Oak Cycles 853 road project

So a little while ago I came in to some money and thought to myself "I need to buy something with this money that I would otherwise never have been able to afford and not piss it away or give it to my landlord." Pretty soon after that I was looking at bikes. I got thinking and decided on something I can ride everywhere, everyday and enjoy it every time. To me that says good quality steel.

I initially looked at Demon Cycles after being impressed with their stand at the cycle show in 2010 and I heard they were going to be doing a signature line for Mosquito Bikes which is very near my flat. I asked around and didn't hear anything, I asked in the shop and didn't get a definite reply. Then a few days later I was talking to Nik, one of the mechanics at LMNH and out of interest asked how much it would cost her boyfriend, Ryan of Oak Cycles, to make a steel road frame.

Things got a bit more interesting after that, it turns out Ryan was looking to start doing a line of frames, like 3 different levels of road frames at different price points. We got talking on more exact details and it turns out the exact frame I was wanting built is the same as the one he was wanting to build. And so it began. We decided on a geometry, steep front end and short chain stays for quick handling but a relatively low bottom bracket for stability at speed, much like classic Italian frames. I really wanted internal top tube cabling and Ryan suggested stainless caps on the entrance/exit holes so as the frame wears they will shine through. Ryan was keen on getting some custom CNC'd drop outs imported from Paragon Machine Works, which arrived a few days ago and apparently are amazing. There will be a 6° slope on the top tube to show more seatpost to increase comfort. We have also gone for beefy tubes for stiffness, the down tube is ovalised vertically at the head tube and twists to be ovalised horizontally at the BB. This whole process he has been as enthusiastic about it as I have.

We did a bike fitting after deciding the details and found out my current road bike was way too bike for me. I put a shorter stem on my track bike (which has a shorter top tube) and lowered my seatpost by about 2 cm to replicate the new setup and it already feels better. Riding the Dynamo recently I had no back pain or knee pain or anything, so it seems to be working.

Since all that I paid the deposit, Ryan ordered the tubes and the drop outs, drew up the to-scale diagram and I started collecting parts. I spoke to him this Friday gone and all the tubes have been mitered, the top tube has the internal cabling passage brazed in and the rest of the joints just need to get brazed. Then it will be off to Atlantic Boulevard to get painted then built up back here and ridden until death.

I'm very excited. Nik was saying she wants a frame exactly the same as it now after seeing it the other day.

The latest in a list of "hotly anticipated" current projects...

I'm looking forward to this.

Dibs

heads to LMNH with bolt cutters

And is it too late to specify internal wiring harness ports in the frame?

May as well make it future proof, although I suppose Ryan can always "edit" the frame.

I don't think he's a "fiddler" like you, Dammit.

^^ My first thoughts were Ultegra Di2. Then I had a play with a bike with it and didn't really like it. I like how with Sram the amount you move the lever is the amount the derailleur moves. I didn't like how the paddle only clicked, didn't really move at all.

It'll grow on you - it's the future.

And here's some pictures of the parts waiting for the frame.

You got those part a lots quicker than I do!

I'm still waiting for the rare hard-to-find part on my Oak.

It gonna be interesting to see how our Oak look in the end., what's the ETA on your?

Sweet forks bro!

I had money, I bought most of the parts at the same time. Hopefully it will be brazed this week, then it's off to get painted, which I'm not really sure how long it will take.

cheers brah!

This sounds like fun. What are the main advantages/disadvantages of the sloping top tube? I was never all that sure about it, apart from the additional clearance you get.

Are those tyres tubs?

more seatpost sticking out = vibration dampening and more compact frame = stiffer.
Nah, they're clincher.

pretty much, what size seatpost actually? good ol' 27.2?

yup.

By the way, what process you decided on? fillet brazed? tig? doesn't sound like you opt for lugs.

fillet brazing.

Sounds amazing.

Can't wait to see this finished.

Re compact frames and stiffness - iirc from what I've read it starts to make a real difference when your getting into the bigger sizes. And it should often make the frame a little lighter than it would have been as you don't have to use stronger tubes to maintain the same stiffness.

Henry, looks like it is going to be marvellous! What wheels are you going for?

Thanks. Ksyrium ES special Edition. Not particularly fancy but quite nice and pretty light.

I need to get some security bolts and skewers too.

Yeah, nice spec Henry. I'd have those forks too. Agree ^ about the wheels though.

Painting the forks too?

subscribed

Stealth Enve wheelset or GTFO...

This is fucking gnarly. Apart from the frame - this is pretty much where I want to go with my new roadie...

I agree about the wheels too. But these are what I have. Forks are staying unpainted.