Any news on the new Leader Cretin frameset ? Is it meant to replace the 721, or is it a totally new model ? It seems to use all round tubing, including the downtube.

Edit: It kinda looks like my Dolan Pre Cursa, which I like a lot.

Im 99.9% certain the Cretin will only be available as a complete bike, priced at $499 w/ a carbon I803 fork. The tubing is roundish but the top tube has a bit of a flat, more squared-off profile. It's a really cool frame. For those who don't know, it's named the Cretin to give props to a local San Diego bike crew (The Cretins).

I'm hearing there are future plans to make more 721 frames at some point in 2015 but I'm not quite sure when that will happen.

Another new complete bike Leader will be offering soon is the Cure, which is also a really cool bike with a good back story.

I think you just convinced me. Expect to ship one out in the coming weeks.

More for curiosities sake, do you happen to know why Sugino removed the 75 lettering from their black 75's?

They didn't. A small run of them were stamped with the wrong graphic and missing the number but it's present on all the current ones passing through the shop these days.

Pake + Pake fork > kilo frameset?

I'm also thinking about building something up and was thinking about the Pake and the Kilo. Maybe it's just been me hearing the phrase "kilo tt" about 10,000 times over the past few years, but I'm leaning towards the kilo.

I'd take the Rum Runner over a Kilo any day.

Was the quilly lugged Leader a slow seller? What was the largest size it was available in? I wish I was aware of it when it was available.

I know they only made a handful of them. I wish I had grabbed one too.

Why, may I ask? Just better geo and tubing?

It's really a bummer they stopped making all the different colors. I loved the grey but doesn't look like anyone has it anymore... I guess their site does say that only black and white are available.

I noticed Retrogression has white in my size. Might buy it through you guys as a frameset w/some other goodies to get the build going.

Do you know if All-City will be producing those Pursuit Special (or whatever they're called) chainrings in black? I sent them an inquiry email and have not heard back yet.

I want a whole set. They look great, are made in the US, and fill a gap in price points in rings. Just really really want them in black.

So I bought my first fixed-gear from a wonderful gentleman on craigslist. It's an Iro Mark V with a bunch of upgrades (brooks saddle, soma pedals, thomson stem and seatpost etc) and I'm absolutely loving it so far.

When asking him if the frame was a Pro or not though, he wasn't sure. At first he thought it was just a regular Mark V, but he was also under the impression that it was Reynolds steel and not Cro-Mo. How can I tell the difference?

Either way I'm quite happy with my purchase, just curious really.

Not sure but I hope so. They're awesome.

Tange tubing, made in Taiwan and I feel the overall quality is more consistent.

We may still be able to get some other colors from weird secondary distributors sitting on dead stock depending on size. Contact me through the site if you want me to look into it.

Reynolds steel is Cro-Mo. Just ride it.

Hey Scrod, I was wondering if you could help me out...
I bought a Cinelli Lola bullhorn handle bar a couple months ago, was wondering what kind of brake lever should I use? Does it matter where I place the lever? I want to place it near the stem I guess which would be 31.8 in size. I researched and found that a Cane Creek Crosstop could be used for this setup, is this what you would recommend as well?

Also I am thinking about getting the campagnolo veloce for the brakes as well, hope this works for the best. Thanks! (btw I am only planning to use front brakes only if that matters)

I've never used Veloce calipers so I don't really have an opinion on them. I'm sure they'll work just fine.

You can use any cross lever with a 31.8 clamp if you want to mount it next to the stem.

If I may add to this. Pake is run by Soma. It's like a subdivision or something. And soma rocks socks world wide.

Scrod, what bar tape have you got on your thunderdome

Fizik Superlight.

Scrod what do you know about Pedal iSSi quality? They seem to be reasonably priced, fairly small in size, and spd - compatible...


Unless you know something I don't about them, I'm thinking about snagging a pair

We just got some in at the shop and they're actually super nice. Sealed bearings, rebuildable (parts are available), light weight and they come in a bunch o' good colors. I only know one person using them as of yet and haven't heard any complaints from him.

Speaking of pedals, have you seen the new VO Grand Cru Sabot pedals ? They seem to be very nice high end large platforms that would be just the ticket for riding in soft shoes or flip flops.

Hey, Scrod. Which frame is objectively better:
Aventon Mataro, Dolan Pre Cursa or Leader 725?

Why so?

I haven't seen them in person but they do look really good. Velo Orange doesn't typically make garbage, so I'm assuming they're nice.