Pearson Carbon Audax Pro: A comfy, modern & fast (ish) long-distance bike

'Differently', what does that mean? I can return the bar tape and swap it for plain black, is this what you think I should do? Although the dual tape includes red bar plugs, for some unknown reason black DSP (now featuring on the Orrell) includes grey bar plugs, which would have to go...

I really wanted a black chain, but it was too hard to get hold of the x10sl in black, so I went with the black and red. Silver or gold would just look wrong on this bike.

I could have got the black and red Fortezza Tricomps, but went with plain black. So I have shown some restraint :)

lest we forget

Ouch. A low blow. I was young and foolish ;)

This is the chain, it's *reasonably *sublte...

Get it in the bin

Ignore all of us, you're too far gone.

No seriously, rein me in - I don't want an audax HHSB!

if I get it built up and it looks wrong I will be very sad :(

I know it's the wrong frame, but it's the best a google image search for 'carbon audax pearson' would do. beyond returning a photo of my own bike in my own living room.

It looks lovely.

Red tyres really would tie it all together.

(bar tape works better than expected)

if I get it built up and it looks wrong I will be very sad :(

It won't look wrong, because you're only building it for yourself and you've had total control over what goes on it. It will look exactly how you want it, and that should be enough :)

The chain will make it look like a Unipac Audax bike.

The bar tape however does work better than expected.

It is worth remembering that I used the same shade of red for everything. Manufacturers aren't so considerate. I also forgot the bottle cages, but am going out for a ride now so won't be adding them.

I think the chain but be a touch too far.

But the different gruppo, wheelse etc makes the above a little unfair.

As long as it doesn't look like EEI's colango :P

I'm really not convinced (and my bike is covered in red).

Do all of the red's match up properly? If you've got anno and painted red bits surely they 'll be a different shade? If they are only a few bits it'll be ok, but I'd leave any other red purchases for now.

All just my 2p tho.

Hah, I like 6pts 'mock up'.

Having put all the bits together on the sofa just now, I think it's going to look awesome.

Even the clown chain!

The painted red bits are obviously a bit different to the anodized red bits, but I think it still works.

The only fly in the ointment is the weight weenie kcnc derailleur hanger, which is the wrong shade of red - kind of more a cherry red than the standard red of the Hope stuff.

Hah, I like 6pts 'muck up'.

Hurry up and build it already! I haven't seen Red Black in the flesh yet and I'm getting impatient.

I am waiting for the spokes (I need to ring George from Edwardes back about that) and the seat bolt clamp, which Wiggle reckon they sent out a while ago but no sign yet.

And now I'm just going to order a black derailleur hanger. Nearly there though!

This is awesome, but you're cheating! Where's the steel?? ;)

Everything on my bike is monochrome apart from the crank bolts, which are red.

= no matching issues.

^^ Erm, in the quick release axles. And the spokes. And the chain?! ;)

Sounds peng.

^^Okay you're excused, but you'll have to smuggle it past the old blokes on their steel fixed bikes!

Bump. What's happened?

I was keeping an eye on this thread and looking forward to seeing the finished build.

Very good question Joe.

It's all a bit frustrating as it is still the same two things holding it up.

Edwardes sent the spokes on the 9th October and they haven't turned up yet. They may be lost in the post :(

Also the headset is still a problem. Got it looked at by digger, it was a mess inside and the cups have seen better days. It's semi integrated, and therefore crap.

What I really want to do is replace the cups, but not only are they knocked into the frame, they're also glued. So I would just get them knocked back out, but that could take some carbon with them...

Removing the glue first seems the best plan, but currently unsure of the best way of doing this. I did ring Pearson but while helpful they weren't much use. I might try again tomorrow.