I’ve just ended up with this half by accident and half out of frustration – another GP4000s trashed from cuts etc. on the rear so I stuck a new Gatorskin on the back instead which I had got to put on a different bike. It will probably stay on there if it’s more durable…

Commando until I can acquire some when I’ve done that in the past!

and waswas, the only time I forgot my trousers I concluded my only option was to ride back for them – 3 x 7 mile commute that morning!

continuity – Member

People aren’t saying the cheap option’s better. They’re saying “Look at me, I’m special because I don’t have another run of the mill good quality carbon frame, instead I paid exactly the same for a heavier, weaker, harsher riding frame”.

Aren’t people just expressing a personal choice? You seem to be getting more worked up about it than anyone else here… :?

True, I assumed 26″.

I’ve done as per Onzadog – reverse thread screw extractor drill bit. I nearly broke my wrist when it engaged, but other than that full success!

2:1 is the default for MTB S/S I believe, so go 32:16 and see how you get on…

Dunwich Dynamo route with a little extra to make up the distance – out from North East London to the Suffolk coast?

Trent Park does sound very nice – hadn’t thought of that and we haven’t been there… maybe we’ll go that way. Cheers :)

Swedish – Bowman Palace has clearance for 28, I’ve got 25s in mine and there’s definitely space for larger (though still with the annoying problem I mentioned in the other thread of the wheel not fitting past the chainstay bridge with the tyre inflated :x :lol: )

ben, based near Hornsey station. We could / would ride a reasonable way to get somewhere worth getting to though :)

Ally Pally is a great suggestion, but we live just round the corner so I’m after inspiration. Cheers though!

maybe not with him, but some of those sound excellent – nice one!

Bump just in case… failing that any excellent toddler friendly activities cycling distance (for me with him on the back) from North London also welcome!

mrblobby – Member

Swedish Chef posted this racey Allez in another thread…

There was a pretty swank looking Bowman in that same thread, IIRC :D

Cross your legs over while driving to see if you could still operate the pedals like that…

Swap your fear, Kryton – you’ll feel better for it. :)

rainy – Member

Walter built his own engine because quite simply he was the most experienced engine builder on the team and he started it so he wanted to complete it. This kept him going through some really tough chemo sessions for which o am very grateful. Sometimes things are just as they seem and this is one of those times. Hope this helps..

Great stuff, it was amazing to see it in action once the build was done and a great finish – not a dry eye in our household in the last few minutes. Hope he gets to enjoy the car for a long time to come.

I thought OP was going to be a picture of Dani Alves :lol:

I spotted these on Amazon the other day, may be of interest in here:

Alternative Spoke Magnet on Amazon

Alternative Pedal Magnet on Amazon

I do like GP4000s, but even on my summer only bike find they get ripped to shreds well before they wear out. Is this just the price you pay for lighter faster tyres, or are there alternatives intended for the same usage that are more resilient? I’m thinking I may switch to Gatorskins or 4 Seasons just so they last longer…

Use this: Chain Length Calculator

Final comments:

1. Total build weight including pedals is 7.88kg, which I’m pretty happy with. I would like it to be a bit lower, but unlikely to be able to make significatn weight savings so it will probably stay around that mark or a touch lower.

2. It’s a great bike – 50 miles (5,000 ft climbing) in Yorkshire over the weekend and I absolutely love it, fantastic to ride, climbs, accelerates and handles at any speed beautifully, truly nice to ride. Excellent stuff.

3. Two things I don’t like:
a. That “Ride with Spirit” logo on the top tube. Hard to ignore as well!
b. Bizarrely, you can’t get a rear wheel with an inflated 25mm tyre past the chainstay bridge to get the wheel on or off, so can only fit / remove wheels with flat tyres. Hopefully won’t get too annoying, but that’s pretty odd if you ask me!

That’s all. :)

If it helps, when we did ours in a conservation area we used photographs of the proposed cross sections / joints etc. and it got approved like that, without any drawings. AFAIK they won’t just fail it straight off, if they want more detail they will ask for it.

I have used cloudmagic for a while, it’s pretty good. Though there may be better options that I haven’t tried!

This is mostly black, with just enough not-black IMO!

Bowman Palace – finished article! by theflatboy[/url], on Flickr

No reserve is risky, as obviously you are totally at the mercy of whoever happens to see it during the auction. I sold a pair of very nice CK wheels on ebay for a ridiculously low price like that – someone definitely got a bargain!

I’m in Slaithwaite centre on Sunday as well, looking forward to it. :)

Met Elfo (I think) – small, tough, cheap and looks good. My boy’s on his second.

Glad you like, generally – and I can live with “slightly curious” :lol: I like a Masterpiece, good weight and strong and solid too – got one on my alloy winter bike and happy with it on there…

It and the stem may or may not stay but they’re alright on there for now. Still haven’t managed to actually ride it :(

djtom +2

cynical +1

amedias +1

You could freecycle it – I’m a bit wary of doing that with good stuff, as there’s a chance the person who gets it will just sell it on etc., but if you vet them then hopefully it will go to a good home… alternatively, local secondary school / college where they have photography on offer?

edit – just noticed the college suggestion’s already been made. It’s a good one, though!

bump!

There’s a Bespoke on Farringdon Road – save you the trek over to Canary Wharf and it’s between Condor and Look Mum No Hands. Not sure it would be open on a weekend, having said that…

Two Wheels Good in Stokey does bike fitting service.

Ok, the build is complete – very happy with it, though haven’t actually managed to get it outside to ride it at all yet!

Anyway, here are some pics. I’ll give you the full spec if you want. :)

Hope PF41 in situ by theflatboy[/url], on Flickr

Ultegra Chainset by theflatboy[/url], on Flickr

Palace headtube by theflatboy[/url], on Flickr

Ultegra front brake by theflatboy[/url], on Flickr

Bowman Palace – finished article! by theflatboy[/url], on Flickr

It’s a good build. Not insanely light or the flashiest, but good nonetheless. I warn you in advance the seat will be the wrong colour until the right one turns up – it is late!

Ring / email and ask?!

I could tell you what the build will be, but wouldn’t you rather wait and see it unfold with pictures? :)

Well I’ve got all the bits now, so ready for building tomorrow. Hopefully will get it all done. Agreed about top tube message (it’s ride with spirit on this one, by the way!), the Palace logo looks ok in the flesh, think it’s a bit washed out on that picture, plus one huge logo is enough!

I’m looking forward to this one, it’s going to be a light build and IMO a good one aesthetically too. Of course, can’t wait to ride it either!

Ok, cheers again. I did some sealing outside and some sealing in the kitchen last night, and there was no sign topside of anything this morning, which is good. I’m thinking it’s a bad move to completely block up airvents etc. on the outside now, before trapping as many as possible – if there are some inside, if they can’t get back out then I guess they’ll just come up into the house a different way, which we don’t want!

Any suggestions on timing for trapping / blocking up?

uh huh… no worries… cool…