Go easy on me!! This is my first foray into building a bike since I was a youngun so not sure whether it should be posted here, in the ugly bikes thread, or into a skip. Definitely not up there with other bikes here but........ I've worked that much out at least!
It started 18 months ago when I was the lucky recipient of a few free bikes. One was a beater MTB, no name brand on it, no model name either, so no idea what it was. Had an aluminium frame, steel forks and mostly Shimano brakes and gear stuff on it. A bit rough around the edges but gave me the idea for a bike build, something hopefully much different to my other bike, a Giant STP0 downhill bike, something that I could spin around the neighborhood on following my young boys while they learnt to ride or just shoot to the shops on. Plans were for a single speed bike. Less moving parts, less expense and less maintenance was my thought train. Definitely was NOT going to be a fixie according to my knees. So lots of learning to be done, lots of parts.
So, stripped the frame of the factory detritus, given a thorough clean and prep, etch primer plus paint and clear coats applied. Then the selection of parts came, preowned- old and not so old, new and reused (although not too many of the last option unfortunately- meant more $$ spent than I first thought! Seems to always be the way).
Parts list consists of:
No name frame and forks as mentioned
Giant Rigida front wheel
Chinese Carbonzone rear wheel
Continental tyres
Truvativ Elita cranks, 48T chainring & BB
On One rear 18T (to come), using a no name 22T(!) at present
Cheap track pedals
Ebay carbon flat bars (cut down)
(Have a set of bullhorns that may go on this one instead)
Cinelli tape (no grips)
Dia compe Tech 99 Gold Finger lever
Shimano 105 Caliper
Syncros RP1.5 seat
Kalloy post & carbon clamp
Only before shot I have, the frame stripped, cleaned and ready for primer:
And then:
A huge transformation from what it was, hopefully up to the standards of even just some other bikes here. Still a few things I'd like to do with but happy so far. Rides well, except for the ratio. Also very happy to hear opinions, good, bad and otherwise, and suggestions from any and all of you much wiser ones.
Thanks,
Tim