The Two Bicycles of Varonha.

Yeah, that was what I thought, ran 32t with a 105 before, but in some cases Shimano play safe on max gear size. Wondering if anyone had real world experience of maybe 34 or 36?

A year is more than enough time to get fit enough to stick with a 32 :p

Yeah, maybe not enough time to give up the rollies. If I was going bigger what rear derailleur would I run, 9spd mtb with 10spd dt shifters?

I'm currently running a 42t single and and a 11-32 cassette with a 105 rear road mech.. no issues..

Cheers. Looks like if my plans go ahead I'll go with 42 x 11-32, as I have most of the parts in the spares bin.

9 sp (non shadow) mtb rears should work fine with 10 speed. I've got mine on a 11-34 with road bar end shifters. Could go 11-36 I guess?

May stick with 42t x 11-32, as I have chainring, cassette and rear derailleur. Means I would only have to buy shifters, be they downtube or sti off ebay.
Good to know though, cheers.

So got meself some shifters sorted, thanks to @Joeboat .
Cranks will probably be cheap jobs from Spa cycles, wheels will be A719s on xt t780 hubs, brakes, cheap n cheerful tektro rx5 (with Koolstop pads).
Anybody know if Specialized hover bars (flared - like Sequoia bars) are available aftermarket? Can only find non flared ones. And when did cowbells become so fookin expensive?
All other parts are in the shed waiting for me to pool enough cash to buy that small shopping list above.

edit: shopping list now consists of wheels. Got a little giddy when I thought about ordering the cranks, and ordered the lot. Went for Rx6,90mm arms so should work similar to cx9s, without the looks.

So, getting money for upcoming (soonish) birthday off everyone who usually gets me stuff, that's gonna fund the wheel build from my lbs. Next items on the shopping list: bars ( may throw on deda rhm 02s I have in the parts bin), I'm considering Ritchey comp venturmax at £45, way cheaper than anything salsa are offering. Tyres: lookin for summat around 40c, knards, nanos or gravelking sk, any others I should consider?

Ordered xt mt771 11-32 10spd cassette last night (the one I had in the shed, which I thought was a sram 11-32, turned out to be 11-25, who knew I once bought full on roadie gear?).
Today been and ordered these from lbs.

And after reading several reviews these will get fitted when wheels have been purchased.

Waiting on my wheels being built by lbs, get to pick em up on 1st April. All parts fitted apart from brake cables, I found enough Jagwire outer in the shed so just need inner now.
While I'm waiting for wheels I'm having serious tyre quandaries, gravelking sk 40c are expensive, dunno about knards now, 120tpi aren't much cheaper than gravelkings, 27tpi are cheaper but heavier and schwalbe land cruisers are dirt cheap but really heavy. Anything else I should consider that's not too heavy but not gonna cost a lot? Looking for summat knobbly but half decent on road.

WTB Nano

Considered them, finally stopped pontificating over tyres and ordered the 120tpi knards yesterday, I figured they're what I original fixed on and getting other tyres based on cost, would only diminish my enjoyment of the bike.

As far as I've got, just needs wheels, tyres, gears setting up and steerer tube cutting.

Those handlebars look so much better on a bike than they do in marketing pictures!

They do. Saw pics on Ritchey website and wasn't sure, saw them on a kinesis on roadcc and they looked pretty decent, and for half the price of cowbells can't really go wrong.

Hey jontea, I wanted to ask about the rear hub you used with a problem solver on your Day One. I'm doing exactly the same thing on my Day One at the moment but was a little concerned about having a qr skewer floating about in the axle space of the problem solver and I suppose the qr also only able to hold kinda tight.
I have a few good qr hubs sitting here but was maybe gonna buy something with a solid axle. But to be honest I'd like to use up the ever growing ple of stuff in my place. The idea is to use the bike for so long distance touring eventually. What do you think? Was the problem solver/skewer fit solid? Would it be suitable for long tours?
Cheers

I used a shimano xt 10spd hub, madison allen bolt skewer and the problem solver hanger. The hanger replaces the drive side nut of the skewer, so sits squarely against the drop out, but for extra peace of mind I put the skewer nut on as well, on the outside of the hanger. It's well made, I used it for commuting and going out on all day rides, only time it could be a pain in the arse is if you happen to get loads of punctures, but if you're touring an extra minute or two while changing tubes is not too much hassle I guess.

Your problem solver replaces the drive side nut eh? Is that the 'universal' replacement hanger? I'm using the chain tug hanger with a 10mm axle slot which leaves plenty of space around the qr

But on that note I've just discovered a solid axle that fits in one of my LX hubs so problem solved ;)

Yep, I had the universal mount not the chain tug.

Wheels picked up, tyres fitted, brakes adjusted. Short (5 mile) test ride, saddle and bars adjusted, just lovely.

I've posted in wanteds, but may as well put it here. I'm after a Thomson X4 100mm, 0 ° stem, not fussed about colour, not to tatty though. Also, does anyone know where I can get my hands on the adjustable v brake noodles that come with Trp cx 9s?
Cheers in advance. Jon

Almost a month into riding the Surly, and I can honestly say I'm not missing disc brakes, and larger volume tyres are shit loads of fun, and not much slower on the road.
Took the youngest out for a ride after work this evenin, along with Mrs Tea, and now my back wheel, shoes and bartape are fooked. Some guy decided to do a u turn as I was passing him. Apparently nobody looks in their mirrors anymore, his excuse anyway, fortunately glw and littlen were a bit behind me, so only I got hit. Once the wife pulled up and he realised there were witnesses he got all apologetic, gave his phone number and name (I took his car reg just in case) and offered to pay for repairs and shoes. Fingers crossed he honours his word.

Surly is looking ace. Glad it's fun and sorry to hear of the incident. Hope you're not too sore.