Sell my Crabon, build a steel road bike.

Excellent couple of pages with a strong realisation moment.

Ffs. 'Realisation moment'. Epiphany.

Hi new page.

The bike now has black tyres.

It looks better.

Sadly the seatpost that @aroogah had in mind for me was too girthy. Real shame as it had previously belonged to @50/14 and felt special for that reason. RIP Paul.

So it seems that this particular Columbus SLX frame takes a 26.8mm post. I have found a lovely, shiny, aero one on t'bay and should have it soon.

In other, less good news, it seems that I have bought handlebars from a company that has a reputation for reliability similar to that of David Davis. Race View Cycles...

I have re-ordered from Evans and will chase a refund with RVC. Ho-hum.

Hoping to be riding this by next weekend. Maybe by Wednesday evening.

Hilariously, the blue valve caps (and purple ones for my daughter's bike) arrived. J screwed on a blue one and it promptly seized, removing the valve core when I unscrewed it. Un-sub-fucking-scribed.

How does the braying mob feel about grey bar tape?

You ordered valve caps?
Why are you using valve caps?
You know you get some with inner tubes right? Not that they serve a purpose once fitted.

The ones that came with the tubes were bright fucking yellow. Yellow.

I have purple valve caps on my Freddie Grubb.

I like them.

I have pink ones on my plug. I like them too.

As for grey tape.

Specifically, this Deda stuff:

Christ, I just looked through porn and no one has valve caps on. I missed that memo, didn't I?

Bar tape white or black.

That is it.

I like gray bar tape, if fact I have that Deda tape in darker gray on one of my bikes.

Nicely done so far, you did well on the tyres.

If you're going Italian you might as well go the whole way and stick some white tape on. Also it would look nice with the frame.

I'm surprised nobody picked up on the Deda Murex though.

I don’t like Deda tape personally. It’s mega thick and spongey in my experience

More photos needed.

This look amazing in the flesh. The paint and chrome are pretty immaculate. It will look great when it is finished.

The aesthetics of the stem will send some of you into paroxisyms of rage.

popcornmachine.gif

This. Is. Not. The. Bike. Porn. Thread.

The looks of the murex certainly split the judges. But if you happen to be one of the camp that likes it, the removable clamp plate is a total boon.

Bar update?

But look not only does it have a weird shape, but it sports a polished finish as well. A stem should be shiny :(

I don’t like Deda tape personally. It’s mega thick and spongey in my experience

Good feedback. I don't like spongy tape so will avoid. Shame as I liked the colour.

Black OR white? You say?

Hmmmm....

Bar update?

Hedging my bets by picking up a shiny steel pair from on here, hopefully later today. Failing that, Evans will furnish me with the Deda Speciale tomorrow.

Will be chasing RVC to cancel today.

Ha.

Race View Cycles came through and my bars just arrived.

I may end up with three pairs at this rate...

I vote pink

^ this

That tape is nice but wholly impractical.

Yeah, Benotto looks so nice but I would never have it on actual bike.

Pink is an option. Obviously.