Rules for ordering a Brodie:
1) Find a dealership.
2) Be patient.
3) Realize that their sizing chart is about 1 size off (order a size smaller, IMO)
4) Be patient.
5) Love your LBS for being patient with you and helping you get an awesome bike.

So this has been a long time coming, but I figured I’d post a few pics and the build sheet as this is to be my main commuter. The commute is 6.5 miles, 99% on road, 5 days a week. I wanted to build something that could be robust all season, take panniers and fenders, and be pretty fast for the occasional group ride/sprint tri/overnight tour. And if the local cyclocross circuit would let an amateur run a commuter with disc brakes, then that too. Pretty wide range of tasks, but I think it’s a nice compromise all together.

The 2007 Romax frame got the call because of the sloping top tube, disc tabs, rack mounts, cyclocross geometry, all at the right price. The Spinergy wheels were an ebay find prior to settling on a frame, and I haven’t seen anything like them anywhere (700c 32h disc wheels below 1700g). Avid BB7’s, FSA crankset, Xpedo pedals, allen skewers and the Selle Italia were the logical choices. For my commute that is mostly all pavement, I could have gone with a true touring/road tire, but I wanted to keep it a little ‘cross, hence the Vittorias. I’ll probably end up on some Schwalbe touring tire in a few months, but these are fun for now. Great in grass/hard pack dirt. The SRAM Rival group was probably a deviation from common logic (and my LBS’s love for Shimano), but the solid feel of the brake levers, aero cabling look, weight, and wanting to be different made that selection. The Salsa bars are HUGE, but I’m loving the many hand positions they offer. The LBS owner commented that they’re nearly MTB bar width if you grab them like they’re bar ends, offering some really useful leverage.

He is a smidge over 21# in current form, and the racks and fenders are going on in a few days. The LBS has dubbed him “Cry Baby”, because that’s what they called me when I whined about my bike not being here for 3 months. I think it suits the blue well. I ordered a 56cm, which should be way too small by their sizing chart as I’m 6’1”, with a 33” inseam, but the standover is perfect. I went with a 130mm stem to get me a little over the bars, but that might be overkill, so we’ll see if I need to go back to the 100mm after riding it a bit fully loaded.

Build sheet:

SRAM Rival Shifters
SRAM Rival rear derailleur
SRAM Force front derailleur
SRAM PC1070 10sp chain
SRAM OG1070 cassette
Avid BB7 Road Front Brake
Avid BB7 Road Rear Brake
Thomson Elite Stem
Ritchey comp seatpost
Selle Italia Gel Flow Black
seatpost clamp
FSA Gossamer Compact
xpedo SS pedals
Vittoria EVO Cross XN
tubes
Skewers (allen)
Headset
bar tape
Spinergy Xyclone wheelset
Salsa Moto Ace Bell Lap Handlebar
2007 Brodie Romax Frame & Fork


I’ll post some pics of it loaded up with the fenders and panniers later this week, but for now, here’s what I got:









For more pics (including ones of me being a dumbass and crashing it), click here.

Comments, suggestions, and general heckling is always welcome