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dan.

That Supersix has a full warranty and let's face it, Cannondale are masters of otp road bikes. It's a bargain for what it is too.

It would have been a contender if it was in my size.

It's just a personal thing - my thoughts on Cannondale just don't really send any positive thoughts rushing through my head. It's a bit shameful, but I like to think the rest of my bikes are moderately fancy/desirable/noticeable. I see most cf bikes as bog standard Evans fodder for guys from Richmond. Nothing inherently wrong with it, but not where I am right now.

One of the reasons I wanted to keep the cost much south of 3k, is that if i crept to that amount, I'd think 'fuck it' and go for my semi-dream bike and get a Trek Domane 5.9 (£3,8k) - the only bike where the actual design innovations would make me ignore the 'orrible branding. At 2k II'll be half way there when I sell my (lovely IMO!) Colnago Super (after L'eroica) and the Di2 (which represents the bulk of the cost) can be recycled.

Building a bike from new parts will always be more expensive but its great to get what you want. Got my Canyon AL (love it) but have changed a fair few things on it (stem, saddle, bar tape, brakes, tyres etc.) and its not perfect so ££££ could be about the same as going diy.

This is going to look mighty interesting, can't wait for dat stuff to come!

Exactly...Anything else I'd choose (OTP) would end up being a costly triggers broom

For over £2k just buy yourself a CAAD10 or a Canyon if you want lightweight

It's not really an exercise in being lightweight...The only real stipulation was di2 and carbon* (and, tbh, internal wiring).

(*or titanium - though their (another Chinese supplier) frames had a 3 month lead time, and their version of 'internal cabling' meant 'drill a hole in the frame'. As an aside, if this does go to pot, I can recycle most of the components on a 'proper' ti frame or one of the premium (953/XCR/Ti) metal ones if I'm feeling flush (and patient) one day from Enigma or somesuch) I just cba to spend shitloads (and wait!) for something I'm not as invigoured (sp) about. It's a more realistic ride so I can give my upcoming sportives this year some proper ooomph with decent, modern componentry.

(I've also got a Colnago Oval CX I'm awaiting a respray (and completing a full set of pantographed components from ebay) which is a more pressing (and passion inducing) project)

Thats the spirit of adventure sir.

Haha! It's not pushing the envelope I admit.

I suppose it depends on what you want - if you want a bike that has years and years of R&D, race proven geometry, great finishing kit, warranty and manufacturer quality control systems then you want the Cannondale / Specialized / Canyon blah blah.

If you want a fake handbag with, with a Di2 vajazzle, no research, no development, no customer service, no warranty and a similar price tag, then you want your ebay spare parts convention.

I get that, and it is a gamble to swerve the potential customer service of the Wiggle/Dolan (and there was a Ribble) bargain frame, but frankly I have the opinion these companies wanting to knock out a 2k di2 frame are simply subcontracting out to a Chinese firm to do what I'm doing (as cheap as possible), only in bulk and adding some unwanted graphics. Who's more motivated and controlled, CarbonKing2k making frames on his Wiggle contract, or contract selling through Alibaba (Ebay) (with their visible feedback)? I just don't think the gulf is as big as you'd think.I'm not in the price point for a Madone or a Dogma.

I wholeheartedly admit I'm cutting corners on this project. It's completely different to my approach on others that I've got stuck in to.

No, it really isn't. It's akin to putting some leccy tape over the silver piece of fruit on the back of your phone. You're still ordering a brand new frame from the other end of the earth, made in a country that throws up power stations like apartment blocks.
A "big fu" would be to build your own frame.

Whilst I don't think I'm sticking it to the man going direct, I do think the transparency of the carbon frame industry has benefitted the public in keeping the manufacturers' prices in check. Tbh it's why I've never been too enthused about carbon bikes (Steel is Reel maaan). It's all so soulless.

The whole "where's the fun/desirability in buying an otp Cannondale" point is a bit disregarded here I suppose then.

(That one on dan's link was considered, though I'm 6ft3 so they didn't have my size. And it's got some textbook grim cycle-to-work-scheme-evans-carbon-I'm-from-Richmond-my-other-bikes-a-brompton look/feel to it. I do know very little about bikes though tbf!)

The integrated stem and bars is an interesting one, at 410g its quite a bit heavier than (say) an alloy Arx team (120g) and carbon ergonova's (180g) where I would have expected it to be lighter.

Interesting project.

Sure...Though I'd only save 100g of only-slightly-moving mass and have more brand names plastered over my bike. I thought (think!) the integrated bars look pretty tbh. I love a 'clean line'.

Don';t get me wrong, it would get laughed out of WW town - the purpose wasn't to be as light as possible, just light-ish!

Plus I hate most bike branding and take too much pleasure building the things to take an off the shelf number - I entirely expect to regret that decision when the forks don't fit or crack on the first test drive! I looked at the Wiggle, though that was even superseded by the Dolan bike, though they didn't get back to me to tell me they had my size in, so went for the plunge and went for the unbranded route.

aka the "What Could Possibly Go Wong" bike (racism aside)

Right, last time I weighed my last build (Alfine hubbed 653 fa... slow tourer), it rocked in at 16kg - I still took it round the short course at Paris/Roubaix but spent too much time looking at the behinds of men zip across in lithe lightweight carbon whizzers.

I've always been intrigued by the promise of the no-name chinese carbon frames and wheels as on alibaba etc, so thought I'd have a go at creating a respectfully light (and unbranded) bike and fitting it with Di2 (I hate deraillers (hence the previous build as an alfine)) though a colleagues eulogising about the new reasonably priced electric shifting piqued my interest enough to give it a go.

Like a nerd (why not?) I started to amalgamate a list of parts (noting their weights - not as a target though hopefully indicative) and ordered them this week. I'm pushing 95kgs so I'm not scrimping too much weight wise.

I looked at the similarly priced alternatives (Wiggle ventura and the Dolan Tuono), though none of the specs are quite what I was after.

Groupset: Ultegra Di2 (£1050/2620g)
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/transmission/groupsets-road-bike/shimano-ultegra-di2-groupset.html

Frame: Ebay Chinese no-name (£373/1100g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-new-full-carbon-bike-bicycle-frameset-internal-cable-frameset-RB006-56cm-/150837285620?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item231e9a52f4

Forks: With frame (£0/410g
Headset: Order through frame purchaser for $15, guessed weight (£10/150g)

Handlebars: Ebay (£110/410g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/full-carbon-computer-mount-included-integrated-road-bike-handlebar-/280946459184?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4169b6c230

Wheelset: AliExpress. Chinny reckon on weight, though he assured me it's accurate! (£415/1430g)
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/700c-50mm-carbon-clincher-wheels-alloy-brake-Aerodynamic-shape-design/103713_848284657.html

Bottle cages: Ebay (£16/34g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271159417030?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Saddle: Ebay (£41.36/232g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/129-Road-Bike-Titanium-Carbon-Padded-Saddle-Bicycle-Seat-232-Grams-/290824932803?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43b6844dc3

Bar tape: Botranger (£20.00/90g) http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bontrager/2013-isozone-padding-with-black-bar-tape-ec044737#features

Tyres: GP 4000s (£66.48/460g)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-grand-prix-4000s-road-tyre/

Inner Tubes: Conti (£15.00/126g)
http://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle-inner-tubes/continental-race-28-light-road-inner-tube-700-x-18-25mm/10782208.html

Spacers: Ebay (£4/15g)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=271187177720

Brake Cabling (£31/205g) http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/dura-ace-ptfe-brake-cable-set-ec042965?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle&utm_content=mkwid__pcrid_17321847296_kword__match__plid_

Pedals: Shim Ultegra (£105.00/260g)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-ultegra-pd-6700-carbon-spd-sl-road-pedals/

Total £2250/7.6kg ish.

I say it's been ordered - only the overseas stuff has been so would love to hear suggestions for the completing bits (or any other stuff I've missed off).

There is a significant chance this'll probably turn to shit so feel free to get in the early obligatory "I told you so" posts about being cheap :)

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https://www.gov.uk/request-cctv-footage-of-yourself

So you should be able to get access to footage to see the bits before, during locking, walking into bank, suspects walking into bank, sitting & near you, when you came out.

Then the bit missing is the outside while your bike was being nicked, and that's the bit the police would have.

I think most/all cashpoints have a camera facing outwards (for card fraud etc) that may have footage of the theft or the guys eyeing it up

Did it (where you locked it) have cctv? A cashpoint facing it?

Eddy Merckx Strada O.S. stolen today between 12.50 and 1.50pm. Outside Natwest Notting Hill Gate, W11 3HZ.

Blue and Black. Please pm me if you see or hear of it...pic below

http://i49.tinypic.com/2dnm09.jpg

That's pretty distinct, will keep an eye out (based in W10).

My bike is now home, recovering from its ordeal. I for one am somewhat undeservingly lucky to get it back.

I was stupid enough to leave my bike unlocked outside a Chinese takeaway, whilst I was inside ordering food. It was leant up against the shop window, in full view, with me metres away (albeit indoors).
I then saw some guy make a grab for it...by the time I was able to react and get out the door, he was halfway down the street, and me making chase in SPD shoes was pretty futile.

So as you can read, there were no damaged locks, just a careless eejit.

A few days later, the bike was spotted for sale in a bike shop in Queensway, and the police were called. Long story short, the bike was seized by the police so they can do their business. The bike shop didn't dispute ownership of the bike (I guess they admitted they should have done more to authenticate the owner), so I was able to collect it today.

I'm totally shocked, but obviously over the moon to get it back. I do feel guilty given that there are others who have had their pride and joy taken away under different circumstances, never to see it again.

Not much more to say apart from thanks again to Howard.

If anyone wants any specific information, do get in touch.

Yup, looks like a couple of guys running a cycle specific charity-esque (i.e. disorganisued/used stock - not for charity) shop (with luggage in the other half of the 'shop'). Haven't ever seen anything in there that looks anything decent, though you do always wonder where they get their supply from.

Ah, ignore me!

I didn't think they allowed bikes on the metro, though the tram links have signs allowing it.

wtf

Is anyone over there for the sportive/event this year?

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Just received the (Dear DAN W, congratulations! Are you one of the lucky ones that can enroll in L'Eroica on 6 October.) email and paid...Guess that means I'm in?!

I'm claiming stupidity from the outset (first time etc)...When do we find out (and what significance is) my bib no (edit - scratch that, didn't read the thread properly)? And how long do people normally stay for? Cheers!

Full Kit Wankers.

Is the Velo Orange clip thingys any good?

http://freshtripe.co.uk/Freshtripe/Mudguards%20&%20Racks_files/VO%20Stay%20Mount%2010mm-3.jpg

Duly noted (apols TM)!

What about using a couple of layers of innertube?

I assume the spongy tape stuff would be softer

(Sorry, I realise this more sex-in slippers than pron)

To pad or not to pad?

I was thinking or wrapping my tourer/commuter bars in padded tape (like this but an inch wide) http://www.poundland.co.uk/product-range/a-z/draught-exclusion-tape-2-pack/ before covering then in the leather tape. What could possibly go wrong?

^The latest incarnation, just waiting on Gilles Berthoud Bar tape and saddle

I think the decals have already been soaked off

I'm unsing nokin cables, that have a bulge and a slot oat one end that, with a tiny amount of drilling, fits and holds in the slot (I'm covering the cabling in heat shrink so less fussed about the modern look of them)

There was a guy from Israel on ebay selling the proper end ferrules for the Mafac, though I didn't get one (and can't find them now)