Commuto-x bike

I loved the BB7/Sram/Travel Agent combine which mean always predictable braking performance in all kind of weather condition.

But I won't go hydro, until they developed a hydro/mechanical brake shifters.

I'd says logically, full mechanical, till a decent hydro shifter come out.

I'd go with Hope.

Its not fragile or complicatred. It just looks it, with the extra unit. 2 thoughts.

1) Your levers will take the brunt of frontwards tumbles. So being able to swap out to replacement mechanical sti's could save money afdter a off-road off.

2) From a resiliant utility bike perspective its good to have things separate (hence the popularity of bar end brifters). Stuff will break. So reducing integration reduces replacement costs.

I'm also a Hope fanboy.

Almost thinking I should make the bike a hope special, bb and headset too, to go with the hope wheels but I have a Chris King headset in the parts bin.

Almost thinking I should make the bike a hope special, bb and headset too, to go with the hope wheels but I have a Chris King headset in the parts bin.

My 29er is pure Hope tech, and the fat bike will be too. The headsets are one of my favourates of the Hope parts. I've never used Chris King though.

When funds allow. I will be ordering this fatboy....

Also. The Hope 'gunsmoke' colour would look amazing with a Ti frame.

I'd go with Hope.

I wouldn't again - she gave me a dose.

Even the word hopeless have hope in it.

Started ordering parts today

Have decided to use a load of Hope bits

29er hoops
V twin hydraulics 160mm front rotor, 140mm rear
Hope headset and ceramic BB

Quite excited.

And so you should be!

I'm rather looking forward to seeing this completed.

Got a seatpost and saddle from Dammit last week

So just need to blag the other sti from a friend - between us we have a pair of STI's, need to see if the front mech I have will work.

Then I have to buy a rear mech, tyres, bar tape, pedals. It is coming together but the main wait is the frame itself.

Good things come to those who wait.

just been checking the geometry, the reach and stack is almost identical to my serotta

can't wait for the new toy

Have decided to use a load of Hope bits.

Good chioce.

I'm getting M4s when funds allow.

Can't wait to see this.....any rough idea of the total spend? Pm me, if you don't want to brag!

So are you going with the hope hydro brake convertor then?

looking forward to seeing this one built up! Great fun to be had on basic off road trails with this type of bike.

Modern mountain bikes are fantastic things to ride, but tend to make the average bridleway look a bit tame. Always encouraging you to find more technical trails, until you eventually break yourself. You should end up with a bike that makes you want to go out & explore, rather than seeking bigger thrills*.

*Nothingwrongwithbiggerthrills

My Disc commuter is here now:

Works nicely - Hope 29er wheels are excellent - discs are a revelation on a road bike.

Hoping to be tubeless on fatter rubber by the weekend - the shop screwed up their stock and sold the Hutchinsons that were originally specced.

what is the frame? and which mudguards are you using

Frame is a Kinesis Tripster - basically their butted alloy cross frame slacked off a bit at the headangle.

Mudguards are RSP Raceplates which I got at the Velorution closedown for a bargain price - nice looking but need a big slug of loctite to keep all the little grubscrews and allen bolts in place - need to trim the back one slightly at the brake bridge to get it truly concentric.

I'm not a fan of those mudguards, you get a lot of side spill

Yeah - not to sound like I'm dicking on your bike - but I don't see the point in those guards. Far less protection than a proper guard, and they look weird. I'd rather see a full mudguard hunkered right down tight onto the tyre than a gap between the two - especially as the radii are slightly different!

SKS chromoplastic all the way, and they're only £25ish.

Great bike though!

Those RSP ones are solid aluminium and whilst probably indestructible, they're quite heavy.

Chromoplasics are perhaps more crash-proof than Bluemels but nothing to get excited about. I didn't feel they were cheap when I paid £25 for mine!

They were about £25 from Velorution only 440g - testing them out right now - seem ok so far - have a scruffy pair of chromoplastics in the shed if they don't work out. The fixings seem to be a bit delicate - we'll see.

I'm going to add some repurposed MTB inner tube flaps to aid the spray and will closely monitor the side spill...matron!

25c s going on soon and I will probably run 32s come the autumn.

25c s going on soon and I will probably run 32s come the autumn.

You mean its not autumn already?