East Anglian Tourer ( Black Shuck )

Subbing this. I'd really like to see how the Kaffenback fares as a tourer.

Progress at last!
Got a Mavic front wheel and some Genetic Mini-V brakes today aswell as a Pair of Halo QR skewers. Only used the rear one for this bike as they are for mtb hubs and only the rear hub on this is an mtb one. The Mavic up front isn't too dissimilar to the sputnik at the rear so everything still looks fairly neat.

These nicely machined attachments had to go on before attaching the rear brakes. The Kaffenback frame comes with disc attachments as well but i am a luddite who knows not the way of discs.

On.

Front end.
I am so happy that this is finally looking like a bike and not a selection of parts hanging in the garage. Next step is to get a seat post/seat etc and figure out the best stem/bar combo. The frame height is fine but length is a challenge. The frame is pretty compact so i am guessing a longer stem and different bars will be needed. Any ideas welcome folks. See you all soon on the roads for some long haul biking.

Doing a bit of a search on net. Not a huge choice in 29.8mm seatpost clamps. Thompson do one for £16.99 on CRC. There are plenty of 27.2mm seatposts about though. Might go for an FSA one to match the headset. Seatwise i'm not sure, might leave that till i get the stem and bar geometry right. Speaking of which; i may get a long stem and keep the bars as they are, just add some bar ends.

As it happens, I am working on similar project- though this will be a Kaffenback as a fast tourer/ winter road bike.

Double (50/34 ) at the front and a 9 speed touring block@ the back

Bar end shifters and shimano bits and pieces.

Still not sure whether to use Midge Bars or Bell laps....

They do work well as tourers, but they are not as adaptable as Cross Checks as you can't really have tyres bigger than 28's and mudguards.

Yours looks great btw - I hope to have mine up in Sheringham in the spring!

Yours looks great btw - I hope to have mine up in Sheringham in the spring!

Cheers. I reckon using the full 27 gears will be overkill for this bike. When the groupset was on my mtb i rarely used all the gears. Thats something i can figure out later. Ill get it out on the road asap and adjust everything then. Sheringham would be a good destination for me from Cambridge. Roll on better weather.

Got a Thompson seatpost clamp and system ex seat post ordered from Wiggle as well as some cable outers. So, in theory, i can get this bike on the road after deciding on the length to cut the steerer. Then ill do all the cable routing and hopefully have a usable bike.

Still undecided about gearing for this bike. I had a crazy idea today (a regular thing with me) that i could set this up single speed for a while. Reason being that i could get it out on the road with a faff free set up so i can sort out the geo and get the bar height reach sorted. I have all the bits i need to SS a deore set up. That would mean temporarily cannibalising my mtb workhorse for the gusset chainring and cog/spacers. The joy of the kaff frame is the option to swap dropouts. But i think there is enough play in the ones installed to get a good chain tension. I may even decide that SS or 9spd is enough for non-mountain touring duties.

When you buy the frame does it come with all the different dropouts you need?

Mmm. Seems i'm not the only crazy one.

When you buy the frame does it come with all the different dropouts you need?

You know what? I can't remember? If it did i will have put them to one side ( the horizontal ones that is). They are available on the planet x site for £30 a pair. I am hoping to get a good chain tension without them for now. When the snow/sleet eases off i'll nip out to the garage and check.

Just checked. No i didn't get the vertical drop outs included. Still think ill get away with using the normal ones for now.

One for the functional thread there ^^^

One for the functional thread there ^^^

i like the front rack idea, using the brake bosses to attach to. If i load anything on the front it will only be light stuff like a sleeping bag.

The more I look at that frame the more I like it actually...

Got some Token carbon spacers for the headset. 10 x 5mm spacers should do the trick with the bar height. Then it's hacksaw time. Hopefully some blood free photos to follow, with the bike in SS set up.

Shite. Put the carbon spacers on and sat the stem on top. But no matter how i adjust, re-assemble, apply pressure, swap stems i cannot get it all tightened without an irritating bit of play in the steerer. I have assembled the sealed bearings etc as fsa advise. But when all is tightened up and i lift the front end the forks move. Could Planet X have fitted the headset wrong? I doubt it. The bottom sealed bearing doesnt seem to fit snug over the crown race, it merely rests leaving a slight gap of a couple of mm. Surely i dont have to get another headset fitted. I am getting really frustrated with this.

I haven't put the star nut in yet as i still need to cut the steerer. I was not expecting this much play before doing that. Oh well ill get sawing and see what happens. I'm such a n00b.

If you havn't put the star nut into the fork then you will not be able to tighten up the headset sufficiently for it not to wobble. As long as you have the top of the steerer below the top of the stem/ top spacer the headset cap will grip the star nut and compress the stem, spacers and headset. If there is steerer protruding/just by the stem, the headset will not be able to compress enough. I hope this is clear. Cut the steerer to the right length, put in the star nut and you will be fine.

If you havn't put the star nut into the fork then you will not be able to tighten up the headset sufficiently for it not to wobble. As long as you have the top of the steerer below the top of the stem/ top spacer the headset cap will grip the star nut and compress the stem, spacers and headset. If there is steerer protruding/just by the stem, the headset will not be able to compress enough. I hope this is clear. Cut the steerer to the right length, put in the star nut and you will be fine.

Yep. I see the error of my ways. Cheers. My previous builds have all been conversions. This is my first build from scratch. A learning curve with, hopefully a happy ending.

^yes

Sorted. Steerer cut and filed to fit, spacers and stem on and star nut (carefully) knocked in and tightened.
Been trying out the cable routing for gears but still have a strange aversion to them. I think i have single speed obsession or something. My guess is the next picture i put up will be a single speed set up.
The ride height seems fine with the 50mm of spacers in, the proof will be in a long(ish) ride. I have put the system ex seatpost in and stuck the selle san marco saddle from the old Schwinn on. Should be nice and comfy.
Anyone any thoughts on the idea of SS touring, considering we don't have that many epic hills in these parts.

Hooray ! First ride out for the Kaffenback. Out of desperation i cobbled together some parts from the other bikes to get it out on the road/paths. Apart from the annoyingly noisy tensioner the ride was lovely and smooth. The frame seems to soak up the worst of the bumps, both wheels and the marathon plus tyres helped to give a very pleasant ride on the road and on the cycle paths.
The slightly compact frame is very responsive and felt really nippy around the city centre. However i have decided flat mtb bars are no good for this bike as a tourer. The ride height is fine but i reckon a slightly longer/adjustable stem and drops would give a better choice of positioning.
Gear wise i doubt i will get far in single speed to be honest. Riding around as it is feels great, but i could feel that with extra weight on the bike and some inclines a few extra gears would be needed. As i have decided for drops i will have to search out a bar end shifter or two (depends if i go 9spd or more).
Just need to wait for another pay-packet to bolster the funds and this bike will be done. Until then i will keep riding it in its current form.

Oh, and the compact frame means the occasional toe rub with the front tyre. Only when steering sharply, something i will have to remember i guess.

nice project, however the photo above, with the placing of the frame next to that substantial fence plus angle of shot, has the effect of making the bike look like a child's!