M_V's multitude of bikes and adventures in the land of framebuilding

Not done a current project thread yet as I mostly just switch parts about between already built bike but I sold a camera at the weekend and splashed out on a Surly 1x1 frame as I've always wanted one so thought I'd do a thread for it.

Probably need some advice too.

Frame,

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Surly-1x1-frame-set-single-speed-fixie-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/e-oAAOxyOJxSNdlu/$T2eC16F,!zUFIclWd0(6BSNdltp,lQ~~60_12.JPG

I've also bought a chainset (was going to go with an Alfine FC-S500 but couldn't find the double guard version that works with 73mm bb width),

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Shimano-XT-M760-cranks-singlespeed-Renthal-/00/s/MTA2OFgxNjAw/z/8BcAAOxysJxSPYnG/$(KGrHqN,!nsFItNGZHN+BSPYnFv!6w~~60_12.JPG

And a wheelset I'm not entirely convinced was a good idea,

http://www.onza.com/ebay/onzaronnienreggeybl2.jpg

Link

They were cheap, are singlespeed ready and I hope should be a good mix of light and strong but not sure about the massive holes in the rims.

I'm hoping a sturdy rim tape will see them work ok at non-trials pressures.

The rim widths are 32mm front and 38mm rear so I'm thinking nice wide tyres, I have a set of Bontrager Hank tyres that I'll chuck on to start with and I'll also get some knobblies at some point.

Bit worried about brake clearance though, I fancied cantis for retro grouchienes (and cheapness) but I think the straddle cable would cut down tyre clearance?

Not even convinced Vs will be much better.

I have a Thomson stem and a Pig headset coming off my fixed bike so those will be going on. Stem is 25.4 so need a set of suitable bars. Was thinking maybe On One Mary style but PX don't have them in black 25.4, there's some similar ones on ebay though so might go with them,

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/GLOSS-BLACK-XLC-BIKE-CITY-COMFORT-TREKKING-HANDLEBARS-BARS-NEW-/00/s/MTQxWDUwMA==/z/9cEAAMXQLs5RqGvE/$T2eC16F,!y8E9s2fjFN3BRqGvFF7U!~~60_12.JPG

I can't figure out, did you get the disc version of the hubs? If so def. go for discs!

very nice frame btw. I own a 1x1 aswell, love it to bits:)

Looks nice man! Will those wheels not be more susceptible to punctures from those big holes? or something...

I can't figure out, did you get the disc version of the hubs? If so def. go for discs!

very nice frame btw. I own a 1x1 aswell, love it to bits:)

Ah sorry, no I got the non disc ones. There's no disc tabs on the frame or forks.
Looking forward to the 1x1, it's been yonks since I had any kind of mtb.

Looks nice man! Will those wheels not be more susceptible to punctures from those big holes? or something...

Only if the rim tape can't hold the tube back from bulging through the holes.

It seems a lot of fat bikes are running similarly drilled rims but there I think low tyre pressures are the norm.

I think I can run 2 rim tapes on each wheel so might do that.

Ah sorry, no I got the non disc ones. There's no disc tabs on the frame or forks.
Looking forward to the 1x1, it's been yonks since I had any kind of mtb.

Oh didn't even notice that, I thought all 1x1s came with disc + V options. What's the production year?

Dunno, eBay listing didn't give it. Might ask seller if he knows.

I reckon it must be pretty old that it's pre disc mount.

Actually, I'm talking out my arse. Listing says seller was the original purchaser and bought it in 2000.

Wheels arrived, fitted one set of rim tapes and the Hanks and inflated to 20psi on the gauge of my Topeak Joe Blow and obviously it'll be different once they're on the bike but they feel like they wouldn't need too much more. No trouble with rim tape or tube bulging through the holes. Just got cheap crap tubes in for now, might invest in a couple heavier weight ones which I imagine will expand less too.

Wheels feel really nice and light, pretty impressed by the finish and the build, on that note, I emailed the seller yesterday to ask about getting some rim tapes if they hadn't sent my wheels. He replied saying they were currently being built and he'd chuck tapes in the box. Iwas pretty surprised at the wheels being handbuilt, at the price I assumed they'd be machine built.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/mechanikal_vandal/photo2_zps9f23b418.jpg

I rummaged in the parts box and found an Alpina post that I hope will be the right size and a pretty ratty old Kashimax Five Gold. I know the Five Gold has a rep as an arse hatchet (I've experienced this on my track bike) but I'm hoping that in a more upright position I find it more agreeable.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/mechanikal_vandal/photo1_zpsd404c25f.jpg

Also found some Avid V levers but might need other levers since I've bought some LX cantis. I'm going to try them with the Hank tyres and see what clearance is like.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/mechanikal_vandal/image_zps2c09875f.jpeg

Pedals will probably switch between these,

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/mechanikal_vandal/image1_zps2b1a5461.jpeg

and bmx style flats. I prefer plastic flats to metal ones as they seem to have plenty grip but are a bit less destructive to shins if/when you do slip.

I've just put Eastern Crown pedals on my polo bike so will see how they go and maybe pick up another pair.

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Eastern-Crown-BMX-Pedals-Various-Colours-/00/s/MTA2NFgxNjAw/z/Y9UAAMXQKQhRGmPw/$(KGrHqVHJEIFENdbe2zoBRGmPvDL3!~~60_12.JPG

this is going to be a nice little runaround!

Haven't updated this in a while as the frame was taking forever to arrive.

I did get knobbly tyres (Conti RaceKings), bars (I got the XLC Trekking bars in but didn't like them so went with a Funn riser from CRC. Only available in white but only a tenner so I got them and wrapped them in leccy tape), brakes (LX cantis) and cables (pink Clarks kit).

Frame finally came in today - delays only partially sellers fault, MyHermes are useless cunts by the way - but there was a problem,

Frame was exceedingly well packaged and there was bits of flaky paint on the damaged area so I'm confident this has happened while the frame has been in the care (pah!) of the useless cunts at MyHermes.

Seller is being decent and giving me a partial refund. 10 minutes or so with a hammer and various other implements got it looking good and the headset I'm using (FSA Pig) has steel cups so I just whacked that in and all seems to be fine.

Spent the rest of the afternoon finishing it off and…

Cantis clear the 2.2 Race Kins with ease. The rear ones sit quite far apart due to the 38mm wide rim so I used a straddle cable and hanger on it instead of the Shimano link wire.

Rode it round to the shops and it feels like a monster truck! Probably because the biggest tyre I've ridden in the last 5 years + would be about 32c.

Looks really good. How do you find the wheels?

So far they seem really good. I've pumped the tyres up to a good 50psi now and there's still no problem with the rim tape bulging through. Not sure how they'll take to getting muddy right enough.

Expensive lesson, always check you've tightened your pedals up not just finger tightened them in.

Fraaaak!

looks nice man - how much was the frame??

With the refund for the dented HT, just a hair over £100.

With the refund for the dented HT, just a hair over £100.

Oh man! I'll have to keep my eye out for one!

Deore cranks fitted, stripped XTs on ebay and got a bid already so looks like I'll get some money back from them at least.

Deore's fit the colour scheme better anyway.

Took it out yesterday with the flats on and again today with clipless and it's so much better riding off road with clipless.

Off road is definitely better with clipless, until you're on something steep and technical and need to get a foot down quick... Have you got any metal platform pedals with pins? I'm certain they'd be much grippier than those plastic ones.

I have a set of V8s on one of my other bikes but I think I'll stick with the clipless for the time being at least. Probably need better shoes for off-road, only got Giro skate style ones at the mo.

Guess I could/should have been updating this as the 1x1 has been a bit of an ongoing project.

I fitted Time's which were hugely better than the flats.

I changed the brakes around on my polo bike and ended up with an HS33 spare so fitted that to the Surly and changed the bars out for some Humpbert comfort(?) style bars.

Saddle has also been changed by this point to a Turbo bought from here.

I kept drooling over fat bikes but don't have the money (nor do I think fat stuff is actually worth what's currently being charged for it) so I decided to try and fatten the Surly up a bit.

I found a barely used 2.7 Big Earl tyre for sale on Retrobike so bought that but when I fitted it it rubbed the booster on the HS33. I'd already had to buy a wider booster to accommodate the wide rims I'm using so I knew it'd be unlikely I'd find anything that would work with the tyre any better so I put the canti back on the front.

Going back to the canti meant I wasn't limited to flat bar levers and I had a set of Midges I'd been itching to try on the Surly so on they went along with a set of Middleburn cranks and Uno ring from eBay - the Renthal ring was showing signs of wear and I needed cranks for my speedway bike so buying the Middleburns kinda killed two birds with one stone.

I felt that my weight was a bit far forward on the Midges so started looking for a steep stem in 25.4. Not much out there that isn't cheap crap then I stumbled upon the last 25.4 Control Tech DirectConnect stem on CRC. I loved Ordinata's use of this stem so snapped it up.

Thankfully the new stem improved the position and weight distribution tremendously - thankfully as if it hadn't there'd be nothing to detract from how eye bleedingly ugly the stem is!

I'd been spinning the rear wheel a bit in the mud so was thinking again about tyres. I new I could squeeze more in the front and reckoned the 2.7 would just fit in the back (I offered it up fitted to the front wheel when I first got it). I knew of the Duro Leopard 26x3 and while at about £36 it was a lot cheaper than a true 'fat' tyre it'd still be an expensive mistake if it indeed did not fit in the fork.

Then at the weekend I saw a 26 x 3 Gazzalodi on eBay, managed to make it mine for a little over a fiver.

It arrived an hour or so ago.

It does fit in the fork and the 2.7 just fits in the back, I've ordered a ½ link to move the wheel back so the tyre will sit at a point in the stays that's a little wider.

Finished now…?

Fat

also phat

But i bet it rides like your dragging a torso?!

Nice looking bike mate. I used to have the Surly Moonlander. I miss that bike