WINTER BIKES.... show yours off too

[Stu Merckx Man]

kieth is doing his winter bike up, and ive just finished building mine, so i thought i would show it off ....and also show off the fact i built all on my own!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i would have liked to be on my steel ribble again this winter, but its only a 6 speed, with ludicrous gears, the smallest bieng a 42/20!!

its essentially the first road bike i bought. it got all its parts taken off it and put onto my merckx, but over the past year ive upgraded the components on the

merckx and so the bianchi gets its bits back! (but with a few new ones).

spec: frame- bianchi via nirone 2005
rear mech- original 2005 veloce
ergo levers- original 2005 veloce (with no ratchet on the right hand side....at least it makes for smooth gear changing!)
saddle- and old moutain bike one
pedals- original, old look ones
brakes- original bianchis own brand
handle bars- found them lying about
stem- it was attached to the handle bars


bits i had to buy-
front mech- new mirage campag mirage £10
wheels- new campagnolo khamsins £90
bar tape- £8
cables- £25
one tyre- £14

total cost of my new winter bike £147......not giving a sh!t about the condition it gets in....priceless!!

[img]http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x231/merckx_man/tanlines.jpg[/img]

[Antloony]

Anyone taking bets on which bits going to fall off first

Only jesting Stu, looks tidy for a winter bike. I must sort a winter bike out, Ive got some 9spd 105's levers plus mechs, some handlebars, stem, seat and seat post, a set of ksyrium aksium wheels, compact chain rings, front and rear brakes........just feel as though I need something else to make up a half decent winter bike...

[George]

Stuart That's not a real winter training bike, where's the mudguards.

Geoffrey Butler 56cm steel Columbus frame
Shiney Chrome Forks
Shimano 105 10 speed hollowtech groupset
Rolls Saddle
Quill Cinelli stem and bars
Campagnolo Erus wheels
Conti gp 4000(s) tyres
Mudguards
Not priceless it cost me a new groupset
[img]http://pic18.picturetrail.com:80/VOL918/3864513/17146844/337139565.jpg[/img]

[Stu Merckx Man]

ant you need a frame! i think ribble do some pretty good value alloy frames for the winter...

george that looks tasty! ive lost a few nuts and bolts for my mudgaurds, all in good time though!

[Sylv]

If they replace my Look I might rebuild the current one with cheap parts for the winter

[Keith]

Mine's only just arrived, so isn't quite yet road-worthy.

[img]http://i34.tinypic.com/ejbo1c.jpg[/img]

£108 for frame and forks from Ribble.

I'm going to swap the kit from my '06 Specialized Allez. It was the first road bike I bought and has always been too big for me. Being too big means that I put off riding it, taking out my nice bike instead.

I hope to get a headset tomorrow, and swap the bottom bracket. Should be on the road very soon.

[Antloony]

[img]http://i35.tinypic.com/2iw59nl.jpg[/img]

Here's my winter bike, I seem to be having a little trouble fitting the new white front wheel that came with it though.

[Stu Merckx Man]

nice one keith!

ant, i like the way your gear sticks are placed to catch you by the eyes if you crash!

[Dominic]

Keith,

If it has an integrated headset you might have to send to Ribble for one. I had mine changed recently and apparently after scouring his suppliers the guy at C&N cycles told me that Ribble was the only place he could get one that fitted

Does look very nice in black though

[Keith]

Dom, I think that a standard headset will fit (fingers crossed), but the collar that sits on top is a smaller diameter than the head tube. This could lead to problems with water ingress? I'll persevere with what I've got for the mo.

Anyway, thanks to that nice man Simon in the yellow and green jersey, I've swapped the BB & cranks.
It'll look something like this when I tighten all the bolts.....

[img]http://i37.tinypic.com/200e34m.jpg[/img]

So, next question: any advice for cutting down carbon steerer tubes

[MattI]

[quote]So, next question: any advice for cutting down carbon steerer tubes

[Marek]

Hack saw, and make sure you are happy with where you are cutting it in terms of steerer height, although you can mess around with stems to change this around a bit.

What are you going to do about mudguards Keith?

Cheers

Marek....

[Sylv]

I use two stems with alloy spacers above and below the cutting point, just so to leave room for the blade. Works well for alloy, for carbon as it's so soft you'd probably get away with just stem/spacer below and carefully guiding the saw straight. You can leave an extra 1.5mm or so - so that if your cut is wonky you can always adjust it after (sandpaper or the nail polisher on a Swiss knife works well).

[Dombo]

What is it with winter bikes? All the above machines look pretty decent to my untutored eye, and as keen cyclists, you're all likely to give them a clean and lube after riding in the wet. Would not winter riding be more pleasant if done on the best bike? I sold my second road bike because after riding the best one I didn't enjoy riding it anywhere near as much. A bit of salt and rain won't hurt.

[Robh]

[quote="Dombo"]What is it with winter bikes? All the above machines look pretty decent to my untutored eye, and as keen cyclists, you're all likely to give them a clean and lube after riding in the wet. Would not winter riding be more pleasant if done on the best bike? I sold my second road bike because after riding the best one I didn't enjoy riding it anywhere near as much. A bit of salt and rain won't hurt.