Salsa Vaya - disc-braked gravel grinding adventure-bikepacking monster cross touring super-party machine etc...

I know. I've got some. I swapped the alu freehub for a steel before I did anything. I'd rather keep the alu as the spare.

Got a couple, yours for £10 each collection from new malden

Super - have sent PM

Does anyone know if you can get cheaper 3rd party hope headset bearings, specfically HOPE HS123

Rather spend £3 than £16...

You can't really, it's cartridge bearing, not loose ball.

If you want it cheaper, buy a new headset like this Ritchey.

Got the hope headset with the bike so going to stick with it.

Exciting progress at last - chainset installed!

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Wheels are built, and should hopefully be collecting today!

I also bought a Supernova front light off German ebay, which has apparently seen almost no use.

Anyone know which model this is... he says pure E3 but the pure has no button and looks rather different...

Progress - wheels built up by Arup beautifully.

Now just to learn how to set hydraulic brakes.. :/

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Looks great!

We're getting there.

Just needs front brake sorted and bar tape on and ready to go.

Supernova e3 on route too!

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Well, that looks shit! ;-)

Taking this to bike shop to get front brake sorted. Bleeding hydraulics is beyond me...

So much fun to ride albeit slightly tank like

Get Shimano pads as well, standard is O.K. and grippy but wear too quickly.

Ok good to know.

Front brake has been sorted by Sea Bass cycles and light is apparently waiting for me at the post office.

Bar tape is also on though rather unpleasant. Super thin faux suede fizik stuff and had a strange feel and is too thin. Never mind.

A parcel is here from Germany..!

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It's built! Heavy, but a whole lot of fun!

Very nice. May have to send my bike to the powdercoaters.

Thanks - now I need to plan a trip with it...

Aye, I wouldn't mind a trip away meself. Keep toying with the idea of dragging the eldest into the Peaks and just yha it rather than camp.

Front brake problems that neither I nor the bike shop could resolve mean I'm having to send the brake off to be fixed by TRP.

Also finding the gears not very satisfying.. any tips on how to get them working more effectively would be appreciated. Just feel a bit sloppy.

You need to clarify more on the gears.

What was the problem with the brakes?

The front would move but had almost zero power. Took it to Seabass and they couldn't get it to bleed, seemed to be a blockage around the lever.. but TRP have been very helpful. Hopefully getting a repair or replacement soon.

The range of movement required to shift gears is huge, is it always going to be the case? They're the dia compe ones that supposedly have 'power-ratchet' which I thought might improve them..

Wait, you got friction shift?

If friction, shift the gear to the smallest sprocket and see how much tension the cable is under.

If it feel loose, tighten it to until it felt tight, shift up and down to see if it can go on the 11t easily, if not, slacken the cable slightly until it start to drop to 11t easily.

That's helpful, thanks.

Yep they are friction, I thought the whole power ratchet thing might make it better, but I'm not sure entirely what it's supposed to achieve...