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?

The main advantage is the ability to run really wide range cassettes in the rear without any chance of the jockey pulleys making contact with the cogs. The XT rear mech can handle up to a 34-tooth rear cog with ease, whereas the longer-cage Ultegra triple wouldn't be quite as tolerant .Also, the springs on the cage are more stout, which means less chain slap and slop when dumping gears.

My question is: why 9-speed, Machka?

The fork will be painted dark green.

Because I'm running a mtn bike cassette, and they don't run to 10 speed yet. Mtn bike components are more durable, which I need for the type of riding I do - long distances, hills etc.. I need a good granny to get up the hills with weight on the bicycle. And what would I do with an extra gear anyway ... I don't even get into the big ring very often.

Looks like the Ti steed is going to be a truly nice bike, machka. :D I'm pleased you are building a good solid, I won't say replacement for Machak since you had so many memories tied up in him, but at least a great new bike. Have you named him yet?

No ... I'm having a bit of trouble naming this bicycle. Not because I don't have some name ideas, but because I'm not sure I want to become emotionally attached to another bicycle yet.

I'm going to wait till I ride this bicycle a time or two and see how I feel.

More photos ...

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


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/...53a2bdafed.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/...2e227ca0f4.jpg

What I noticed is that you've put the seatpost clamp the 'wrong' way around. Is there a reason for that?

Actually, both SRAM and Shimano have 10-speed mountain cassettes now. That said, it sounds like you've got a setup you'll like. And when the 9-speed brifters fail (and they all do, given time and wear), there will be 10-speed available to replace.

What about something like this Machka? http://www.velo-orange.com/elsebarco.html

Too bad you don't live in the U.S. I'd send you mine. I've never used it and don't have a bike it'd look good on.

Thank you! :) And if that were in green, I'd definitely consider it.

The slot is in the back of the seat post tube, and it's a good idea to have the clamp opening on the opposite side to the slot.

Ne'er heard that before. Tried it on my carbon bike and found that the seatpost slipped when tightened to proper torque levels. Perhaps it's different on metal tubes?

I found my seatpost sliding a few mm each day after replacing my clamp. Haven't fixed it yet, so I'll be rotating the clamp in a few minutes to see how it works out :)

Here is the first draft of the titanium bicycle. This is not the official version, but this is a ridable version which I tested on a 30.5 km bicycle ride with the creator of this version, Rowan.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/...604653734f.jpg

There will be more changes before we get to the official version, but I need a bicycle to ride in an event next weekend. At the moment, for example, there is no green anywhere to be seen. The green is still coming. And we're working out a few other things as well.

I've added a bunch more photos of the first draft of the titanium bicycle here. There will be more changes before it is official. The wheels will change, and Rowan is working on a lighting system.

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

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/...648f2d9511.jpg


We did a 29 km test ride today, with more adjustments along the way. That's almost 60 km already!!

The photos from yesterday's test ride are here, dated 08May10 ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...7623817713101/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/...9d27f5d6e9.jpg