Almost finished mine but need to get rid of the roller and down pull front mech tomorrow evening.
Done. Just need to oil the chain and find some Allen bolts.
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Was hoping for a 9-10kg, but I wanted a tougher do it all instead of a road bike build but will weigh soon.
Managed to get a brand new original fork £77.
CX wheels and tyres (32c).
Transferred my older 10spd Rival gear.
Used a CX70 top pull FD and Spesh Phat bar gel tape.
TPR Hy/Rd. Hope Headset.
11-28 and 50/34T compact.
Carbon post and Ritchey bars and stem.
Was a pain to set the pads rub free.
My old man likes it and I finished it on his birthday phew.
Cheers to Terry Wright Cycles for the bar tape and Bristows Cycles for getting me the fork.
Big shout to the folks on the forum who helped with a ton of advice including Mr Barrow 😉
Need some more Allen bolts to Plug (ahem) up remaining bottle hole threads.
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Needs better pics but that's another day when I have time.
I got dropped on a hill by my 67 year old unfit Dad and I had my mtb hybrid slick tyres with a 34 cog on the back.
Definitely rides light and smooth. 😀
Your dad's Plug looks very smart, must be something about Plugs and 67 year olds, had mine for my 67th.....
I agree 'Definitely rides light and smooth'
Thanks Maxlite.
67 is nothing if you keep your mind and body challenged.
I want a Plug myself now.
Finally finished 😀 Got it complete today and verything is looking good so far. Test rides tomorrow and the next day before a 4 day tour! Just need to fit a rack now. And get a black bolt for that fork leg.
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7711/26445044364_70d865c1e5_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7711/26445044364_70d865c1e5_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GhRLmL ]Charge Plug[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/28886706@N05/ ]Bigbroondug[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/27050470495_f5dacc8d55_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/27050470495_f5dacc8d55_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HdmJsk ]Charge Plug[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/28886706@N05/ ]Bigbroondug[/url], on Flickr
Nice.
Are you running carbon forks?
Anybody else set it up for CX or Road specific?
Yes, carbon fork from a Genesis CDF. Available from 18bikes. Good price, rack ready and hopefully saved a lb or so.
Nice forks, its great to have the option for front pannier fitting.
Love the b/grd...sea wall?
I saw the carbon CdF forks for £100 at 18bike, but when I went back to buy them they had gone up to £150 which isn't such a good deal. I hope yokaiser got them at the lower price.
I bought a pair of CdF steel forks for £50 but I couldn't believe how heavy they are. They only weigh in at 1.15kg but feel like girders in comparison to every other set of steel road forks I have. They are the latest model with the curved leg, but I can't see them offering much compliance.
I know disc forks have to be stronger because of the torque on the legs, but this seems like massive overkill.
I looked on fleaBay for carbon forks, but most are for tapered steerers and very few of the sellers bother including details on axle-to-crown measurement and offset.
Winstanleys have the Kinesis DC37 for £100, 625g
That looks really nice, enjoy the tour
Thanks for the link for the DC37, not seen them that cheap before. Bought but it is on preorder though. Going to get rid of the planet-x ones on mine as they are a bit heavy and I quite like the bike.
Does anyone know the Reynolds equivalent of Tange Prestige?
Also wondering if anyone else used the original fork? as some came as Pristige instead of Infinity.
£80 if you track one down.
Thinking of buying one of these and moving my 105 11 speed groupset over from my broken Specialized Tarmac frame.
Not actually built a bike before however so it could be quite a challenge.
Obsidian, I did manage to pick them up for 100, not sure why the price has went up. Tour is going well and the bike is impeccable.... mostly. Should have considered it beforehand but with the luggage loaded on the back there is an almost comical amount of flexing going on back there. I've adapted my out of the seat efforts and it's not so bad but in the future a lowrider on the fork and or bikepacking luggage would be better. I've 7kg of panniers and stuff on just for reference.
Couldn't resist all the nice opinions/pics on here and just clicked the button on the XL frame. Should hopefully be with me before the weekend.
Question regarding the forks: is there a suitable matt carbon disc fork that has plenty of clearance and doesn't cost an arm and a leg and some? Or should I just stick with my old Surly LHT fork?
Looking forward to build it with the 1x10 mtb gearing and 38c tyres. Friend of mine that has the same year version(Plug 4) reckons that with some cutting and re-welding the rear triangle bridges there is a chance of fitting the 45ish tyres...but is it really worth it(circa £40 without the paint)?
Cheers,
T
I did look about quite a bit for a matt fork, it was really only ebay/Chinese stuff that was available.
Many thanks, I'm a fugly face anyway so maybe I'll give it a go..?
I should post an update within a few weeks time with some pictures. In the meantime please keep them coming - I need some inspiration for my build.
I think I only discounted the Chinese and ebay stuff because I couldn't get lowrider mounts. The CDF fork ticked most of the boxes apart from the finish. Now its fitted I'm quite liking the shiny and matt mix, I just want to blank off the lowrider mounts when they are not in use.
Next will be to fit a pair mudgaurds. The CDF fork will present a problem for getting a nice and close fit, some bracket manufacture might be in order.
I've had time to ruminate on the recent trip I had on the Plug. Overall very happy between the fit and comfort of the tyres and frame I had no trouble at all. My gearing could have been a bit wider, I had a 12/27 cassette and a 48/36 pair of rings. The route was steep in parts and a slightly easier gear would have been welcome even at the expense of a top gear. When the bike is next pressed into touring duties I'll have a look at it again. Apart from that it'll just be a tidy up aesthetically, some black bolts and remove the decals on the wheels, may try some lighter tubes to try to get the most from the tyres (I've given up on tubeless for now).
I caved in and my frame arrived today too, going to create something Frankenstein-like from the parts lying on my garage floor. Will also post pics...
[b]Frankenstein[/b] - I bought an XL and wouldn't mind getting a pair of the original forks. Did the shop have these in stock? Worth me giving them a ring you think?
Cheers.
Andrew
I'm almost ready for Plug's maiden voyage! Just need to trim the cables and sort out the missing guts for lh shifter that will operate the dropper. Can't wait!
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Now that's different, but totally awesome.
What rubber is that?
Indeed it is! What forks have you fitted? Looks great btw.
Thanks for the kind words!
The rubbers are [url= 
]Spesh Crossroads[/url] 38c and the fork is off a Surly Disc Trucker.
Will have to re-consider tyres choice and I'm already lurking at the carbon forks with [s]more[/s] clearance.
Also need a narrower BB as 68x113mm is still too wide(68x107mm on order) and I might need a shorter stem(110mm so I'll try 100mm).
It seems that I've misplaced the gubbins to convert the lh shifter back to gears so the dropper project will have to wait.
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AndrewDeKerf - Member
Frankenstein - I bought an XL and wouldn't mind getting a pair of the original forks. Did the shop have these in stock? Worth me giving them a ring you think?
Cheers.
Andrew
Hi, I used Bristows Cycles in Peterborough, they ordered it in for me. LBS, not sure if they post? Colour and angle is spot on. Handles well.
The part number is FKCH14PLUG5BLK. The supplier actually sent me a Tange Premium instead, I'm not complaining if they sent me a better steel version lol. Around £70-77?
This bike and the parts I chose has made it lighter than my Boardman CX by a like. 8-9kg easily with a good CX wheel-set especially with roads around me.
Still rather enjoying the plug, so much that I can't see me riding skinnier tyres again!
Only fly in the ointment has been when wheeling the bike out the house the other day a lot of water ran out the chainstays. Not sure if it can be
wholly be attributed to the lousy weather, it's a lot more than I've noticed from any others bike. Might be worth a look and get some spray in there.
me too, had a good ride on Thursday and i was actually as quick on certain sections as my old road bike
Thanks to [b]YoKaiser[/b] suggestions I've decided to fit the CdF fork and what a great difference it made! The bike feels well balanced, not as twitchy and now I can inflate the front tyre without the risk of rubbing on the forks' arch. Happy days!
Not sure about fitting the dropper as it would be a tad too high, perhaps I could trim the seattube? 😈
Oh, and regarding the water leak from stays - I considered drilling a small hole underneath the bb so the water can escape and not turn my frame in to a lethal pile of rust?
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Good updates all.
Ive been out on mine again tonight. Built it up cheap but loving it.
Going to brave some bridleways soon I think.
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Took it on a bridleway or three tonight. Great fun
Now with mudgaurds fitted. Opted for the Radial Cycles gaurds, quite easy to fit I'd say. I modified the front with a bracket to lower the overall height and I drilled the rear gaurd to mount at the seatstay bridge. Came out quite neat I reckon.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8444/28888271720_c112ed0cac_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8444/28888271720_c112ed0cac_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/L1KWJm ]Charge Plug with mudguards.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/28886706@N05/ ]Bigbroondug[/url], on Flickr
That looks great Yokaiser
What kind of riding are you doing on it?
@ kazafaza **waves** what size frame did you plump for?
It was bought as a commuter and occasional light tourer but has also usurped my road bike. Descending is a lot of fun and the big tyres take the edge off the back roads I favour. Really can't speak highly enough of it and the Schwalbe S-Ones too.
@[b]LMTTM[/b]: Hi, went for an XL which seems to be very similar in ETT to the old 58cm Reynolds DayOne(pre-Mjolnir ones when they changed geo).
BTW, I've someone who'd pay top £££ for 14' Longitude in 20,5" 😉
I'm thinking one of these frames might well be the next in mu build queue. Can anyone tell me what headset type the frame uses? Also, I am assuming its a standard British threaded BB?
Straight 1 1/8 headset and yes standard threaded BB. I fitted an FSA Orbit XL II, the lower cup tapers nicely at the bottom to meet the large crown of the carbon fork should you decide to go down this route.
You're right - standard threaded BB and the headset is a 1 1/8" or 34mm...
Good luck with your build!
Thanks folks. Just got to decide what gear / group mix I am going to use. Don't know if I want to go 1x or not.. Think I will just order the frame and then decide. 🙂
Here's mine, finally.
Frankenstein got the last fork from Charge, so I ended up buying a Soma one (made by Tange). It's Infinity and the same fork that appeared on the singlespeed Plugs, so I thought it matched the frame well. The main plus is that it comes with a mile long steerer, so unlike most forks you can get the bars up nice and high, which I like.
All the kit is from Sram, bought because i'd tried Shimano and Campag and I like experimenting. It's OK, and looks nice, it's just not Shimano. I don't ever want to try to fit a new gear cable to those shifters though.
I like the bike. It's not what I would call a supple steel frame, and the fork is too harsh for 28's, but it's just fun to hack around on.
I can't figure out how to put an image up here? Links below.
https://goo.gl/photos/8Tqexunk5x1TQMgz5
https://goo.gl/photos/iy3XYtUSFsmjLdEX6
Built one of these up myself, quite a nice ride. However I've read that the newer Tange Prestige isn't *that* strong. Should I be worried at 190lbs?
Have aquired one of these and am wondering what is the widest tyre I can get away with based on real world feedback. Got a 32 hutchinson piranha in the back. Leaves plenty of room between the stays but the chainstay brace is tight.
