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You won’t find any specific pictures, most of the gallery on the Rourke website is racing builds, winter builds and a couple of CX builds.
I don't get this 'cos if I spent £3-4k on one I'd show it off
Just need to decide on a paint scheme now, I’ve got lots of nice ideas but sadly the artistic talent of a brick so might just need to go for a block colour. Or copy someone else’s design
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shandcycles/albums
^ Pick a colour and say 'I want that one'
Edit - didn't see the last page, deleted as not very helpful now
out of curiosity, which kinesis frame do / did you have? I'm tempted by a RTD or 4 seasons and they seem to get good reviews for not being harsh - you have got me worried! Thanks
I have the CX-1 which is both cheaper AND probably a couple of generations older than the models you're looking at.
Plus I don't think had suggested anywhere that it was especially harsh, it's not, I've done long says on it with a rigid seatpost no probs.
Thst being said, I'm ALSO assuming that custom 853 should hopefully feel a bit more springy than mid price aluminium...
Good work @13thfloormonk we can see who’s arrives first 😄👍
I’ve picked my paint design already based upon my existing Rourke with some colours I like.
@shedbrewed have you heard anything from Rourke?
I know they're busy but communications don't really seem to be their strong suite, I was told in a brief call that I was in the queue but no other confirmation.
Am hoping this just means once they get around to it everything happens at once...
@13thfloormonk I had an email from Wayne a few weeks after with drawing and details. I had a couple of questions so emailed back and then he replied a week or so after. If it was urgent I’d pick up the phone. I’m just waiting now for December.
Hmm, OK, I'm probably still within 'a few weeks' so will give them benefit of the doubt 😎
Of course I sent them my own fully dimensioned CAD drawing because I have too much time on my hands 😉
Yikes, things got real! Deposit down, we're just fine tuning details now...
Headtube will be 10mm shorter than shown, I'll probably run a positive rise stem to reduce number of spacers (I think Mr Rourke is a bit traditional, he insists on showing the stem in a negative rise...).
I also bottled the 80mm BB drop. I know it's probably all in my head but I remembered how much I'd enjoyed some rockier tracks on my CX framed gravel bike and wondered how many pedal strikes I'd have suffered with a 20mm lower BB, so I split the difference and we've settled on 70mm (I think, Mr Rourke operates a 7-10 day response time, wish I could get away with that in my line of work!).
Lauf Smoothie bars on the way, and wondering whether to get a pimpy 46/30 Praxis/Absolute Black oval chainset or just stick with a GRX 46/30.
Also, fast rolling tan wall Continental Terra Speeds? Or go with tried and tested Vittoria Terrenos? I'm hoping the steel frame and slightly longer wheelbase encourages more flat out pedalling behaviour over rougher tracks so I should probably stick with the sturdier tyres.
(apologies for plagiarised paint job, I have no imagination so just pinched one I liked from a 'boutique' manufacturer).
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Rear tyre clearance looks tight, what size tyres & rims you speccing?
I'll be running Vittoria Terreno 38mm (which size up as 40mm) but had specced 45mm. I think ISO standard for 'clearance' is 4mm either side which it achieves. Given that I've 'only' had about 2mm clearance for the last three years I'm happy with that! The compromise is longer chainstays which I didn't really want, I'm used to a very short nippy CX frame so didn't want something which would noticeably more sluggish.
They've also advised that it might be tight with mudguards as shown, but that's fine as the mudguards are only an option if I run it as a road bike throughout winter with 32mm tyres.
Looks lovely. It'd be great to get some photos as they build and paint it. It's going to be a shame to subject to some Scottish winter mud.