Bob Jackson Olympus (road, audax, light touring)

Hi, first project I post on here I think, just because previous builds ended up taking so little time.
This one I'd like to give a bit more consideration.
Aimof this bike is to go on road adventures, commuting on sunny days, do some hostel touring (bike-packing), even possibly make a start in long distance racing.
So comfort is a big factor, reliability also important, and I'm on a budget so willing to compromise on weight a little bit.
Sorry for the audax purists, this will not have mudgards.

So, I recently acquired this BJ frame (oversize 631 tubing, 1 1/8th external headset) together with some Columbus carbon forks.
I have an ultegra Groupset inherited from my TT bike so it's got bar-end shifters so perfect for my reliability criteria, it isn't going to be a criterium bike so shifting speed isn't an issue.

First issue:
I have a basic silver seat post that fits, It's a 27mm and ideally I'd like to fit a carbon USE post (27.2) but it doesn't fit in so I'm wondering if the frame has been over tightened on an undersize post, or is the tubing actually that size and got ta stick to my basic post and buy another one later on. Any advice on that? Does anyone else have an Olympus? What size post do you use?

2nd issue: I'm leaning towards buying and fitting a Chris King headset from mosquito bikes (Essex road), what colour should I go for, black to match the frame, or silver to match the groupset (which might change, unlike the frame obviously), got quoted 120+20 for it, would you recommend anywhere else? I want to go to the most competent guys, I'm sick of crap mechanics, and his is defo something to be done right.

I have a Thomson stem in 70mm I'd like to swap for a 100mm, again, not sure what colour to go with, silver to match groupset and therefore create a continuity with silver for all Alu parts (traditional), or go for polished black which will match the paint. Stem isn't going to be slammed, with 2cm of spacers, and the option of reversing the stem upwards for comfort when going on longer journeys.

Wheels will be some silver mavic Aksiums for now, will possibly build another set with a SON hub for lights and usb charger, and Velo orange touring hub at the back I like their tool-less integrated bearing design and not as bad looking as xt hubs, rims undecided, silver open pros maybe.

Bars: I like the salsa cowbells, the 3t ergoterras, but they are all sandblasted and I'd like polished black to match the rest, any recommendations? I would also like to possibility of fitting my aero bars so a wide clamp area would work best. Would carbon provide more comfort?

Bottle cages: stainless King cages
I already have an Archie grobag saddle pack, might get a framebag from restrap or Apidura, and a harness for a sleeping bag up front.
Pedals: shimano spds, I've been pretty happy with them so far, I'm going to stick to mtb pedals because I share them with my sscx bike and I can still walk around in them which is useful when packing light.
Tires: gatorskin in 28c, not failed me once, toured on them, not the most supple but ok for now.

Any suggestions?

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Aagh gutted I sold this!

I hope you feel it went to a good home!

Try using an eletronic caliper to see if the clamp area is deformed, anycase, you could still get the seattube reamed if you insist on using the carbon seatpost.

Considering the groupset and spacers my vote goes for all silver.

I hate electronic callipers, vernier gauge will do it, good idea, however since the clamp is integrated, it's hard to measure above the start of the slit. I think I'll just call bob Jackson, see what they spec, they don't provide the info on the site.
Spacers will be carbon, stem probably is likely to be black considering second hand part availability but we'll see, but I guess traditionally the headset was always part of the groupset so makes sense.

Subbed. I am in the market for exactly this type of do it all machine. Might go Condor instead - the olympus is a beaut tho. Looking forward to progress on this.

Silver headset

Silver headset and ask Mosquito to check the seat tube size for you. Mosquito are good and the price is fair.

I've got a 631 OS bob jackson world tour and its 27.2

would be very surprised if it differs..

Alright, thanks a bunch!

I'm on a budget...

...Chris King headset

Cane Creek 40 is all the HS anyone needs and it only comes in black, so that's two birds with one stone.

It's ugly, and King gets you the birds.
I'm on a budget as in: I'm going to use as many parts I already own as possible, and spare a bit of cash for the ones I have to buy to make it a little bit special. It's kind of like a shiny ring on your girlfriend, I expect it to stay on there for the long run.

Get a SH King, they all appear to go for around 40 to 60 notes. Mine have all been used already.

Do you still have a valid warranty though? For me that's one of the things that's important about CK headsets.

Also unless you know how the headset was installed, removed, and used/abused you have no idea how it will run in the long-term. Still seems like a lot of money when you can get perfectly decent new headsets for sub £30.

I'm unaware of a King headset failing or becoming worn out. And as it's sh no warranty but that's a no brainer no?

I just ordered it, no way back now. 😬

Next decision:
What non shifter levers?
Sram 500 (I have those on my CX bike, could swap if needed)
Shimano R400
Tectro RL340
Cane creek SCR-5
TRP RRL or RRL-SR (brakes on cross bike are TRP, so would match)

From the ones I've used Sram, Tektro and TRP, Sram hoods are the most comfortable.

I have some silver lever Tektros you can buy cheap

sram 500 are my fave, saying that, it might be nice to have silver levers - all black might look a little out of place on your (fairly) neo-retro build.

I saved a tenner by buying cane creek levers in silver, reviews are excellent so thought why not!
I went for polished black shallow drops in 46cm which is slightly wider than I would go for for slightly more leverage, control and space if I mount a bar bag.

Progress?