Skinny goes Touring. Bike and gear.

This? http://www.wiggle.co.uk/jagwire-kit-road-elite-sealed-brake-cable/

Road will not have a long enough housing for disc brakes (we sell the same one at work).

The MTB version does;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/jagwire-ripcord-mtb-brake-cable-kit/

But this one sound right for you;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/jagwire-kit-extra-long-racer-brakegear/

One review seemed spot on about the XL Racer Kit;

I just changed discs calipers and all cables on a Genesis Croix de Fer and the (mech) disc brakes are now MUCH better than they ever have been. In fact I never thought the brakes were too good on this bike until now. So thanks Jagwire (and Avid).

Thumbs up for Jagwire's racer xl kit above. Damn good stuff.

Bb7 seems real good. So can't imagine how trp would be a big step
Up.

And yeah jagwire MTB/ripcord. Though the inners will need to be changed as their MTB style not road fitting.

Ta, thanks :)

New bartape, the new squishy lizard skin like fizik. It's okay, annoying to wrap as there is a ridge in it, not 100%. A lot thicker than normal, but I found the ride a bit harsh and wanted something with a bit more give, plus I never use gloves unless it's cold.
I also cut up extra tape and put it under the hoods to double layer over the hard hood bit, so it's a bit softer.

New bottles cages, these ones are really good. Best I've used.

New cable outers.

I sense it needs gumwalls to set it off really. Hmm. And maybe a mad paintjob from Armourtex. And maybe new bars, still not convinced on ergonovas.

That bar angle looks a bit wonky to me, maybe try to adjust them before changing bars?
Lovely looking bike, i almost bought one myself..

Bar angle is fine, it's just an illusion as they're at a slight tangent due to leaning against the wall.

It's more that in order to be in the right position on the hoods, I need the shifter higher than where I'd like it to be in the drops.

tbh it looks like its off. the upper part should be horizontal (horizontal plane with brake lebers) and underpart of the hbar pointing to the brake bridge.

what this means though you lose the horizontal part of the of the underpart which i like so much on for example the giro d'italia bends.

ritchey has a bar that seems to combine all: short reach, horizontal plane with btake levers and loner horizontal part of the underpart. the model's called neoclassic.

once i sell some of my stuffs that first on the wanted list.

excuse the horrible syntax; im being hamfisted on my phone.. i hope you do get the point though

annoying to wrap as there is a ridge in it

Haven't you wrapped that the wrong way? If you'd started from the other end of the tape, the ridge would be on the 'open' side of the wrap and wouldn't get in the way of itself, iyswim.

Whichever way around you wrap it, it get's in the way.

Shake down went well. That fizik tape is nice, I'd rate it for good grip and comfort.

The ride is still a bit jarring. Maybe it's the straight steel fork.

http://www.strava.com/activities/170343330

and lasts just a few days.

Or 3 months on my last tour...

edit: and still going strong.

Whichever way around you wrap it, it get's in the way.

Like this, the padded ridge doesn't interfere with any overlap.

Ah that looks better. I did look at a pic of it wrapped that way around but it still interfered.

In fairness on the drops it's really neat, just the tops due to having to cross at an angle coming around the corner.

Things have stepped up a gear for 2014 tour.

"Touring is for old people"
-skinny, 2013.

I'm old!(er)

What's different?

105 and fork I think, just need HY/RD and he can descend at full speed.

Yeah ed got it.

I reckon BB7 will do. Can brake with one finger. Plus easy to fix it goes wrong!

Saw this in real life....real nice.

Added a front rack for sleeping bag/tent. And a 3rd bottle cage to keep my reputation of top water drinker up.

I also ordered an Alpkit bivi, because, looking at the temperatures in france and the lack of rain. I doubt I'll be bothered to put the tent up, I'll just sleep in the bivi and stare at the stars!!

I'm getting so tempted to do something similar to this.