Leukybear 

Utterly ridiculous.... in a good lightweight way.

Makes me wonder as I'm about to retire my orbea orca as my full time roadie.

Gyeswho

Took my first plunge into painting and made the Mercier black. Jotta wait for things to dry up. I took the lazy way out and scratched off the original clearcoat before applying primer, paint, and a flat coat of black. Hope it doesnt' chip much

63_dorinte

Finished this morning:




Went for a ride around town




then home for checkup and adjustments.

Went for a longer ride over through Clifton Forge including a rest stop at the hospital


. . . another kind of resting place


. . . and a hipster underground ?


In 40+ miles of riding today it was smooth and quiet. It weighs in at 21 pounds as pictured, compare that to my Scrambler which is over 26 pounds naked (though that includes the DP18s).

I'm thinking it needs a basket or platform/porteur rack on the front. All of the ones I have seen so far either attach to the brake hole and do not hold more than 10 pounds (don't like this option), or have a bracket that goes in the headset stack (there is no room for a spacer in this 1" threaded stack). Ideally it would mount via bracket or straps on the handlebar, one on each side of the stem, and P-clamps to the fork tubes. Any suggestions?

Gyeswho

cetma rack

63_dorinte

Thanks, I looked them up. The top mounting looks good. The bottom mounting could be a problem, as I do not see a simple way to convert the rack's fork ends to use with P-clamps. I insist on keeping the front quick-release because when I lock the bike up somewhere, I want to be able to pull the front wheel and lock through with a U-lock. That may be a silly requirement, but there it is.

mikeetow

thanks! haha its a fun bike, I have a full geared Litespeed roadie, so this is just a fast training bike that I wanted to stick with my fave brand. its 13.13 lbs with cheap clip pedals, and lights, cage, etc.

yummygooey

The red has got to go.

carleton

This is cool and everything, but now you have to find a magic gear ratio to keep decent chain tension. It seems that you already found that out by using a 1/2 link chain.

Zipp 404s? How did you get the rear to work?

Why not just buy a carbon track frame?

cstpeter

My first post -- just had to share pictures of my new ride. Built this up over the last month with the help of Upgrade Cycle in Chicago, who were great. Turned out even better than expected.

Squirrelli

^ Wow, nice job on your first build!

What levers are those? They look super funky.

cstpeter

Thanks Squirrelli.

Levers are TRP RRL SR: https://www.trpbrakes.com/category.ph...1091&catid=183

Squirrelli

Wow, they look like Campy without the bend-in hoods and look good with that build!

mikeetow

I have an WI eno hub, 28h and found a clydesdale zipp 404 28h rear to build with. it works great
I never ride track, so I dont need a track frame, unless litespeed comes out with one

homebrewk

cstpeter: Lookin' good!

carleton

Get your wallet out...

This is my buddy's Litespeed:


I've seen a Blade being raced in person. Pretty sweet.


Another:



I'm certain that all of these were custom. Either for the Cox Atlanta Velo team from the 90s or some other athletes.

FlatSix911

Diggin' the blue theme ...
Have you considered adding a blue chainring and front rack?

Leukybear 

Titanium litespeed frames are so nice, especially the curved stays. Saw one the other day at the LBS on the stand.
Starting to have second thoughts of getting another carbon frame to replace a preexisting one; for something that still would be safe to ride by my grandson aha. Yea I got in a discussion with the head mech when he noticed me ogling and that was his argument for Ti.

mikeetow

yeah id have to have Litespeed build one for me custom, but that balde is kiiller!

however, I do have Geekhouse Bikes building me the first titanium frame from them track geo etc.

knack

My first build.
1979 Fuji S12-S

seau grateau

This is one of the nicest conversions I've ever seen. I want to hate the Omniums because they shouldn't look right with the rest of the build, but it looks awesome. Good job. Just put the derailleurs back on and it'll be perfect.

aegolius

Hello bikeforums. My ss bikes

Tunturi Aero SS








Haro Mary SS

BianchiDave

Very nice! and i'm really liking those bars, mustache?

cstpeter

Whataya need derailleurs in Chicago for?

Thanks for the kind words. I had the same reservations about the Omniums and almost went with the Sugino 75's -- but I'm glad I stuck with 'em.

63_dorinte

I like the silver chainring, and I have never seen a blue DA chainring.

After much searching and contemplating last night, I ordered the Velo Orange Porteur rack for the front, it is silver stainless steel and I think I can make suitable mounting straps for it. I really like the Cetma racks, but the guy is behind on production and not taking more orders until the end of July, and then it is a 4-6 week delivery.

63_dorinte

The handlebars are cheap Compe-Lite Tiki bars, got new for $20 shipped from ebay (I think it was Wheel and Sprocket).

They are 26.0mm clamp, 24.0mm bar, and 520mm width. The only clamp-on lever I have that would fit is a Crosstop, and it just didn't feel right. The DiaCompe 188 looks kinda weird, but it gives really good leverage with the dual-pivot caliper. And the A'me grips are SO much better than Oury.