Golfwangs 2015 853 Rat Racing Bike

Hey guys

I'm going to be building a relatively inexpensive racing bike for 2015(mainly because if i'm involved in a crash in my first season, I don't want to be sat crying after snapping a carbon frame etc etc)

So my idea is to slightly upgrade my current road bike with a few bits here and there to help me train over the winter but also compete in the new year.

This is how the bike has looked for the past year:

And the frame stripped of parts:

So currently my plan is to make something on a not so extensive budget but suitable enough for racing and i'll be using parts that I have kicking around or cheap ebay finds. 1 inch carbon fork on there, old ultegra groupset on its way with a dura ace chainset, -17 degree stem etc...

The bike is sat in my office looking like this:

(these aren't the wheels i'll have on there)

Updates: What arrived today + started mocking up

4 Attachments

Excuse crappy saddle for the moment...

I like it! Too many people get caught up in building flash bikes and agonising over component choice before they've even entered their first race. I like this approach.

I guess the only place you should look at spending money is tyres as they'll give you the grip and confidence in a race situation.

Thanks man! Yeah, I eventually want something flashy but at the level I'll be competing I don't really see the point.

Just out there to have fun

Super frame. I'd love to own a Raleigh 853. I love my 2 Raleigh 531 frames - very comfortable and such a forgiving ride. Good luck with the build

Really great frame, i'll contact you when i'm getting rid of it

Everything arrived yesterda, forgot to take a picture...

Ultegra Group + Headset and off it goes to the bike shop...

What TRA said, like your approach to this and it's going to look plenty good without new and bling stuff on it.

Thanks man!

Looking forward to seeing this; quality, skinny, steel with well selected modern components is a winner

Thanks man, bike shop say i'll have it back monday.

Much Excite

Lovely frame, I had a Dawes like this but with webbed lugs, nice and stiff. I have never raced, but I enjoy thrashing my beater on laps of the parks and seeing where gains can be made (if not solely to pass crabon junkies). I offer you my experience from the past year of cycling, so take it with a pinch of salt;

My bike is 80s steel 531c with old campy parts, all on their last legs but still functioning. Best areas for spending money and getting better results are the ones you don't see. Getting a cassette and chain rings with the right ratios for laying down your specific power range is crucial imho. Then pedal/shoe combo; speedplay >> standard cleats I have found recently, made me far more confident in accelerating. If the frame is your size then I'd really recommend buying £10 saddles on ebay and getting your position perfected on hoods and drops, trying each one for a few miles. I thought my fizik was great and didn't need altering but I swapped about a bit and now ride a 90s cinelli which allows me to float like I didn't think possible. Then brake pads! Forget what callipers you have as it's just marketing, I got a set of swisstop pads for £12 and being able to brake late is a far bigger advantage than bling, could save you quite a bit over a whole race if it's winding roads. When it comes to race day put your savings into tubes and tyres, not wheels.

"Quick Ginger, we haven't a moment to lose!"

Woah...

Power post.

Awesome, thanks for the help man!! Definitely some great insight

#rep

@conquistador great attitude to riding bikes fast. Nice.

Love this. Hope you smash up the racing next season and embarrass a load of twats on 5k bikes. #rep.

Get a cheap set of Shimano factory built RS11s, decent tyres and latex tubes and you'll have a wheelset that's realistically as fast as anything else out there.

Thanks man!

I've got a rear RS11 just need to get the front... What tyres are classed as decent? Especially for racing and training over the winter

Vittoria Open Corsa CX are pretty much the reference race tyre. Corsa SCs (gumwall) would look great on this, but are no faster and more expensive. Get 25c if you've got the clearance.

For winter, Schwalbe Duranos or Vittoria Paves if you're a tart who doesn't like slow tyres.

Really refreshing post from @conquistador there. Nice to see how this progresses.

Getting a cassette and chain rings with the right ratios for laying down your specific power range is crucial imho. Then pedal/shoe combo...

^ truth. These are things I really notice on the limit.

Perhaps this is a stupid question but how do you go about measuring that? Do you want to be tracking your wattage across a number of different ratios?

What tyres are classed as decent?

Pro Race 4 keep appearing on offer for £20. Add the Michelin latex tube and that's fast and cheap.

Ride fucking fast in a race and see if you like the gearing.

same terrain/loop + heart rate + speed + cadence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B2bu8uHyMc