Custom Orlowski Workhorse

^So much rep. Would love to do something like this at some point. Loving the new frame too. I could well be tempted to go a similar route in the near future.

Thanks for writing this down and sharing it. It's very inspiring as I'm currently thinking about how I manage to prepare my current bike for a big ride.

Glad you guys were able to take something from it. I had the time of my life on that trip, if you have any questions feel free to drop me a line.

is the paint powder btw?

Yeah, it's not something I specified but very happy with the finish and how well it's standing up to abuse.

any better pictures coming of this skant??

I think I just spotted this (see spotted thread). Very nice build if so.

I saw this behind Guys Hospital last week(end). It looked very nice!

any better pictures coming of this skant??
Yes, I'll try and get some this weekend.

I think I just spotted this (see spotted thread). Very nice build if so.
Thanks, yep that was me

I saw this behind Guys Hospital last week(end). It looked very nice!
Must have been Friday early eve, aye? Say hi next time

Bit late to the party but just read through this thread. So inspiring, such a great story.

Did you sell the Dolan?

Bit late to the party but just read through this thread. So inspiring, such a great story.

Did you sell the Dolan?

No I'll be keeping it. They're so cheap anyway, it fits me well and we have such a history that it doesn't seem worth selling it.

^ was hoping you'd say that, would have been such a shame to sell with all that history

Have been continuing to ride the bike a lot and am settling into it really well. Fit feels perfect apart from a slight niggle with right cleat placement but I'm getting there. Rode London to Bristol (in the rain) last week and no aches or pains developed.

Again, day-to-day set up:

Track set up and some details:






Testers' topcaps

Looks great.

Curious as to why you went with the Archetype up front rather than something with a matching profile to the rear like the SL42?

I run a Formation Face on the rear, which I love, and am looking to build a new front wheel. I need to run a break though so the FF isn't an option. Trying to decide between the SL42 & Archetype.

I agree the FF is a great rim, absolutely bombproof, it's stood up to everything I've thrown at it over the years without ever need more than minimal truing. This, though, would have me believe that it's massively overbuilt for use as a front rim (with the same 32h spoke count). Archetype's are 200g (I think?) lighter and give a nicer tyre profile, being 23mm wide as apposed to the 19mm FF.

Flo30 and A23 might also be worth looking at but the archetype rides so nicely that I'm considering relacing the rear onto one.

Are you a courier? im pretty sure i see a courier riding one of these around Grays Inn Road a a few times...

Fairly sure he is.

Are you a courier? im pretty sure i see a courier riding one of these around Grays Inn Road a a few times...

I am, and yeah that'd be me as there's only one of these

Fairly sure he is.

:)

I think I spotted this at Piccadilly Circus a couple of days ago. Bike looks really good in the flesh.

I agree the FF is a great rim, absolutely bombproof, it's stood up to everything I've thrown at it over the years without ever need more than minimal truing. This, though, would have me believe that it's massively overbuilt for use as a front rim (with the same 32h spoke count). Archetype's are 200g (I think?) lighter and give a nicer tyre profile, being 23mm wide as apposed to the 19mm FF.

Flo30 and A23 might also be worth looking at but the archetype rides so nicely that I'm considering relacing the rear onto one.

Cheers for the info, sounds like it's exactly what I'm looking for. Think i'll pull the trigger on the Archetype once I get the funds.

I am, and yeah that'd be me as there's only one of these

I think its a really nice bike, these pictures don't do it justice and your trip from Canada to Mexico sounds epic, i really enjoyed reading this thread.

I think I spotted this at Piccadilly Circus a couple of days ago. Bike looks really good in the flesh.

I think its a really nice bike, these pictures don't do it justice and your trip from Canada to Mexico sounds epic, i really enjoyed reading this thread.

Thanks! Yeah in the flesh it looks pretty special, I think anyway, but haven't quite managed to capture it in the pics…will do though, one day

Brilliant thread. All those amazing big world miles, I want to know what sort of gear ratios you were riding ? Really inspiring ... A custom frame is a privilege . You've totally earned it!

Glad it's made for enjoyable reading….I was riding 48x17 pretty much all the time. I also had a 15t cog on the other side of my hub but it was a rare occasion that I used it. Only for mountain descents really and the odd day (two over the course of a year I think) when I was sure it was gonna be flat and had big milage to be cracking on with.

In hindsight, I was over geared a lot more often than under geared, a bigger spare cog rather than smaller one would have been much more useful.

I really love this bike. It's perfect.

Trip sounds fantastic as well.

saw this at HH last week and meant to ask you about the rack mounts on a track bike...this thread explains it nicely though thanks! I look forward to the next adventure thread...

great story, new bike looks rad.