Roberts 853 Audax

Will take a look at that option, thanks. I will need your mudguard advice later, but I am not ready for that yet.

SKS Longboard, nuff said

Well that's £30 savings into the Royce fund then! (was looking at those PDW ones)

PDW look awesome, but the SKS Longboard is longer and been around for a while to know it'll work well.

Therefore get the PDW.

My main concern with PDW is how big a tyre I can fit. From what I read it seemed like anything bigger than a 23 will be a squeeze.

Most reports indicated that a 25mm would probably be the max size you can fit.

British audax bike have tight clearance to begin with anyhow, so 28c would be a tight fit with normal mudguard on it.

I figured I would get it built/rolling then fit 23mm tyres and the PDWs and see how much room I have left. I don't want to put tractor tyres on there, but a little flexibility would be nice.

Rear hub: Ambrosio. Nice, and quiet. Front hub: Shimano dynamo.

You know it makes sense.

I have build two wheelset with the Ambrosio hubs (700c & 650b), they're quieter than the Hope but it still emitted a slight buzz enough to annoyed the girlfriend.

Great looking hubs thought.

I don't want to put tractor tyres on there, but a little flexibility would be nice.

You'll get lower rolling resistance with bigger tyres and the additional bonus of comfort.

Quite a good deal on a 105 triple:

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/.Shimano-105-5700-Triple-Groupset-OE-_129778.htmv

I came across a full 2013 Force groupset with a Red Black crankset that I think can be had for 550GN. Pretty tempted by that tbh.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread116121.html
For 40£ more...

The Red look great, be wary as the SRAM calipers have slightly less mudguard clearance than Shimano, but seeing that JB managed well with mudguard and 28mm on his Surly, it possible.

I recall looking on the SRAM web site and they don't even publish the drop on their calipers, though I read elsewhere they are 49mm like everyone else's. And of course the PDW mudguards seem to need little clearance anyway.

If you want metal fenders (PDW), lots of people here have recommended Gilles Berthouds in the past, I'm more into Chromoplastics myself. They come in white! Great hi-vis choice.

I already have a ratty white pair of Bluemel Club Specials in the back hallway I could put on there ....

Awesome, if they're complete - use em!

The hardware is rough, maybe could get new mounting hardware. I'll post up a pic of their condition over the weekend. I always thought metal/silver would look nice on this though with the Roberts painted that silver metallic.

Get Berthoud hardware from SJS to replace the stay, not only they're sturdier but lighter too.

Given how shiny and new everything else will be, these are a bit ratty, no? I like the Club Specials as much as anyone else, but I think these will be more appropriate on something else.

+1

Yup, those Bluemels would be perfect on a vintage road/path frame. In other news, groupset ordered. One of the discount web sites was offering an extra 10% off everything this weekend, which brought 105 down to 360 quid and Ultegra to 500. So I did the right thing and ordered Sram. Force. With the Red Black chainset. Because I am a tart. (actually I have Sram on my nice road bike and I like the way it works)

Pretty sure I will end up with a black B17 instead of this.

Pretty sure I will end up with a spesh phenom pro instead of this.

ftfy

Get Berthoud hardware from SJS to replace the stay, not only they're sturdier but lighter too.

Still haven't seen a pic of this in action.

Two stays on sks > single stay on GB. SKS flex in the middle too much to just use a single stay so ... show me.