Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - My Long Distance Build

So I've been anticipating this frame for almost 2 weeks now and finally got it last night from a friend of mine. It's a Bilenky Signature Series frame, fillet brazed with a mix of Columbus and Deddacci steel, with a polished stainless steel fork crown and collar. The chainstay and seatstay bridges are both beautifully brazed on and lined in white and the seatstay is masterfully curved.

I'm doing all the assembly myself, building the wheels this week (I hope) and will post updates. I plan on using a Campagnolo Veloce group, probably 06/05 with triple crankset, shimano long reach breaks, a Cinelli stem off my brother's Tommassini (spelling?) he parted out, and the pictured Brooks and Thompson stem. The wheels will be 32H Centaur Hubs laced 3x to white Velocity Aeroheads (off center rear) with DT 1.8/1.6 mm butted Competition spokes everywhere but the drive side, which will have 2.0/1.8 mm and brass nipples throughout.

Tires are still a question at this point, but white bar tape and cable housing is a given.


Here's some pictures:

I just sprayed frame-saver in the tubes, so they're plugged with rags for a day or two.

My camera's not great, so I tried with and without flash. The blue bed seemed to make a good background.
http://photos-042.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v71/27/32/10501042/n10501042_31570609_582.jpg
http://photos-042.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v71/27/32/10501042/n10501042_31570610_825.jpg
Curved seatstays FTW!
http://photos-042.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v71/27/32/10501042/n10501042_31570612_1306.jpg
Peter the Cat Approves:
http://photos-042.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v71/27/32/10501042/n10501042_31570613_1541.jpg
Those aren't what you think they are, it's a B! For Bilenky!
http://photos-042.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v71/27/32/10501042/n10501042_31570614_1781.jpg
SHINEY fork crown!
http://photos-042.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v71/27/32/10501042/n10501042_31570615_2019.jpg
"Brev. Campagnolo"
http://photos-042.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v71/27/32/10501042/n10501042_31570617_2497.jpg

Looks really nice. The only thing that might be lacking are attachment pounts for a rear rack.

Thanks,
The most I'd put on this frame would be a large handlebar bag and large saddlebag, so it's not really an issue for me. I have a surly crosscheck meant for the big stuff.

Anyone have some tire suggestions? I can get any Continental, Hutchison and Panaracers for cheap, one of those would be ideal. I was thinking either 23's or 25's.

Anyone have some tire suggestions? I can get any Continental, Hutchison and Panaracers for cheap, one of those would be ideal. I was thinking either 23's or 25's.

Since you have clearance for them, why not Continental 4 Seasons 700x28. They offer a great balance of weight, comfort and durability.

I just checked and it turns out I can't get Contintental's for cheap :(

Chengshin, Hutchison, Kenda, Maxxis, Panaracer and Primo

Blargh.

Shimano breaks? Well, at least according to the Campy folks. :p

I'm a big fan of the Grand Bois Cypres randonneuring tires from Bicycle Quarterly, although they are a genuine 30mm.

Pretty frameset!

I'm a big fan of the Grand Bois Cypres randonneuring tires from Bicycle Quarterly, although they are a genuine 30mm. I think that the Cypres are nice tires, but they certainly aren't cheap. Also, if the poster is concerned about durability, I'd probably lean more towards Panaracer Pasela Tserv's.

I think that the Cypres are more comfortable and slightly faster than the Paselas, but the comfort and speed comes from making a softer, thinner casing, which makes them prone to punctures. I've had three flats on my rear wheel in about 1000 miles; which is starting to get annoying.

I agree with you. Personally, I find that "fast" tires are still very important to me even with the move to wider, more comfortable tires. I tried several other 25-28mm clinchers and hated all of them. Felt like riding through water. Same for tire strips and "thorn-proof" tubes. So I ride supple tires and put up with the expectation of occasional flats -- although in fairness, I have about 500 miles on the Cypres at the moment and have not yet flatted. I did get a flat on the thick-treaded and horribly slow Rivendell (Panaracer) Ruffy-Tuffys after only a few rides, but one cannot reasonably expect any tire to resist staples.

Shimano breaks? Well, at least according to the Campy folks. :p

I'm a big fan of the Grand Bois Cypres randonneuring tires from Bicycle Quarterly, although they are a genuine 30mm.

Pretty frameset!

I went through this too. I couldn't find a Campy long reach!
Steel wool and a bit of oil will remove that Shimano from the brake in no time.


edt: I see the spelling joke now. Sorry.

I think that the Cypres are nice tires, but they certainly aren't cheap. Also, if the poster is concerned about durability, I'd probably lean more towards Panaracer Pasela Tserv's.

I think that the Cypres are more comfortable and slightly faster than the Paselas, but the comfort and speed comes from making a softer, thinner casing, which makes them prone to punctures. I've had three flats on my rear wheel in about 1000 miles; which is starting to get annoying.

Wonder how they compare to Conti 4 season GPs.
I rode 23's, 25's, last season and am using 28s this season.
No punctures all last year aside from me botching a valve stem or too.


Would love to try some Cypres'.
Waiting to put some Panaracers (Paselas?) on my FG.

Are Tserv's cushier / faster than the Paselas?


Anything has to be better than the Schwalbe Marathons (heavy, touring / commuting type) that I've been riding around on. Love to try some Schwalbe racing tires... but they don't seem to make them wider than 23 / 25.

Shimano breaks? Well, at least according to the Campy folks. :p

Hey gimme me a brake!

Finally! It's done!

http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=309829

That's a great looking bike, mate. Those handlebars are possibly the ugliest things I have ever seen on a bicycle, though! :p

Yeah but I actually like the bends on the drops, they fit my hands nicely and I can reach the shifters without thinking.

Absolutely understandable, and you certainly don't have to explain yourself to the likes of me!

But they're still ugly! :lol: