Brother Kepler

Last year I really got back into cycling, but it was mainly weekend rides and starting out at HHV. I want to do some more trips and mini-adventures this year, including a cycling holiday in the Outer Hebrides with my partner in May. I'm also planning a camping trip with some forest trail riding with @TheSchwartz and @wholewheat

I've looking at the Brother Kepler for a while and the last of the navy blue ones were on sale last week so I pulled the trigger. This is my first brand new bike frame.

I've pretty much made my mind up on most of the build and it's nothing that's not been done before but I can't decide on the groupset.

I much much prefer the look of SRAM Rival 10 speed to the newer Rival 11 speed, but the 11 speed is on at a really good price on Ribble, and is actually cheaper than the 10 speed (buying it either as a group set or bargain hunting for each component individually). It feels stupid to buy an older generational groupset for more money, when presumedly it's just not as good - has anyone ridden both, or have experience with either?

Looks-wise, i've really fallen for Campagnolo Potenza, which comes with a 32t cassette, but that just seems a bit over the top for this bike.

Used Sram Rival 10spd, lovely groupset for the money, I hunted around and bought parts individually. I found Sram hoods to be comfier than Shimano. Looks like a nice frameset.
What brakes you gonna go with, canti or mini vs?

Watching this with interest as I picked up same frame. Moving my ultegra 6600 bits over from the kaffenback on mine apart from the chainset (a decidedly bog standard fsa currently)

I think mini v - it seems to be what everyone is going for nowadays.

Nice! Upload a photo when it's done.

Mine will probably take a while - I'm in no rush at the moment.

In that case, trp cx9s are bloody awesome.

Whatever SRAM stuff you go for I can strongly advise getting the newer version front derailleur with yaw, as the changes are much, much improved and it eliminates chain rub across the whole range of gears. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I believe this means that the 11-spd mech is preferable to the 10-spd mech. I'm running 10-spd Force group set but upgraded the front mech on its own, because the 11-spd Rival mech on my other bike was better than the 10-spd Force.

All other reviews seem to say that Yaw front mechs are really difficult to set up and there's rubbing.
I'm running a Red 10s on my road bike and it doesn't rub in any combination. I just cabled it up and got lucky it was perfect right away though maybe.

In which case, maybe I'm lucky that Planet X and my LBS both know how to set up mechs with yaw, but they both work more smoothly than my non-yaw one did. :)

This sounds like good advice. The front derailleur on my old 10 speed apex is probably its weakest link.

So you can run the newer yaw derailleur with the older group-set? I'll probably get my LBS to do the final cabling and set up anyway.

^^ Some of the latter generation Red 10 speed was YAW. I've ridden both and 22 is markedly better. Not encountered any FD chain rub.

The 2012 group is ten speed yaw

Thanks for the advice. Just ordered Rival 22 from Ribble - too good a price to not really.

Happy Kepler to me

The colour is really nice in real life. I was a little unsure about the blue from the pictures but I love it.

The gravel is calling...

I need a sturdy (32 or 36 spoke) 11 speed wheelset that's not too pricey. Is there anything off the peg which fits that description?

I want to run 32c initially but with the potential to go wider.

Hunt?

Sorry, I should have said originally i'm looking for 32 or 36 spokes

Something like this but 11 speed http://www.tredz.co.uk/.M-Part-Shimano-Deore-Hub-on-Mavic-A319-Rim-Complete-Wheel_35644.htm

Cycle PS Camberwell just ran me through all my options for wheels - they're a great LBS

Might go see them, my locals have blanked 2 replies I've sent to tweets.

How much was the frame in the sales?
Peed off I didn't get one but glad they still do the cantilever versions.

DT R24

I'm about 75% there with the parts now. If you have a 27.2 Thomson or Brooks C17 in good nick then let me know.

For the wheelset I'm going to get Shimano 36h hubs laced to Mavic A319 rims. Not sure whether to go with 105 or Tiagra hubs - will I notice the difference or should I just save a bit of cash?

@wildwest They were half price - but they sold out within a few hours and they only had 58cm and 60cm.

I have Tiagra hubs on my Open Pros and they've never let me down.

Have just mailed PS seeing as still had no joy from my locals - bit disappointed by that, what's the point in tweeting so often and saying how you have workshop slots open when you don't respond to replies?

Headset fitted and the wheels are being built up early next week.

Nearly there - not sure whether to go with standard King Cages or the Iris ones. Which would suit it better?