*cough* :o New project. *cough*

[mrs quoad]

Also - with the rear mech attached - you lined up the jockey wheels on the smallest sprocket, yes?

Have tried both smallest and largest.

Have now threaded, rethreaded, checked and rechecked the cables so many times that they've split a couple've times, and're barely long enough. The RD cable is frayed - no more goes there!

I think it's time to deal with it for the next few days (8 gears rear, 1 front), order a new cable set, and ask my LBS for some help

 

[mrs quoad]

JUST back from my first test-ride!

It handles like a dream Even with only 8 gears

I've never dared go so horizontal-round-corners before

21.1mph over 19mi... I reckon I could've +1.5ed to that with aero bars

 

[mattie]

Apols if I missed it on the thread, but it looks like you went with the Harry Rowland-built wheels with ambrosio hubs - any feedback thus far? Did you pick the hub and rims yourself or just order a specific wheelset? Also, if not too cheeky, how much did they set you back?

Saving up for some new wheels as mine keep shedding spokes, so keen to hear.

 

[Boycey]

the problem described (losing the indexing as you shift up the block) is a pretty much textbook bent mech hanger issue. if it's a tiny amount (and it probably is if you've got the top 8 working) then it should be straightenable.

 

[fogbat]

Getting there, though.....

When your bike has its own mattress, it means you're coddling it

 

[stupid dogbot]

Where's the engine?

 

[mrs quoad]

Also - with the rear mech attached - you lined up the jockey wheels on the smallest sprocket, yes?

the problem described (losing the indexing as you shift up the block) is a pretty much textbook bent mech hanger issue. if it's a tiny amount (and it probably is if you've got the top 8 working) then it should be straightenable.

After following Siggy's advice (and buying a Clark's gear cable to see me through til tomorrow) I've now got 11 fully-functional rear gears. And I discovered the bum-end of the gear cable'd missed the seating, and ended up in the hood somewhere. Hence the lack of FD action!

This is more of a textbook quoad* issue than a textbook bent mech hanger issue

I now have 22 working gears! w00t.

Apols if I missed it on the thread, but it looks like you went with the Harry Rowland-built wheels with ambrosio hubs - any feedback thus far? Did you pick the hub and rims yourself or just order a specific wheelset? Also, if not too cheeky, how much did they set you back?

Saving up for some new wheels as mine keep shedding spokes, so keen to hear.

I spoke to Harry. Who recommended Ambrosio hubs, and went through several rim types. He mentioned that he'd had some difficulties with a few 'soft' hubs recently - couldn't get them to true to his satisfaction, so he'd sent them back. And, well... He said excellight rims were excellent; so had Siggy (IIRC); so I went with them.

I was kinda impressed that he wasn't upselling. He wasn't pushing anything more flashy - he was quite candid that the cheaper stuff was absolutely awesome, and gave very good descriptions of all of it.

I've only, like, covered 19ish miles on them, so'd hesitate to comment But, well... They run beautifully IME (ha), and look pretty phenomenal Total weight is ridiculous too.

Full price: £250 for the wheels, plus £15 (very solid) P&P. Ordered Friday (IIRC), delivered Monday. Or maybe Tuesday. Built to order, though he has some pre-built of some things in stock.





*i.e. enthusiastic but entirely incompetent

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

Glad you're sorted (and like the wheels).

Harry Rowland is anal (in a good way) about wheelbuilding. For instance, he once told me that the bit on the mavic milling machine can make 22000 open pro rims - but he would personally reject anything over 15000 in the batch. That level of detail blew my mind. He is the Stanley Kubrick of wheelbuilding.

 

[Boycey]

Glad you're sorted (and like the wheels).

Harry Rowland is anal (in a good way) about wheelbuilding. For instance, he once told me that the bit on the mavic milling machine can make 22000 open pro rims - but he would personally reject anything over 15000 in the batch. That level of detail blew my mind. He is the Stanley Kubrick of wheelbuilding.

i'll have a look at mine in half an hour, interested to know where this number is.

 

[mrs quoad]

Glad you're sorted (and like the wheels).

Harry Rowland is anal (in a good way) about wheelbuilding. For instance, he once told me that the bit on the mavic milling machine can make 22000 open pro rims - but he would personally reject anything over 15000 in the batch. That level of detail blew my mind. He is the Stanley Kubrick of wheelbuilding.

I'm off for a proper cycle. Somewhere between 50 and 80 miles, depending

WITH tools

 

[mattie]

I spoke to Harry. Who recommended Ambrosio hubs, and went through several rim types. He mentioned that he'd had some difficulties with a few 'soft' hubs recently - couldn't get them to true to his satisfaction, so he'd sent them back. And, well... He said excellight rims were excellent; so had Siggy (IIRC); so I went with them.

I was kinda impressed that he wasn't upselling. He wasn't pushing anything more flashy - he was quite candid that the cheaper stuff was absolutely awesome, and gave very good descriptions of all of it.

I've only, like, covered 19ish miles on them, so'd hesitate to comment But, well... They run beautifully IME (ha), and look pretty phenomenal Total weight is ridiculous too.

Full price: £250 for the wheels, plus £15 (very solid) P&P. Ordered Friday (IIRC), delivered Monday. Or maybe Tuesday. Built to order, though he has some pre-built of some things in stock.

I know sod-all about bike bits so glad to hear Harry's straight down the line - he was recommended to me by the others on here but keen to see what experiences you (as, if you'll forgive me, fellow bike-kit incompetent!) had with them.

All sounds good, I'll sew what funds I can scrape together - between 200 and 250 is about what I was anticipating for decent, if not world-beating wheels.

Hope rides goes/went well with no bits missing upon return - you or the bike.

 

[mrs quoad]

couldn't argue with this at all, it will feel different, very different to start with. i give it a week before you're a fully fledged campy fiend

fwiw, I was sold on the Campy levers from the first time I took it out.

Definitely a Campy convert. Though I'm really not feeling the *clunk*iness I was expecting... Except - maybe - a bit *cough* mechanical in the shifters? The shift itself is beautiful smooth... And being able to upshift 2-4 (or 5?) gears kicks ass.

It's now ALL together, except for the saddle. Which should be here for Thurs. And I currently have zebra bar tape on, which needs to come off (only to be reapplied - I hope it isn't comprehensively fucked) for the application of gel pads

Pics may follow