Wabi frameset arrived
 

Currently rocking the SE premium brew with a few switched components. Not a bad ride, but I have no real frame of reference yet.

My main reason for starting the wabi build was so I will have a loaner bike. I have friends who want to ride, but are too broke, or just haven't had enough fun on a bike yet to justify cost.

So I got the wabi classic frameset in the turquoise. Love the color, I will probably spray a ghost pearl on it to give it a unique "pop".

Bling aside... I am thinking of going with a wabi wheelset, nitto bullhorns/stem combo, omnium crankset, shimano clipless or egg beaters, and a brooks saddle.

I will post some pics when I start the build, I plan for this to be a sweet ride.

I just got my bike mechanics book off amazon...a big ass book btw...I have the "level i" mechanics tool set illustrated in the book, so I will hopefully be able to get this dialed in without a trip to the shop.

I also wonder if I would be better served with straps on my pedals vs. clipless. The main reason I went to clipless on the SE was problems with scrapping on corners. Does the Wabi have this issue?

I would approach spray painting with much caution, because often times spray painting comes out terrible. Clipless vs toeclips/straps depends on whether you use youe bike to commute, length of rides, etc. of course, clipless is the better choice, but sometimes it may or may not be the most practical choice. Instead of blowing huge sums of money om a blind buy saddle, i would measure your sit bones and buy an appropriate saddle from there.

If you’re really building it for a loner, I would think setting it up single speed would be the way to go, with just normal platform pedals and both brakes. Most non enthusiasts are not going to want a fixed setup right off the bat I wouldn't think. +1 on skipping out on the spray paint unless you really know what you’re doing. Save that for your $100 craigslist find.

Pardon my ignorance, but isn't the Wabi superior to the SE? I would make that my daily and the SE the loaner.

What a nice friend you are, by the way. The Wabi is an awfully nice bike to loan out to friends for an occasional ride.

He didn't state it very well but it looks like he wants to the Wabi so that the SE can become a loaner.

I agree with the others, choose the pedals for your actual needs and the saddle based on experience and research.

a lot of people go with 165 mm cranks on fixed gear to avoid scraping on corners. If you are riding single speed it's not an issue since you can coast in the corners

Yah I am going 165 on the wabi. The SE will be my loaner bike...

In all honesty, the SE has been great so far. For 275$ ON CRAIGLIST, and many of late night of adrenaline fueled fun, I can say it was the best $200 I ever spent...

The wabi is currently in Houston right now, where a guy who does paint jobs for Jesse James's bikes is doing my ghost pearl over the wabi turquise. These guys will make it unique. I can't wait. I'll have the only blinged out fixie in Austin (atleast that I see and I ride a **** ton on the evenings)

I wish you well with your new build but...

While Wabis are nice, that frame is not appreciably superior to a SE Premium Brew/Maxway frame. Especially to those who like lugged frames with quill stems. Yeah, the paint scheme was horrible, but you are painting your new frame anyway. IMHO its kind of a lateral move so I don't get it, unless you just wanted something new for the sake of new without worrying about getting a real upgrade...

Wrong

I picked the frame based on Richard's criteria for designing the frame. A nice riding bike for city, light, agile, and able to take abusive roads...

Richard claims the wabi will be a much better ride. I'll take his word for it...plus, its a fixed gear bike. I am not going for Phil wood hubs and all the other niche crap out there.

We'll see. If the ride sucks I'll sell it and try a Cinelle or Leader

But but but.... niche crap is quite good sometimes....

Not to mention cinelli is practically the long reigning king of niche crap. And leader is the king of economical niche crap for the everyday man or young adults.

Well, I am already droppin some loot on the wabil wheel set, nitto stem/bullhorns, omnium crank, and either a brooks or fizik saddle. This bike is going to come in at a lil over a $1000, atleast that is my goal. I am trying to keep the bike in at under 17lbs, as there are lots of hills I like to bomb around on here.

I am liking the shimano clipless pedals I run on the SE, aside from eating it a few times for forgetting to click out my pedals (my wrist is still sore, but doing barbell training is helping)

When are we gonna see pics?

I will have pics of the frame set by friday. I just got off the phone with my buddy, and he is sending a video. The pearl turned out SICK.

Its the same original; turquoise, only now it has a purple pearl that is visible in the sun/ street lights.

Its clean. I like it. Can't wait to get it together and part it up!

EDIT: Just saw a video clip. Wow. Can you say "LET THE BRIGHT LIGHTS CHINE?!"

Pics!!!!!

so guys, I am shopping for cranksets right now. Should I go with a allcity with a shimano bottom bracket, or should I spring for a lil more and get the popular omnium series?

My SE has the sugino messenger, which appears to be great so far.

As for seats, my buddy loves the comfort his Brook's provides. I see they have a new one they just released.

I think I will go with the omnium cause I want to shave oz.s for a lighter bike, BUT IS IT REALLY WORTH THE EXTRA COST???

:rolleyes:

Is the suspense killing you? The thought of a wabi classic drippin in candi paint? Just the thought makes me tear up...

This was a completely useless post. You asked two questions and then answered them both yourself.

WAH! WAHHHH! *baby avatar*

Suspense? Um, no.

So much is wrong with everything you said.

Dude, you've got verbal diarrhea over a loaner bike.

There isn't much that I could care about less than the paint on a modern bicycle frame. Specifically if it's going to be ridden.

A combination I have been looking at lately is the Phil Wood Titanium BB with the Campagnolo Track crank. The savings could be anywhere from a 1/4lb to almost 3/4 lb depending on if the bb weight is included in the Record crankset weight listed on their website. Anybody have a record crank they can weigh?

Thanks for the recommendation. I will have a look!

At this moment i am lookim at the allcity crankset. Looks like a good deal.

I believe the all city crank is a rebranded Andel set. Look into it, it may save you a few bones and logos.