New bike

[mperfct]

Long before I was an Audioholic, I was a cyclist. And when I say cyclist, my bikes cost 2x-3x more than my car. Needless to say my car was a POS.

So you can imagine my displeasure once I found a crack in my headtube of my road bike, which is also my only ride now. That displeasure lasted about 3.6 seconds, when then decided to get a cyclocross bike. Oh yes, I'm that insane. Or maybe logical...when was the last time you rode up to the trailhead on your road machine then hopped immediately into the singletrack?

So I'm building up a new Salsa Chili Con Crosso with the AlphaQ fork, and all the parts of my old dura-ace road bike. Should be awesome once it gets done. I'm getting the bike middle of next week, so I'll be up late putting it together.

And I'll tell you this, nothing looks as good as a sweet bike. Road/mtb/triathlon/whatever. Purpose-built machines like a nice ride are awesome. Better than most cars that don't rhyme with Torsche or Rerrari.

Here's a little teaser...

 

[adk highlander]

Sweeet Machine.

I am seriously jealous. I almost buit a cyclocross bike this past spring but could not get a fram with the dimensions I wanted at a price I could afford. I ended up with a decent carbon setup but would have preferred a cross setup.

What are you going to do for wheels and tires? Obviously you can use your existing wheels for road but if you are going on the single track you will need something a bit stouter and different tires.

I'm almost as much a bike weeny as I am an electronics geek. I got a couple of good rides in while I was on vacation in Scotland. One epic ride in terrible weather with a crazy headwind but like all rides like that the stories after make it all worth it.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I hate it when I find a crack in my head tube...



I can "hear" the excitement in your post about building a new ride. I hope it turns out great for you.

 

[Bryce_H]

I recently had to get a new frame when I forgot my road bike was on the roof

I ended up with a Scott CR1 carbon frame and pulled all my ultegra components off my old bike. Love the frame, much better over my old one.

Due to timing, I rode a Century 3 days after I built it.

 

[mperfct]

I recently had to get a new frame when I forgot my road bike was on the roof

I ended up with a Scott CR1 carbon frame and pulled all my ultegra components off my old bike. Love the frame, much better over my old one.

Due to timing, I rode a Century 3 days after I built it.

I guess that's one way to test your bike building skills.

 

[adwilk]

This belongs in the boring thread.

And people give me $hi# about my golf posts.

In all seriousness though, I like the color. I can't find the Torshe Website.

 

[agarwalro]

I almost, just got a Surly Crosscheck. Instead, I ended up picking up an older aluminium frame-fork Klein (locally manufactured) from CL. It has the older Shimano 600 gruppo and it still rides and shifts like a breeze. The goal is to get back into shape and do the Seattle to Portland ride next year. (the first ride since I got the bike was rough, so there is a long way to go)

 

[TheFactor]

Nice bike !!

 

[mperfct]

It looks even better in person. I'm quite happy with it, I had it all built up at 18.9 pounds, which is pretty good for a CX bike. I unfortunately realized that my old Dura-Ace rear STI lever has now shot craps and won't downshift. So instead of buying yet another shitmano piece, I just bought a 2010 SRAM Rival Black gruppo and will be putting that on when I get it.

I'll get pics up soon, I promise!

 

[avaserfi]

Nice looking frame. I recently started commuting to work - nothing special, just a low end Specialized Hardrock (a MTB but all we had money for). Keeping my eyes out for a decent/cheap hybrid road bike on Craigslist. I would go full road, but the bike lanes here are terrible. I'm jealous!

 

[mperfct]

Nice looking frame. I recently started commuting to work - nothing special, just a low end Specialized Hardrock (a MTB but all we had money for). Keeping my eyes out for a decent/cheap hybrid road bike on Craigslist. I would go full road, but the bike lanes here are terrible. I'm jealous!

That's why you need a cross bike! You'll go way faster, have frame clearance for knobby/fat tires, and you'll be one of the cool kids too. They make the best commuter frames, imho. I'm looking forward to riding mine to and fro.

 

[adk highlander]

That stinks about the shifter. I'm still waiting for a part to rebuild my record shifters that seems to be backordered. I'm really interested to hear what you think on the Sram gear. I have not ridden any of their road stuff and the dual tap seems odd to me.

 

[mperfct]

That stinks about the shifter. I'm still waiting for a part to rebuild my record shifters that seems to be backordered. I'm really interested to hear what you think on the Sram gear. I have not ridden any of their road stuff and the dual tap seems odd to me.

I rode around on a Specialized Roubaix that had '09 SRAM Rival on it yesterday, and it was pretty nice. That dual tap is interesting. I really don't think it'll be difficult getting used to. The shift point on the lever is pretty clear, so you wouldn't futz up any shifts past the first 100 miles. Plus I hear the SRAM with it's 1:1 ratio is a lot more tolerant of adjustment.

The wrench I was working with says they have yet to get a DA 7900 front derailleur to shift like it should, and he says that DA is just way too finicky for as much as it costs. He thinks, and I agree, that for the $ DA costs, you shouldn't have to adjust it but every 10k miles. Needless to say, he rides SRAM too. He really wants to be a DA fan, but it just let him down too much.

Which brings be to the point that SRAM, along with Campy, is user-serviceable, versus my $500 disposable Shimano shifters.

ADK, have you had many problems getting Campy parts or is the first time you've rebuilt a shifter?

 

[adk highlander]

ADK, have you had many problems getting Campy parts or is the first time you've rebuilt a shifter?

This is the first time I've had to rebuild these and they have well over 10k miles on them so I am not complaining. The rear one will not hold the cable at its indexes any longer so it is very mushy. The front one still works but the solid index feel is gone.

The part that he is having trouble getting is for the front shifter index gear (or somesuch). He has all the parts for the rear shifter. I just want to do both at the same time. It will be my first time rebuilding these but I have a book so it should not be too bad. I may call another shop to see if they can get it or have one. The shop I'm using is in the very small town I work in so he does not do too much business with Campy.

 

[avaserfi]

That's why you need a cross bike! You'll go way faster, have frame clearance for knobby/fat tires, and you'll be one of the cool kids too. They make the best commuter frames, imho. I'm looking forward to riding mine to and fro.

Depends what comes up. Don't have a large enough budget to be really picky . I really am enjoying the ride to and from work. If it weren't for all the a-holes who think I should get off the road (even though I am in a bike lane) and drive dangerously it would be perfect. Besides, I can bike just as fast as the drive because of traffic.

 

[mperfct]

Depends what comes up. Don't have a large enough budget to be really picky . I really am enjoying the ride to and from work. If it weren't for all the a-holes who think I should get off the road (even though I am in a bike lane) and drive dangerously it would be perfect. Besides, I can bike just as fast as the drive because of traffic.

Yea, it was just a thought. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to matter what kind of bike you have, there are always a-holes out there. I'm surprised that you'd have so many in College Station, seeing as it IS a college town and all.

 

[Warpdrv]

Hmmm seems to be missing the motor...

I'm sure its a nice machine, I just don't know anything about them...

Congrats...

 

[mperfct]

Hmmm seems to be missing the motor...

I'm sure its a nice machine, I just don't know anything about them...

Congrats...

The "motor" needs a tuneup, that's for sure.

 

[adwilk]

Do you ever take it off any sweet jumps?

 

[Shock]

I don't see how you'll be able to ride that. I mean there's no tires!