Singular Osprey & Genesis Equilibrium: winter road bike build

Surly's distro, Ison, are selling through on stock of the blue Pacers and will be getting the new red model at the end of January.
Until then your best bet will be to fine a shop that's holding stock...

Mr Pink. Do it. Honestly, they're ace.

I'd go for the pink to be honest. I'd have done so if I didn't get the pacer from cake for a mere 120 quid...

Wide Open Dream Machine or the Mr Pink, either are decent bike.

The Wide Open is on the list, but it's a chunk more cash again (and the retro green colour isn't really to my taste). Though, of course, the extra cost of a PF30 bottom bracket or adaptor for the All City is going to factor into it. Speaking of which - any recommendations for a good/affordable one to fit Hollowtech II cranks?

Yep, BB30 to BSA adaptor.

It's PF30 not BB30. Any specific recommendations or should I just get the SRAM one that comes up first on Google?

Mr Pink. Do it. Honestly, they're ace.

+1 (although it's not like I've ridden one)

On paper and in the photos it's just a notch up from the Pacer; Zona main tubes, E.D. coated, hidden mudguard bosses, internal brake cable, nicer paint job.

I've wanted one as an allrounder since they first came out.

there's one to aspire to

Yeah, I think the Mr Pink is winning if there are no 56cm Pacers left.

This to my eyes looks like a better engineering solution than screwing a HT2 BB into threaded plastic cups: http://wheelsmfg.com/bb-pf30-universal-adapter-for-shimano-cranks.html

Anyone actually have any experience of running HT2 cranks on a BB30/PF30 frame?

The clearance actually look more impressive than the Surly, look like 28c with mudguard is possible after all.

Actually, why not go for the Genesis Equilibrium?

edit - scratch that, £400 with carbon fork, £550 for disc version and £750 for 853.

The Equilibrium's alright but I absolutely detest the cream colour they've painted them this year. From a purely aesthetic point of view I don't like the sloping top tube either. The 853 one looks lovely though, I'd consider one of those if the budget stretched that far.

nah i reckon you should buy my pacer.

:)

Ta for the offer. I has budget for a new frame though… I considered a stopgap second-hand build and then getting a red Pacer in February but I think I just can't be arsed to completely dismantle and rebuild the bike after only three months.

Looks the best solution to me but where can I buy one? PX are out of stock.

If you are after Pacer, give Sideways Cycles in Alsager a call. Definitely does Surly, but as to wether he has a pacer in stock, in your size? Can't hurt though.

Brixton normally have Surlys in stock too no?

A fair point, but I don't recall seeing many of their frames, just a selected few that was ordered from ISON.

Worth giving them a call, but the All-City Mr. Pink look awesomer.

Forget one more thing to add - the Mr. Pink have a whopping 30mm longer headtube than the Surly Pacer despite the Surly's BB is 2mm lower, might be an issue if your fit is long and low.

The taller headtube on the Mr Pink is fine, in fact it suits me as I'm "sizing down" (in terms of my height) to get the top tube length I want. The press-fit BB seems silly though. I don't really know why you'd bother on a steel frame.

Just waiting to hear back from a couple of places re: the Pacer.

i guess its cos pf30 is backwards compatible as well as compatible with modern stuff, and lighter i think?

Oh it's those old wives tales of meeting the consumer's demand.

i guess its cos pf30 is backwards compatible as well as compatible with modern stuff, and lighter i think?

It started with being able to get bigger bearings in the frame, so that you could have a bigger axle, but mostly it's a cheaper standard to implement because the frame tolerances are more lax. Unfortunately the BBs seem to die a lot quicker. And I don't particularly want either a) a plastic shell to screw a proper BB into or b) to have to buy a King BB just to get some longevity on a winter bike.

Reconsidering the Wide Open again now. Actually pleasantly surprised about the way it looks with black parts:

[strike]Can it take road calipers? Or are you happy with cantis or v-brakes?[/strike]

The noodle thing confused me, they are calipers in the photo, doh!