Tom88

finally got to take mine for a real ride today. im getting over my fear of hills haha although i would probably be in trouble if i really needed to stop quick

PukeFlavor

I'm the Spicer-sourced frame and fork guy, checking in with an update.

I have to admit I'm a quality-*****, but I'm doing my best to keep it to a minimum. Still, the chances of this bike being under $800 when finished are pretty much zero. I could've gotten a Cannondale Capo or something else reputable for less.

That said, I have no regrets thus far. I think I'm just addicted to buying bikes piece by piece. I've bought two complete bikes and fallen in love with neither, while the ten or so bikes I've built from the ground up all hold a special place. Still, it's pretty amusing that I'm sort of putting lipstick on a pig--a pig, however, that sports real-deal geometry, the fender mounts I wanted, and NO BOTTLE MOUNTS.

Some of the penalty I've been paying has been shipping. Some more will be paying the local bike shop markup for parts and service. I'm trying to involve them for stuff like headtube/bb facing, and bb thread chasing (thus headset and bb). That's not stuff I normally worry about (I usually install headsets with common sense, a 2x4, and a hammer, and "chase" threads with an old bb cup) but I'm in a new town and want to make some contacts. I'll buy a cog, lockring, tires, chain, and probably stem, locally as well.

If I was thinking logically, I'd have bought a complete mid-grade bike. If you're thinking of buying a Kilo and swapping parts out, you might reconsider and do the same; that way, you'd have something good to start with and the support of your local bike shop. Seriously, if you can't disassemble and reassemble a bike blindfolded, it may be the best way to go. If you're a hipster, it's the only way to go--anyone who criticizes you is a poseur who got a ****ty bike to be part of the crowd. Doubt me now, but in time the chubby tattooed chicks will see you as an innovator and be all over you.

Coming from BMX and downhill, I have a sneaking suspicion that as soon as mine is together I'll ride it around the block and be bummed it's so flexy.

But it will be pretty, in its basic, nondescript way. Should be done in a couple of weeks, at which time I'll post pics. Then I'll have BikeSnobNYC create a classifieds section and sell it for for than I paid.

rduenas

Get a brake.

Tom88

working on that. im not out of control or anything, i'd just end throwing my feet down. i'm finding that skidding with the stock pedals is tough

brocksanders

looks about right! the actual sizes are in fact bigger than what they are labeled with the kilo tt, right? (sorry for sounding redundant) but what i mean is for example, the 53cm c-c is actually 56cm c-t right? what do most manufacturers base their sizes on anyways, c-c or c-t?

i am trying to decide on a size for a kilo tt like a said before, i am 6 feet with 31" inseam. right now I am thinking 53cm (if it is in fact 56cm). regardless, i measured my current bike (58cm shogun) which fits me, but i have always found a bit bulky, and it is just around 1.5" - 1.8" longer/taller than the 53cm kilo tt (according to the site's measurements). i am thinking this difference would make up just perfectly for that slight discomfort i feel on my current 58cm frame. does this make sense?

i just want to make sure because i've yet to find any 6 feet guys here with a 53cm, but maybe they are around.

iamtim

Here's a better picture for reference's sake:



I think different manufacturers measure differently, but I'll measure all the tubes and post them tomorrow. From there you'll be able to extrapolate a better guess (i.e. if mine is 60cm c-c, you can probably guess that the 53cm will be 53cm c-c.)

vonzip

"i just want to make sure because i've yet to find any 6 feet guys here with a 53cm, but maybe they are around"

I'm 6' an have a 53cm (actually it measures 55) perfect for my style. my bud's my height with longer legs, he rode it an loved it. think he's got a 57 rush hour which seems big for me.

johnnytheboy

man, with the seat and stem up that high, that bike honestly looks to small.
but if it feels good, who am i to say?

ZiP0082

some more photos of my mostly-stock setup. just put MKS GR-9 pedals on tonight, and they instantly feel better than the stock ones, good stuff.

DongDong

what kind of rear fender is that? i just bought a pair of mks pedals with mks clips. i was wondering are the clips specific to each foot?

ZiP0082

the fender is a Zefal Flamingo. I got it at my LBS, but it looks like it's here even cheaper. I was able to get it to squeeze between the seat stays, rather than clamp on the seatpost, so I was happy.

I didn't buy MKS clips/straps, I'm actually just using Nashbar ones, and they are super sucky.

johnnytheboy

You can buy a fender just like that at performance for like 10bucks most of the time.

hoggster

My new bike

ZiP0082

The green + white looks great, nice.

I finally cut my steerer down, and also masked the headtube logo:

cc700

i'm thinking of powdercoating my frame.

i just painted the adi stripes on:


not sure though i might powdercoat it pink and fade the stays and rear white in homage to my wrecked nishiki 12 speed. may still keep it adidas though. not sure. the paint's just in terrible condition and i want to try my hand at powdercoat.

comptechgsr

whenever i see this thread and whenever i see my bike,
i always think to meself,

"best $350 spent evaaaar"

johnnytheboy

cc700, where have you been?!

cc700

let's see... i relocated, then i went to portland twice, then i went to seattle, then my computer died, then i was biking around a lot.

i'm still kinda job hunting too.

i've been around i just haven't been posting.

hankwk

so my kilo is pretty much stock... thinking about getting a build kit off of iro for 200 bucks... what do you think.. good deal?

https://shop.irocycle.com/shop/produc...3&cat=3&page=1

vonzip

the headset an stem are 1 1/8" they won't fit your kilo, either will the seatpost, the rest doesn't seem to be any more interesting than stock. so my opinion, no, not worth it. buy some good tires, a seat, bars or pedals. stuff you can instantly enjoy. take your time an have fun. cheers vonZ

cc700

with 200 and a stock kilo i'd buy:

alex r450 laced to formula and some nicer cranks


or

saddle, bars, stem, and tires.

ZiP0082

what is it that makes the alex r450 wheelset better than the stock ones? they're stronger, and will stay in true longer?

hankwk

gotcha. so i dont mean to open a whole other can of worms (or do I), but any good 1" black heatseat and stem?? That are reasonably priced (50-100)

ZiP0082

there are some pretty ridiculously inexpensive stems and stuff on here: https://www.pricepoint.com

cc700

stronger, lighter, and spin with less resistance. the machine built ones don't stay true that well, but whatever.

basically, the kilo hubs aren't very strong and will gain resistance as they gain use.