Shonky Titanium Timetrialling

A few weeks ago I was very generously gifted a Litespeed Saber TT frame from @|³|MA3K ... it's had a bit of history on the forum after investigating ( @Canaidan @eyebrows ) but essentially it has a repaired chainstay and the NDS BB shell thread is damaged.

The frame is too good to bin so my plan is to build it up very cheaply and go timetrialling. If the BB thread isn't salvageable then I can fit a square taper for damaged bb shells but want to at least try. First job was getting the BB shell retapped by my LBS for £15. I'll keep costs listed here as a motivation to minimise spending, they said it would probably be okay with some Loctite on the NDS thread... so we'll see.

In the interest of keeping spending down I'll be borrowing some inappropriate wheels from my Moser (H-Plus SON TB14's) and if the bike holds up/I enjoy the whole thing faster wheels might be sourced in time.

Any of the resident TT-heads feel try to chip in, all advice welcome.

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Moar

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Looking forward to seeing it built (and used).

Ditto.

Good looking frame even with the repairs.

@|³|MA3K @eyebrows @Dexter Cheers guys.
Everyone's favourite cheap but decent headset fitted (M-Part Elite)

• BB retapping £15
  
• M-Part Elite headset £20
  - Total £35
  

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sub'd

Can do you a powertap rear wheel and Raltec carbon disc covers for a good price :)

Thanks for the offer but want to try and keep the costs very low for this one. He foolishly said.

The seatpost had some issues with the clamp but look to have sorted them hopefully, stole the saddle off the Brompton and found a fitting carbon bottle cage in the shed so small victories.

Next step will be trying to find an Oval Concepts fork which will be my one indulgence as always wanted one, and a TT bar set-up. Hopefully I'll get more for my money if I find bars, exentions, levers etc all together 2nd hand.

Good thread. Always interesting to see a fellow relative novice tester.

I did my first "full" season this summer and learned a lot - notably that I found fixed more fun.

I had sworn off screens, but one time I borrowed a bike with a Garmin on and found that really useful. No idea about aero shit. I just buy stuff that looks fast if I can afford it. What else?

I actually put more effort into finding and scouting out local club 10s. I guess it's part of the history of the sport, but they don't exactly make this info easy to find.

End of ramble - AMA.

Single ring?

'Novice' being the key word here ;) Only done 2 TT's before a few years ago although the nauseous feeling immediately afterwards is still quite vivid. That and being told 'We thought you got lost' by the timekeeper... got to love local clubs encouraging young riders.

Personally I've always wanted a fixed TT bike as they do look mean but my local 10 has a long incline and don't think I've ever seen a fixed rider, so possibly not suitable.

Single ring?

I 'd presumed double as the frame has a brazed front mech mount, but single would be in-keeping with budget TTing and also fine for the local 10?

More aero too! You should be able to pick up a cheap 54t narrow wide (or 50t if you're concerned about your bottom gear) for China. 11-28 cassette should be fine too.

I'd be considering 130bd square taper cranks for potential low-q factor fiddling, and cheapness.

Good point, I'd personally moved away from square taper with my builds but useful to know they still have a place. A 50t ring might be the way forward what with the course and also making the bike more appealing to train on. Will look into what external bb/square taper chainsets share BCD so can keep the chainring if my BB falls out on the first lap.

What gearset are you looking at?

Not sure. Maybe a 5800 rear mech and whatever external BB'd chainset I can find that's cheap, and black? Basically the rear wheel I'm borrowing from my road bike has a Shimano 11sp cassette.

If there's a popular BCD I can find that's shared between external & square taper cranks that might inform crank choice should the current BB need replacing with one of these. So I won't need to replace the chainring.

Stick with 130bcd

I’ve got an Ultegra 11 speed mech you can have, Mike.

Stick with 130bcd

That's very generous indeed. Will PM you and hopefully be able to repay the favour.

If you're going to go external, 7800 cranks would look lovely on that.

If you're going to go external, 7800 cranks would look lovely on that.

7800 with the DA logo chainring <3

I've got some 172.5mm 110bcd Silver Rival cranks going spare if you want for cheap

yep yep yep