I did put the rake thing down wrong, you're correct.

From personal experience I know (or maybe I should say: I have experienced...) more vibration dampening when riding with a curved fork than when riding with a straight fork. Maybe the fact that my straight fork is an aero fork makes it dampen even less, I don't know. It's just something I've noticed.
Concerning the stability, I've noticed my straight fork (which has just a bit less rake than the curved) results in a bit more of a twitch front end, looking forward to each turn whatsoever to take.

As said, I'm speaking from experience when it comes to this, so facts may of course prove me wrong.

Hey, I'm impressed with those welds; those are some pretty good looking welds for something that was made in Taiwan. I remembered seeing the welds on an Airborne a few years ago and they looked awful. They looked like somebody took a piece of bubblegum and wrapped it around as it had the texture that looked as rough as a caterpillar worm.

I suspect these are not really what you're after but Ti, sculptural, Aussie and made by a friend of mine.

http://vuelovelo.com/

The order from Chain Reaction Cycles has been sent. The order contains all sorts of bits and pieces to build up the bicycle. A steel fork is also on its way from Wiggle. That fork is black and the plan is to paint it British Racing Green (or Jaguar Green, or Brooks Green).

I'd like to get the Brooks handlebar tape, but the way I go through handlebar tape, the price is a little scary. So I'm still looking for some green handlebar tape that isn't "lime" or "neon" or "Italian".

And while I'm at it, I'm keeping my eyes open for a green helmet and green gloves.

the deda stuff looks pretty close to british racing green,
http://www.ride-this.com/media/catal...E/DE7116_1.jpg

i like your dark green theme. naked Ti is like a blank canvass ready for riders to apply their own tastes and a change of tyre and tape makes a totally different look (both need changing periodically anyway). I intend changing the look over time. I'm going initially with red on my Ti build, but green is next.

Machka, best of luck with the new build. I wish you went with carbon for the fork (like Easton EC90SL or Reynolds Ouzo), but I'm sure you'll enjoy the steel. Here's a few gloves/helmets
http://www.cyclegear.com/images/offr...RN_310x310.jpghttp://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/im...16_grn-blk.jpghttps://www.helmetsrus.net/nonprofit...del06Green.jpghttp://www.extremesupply.com/images/...GreenWhite.jpghttp://www.2wheelbikes.com/sitebuild...lt-405x341.jpg

Sucks that your beloved bike got stolen and am hoping that it comes back to you in one piece... I am still bitter over my first and last stolen bike as after a while they become more than just objects but a repository for many good memories.

If you go with green cork or cloth I'd consider using clear shellac to seal and protect it... it costs very little and will extend the life of the bar wrap by many factors and not have an unpleasant effect on the ride quality as the damping of the base material is retained.

Will look forward to seeing the finished bike and wonder if you've considered a tandem for touring instead of two singles ?

The green one here might not be too bad. I'm looking for a dark green.

Micargi Bike-Safely Bicycle Helmet (Adult)
Micargi's Bike-Safely Adult Bike Helmet has a sleek, aerodynamic design, twelve air
vents for maximum cooling, adjustable chin straps for added comfort, and a
quick-release strap buckle.

http://www.2wheelbikes.com/bike-acce...cessories.html

I scratch my head with regard to a steel fork, myself, but that's just me. Personally, I would've looked for a Ti fork first, then carbon, then aluminum. The reasoning is that Ti frames are already fairly supple, and steel is also quite supple - just seem like it could be "whippy." Then again, I'm quite a bit taller than you, Machka, so....

What other bits-and-pieces were ordered from Chain Reaction?

As far as a green helmet is concerned, I'd look at one that has far more ventilation than the Micargi. One option is to get a black or white helmet that fits you well and is well-vented, then get some British racing green detail tape (like they use to create pinstripes on cars). Add the BRG flare as necessary. :)

Keep us informed about the build progress - pictures a'plenty are a must! Love the frame!

I'll have to keep an eye out for this stuff.

Crankset
Chainring
Chain
Front derailleur
Rear derailleur
Trunk bag
Handlebar bag
Bento bag

And perhaps more as well. Rowan has a spreadsheet, and with any luck the order may arrive by Friday or if not then, early next week.

I could take a picture of the rear brakes ... they're installed now. :D


And as for the fork ... I just like steel. But if I decide I don't like it in a year or two after all, I can always change it.

hey machka

realistically when wil your ti be complete? We don't want to both post our new builds at the same time. BF may just implode with all the oooos and ahhhhhhs. My final task is fork cut at the lbs on 10 May.

I would like my bicycle to be basically finished by the 8th ... at least finished enough so I can ride it. But I think that might be pushing it. If that can't happen, then I'd like to have something rideable by the 12th. I've got an event on the 15th. But I doubt that it will be officially done by that point.

I figure the end of May might be a more realistic time frame for the official unveiling.

well let's hit them with a double whammy and bring the house down.

You have a thread of that too? I love following bike builds :)

no thread. I had everything sitting in a box until this weekend and then put it all together. not much to follow really. It's now just sitting there waiting for the final touches.

Heheh - I saw them on some of the frame pics. Are you going a with a straight-up Ultegra build, then? And triple or compact double?

Fair enough. I ran a steel fork on my steel-frame LeMond, and it was lovely, if heavy. When I switched it to a carbon fork with carbon steering tube, it lightened things quite a bit. Ride quality was remarkably similar - maybe a tiny bit stiffer, but still damp.

Both of my current bikes - the Pedal Force (full carbon) and Jamis (Reynolds 853 steel/carbon combo) - are running Easton EC70 carbon forks. Had I the chance to do it over, though (and I technically do, of course), I'd get a carbon fork with ample clearance for 28mm tires. The Eastons can handle a true 25mm tire if one's front wheel is perfectly true and doesn't have a lot of lateral flex; otherwise, the rub is insane.

Today ... my package from Chain Reaction Cycles arrived with ...

Shimano Ultegra Rear Hub
Shimano Bottom Bracket Gear Cable Guide
Shimano XT Chainset
KMC 9 Speed Chain
Shimano XT Cassette 9 Speed
Shimano Ultegra Front Derailleur Triple
Shimano Ultegra STI 9 Speed Shifters
Easton Stem
Easton Handlebars
Spacers, several

Topeak Handlebar Bag
Topeak Trunk Bag
Topeak Bento Bag


Also a fork and rear derailleur from Wiggle which arrived yesterday.


Rowan has enough parts to put together a functioning bicycle now. If all goes well, I should be able to go for a test ride this weekend.

What, no pics?

I've taken a few ... I just need to load them.

Some more new shots of the titanium bicycle build ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...7623874386934/


For example ...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/...89db48abe7.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/...02958a8bbb.jpg

Hopefully! A friend of mine had his Cannondale mountain bike stolen, and nigh on a year later, he was driving down a road near the university and saw a guy riding his bike! (He had a pretty unique set of aftermarket parts on it, which is how he recognized it.) It wasn't the thief (it was a student who'd just bought it from someone recently), but he did end up getting the bike back. So, you never know!

The overall is a nice collection of gear, but I'm not really sure about the color of the fork.

What's the advantage of an XT derailleur?