With what friends and lovers call my 'obsession with slightly atypical bikes' continuing, I felt there was space in the garage (there really isn't - it's a mess) for this sort of thing....
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Clearly it started life a a Kona DrFine (Giggle) purchased from Loddrik from 'ere...
Originally flat barred and trigger shifted (Alfine), I got some Midges and Versa Shifters, again from here. Then got some R505 cable calipers from, erm, here...
The cables came from a shop though!! And some CX tyres are in the post too!
It's my first drop barred bike, so of course I had to have Midge bars just to be 'funky and alternative'! It's taken a few twists and trials to get the hoods set up comfortably, but as this is taking my drop bar virginity, to me it all feels great!
The sliding drop-outs are a pleasure to use - much nicer than plain old horizontals, which I have on the fixie - there is a bit of a weight penalty, and TBH like 'one of Sisco's laydeezz' all the weight is in the back 😯 , But I suppose it gives a bit more weight over the traction wheel (Perhaps...)
The plan is for this to be my 'pretty much do everything bike', and is going to be replacing the use of a car completely for work - you can make a patient group get used to most things TBH, and turning up on a bike is often a conversation starter (once on a home visit I met a lovely old couple who used to race FIXED TANDEMS! Bonkers)
So, anyway, comment away on the paving, grass, and if you wish, the bike!!
DrP
What an oddity, sure it'll gain some attention, but I reckon it'll be very capable.
I know it's an unfinished build but that is no excuse for taking a non-driveside picture, with the valves not aligned to 6pm and the tyres and valves not aligned 😉
Hey - it IS finished!!
Well, I've future plans to rebuild the wheels, and might change the brake pads when they wear out....
DrP
EDIT - Pisswangle - I forgot to line up the rear valve/logo.....!
Well, what can I say!
Stuck some Smart Sam's on it, and this thing is ORESUM!
Flies along the tarmac, flies along the grass and gravel...A bit 'different' (from a meta5 with phat tyres) down fast tech descents, but this may well turn out to be my most versatile and favouritestes bike!!
If you're a bit 'cross-curious', go for it!!
DrP
(the best thing is you can make new Strava segments that involve road and trail!)
Want one
Looks great . . . But it really does make me wonder if any cycling psychologists out there want to do a Phd on what someones bike says about their personality 🙂
Really like that...looks good
I love the colour and the lines. I must admit I don't fully understand what's going on at the back though?
..what's going on at the back though?
Well, there's:
-sliding dropouts
-disc brake
-hitch for towing trailer! I bet it's that that put you off!!
As for the colour, it's become affectionately known as "the polished turd"...
DrP
-hitch for towing trailer! I bet it's that that put you off!!
So that's what it is. I seeeeeee.
This is not helping my desire for a newer shinier sexier commuter bike. Dammit people.
Very nice bike that, drop bar off road is quite good fun.
Feedback time....
So, took the CX bike for a group blast last night - South Downs /Woods areas...
The ground was dry and hard- VERY hard! You really notice every trail bump with skinny tyres at 70PSI!
It's not rocky here, but very rooty - It took a few tried to 'figure out' the weight balance whilst riding the drops. That is to say, you have to really put effort in to 'deweight' the front going over roots/ruts, but once you've figured it, that's fine.
I did miss suspension/fat tyres when bombing along the singletrack - I got 'pinged off' at one point as I hit a stump coming around a corner at speed, and got bounced into the bushes!
However - I had a smile on my face the whole time, and was being 'very noisy' the whole ride ("whoa""Wow""eek" etc!), so all in all it was a cracking ride on a cracking bike!
[url= http://app.strava.com/activities/51596122 ]Here's the ride on strava...[/url]
DrP
It was fast on the twitchy bits and you only got one puncture so I'd say that was a success.
Only falling off properly once was a result too!
If your riding in the drops all the time (especially offroad) try putting them a bit higher. You have quite a considerable saddle-bar drop if your using the drops as the main hand position.
You have quite a considerable saddle-bar drop if your using the drops as the main hand position.
I take that on board but it's not discomfort, rather the 'getting used' to the position.
DrP
Thats what i meant really, you probably wouldnt have an XC bike with that amount of drop, will make it much more 'usable' offroad if you nudge them up a bit, weight balance as you say. Of course each to their own, just passing knowledge learned through similar experience.
I should say i never got on with midge bars either (twisted wrist in funny way), salsa Cowbell much nicer.
True.
Though it may dent phenomenal road speed somewhat if i did... 😉
There's steerer space - can always give it a go...
DrP