Tricross SS

Been after one of these for a while, years in fact ;)

Here's where Im at!

Incidentally, Im going to give it some TLC so id like to replace the steel frame protectors pictured below, you wouldnt know where I might get some of these? Mr Specialized says no.

Im using this as inspiration :)

I've always really liked and wanted one of these. Are you going to keep the forks?

As it's naked, is there any chance you could weigh it?

As for the inserts, as they're a simple shape it shouldn't be too hard to have some made up. Alternatively you could turn them back to front.

What's wrong with steel bits? I've got some off an old Langster, but I can't remember what sort of condition they're in.

I assume he just wants new ones rather than the slightly chewed ones on there.

Personally I don't think they look that bad or will be noticeable once a wheel is in.

Word.

Ceeway will have something to suit I would imagine.

I've always really liked and wanted one of these. Are you going to keep the forks?

As it's naked, is there any chance you could weigh it?

As for the inserts, as they're a simple shape it shouldn't be too hard to have some made up. Alternatively you could turn them back to front.

Keeping the fork yeah, I would have weighed it but its off to the powder coater's at the minute. Its light though, should hopefully build up into a lightweightish bike. Been trying to source some inserts, not given up yet. I did try Ceeway but they never replied will try again.

Bits are arriving!

Planning to stealth the lot, de logo everything, I know its a fairly well worn approach but its an itch Id like to scratch.
Frame is still at powder coat and will be flat black, decals will be white, everything else will be blacked out.

Just need wheels..

Ive gone for a 42-18 not sure if its going to be right. Im not planning anything other than tootling about on it.

I love mine , they really are good fun. Looking forward to seeing this after powder coating , been thinking of getting mine done .

Rainy day means logos must die. Where they're laser etched I have to settle for covering them with black vinyl not ideal but save for repainting its the best I can do. The seatpost graphic is captured under the lacquer not sure what to do there....

Would like to go for white saddle,tape and cables nice contrast against the sea of black.

Frame back today. I stickered it up with some ebay jobbies, not bad but cut vinyl. Id prefer them to be captured under a lacquer but this is meant to be a budget build so it'll do. Will need the bb threads chased :(

Happy enough with the finish although wanted a really matt finish..

S-Works decal can >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I think it looks pretty cool; should just be bigger tbh

I think it would be cool if it was an S-Works.

I like Singlecrosses, the fact they are made by Spesh is the only thing wrong with them so - too me - pretending it's an S-Works is all kinds of wrong.

Colour's good though, and the stealth job on the components is going to look great I think.

What's wrong with spesh (genuine question)?

Well, unless it's something rare or limited (or a genuinely interesting build), I guess it suggests an OTP bike and little imagination. This is probably why you never see bikes like Treks or Giants in the porn thread (you watch, archival rare Giant & Trek coming to a porn thread near you).

I don't mind the S-Works thing (because, let's face it, Specialized have happily re-badged a standard frameset as S-Works before now), but if you're gonna bother doing it custom then I think plain white is a missed opportunity. Even the Rapha Continental builds had more flair than that, and those were aimed at the sort of guy that thinks wearing bright underwear under his Gieves & Hawkes is a bit rakish.
You don't have to go the whole Garret Chow, but please...

also double check the forks were not subject to a safety recall

What did you use to de logo the stem?

What's wrong with spesh (genuine question)?

They're a big (evil?) corporation.
They're a bit boring/unimaginative.
They built their name from good quality, well designed, forward thinking bikes then threw it all away in the name of profit (far from alone in this I know).
They're very indicative of the "you need a carbon racer with DI2 to commute to work" culture perpetuated by the UK's cycle industry.
The down tube barrel adjusters are always seized on them - indicative of the type of rider that buys them and the type of use they get.
They used an indecipherable combination of shite quality headset components for a while meaning that once the original shit the bed it was mission impossible to remove the old one and clean everything up adequately and virtually impossible to get a properly fitting replacement.

What's wrong with spesh (genuine question)?

Cafe Roubaix.

Keep it coming :D

What did you use to de logo the stem?

this

It was paint stripper for the logos.

I like this project!

I think the cranks are going to look a bit weak though, these kind tend to even on steel frames.

Looks like a good project. I wish I had money and time to spend on mine making it how I'd like it but I don't unfortunately so it must be rehomed.
Good luck with the rest of the build and I look forward to seeing it completed!

4 Days Ago 10:13
mechanical_vandal
They used an indecipherable combination of shite quality headset components for a while meaning that once the original shit the bed it was mission impossible to remove the old one and clean everything up adequately and virtually impossible to get a properly fitting replacement.

Funny you should mention that. I stripped the headset for powder coating and was surprised to find ball and cage bearings! After a bit of Googling it seems;

'According to Specialized, the Mindset (listed as a “Specialized integrated headset with cage bearings” in the specs on my 2010 Tricross and as a “Mindset” in others) is a proprietary headset and can only be ordered through an authorized dealer.

Aye, right.

The head tube is, I discovered, machined according to the Cane Creek IS41 standard, but rather than the drop-in cartridge bearings, a set of cups of the same dimensions are pressed in and hold a set of cage bearings much like a traditional headset. Why the fuck they didn't just use the IS41 cartridge bearings in the first place I don't know.

Anyway hammer in hand. Simply drift out the pressed in cups for the aforementioned cages;

The offenders,

Leaving you with the machined recess for your cartridge bearings;

Then drop in any pair of cartridge bearings which fit the Cane Creek standard (45/36, 41.2mm OD, 6.5mm high)

Steering is now shit hot, and if I need to replace bearings it'll be a piece of piss.

Yaaas.