rpenmanparker 

Here is the finished build on the repainted Romic 531 steel frame I showed in a thread last week. I am in love (again)! Weight as shown (as per the electronic balance at my LBS down the block) is 16.82 lb, right on the money what I predicted. When I substitute a pair of aluminum clinchers for the carbon (same build as the carbon but with Kinlin XR200 20mm deep rims), the weight drops to 16.30 lb.

I know there was some sentiment for a more classic build up with a group like Athena silver, but the more black stuff I started piling on, the better I liked it. The one thing I don't care for is the black tape. Here is my problem. I have already eliminated red tape as too matchy-matchy. I have a package of tape that was sold as gold, but it came in kind of beige instead. Nanh! That left white and black. I always go white, so I thought I would try the black. I will ride it a bit this way, but I know I am going to go white next time. Unless you guys have any good ideas. Just one thing, NO MANGO!

I was surprised that the reach is a little short. I haven't ridden this frame in years, and I guess I have become accustomed to both my other bikes with longer reach. The seat post on my other bikes (no longer available) has 25 mm set back, but the Thomson Masterpiece only has 10 mm set back. So that is part of the problem. I have ordered a 120 mm stem to replace the 110 on there now, and I will try to cram the saddle back a little more in the clamp. If I flip the stem down, I will get some more reach, but I am not sure I will like that. Time will tell.

Here is where I open things up for comment: "Lay on MacDuff, and damned be he who first cries, 'Hold! Enough!'"

The Blue Banana

Beautiful! I like the black tape, and deff like the black group!

rjones28 

Looks good. I like the black tape too; lets the frame stand out more.

Nachoman

Nachoman approves of this bicycle.

matthewk459

It's nice, can you use a compact bar and a less erection stem? The flatter look would look better IMHO and still give you the same drop to the hoods..

himespau 

Too bad about the gold bar tape, but it looks cool.

mshred

like

gadabout007

Every time I hear ta-dah, I can't help but think about this.


Nice bike!

gsa103

Flip the stem

Definitely go with black tape. Nothing else will look right.

Lose the "PTS Custom Wheels" decals, they're way over the top.

5 minutes and you'll have a really good looking bike.

rpenmanparker 

Stem is flipped.
Black tape is on at least for a while.
Over the top was kind of the whole idea. It is not every day that a home-built bike can sport lots of color matched goodies. I just wanted to try it for a change, and I got lucky to find all the stuff in red and gold. Besides those decals cost a fortune. They'll stay for now.

Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated.

HAMMER MAN

really nice to see a well thought out steel ride. Quite refreshing instead of carbon, when all the carbon frames look the same. the decals on the carbon rims imo throw off the good balance of color scheme with the frame & components, owever still a great build.

ShoreCyclist

Great looking ride. Love your use of color...

Cyclelogikal

Awesome looking bike buddy!

save10

i dont if erection is quite the right term

gc3

grudging appreciation for making the update...

MikeyBoyAz

@rpenmanparker Your bike is awesome. I agree with everyone else: wheel decals = no. Rest of bike = nice. Cable housing is a bit short for the brake (personally) Btw, do you ride motorcycle? (right lever for the front brake)

rpenmanparker 

Not quite everyone. My wife really likes the wheels with decals. And for a project like this, that is SOOO important.

rpenmanparker 

As a leftie, I decided three decades ago to reverse the brake levers. We've hashes out the sense of that in other threads, but it is just the way I always do it. No motorcycles. Not even Ducatis. I like my cables short. I pay more attention to the line of the cables approaching the brake than I do to the curvature of the cable. Thanks for the comments.

Samfujiabq

I like everything about it,,beautiful job,Im no where near as talented,congrats and now have fun!

RollCNY

No disrespect Robert, but this is a clear example of beauty in the eye of the beholder. It looks like a pimped our Escalade to me. Gauche might be the best descriptor. And I am a fan of traditional geometry steel, but this misses for me.

I hope it rides wonderfully, and you enjoy the snot out of it.

rpenmanparker 

I appreciate your candor. To a great extent "pimped out Escalade" was exactly the intended result. I have enough plain vanilla already. Nothing stealth intended at all. I thought it would be a fun project to see what I could do if I let it all hang out, yet on a very traditional framework. I was particularly pleased that so much color coordinated "stuff" could be had to complete the effect. Your assessment is actually quite gratifying to me. As far as I am concerned, I hit the nail on the head. And no disrespect imagined. Different strokes for different folks. Thanks. First ride tomorrow!

Just to carry this a bit further, my dad (whom I have mentioned before as a retail men's wear guru) used to say there is nothing wrong with having a green suit as long as it is not the only suit you own. Or even one of two or three. After your navy, grey, and black suits there may still be room in your wardrobe where a green suit would fit in nicely. Well this is the bicycle equivalent of my green suit.

RollCNY

You went in with a goal, and got what you wanted. Part of what makes my Cinelli beautiful to me is the bright orange paint on it exactly matches the orange that my Dad would paint one bike in the fleet. He, and all of my siblings, immediately recognized it. To anyone else, its just an orange bike. Build what you find appealing.