A/r/g\o\s

I know, and thanks. Went to that car-show. Not enough bikes.

yeah I found it to be a bit disappointing :/

Gipiemme experiment aborted after barely 10 minutes - hefty overlap's not my game. Back to clipless, which for me offer unrivalled control. Even if I stuck with clips/straps I'd need to change the perfect position I have using Deltas, which I'm not willing to do when I prefer their planted feel, handling precision and entire lack of overlap. Worth trying though - always amazing how a bike's characteristics alter with changes.

Could've told you that ha.

Rive Gauche - that's one of my old frames - sadly missed. The black fade - out on the rear triangle is because one of the dropouts was replaced by Argos requiring partial respray. If memory serves me right, it's an Orbit ( though I thought they were more inclined toward touring / audax builds ). Anyhow, hope that's of some interest.

Thanks for the info hanford, good to find out a bit more about the frame. I bought it for our wet winter weather meaning to ride it into the ground. However I like it so much that it'll go back to Argos for a refurb at some point.

Not convinced I've done the right thing gearing down from 50x18 to a 19 in the back, although I still have the smaller sprocket if need be.

Gave it its first decent run yesterday. Although I now feel like I'm gliding along so easily to the point I wonder if the chain's packed up and left, and the improvement in transmission smoothness courtesy of the new Phil sprocket over the Velosolo it replaced is welcome, my noticeable drop in speed certainly isn't. To my mind the increased effort of the larger gear is worth the better momentum trade-off, but swelling myself into human foie gras over Christmas isn't helping my top end much either. Probably I'm yet to get the best out of the new ratio.

its 1 tooth.. I honestly dont think there is something like a "noticeable speed drop" after switching from 18t.
Its all in your head!

Lovely frame Paul. You running a brake on it?

^^Or in my considerable gut of expansion.

Cheers Ben, and yes.

Human foie gras indeed, at least i am not alone :-)

@1000archangels, he's gone from 73 GI to 69 GI, you'd notice the difference.

I run 53x20 like a boss....

Which puts us level pegging, apart from this boss thing.

I'm inclined to blame the pedals today, as I've still not switched back to clipless after getting more accustomed to the clips/straps. Reduced power transfer seems a reasonable explanation of the 1 mph minimum loss in average speed over the route I did today. Compared to usual results I have become very pedestrian. Tomorrow I will blame the headset - come Tuesday it will all be Buddha's fault, and Wednesday I'll take up fishing instead.

How was the fishing yesterday?

Catch anything?

Grand. Nabbed a flapping pining for a previous gear ratio so fresh I could almost remember it. Served with spuds and remorse.

Ready for photo yet?

She's due in April. Imaginary mother and baby doing well, father less so.

I've been putting her to the Strava sword recently and have grown fond of the Gipiemme pedals now I can better manage the overlap, but I'll be throwing some coin at rive gauche shortly for replacement clipless more in keeping with the build's theme. Also I'm getting along famously with 69 GI now so will be keeping the Phil sprocket - the fundamentals are there, but no peek until dressed in new wheels.

You want I should take proper photos?

You want I should take proper photos?

May well take you up on that Jack, keep a slot free early April.

For you my dear, my slot is always free

Always a pleasure collecting wheels from 36x18 - front laced with Sapim Lasers, the rear Race.

Barring a few little tweaks this is done, but fitting the wheels will be the last job before I can arrange with spotter a time to capture the finished bike.

Fit

Nice wheels, i can't wait for the pics, its been 10 months in the making!