The "do everything" tank - Surly LHT

They're great but don't overload it.

Probably putting a San Marco Rolls saddle on this too, just cos I get on with it so much (long rides with padded shorts, shorter rides without, polo), unless I follow any potential suggestions of similar shaped saddles that are more comfortable for hours of riding?

#brooks-o-phobe

This front rack also looks quite light

Probably putting a San Marco Rolls saddle on this too, just cos I get on with it so much (long rides with padded shorts, shorter rides without, polo), unless I follow any potential suggestions of similar shaped saddles that are more comfortable for hours of riding?

#brooks-o-phobe

brooks bro

The best tyres are free. I've got a pair of little used tan wall Paselas in 37mm you can have if you want.

repped. thanks for meeting!

Headset also arrived, but it's missing the crown race and the seller just chucked in some random alu one. Gonna try and resolve that otherwise have to find one.

Gutted I missed out on this frame. If you ever decide it's not for you...

noted. :)

another small part that I found in my parts drawer. They're Campag, but so what.

This front rack also looks quite light

What rack is that? Vavert Advancer?

Headset also arrived, but it's missing the crown race and the seller just chucked in some random alu one. Gonna try and resolve that otherwise have to find one.

I used a random one on my Principia road bike and it wasn't all that great.
They didn't sit perfectly and it felt loose. I caved in and bought an offical ck jobbie and it was fine after that.

What rack is that? Vavert Advancer?

not sure I'm afraid, doesn't seem so though.

SRAM Rival compact chainset is down to £107 at Wiggle... hmm....

and it comes with bb

yep

My build list for this would be

• SRAM S500 levers
  
• Microshift bar end shifters
  
• SRAM S300 / Rival Cranks
  
• SRAM X5 long cage
  
• Front mech of your choice
  
  

This is looking quite likely actually.

Front mech could be a 28.6mm band on Rival, and swap out the S500 levers for Tektro V levers. XT V brakes and a medium cage rear derailleur with a 11-34t cassette giving a low gear of 34/34 or 27.3 GI up to 50/11 or 124.2 GI with 37c tyres and 172.5mm cranks.

Talk to me about the Microshift bar end shifters.. why those over Shimano/Sram?

Any cheap front merch you can find, you don't need to match it as the front shifter are friction-only.

This is looking quite likely actually.

Front mech could be a 28.6mm band on Rival, and swap out the S500 levers for Tektro V levers. XT V brakes and a medium cage rear derailleur with a 11-34t cassette giving a low gear of 34/34 or 27.3 GI up to 50/11 or 124.2 GI with 37c tyres and 172.5mm cranks.

Talk to me about the Microshift bar end shifters.. why those over Shimano/Sram?

cheap and black

Same price and just as black as Dura Ace? Or am I searching wrong?

There's more than one model, check the microshift website.

noted. :)

another small part that I found in my parts drawer. They're Campag, but so what.

just a warning about those, I had a pair on a winter bike and within a couple of months both adjusters had sheared off, the shimano ones are alot better quality

This is looking quite likely actually.

Front mech could be a 28.6mm band on Rival, and swap out the S500 levers for Tektro V levers. XT V brakes and a medium cage rear derailleur with a 11-34t cassette giving a low gear of 34/34 or 27.3 GI up to 50/11 or 124.2 GI with 37c tyres and 172.5mm cranks.

Talk to me about the Microshift bar end shifters.. why those over Shimano/Sram?

Maybe a slight change of plan due to winning a badly listed Sram Force chainset for £45. It's not compact and comes with 53 39 rings.

That gives 131.6 GI max and 29.6 GI minimum if I use an 11-36 cassette instead. I don't think the difference of 2.3GI between 34-34 and 39-36 will be that noticeable! Definitely won't be needing it in London :D

29.6 is doable, the only thing you'll notice is the larger jump between each cog;

11-32 = 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, 32
11-34 = 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 23, 26, 30, 34

what about 12-36 9 speed? Deore are reduced from £45 to £19 at CRC

12 - 14 - 16 - 18 - 21 - 24 - 28 - 32 - 36

i.e. +2+2+2+3+3+4+4+4 vs +2+2+2+2+2+3+4+4

The 36t Deore cassette weighs as much as a small moon.

So does the frame.