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Some progress, although I think I might have the wrong size spindles for the bottom bracket. It's starting to actually look like a bike!

Further progress halted because I have no silver ferrules.

Glad it's not just me!

Cheers

So, Rene Herse tyres are an absolute ball ache to set up, tubeless or not. I've given up on tubeless for now as there seemed to be no sensible way to do that. Old school tubes for now, but even those didn't seat easily.

Some goodies arrived in the post today. Made the decision on saddle and, as a result, bar tape. Dark brown all round.

I've been burnt more than once by the SDW, but I could definitely be tempted. Planning to be out that way weekend of 25th, but probably doing a chunk of the Downs Overnighter.

Other rides wise, I'm still up for a ride to Cambridge one of those weekends in October. I could probably do the first weekend in October too, now.

That is satisfying. Hadn't considered it.

Wheels tomorrow probably.

Oh thanks for the offer. That's kind. Let me know how the drilling goes.

I've had a bit of a result this evening. I looked at the mounts and brakes in the light of day and found there was a plastic bit in narrowing the hole on the front brake and the rear brake fits, too.

Yeah seems so. They don't reach as is even if I were to swap for a bolt like that.

It's this: https://www.paulcomp.com/shop/service-parts/brake-parts/racer-adapter-kits/

I can't find a UK stockist at the moment, so will have to see if anyone I know is going to the US any time soon. That or possibly consider different brakes.

Been away for a bit, but starting to put things together.

Easy bits this evening. Handlebars, bottle cages and cable hangers.

Handlebars, gone for Ritchey Venturemax Classic

Bottle cages, the lovely Sim Works John Cages

And, cable hangers - Paul Funky Monkey front and Nitto AS-5 rear.

Tried fitting the brakes, but turns out I need the extra long bolt adapters for the Paul Racers, and I think the Funky Monkey might need to be sized down to the 7/8ths to go with the 1" quill stem. The 1" seems to be too big. That or a shim.

Couple of pics

Sadly I can no longer make this. Looks like an absolutely banging weekend, but needs must.

One early bird ticket for sale. £50 at purchase, but £40 to the first person to dibs or DM me.

But controversial I know, but I'm a total convert. Wouldn't have it any other way now.

I remember reading somewhere the SON 28 delivered better charge at lower speeds, particularly if you wanted to run lights and charge a device. I have a feeling it also came down to which was available in the polished silver.

Bit late to change it, but curious to know if that's not the case.

Pics here

Picked up the wheels for this yesterday. Big shout out to Clever Mike for putting them together for me.

Just need to set them up tubeless and get the tyres seated. Should start looking more like a bike after that.

Yup. Sounds good. Sure it could be adjusted to be mostly/all road.

Tandem tour sounds fun. Where abouts?

Does this work for you?

Got one of these. It's bloody brilliant. Loads of fun to ride and while not light, to call it heavy wouldn't do justice to how it rides.

GLWS!

Oh I've not actually looked at them. I'll give them a look, thanks.

BLB are out of the Paul Racers in polished silver, which was not a major problem, but a bit of a shame, and then I saw this https://instagram.com/stories/rivbike/2643358682000500672 and realised the flatter silver ones still look sweet.

BB, cassette and pedals on order. Also trying out some of the Forester Cycles cable cherries from Wizard Works, in orange, natch.

It's all coming together!

OK thanks all. Had a few Brooks before and loved them, both B and C17s. Looks like it might be time to go Aspin for this though.

I have considered this and am still weighing it up. Brooks vs Berthoud.

I suspect I'll end up going brown Berthoud, but wouldn't mind hearing from anyone that's had both.

No pressure now!

Scooped up a silver Campag Athena groupset on here. Looking forward to wrapping my head around a new maker. I've been a SRAM man for years, but that black plastic just isn't going to cut it for this.

Yeah not the brake post one, but still, had to take the punt and with those centre mount Paul's I'm getting the aesthetic and most of the braking power at least.

Definitely going to go all out. Even managed to get hold of some Campandgoslow tape to put on it.

Unsure which order these will come out in so:

1. With mudguards against brick wall - original eBay listing image

2. Against wooden fence - with wheels, saddle and stem. Basically just me trying out reach, saddle height and what 700c x 42 look like on it. Absolutely not what I'm going for in terms of wheelset.

3. View of new Velo Orange quill stem with 31.8 clamp.

It is indeed!

Couldn't resist. It's such a beautiful bike.

It all started with a casual, throw away comment on the eBay/Craigslist finds post saying something like 'Rivendell in Brighton: link'. Nobody seemed to notice and I'd been salivating over their bikes not that long before, so just had to have a look.

A lovely, orange Sam Hillborne, in my size, and I was going to be nearer to Brighton than I have been for months (years? who knows in these times) only days later for a ride, with the car, so I could even pick it up. It was, or so I tell myself, meant to be. A couple of hours or half hoping someone else would buy it and stop me from adding to an already crowded shed, and I'd clicked the 'But It Now' button and the deed was done.

With that, on to the build. My gravel itch has well and truly been scratched, so no need there, and I'm not after anything super skinny or lightweight for road riding, but a classic steel randonneur type bike is definitely on the cards. This is my thinking:

Partly inspired by this lovely build on the Radavist, I'm going with Campag Athena shifters and derailleurs.

Then from there - I can't really bring myself to pay for a Chater Lea or Rene Herse crankset, but something like that. Ideally a SunXCD clover leaf super compact double - I'd like to go for 42/26, but they seem hard to come by.

Rear cassette - Campag themselves only seem to do silly 12-29 cassettes, but I will definitely need something wider. Fortunately it seems possible to get a 12-30 (possibly 32) on an Athena short cage derailler, which should be fine with the double up front.

Brakes - I am going to splash out and go for centre mount, centre pull Paul Racers. It would almost be rude not to on this bike.

Lots of other details to finesse, but basically - silver and classic looking - Nitto, Honjo, etc... Although I am going a bit rogue with some Ritchey Venturemax Classic bars, as I really like the shallow biobend drops.

One question I can't decide on - black saddle and bar tape to match the shifter hoods, or brown saddle and brown tape, possibly try and get alternative hoods for the shifters? I'm swaying towards the the brown, but mainly because I'm all about that tan tyre wall look.

Let's find another weekend more people can do. I had plans to attempt an audax on the Saturday anyway, so can give that a go instead.

How about 9th/10th or 16th/17th October? Hopefully before things get too saucy.