If you’re dead set on the XT / Mavic combo (which you won’t go far wrong with) at the very least get them built by someone who knows the Peak District – the handbuilt thing is worth every penny.

They have a regular website too – and a proper shop of course – but their wheels are top drawer. I’ve had 3x Hope hub / Mavic / Syncros rim sets from them over the years, and they’re all spot on.

I have an old RL Team Ti (same geometry) built up as a singlespeed, running 100mm 2006 Reba SLs – it’s ACE! Do it – you can’t leave it there for £180.

Failed with the forks, but I do have the rims…

Loving that Hustler and your SC, trickydisco.

so (in addition to crap sealing from some of them), a similar issue to that of the external ones – trying to cram ickle bearings into too small a space?

My Rock Lobster Ti until this evening was running magic 34/16 with a KMC 8 spd chain, but as the chain wore (I’ve recently found out that ‘stretch’ is not the right terminology for what actually happens to it) it obviously got slacker. Sadly, not slack enough to whack a half link in, but I’ve now just put a 17T on the back, and I’ve got really good tension. Maybe that’s the way around it?

The original cog was a proper SS cog with long teeth and the 17 is off an XT cassette I had lying around. I’ve not ridden it in anger yet, but I’m hoping that it’ll a) give my knees a break for a bit and b) mean I can chop and change between ratios and keep the magic thing going without an ugly tensioner.

BTW: Rule No. 1 of cycling: singlespeed = less maintenance = complete fallacy!
:-)

I’ve just fitted some eBay 2006 ones to the singlespeed – seem pretty sweet, and they’re only just a few grammes over 1.5Kg, so whilst they might not be as stiff as the 08 / 09 ones, they’re not much heavier than a pair of SIDs.

Thanks for the advice though – makes a lot of sense and I just wish I had a bit more cash to justify splashing on the 08 SLs.

cove123 – have you found a good / sensibly priced supplier for the Uno crankset? I’ve been looking at them too…

[mini hijack – sorry, OP]

DezB – how did you find the sizing on the Cannondale’s? I’m a 36″ waist and that’s at the top of their large sizing – do they fit bang on or is it safer to go up a size. Ah – the shame of it.

Fantastic, FC – it’s one of the best looking bikes I’ve seen on here for many a moon. You lucky thing!

Really glad that after all the build up (in more ways than one!) you enjoyed it today, FC. Doesn’t look like you got it too muddy though – well done!

It looks amazing in its natural environment (as opposed to up against your back wall!), though I also have a bit of an issue with the purple / green thing going on! :wink: Actually it’s brilliantly retro – keep it. Just ignore me!

What weight did it come out at? It looks like it’s probably as much fun up the hills as it is down them. Very very nice. You must be so chuffed!

It’s not exactly pocket money but Merlin have them at £429.95 – you might have to jump fast as I don’t know if it’s part of their weekend special they’ve had on this weekend.

Have you been out on it yet? What are the chain tugs like on those?

Won’t mention that your tiles need pressure washing, or that your hoses need shortening, but just a little worried you’ve got enough seat post in the seat tube – and some below the top tube junction?

Looks great with those forks on it though – and should be a top ride. Very nice.

Tried the new Altura Attack Extreme jacket out today in horizontal snow over Edale way. Very impressed, with not just the waterproofing and windproofing, but the breathability as well. Had an Icebreaker merino underneath, with a Specialized wicking vest under that and the bib knickers between. Very pleased with the purchase!

Latest shot of the Superlight – just had a fantastic time on it today around Edale in the snow. Looking a bit cleaner here than it did earlier!

I have Optilabs but they seem quite ‘noisy’ – they make a lot more wind noise than my normal glasses, which is surprising as they appear to look quite aero.

I’d have the Oakleys every time if I could afford them, though there’s nothing massively wrong with the Optilabs, they’re just cheaper in every sense than the real thing.

One of them new fangled “’break’ {sic} wire caps” might do the job if you can’t find one designed specifically for gears… that’s assuming you’ve not gone down Grumm’s route of using a ‘spoke head’.

By god there must be more to Saturday nights than this…

:?

I can’t believe I’ve come back from a curry and looked at this s*dding thread again.

OP – come back, keep ranting, we need you…

Maybe we should have a new thread – what CAN you get for £2.50 these days that you’re actually happy about?

Merlin – 10% off this weekend takes them down to a mere £233.96… your mate can’t leave them there for that can he?

Apart from the fact that £2.99 is for 2 on CRC [;)]

LOL – I was editing mine as you put that up there! Not sure what the OP’s problem is to be honest? :roll:

Ooh yes, that’s terrible. I mean £2.50 for a gear inner wire? That’s about 50p less than TWO of CRC’s own brand and about 40% cheaper than a Clarkes one?

Where’s the problem? Funny thing to put up as your first post – they must really have wound you up? I’d heard from riding buddies and customers of theirs (though I have no 1st hand experience) that they were a pretty good joint up there?

you can get that Dirty Jo without the icky decals from CRC and it’s a brilliant frame. It really is! That would be my starting point too. In fact it was when I did this for real…

+5. I’m thinking of swapping my Mono Minis that have Goodridge hoses on them and sexy floaty rotors for a set of SLX’s for goodness sakes. The other bikes have XT and LX discs on them, and I really do prefer them. They just feel better to me – and I really thought the Hope’s were the D’ B’s for a while.

Mine died after 1.5 rides – just like the one reviewed in MBUK / What MTB or whatever mag it was did. I’d already returned it “under warranty” but to no avail. I am clearly an idiot with a spanner, I didn’t read the destructions from my crankset supplier (you won’t get any destructions with your BB, by the way – you have to refer to another company’s literature to fit their kit) and it was suggested that the fine sand in my BB had come down the seat tube. Of course, it might have, but then, it might not.

The other SSC one on my ‘high days and dry days’ road bike is still running ok (though I abhor having it on there). It was fitted by the same clown (me) but hasn’t had much in the way of Peak District mountain biking to contend with.

hey ho.

ho hum.

</breathe>

Dunno why I’d not considering the 2nd hand option on the ’08s – just made a few enquiries so thanks for the heads up on that. I do also prefer the look of the ’08s too…

I’m not sure how ‘cool’ it is, but I’m getting so much fun out of my singlespeed at the moment.

I’ve just put some new Hope Pro II SS hubbed, 321 disc rimmed wheels on, and some chunky but light Conti Race King 2.2 tyres that seem to work quite well, though may be a bit more fun in the summer than the gloop right now.

This is just a phone pic from today’s 17.5 mile ride in the hills – when I say ride, I actually mean I pushed up that hill, but it was a nice bike to push…

BTW – it’s a Rock Lobster Team Ti, running 34 / 16.

Have a look at LifeCycles – I’ve had 3 sets over the years, and they’re all still going strong. Bigger range of rims as well (Syncros, Spank etc as well as the usual DT and Mavic). Not that there’s owt wrong with Merlin, but these guys are good.

FoxyChick – you did well putting Mr FC to work, and he’s done you a cracking job. I bet you can’t wait to get out riding at the weekend….

So saying – don’t be getting it dirty now, will you?! :wink:

Does this look like a good deal? If so, then what sq taper BB to go with it?

Okay – so let’s say I go for a Middleburn / square taper setup (or similar). I really don’t want to put a chain tensioner on, I’m not getting ENO eccentric hubs and I’ve got vertical dropouts.

I possess half links, but what, if anything, can I do other than muck about with sprocket / chainring rations to get it to magic gear . . . forever? Or am I just being totally daft?

Superlight and maybe something a bit burlier than Revs up front – say some Pikes? Does me fine.

Oh very nice indeed! Have you any idea what kit you’re going to put on it or is the crisis something you’re planning on spinnning out for a while…?! :-)

Great observation about where “IF” fits in ‘mid life crisis’, BTW – noteeth!

Cotic do one for about £9 for their Roadrat which has the same size OD – you’ll find it at the bottom of this page.

STW in Firefox 3.0.6 is making the CPU on my MacBook go loopy this afternoon – it’s definitely this site as when I closed it and looked at something else for a bit, the Activity Monitor dropped right back to normal and the screaming fan of death gave in after a while too…

Loving the Klein and the Fat Chance.

I had a black Klein Pinnacle that was very purdy, in an understated way (for a Klein), but my absolute favourite, I think because of the colour, was an old Rockhopper Comp frame, that I had in about ’92, in a beautiful mid to light blue colour, with some black Tange prestige forks.

As a bike it was nothing out of the ordinary, but it was a colour that I don’t think was readily available in the UK (it was a random offering as a frame from Specialized from the States). I must look up their archive pages.

Around that time I also had a loan of a Joe Breeze Breezer that had the kind of coachworking you normally see on… coaches? Dunno – but it was dark blue and white and beautifully finished.

Then again, I do like my current FS – the Superlight – especially with the new bars and grips that went on it today… I know the curvy frame isn’t to everyone’s taste, but it’s engineering done well, as far as I can tell.

I_Ache – Member

gonetothehills nice matching white roof bars!

You’re very kind, but they’re silver (and match the Golf!)…. nice idea though – you’ve got me thinking now..!

BTW – the rims are the Syncros FL DS23 and Lifecycles did an awesome job in buiilding them onto my existing Hope SP3 hubs. Lifecycles have a good selection of white hoops – from Syncros and Spank, I think.

Yes, that’s the fastest it goes, and the highest off the ground it gets. I’ve got rid of the daft uncomfortable white saddle as well – nice bit of kit, just didn’t match my arse.

Don’t do the white grips thing though – you may as well buy some nice brown ones and be done with it.

I recall one from yonks ago – where I think Mint’s mending a flat, and hears a “click / clack / click / clack” sound from behind him. He daydreams that it’s some hot chick in heels, but it’s actually one of his bovine / ovine mates in roadie cleats walking towards him – saying something about “fancy a roadie bash”, IIRC.

I’d love to see it again if it’s kicking around on t’internet – I did laugh a lot at the time, and still chuckle to myself whenever I’m wandering around in my roadie disco pumps.

More recent (and juvenile) ones, include “I’ve never seen a gash foam that much” which is enough to put me off going tubeless for good! :-)

Specializedneeds – I got as far as actually paying the guy in the States for the forward components one – but it never turned up. Loads of delays with his suppliers, and he had me going round the houses a lot, which made me a bit suspicious. It looks the bees knees – if anything, nicer than the Excentriker, and the feature where you can perhaps more easily adjust it with the chain on than the Excentriker was quite appealing too.

I’m now waiting for John Atkins Cycles to come back to me about the Excentriker – I think they may have some stock coming. I think both options are great, but the prices seem to have shot up recently. When I ordered the Forward one before xmas, it was well under £100, so in conjunction with even a decent vertical dropout frame, it looked like a brilliant solution.

I’d love to hear feedback on either technology from anyone, and if / when something turns up here, I’ll let the whole sodding world know if it works!

My SS runs the inner ring of an FSA Gossamer chainset and matching BB and the clearance (34T) is fine on that.