Finished building this up Yesterday, the frame is a modified Singular kite which was bought via the classified, sadly the steerer on the forks was a little short for me and my flexibility (read fat) so got my LBS, who can supply Brother Cycles, to order me a set of Kepler Carbon disc forks, plus I like my Velo Orange stem too much to swap it out for slammed one…..

Most of the parts came from my Kaffenback, I did need to get a new headset as the crownrace on my FSA was out of shape, sadly I couldn’t find another crownrace to suit, so settled with a Superstar one, seems a nicely made thing.

Overall I’m pleased with it, felt pretty responsive on the bit of gravel track at the back of the village, just need to get out on it now and into the wild!

Oh I did try and fit a Singular frame decal, I think the one I had was for a thicker tubed frame as it wrapped around a bit too much, didn’t realise until I cut it to go around the cable guides…… live and learn, was half tempted to stick a Rock Lobster decal on there as I think it a cool looking logo.. sacrilege….

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2g2QhgJ]IMG_20190525_145327[/url] by Stephen Williams, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2g2Qzqn]IMG_20190525_145618[/url] by Stephen Williams, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2g2QuWZ]IMG_20190525_145332[/url] by Stephen Williams, on Flickr

Next purchase is some fatter tyres… thinking of some Gravel King SK’s.

Cheers, Steve

Very nice indeed, what’s the max size tyre you can run?

Officially 700×42 if I remember my Kite sales info correctly, the chap who sold it said 45’s.
Been looking at the 43 Gravel Kings, measuring with a set of callipers there seems to be plenty of clearance.

Have a look at Soma Cazadero tyres they are better that gk’s IMHO😀 Come in 700×42 and the obligatory tan wall!

Reviewed: Soma Cazadero 42c Gravel Tire by Panaracer

Ok thanks, I should really be looking at something a bit more 60-70% road orientated really. Only get off road via the coastal path and Tehidy work on the way too/from work. I quite like the 33.3333 I have on atm from PX but they were cheap and the fattest I could fit in my Kaffenback.

Cheers, Steve

Looks lovely!

Thanks, fingers crossed it performs tomorrow.

Skinwalls make any bike 34.78% better.

#ScienceFact

Took it home on a “gravel” commute the other night, performed well enough, bit more volume tyres wouldn’t go amiss.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2g4Lfgt]IMG_20190527_194042[/url] by Stephen Williams, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2g4Lby2]IMG_20190527_194233[/url] by Stephen Williams, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2g4LbtH]IMG_20190527_194651[/url] by Stephen Williams, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2g4LoKf]IMG_20190527_200553[/url] by Stephen Williams, on Flickr

And the odd walker didn’t seem to mind my cheeky riding on the SWCostal path…..

Cheers, Steve

Looks lovely. I’m a bit confused though. I thought the original Kite had canti bosses, and the disc one has a tapered head tube?

Drop outs and cable routing don’t look very Singular, either.

???

I was thinking just the same thing ^^^

@skankin_giant I’ve got a pair of the early Gravelking sk40s in skinwall sat spare if you want them? £45 posted? They measure up at 43 as you know.

@nedrapier & Andy R
Correct…..the previous owner had it modified by Lee Cooper cycles, so its had disc brake tabs, drop outs etc brazed on.
It might not be a Singular kite, but I’m pretty happy with it.

@shedbrew
Yes interested PM me details please.

Cheers, Steve

Ygm

Bit muddy and wet but we’re are now running ghetto tubeless 700×43, 48/32 Praxis Alba and 11-36 rear cassette via SRAM Apex 10 speed. Front derailleur needs to be dropped a few mm but shifts quite nicely as is and I can climb the side of a house….. I bought the 11-36 as it was cheap enough and thought why the hell not….. don’t know if to sell my Absolute Black compact (50/34) oval rings or not, got a spare Apex crankset now as well, I may put them on again…

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ggEWQ4]IMG_20190619_104244[/url] by Stephen Williams, on Flickr[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ggFeCM]IMG_20190619_104258[/url] by Stephen Williams, on Flickr