[Closed] And..... GO!

You can't be serious about that carpet...

And you need some spokes.

someone's nicked your front hub.

You won't get far without pedals 🙄

Before I get the mallet and the wooden blocks, boil the kettle and take the headset out of the freezer, there seems to be a bit of laquer around the end of the headtubes (the shiny area at the end in the photo). Is this going to be a problem? Worth a few minutes with some wet and dry?

[img] [/img]

Try headset and see, bit of rubbing won't hurt though.

OK.

1) not my carpet.
2) one set of spokes next to rear hub.
3) front hub not in at the shop. they'll measure the hub when it's in and give me the spokes then.
4) pedals off the other bike. they'll be needed on there before this is ready for them!
5) figured as much, cheers!

Thats cheating, you've already started

false start, yup. some bits in early!

singlespeed? youve missed winter im afraid.

there's no rear cog either?

I'm no expert, but I'd suck it and see with regards to putting the headset in. Any sign of trouble and tap it out again.

I also have a question about freezing a headset before insertion. Will condensation collecting on the headset be a problem in a steel frame?

it's ok the overspray laquer will protect it 😉

there is a rear sprocket. In the bag. That bit I did forget! Well done. take a pound out of the till.

Still umming and ahhing about the gearing. I've got some bar e.d shifters and a 11-32 cassette sitting in my basket on CRC. rear mech is in the parts bin, before anyone asks!

Gear Fail 😆

You're obviously putting a fair amount of cash into this, why not just spend an extra tenner or so and get the headset installed professionally with the proper tools and save yourself the concern of it not going in straight?

jimmy, dunno... ?

wwaswas has a point. For now. -Unless/until I have to tap out and rub down.

Popo. ?

poloding: I'm not bothered about it not going in straight, I'm wondering whether the laquer is going to interfere or not.

I don't think thats set up right

I dont know my flaired drops. Are they the Ragley or Salsa ones? Whatever they are it looks like the finished product will be nice.
Happy building.

RE the headset - hammer and blocks usually works, but if you're looking to deal with more than one/two sets, for less than £2 you can get a length of threaded rod, washers and nuts...
Just a heads up!

DrP

Forgive my ignorance but why would you put the headset in the freezer?

It may contract a little, easier to get in the warm frame 😉

I just bought the bits to make a headset press. Had to buy everything in packs of 8 so have enough for 4 sets (cost around £8).

Where are you based, jimmy?

Pint for a set of your bar and nuts?

You're obviously putting a fair amount of cash into this, why not just spend an extra tenner or so and get the headset installed professionally with the proper tools and save yourself the concern of it not going in straight?

Installed many a headset with a hammer and bit of wood, much quicker than headset press (especially a bodged one) and if you have any common sense you can see when its not going straight and correct it. Some people can wield a hammer without hitting their thumbs you know 😆

Looks like itll be a nice build, tho id have gone for normal bars (ie. non flared drops) if your going for a more road biased build.

no peggles.

Cheers stato. It'll be seeing it's share of dirt, hence the choice of frame in the 1st place. not tried flared drops before, either, so I'll see how I get on.

nedrapier: oo-er!

Ahem, I'm in Brighton. If you're local you're welcome to my spare bits and bobs. If you're not it's probably easier to buy your own.

I love stw at times - does the condensation not hurt the steel frame - do you ride in the rain or not ?

Well, my frame has paint on it which protects it from the rain. Any moisture on the headset before installation would be trapped between the headset and bare metal, making it very difficult for it to evaporate and potentially causing rust. It may be nothing to worry about but I wasn't sure so I asked.

"Progress" report: Laced the back wheel. Supplied spokes too long. Dismantled the wheel.

jimmy, fair point. I figure it's an interference fit, so the condensation will be squeegeed out of the way on fitting, and if there is a wee gap in the odd spot, water will be getting in there anyway by capillary action on the first wet ride.

And I'm a way north of Brighton, so it's probably not worth me going down to have go on your bar and nuts. I'll just hammer away on my own. Cheers though!

Fitted my first headset.

Really don't know what all the fuss is about. In the Haynes "Hammer - 10,000 BC to 2011 AD" manual, if banging a nail into a bit of wood straight is 1 out of 5 spanners, fitting a headset is about one and a half. two at a push.

I used the rag in boiling water round the tube trick, and maybe some frames are a bit tighter than mine, but still...

'Ray! It looks like a bicycle!

[img] [/img]

Wheels need a bit more attention, as do the brakes, and early indications suggest I can probably get rid of the spacers and an inch or so of steerer tube.

Just taken it round the block, and it rides very nicely indeed. Comfy relaxed and cruisey, (although I've only got an XL spec Allez to compare it to). I might go for the 2" cream Fat Franks after all...

Thanks very much to everyone who helped me out by responding to my numerous threads about various bits and choices. I very much appreciated having this place and the people on it to call upon for advice.

Cheers!

Well done month to build up 🙄

Oh, moss and weeds in wall, deck needs sweeping front disc too big, etc.

Is that a road bike with discs and flats, or a mtb with funny handlebars and clown wheels with slick tyres?

Love the colour scheme though. Fixed?

a month to build a bike?

i can build one in the time it take for the mrs's to watch 'enders' omnibus......... 😉

oh yeah, month to build up. 3 weeks in Greenland and away at a wedding all last weekend any good for you?

Edit: Build time more like a few evenings on the wheels, and half a day today.

Realman: both, and no.

I like it. Those are the only drop bars I've liked the look of.

An un-named bike shop I used recently took 3 months to build my bike despite me paying a 50% deposit in advance. I won't be using them again.

Next time, try one with a name!

Boom tish.

Thanks Buzz,

Sounds like you know, but in case you don't, they're the On-One Midge.