it goes. It's for the old man bike so I think I can deal with the way it looks...

Just rode home with it.

Need a bit of tweak, but so far, it's awesome, and probably better than my Selle Anatomica.

I'm used to the saddle flexing a lots (leather), but the C17 have a lots less flex yet still feel comfortable, the first 5 miles I kept thinking I must've got the tyres pressure too low, until I realised it's the saddle that have a nice little give.

Nice. Thanks Ed. I have mine but I haven't fitted it yet, looking forward to it now.

You might find it quite flexy if you're coming from a stiff plastic/carbon saddle thought.

I realised the advantage of the flexy saddle is that you don't need to drop the tyres pressure a lots more to reduced road vibration when the saddle can do the work for you.

Ed, why don't you just get a full sus MTB and be done with it :-)?

Technically, I'm running a road version of a fat bike.

42mm to road bike is what 4.0 to fat bike.

You might find it quite flexy if you're coming from a stiff plastic/carbon saddle thought.

I realised the advantage of the flexy saddle is that you don't need to drop the tyres pressure a lots more to reduced road vibration when the saddle can do the work for you.

That's kind of the experiment I want to try. The Regal / Regal-e has always been a really good saddle for me - and generally I've always liked a stiff saddle over a squashy one - but I realise that the flex of the Romin is definitely less tough on the sitbones on a long ride. Plus the Regal-e badly needs a channel, but I've gotten fed up waiting for San Marco to do it.

Make sense, if you didn't like it, you know who to sell it to.

Goodbye boxy PL23, hello aero SL23;

It's a bit porkier at 414g, but a modern V shaped rims should able to allow normal spoke tension without deforming the rims, I rather my rear rims to last a little longer than 2,000km as the front PL23 is still the picture of health due to symmetrical lacing and width.

Velocity A23 is questionable, they're decent rims but build quality isn't perfect to put it simply (and it's much heavier at 426g).

Ironic as the bicycle is designed to carry a front load only, perhaps I should be less fat.

I actually considered getting the frame respaced to 120mm to run a Grand Bois 6 speed cassette hubs to keep an even spokes tension (or close to) with the PL23, but decided a different rims would be better.

Yes, I know black deep section rims look wrong on a hipster bike, and no I'm not going to removed the paint. (warranty).

scrap that - "650b".... i'll take it somewhere else. must be my bedtime

They don't come in 650B.

I'd go for the H+Son for a 700c wheel over the Pacenti, but the build quality of the SL23 is stunning, it made my A23 look very primitive in comparison.

Plus, don't think I've posted this up before;

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Man I need dem cranks, all of the practicals and look delicious. Missus would really benefit from em

Where did you get yours?

From Tokyo Fixed when they special order it for me, or if you're talking about the Rene Herse, directly from Compass.

TBH, the Sora 46/34 crankset would be a good value for money if she doesn't mind having a big small ring (using your trade account at Evans should get it a bit cheaper).

If you still feel the 46/30 is necessary (and it is a great ratio), you may be better off converting a triple to run a 46/30, your only disadvantage is the missing big ring that might look a bit ugly.

Goodbye boxy PL23, hello aero SL23.

With 42mm tyres... aero-ish.

Yeah I think triple is the way to go unfortunately :(

Just removed the big ring and put a bigger middle one on.