Sunday, October 17, 2010

More about the tandem

Everything you ever wanted to know:

Headset Top: Campagnolo Veloce.
Bottom: Ritchey Scuzzy Logic roller bearing
Bottom bracketsCampagnolo AC-H 111mm
CranksetSuntour Superbe Pro. Front 175mm; rear 170mm
BrakesFront: Scott Self Energising Cantilever
Rear: Suntour XC Pro SE Cantilever
Brake leversCampagnolo Chorus Ergopower 10 speed
Front derailler             Campagnolo Centaur
Rear deraillerCampagnolo Chorus with J-Tek Shiftmate
Hubs Front: Phil Wood Tandem 36h.
Rear: Shimano Ultegra 36h
RimsCampagnolo Omicron
ClusterSRAM PG 970 12-26
TyresContinental GP 4 Season 700 x 28
SaddleFront: Brooks Swallow
Rear: Specialized
SeatpostFront: TTT.
Rear: Kalloy
StemFront: Salsa 14cm
Easton Vice
Handlebars Front: Mavic 350 44cm
Rear: Charge Slice bullhorn
Handlebar tapeFizik Microtex



Saturday, October 16, 2010

First outing on the 'new' tandem


Occasionally I pine for Ergopower shiftlevers on one of my road bikes, but not being even a faux-racer, I don't feel the need often enough to spend the money.
On the tandem, its a different kettle of cod- after today's shakedown ride I don't think I could use anything else on the tandem again.

Resplendent in new Revolution Bicycles merino jerseys, Gayle and I took the Bob Jackson for shakedown ride around the Mangere shitponds loop this morning.

Overall, it feels a lot like Worrall's Bob Jackson which we rode earlier this year, but the improved gear shifting makes it a lot easier to ride.

The friction shifting on Worrall's bike is surprisingly good, but it is still frustratingly easy to miss a shift on a climb and lose momentum.

No such problem with the Ergopower shifters - early in the ride we floated up short climbs in easy gears, later on we were attacking them out of the saddle and shifting up as we started to spin out.



The self-energising cantilever brakes were a revelation too.
I had the same brakes on the bike in the early 90's but remembered the front Scott SE as grabby and prone to juddering.
Today, fitted with KoolStop salmon pads, they were smooth and powerful enough that I am lucky that Gayle's teeth are not embeded in my spine.

I am looking forward to lots of fun and mischief on this bike.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

At last, my preciousss


Friday morning, a month and two days after I had paid for it, and seven years after I started looking for one, I collected the Ritchey frame from NZ Post at Mangere Airport.
It had apparently been there for two weeks, and might have lingered longer had I not availed myself of NZ Post's online Customer Enquiry Form.

Friday evening I set to work.
When building a new bike, I like to get my position sorted first, so I plugged in a dummy headset and fitted a seat and seatpost, and handlebar and stem.
The frame is a 62, 1cm larger than advertised, so with the seat at the correct height there is only a fistful of seatpost showing.
The 56.5cm toptube is extremely short for such a large frame so I didn't have to think twice about using a 15cm Salsa stem that was on standby for the tandem.

With the ergonomics sorted, I installed a Greatest Hits selection  of 70s and 80s Suntour that I had been fettling while the frame was in transit.

A set of 70s Cyclone deraillers came from CTB, the rest is Superbe ranging from 1978 to 83.

 I had built a set of Araya 20A clincher rims onto Superbe RH-1000 small flange hubs, but the 122mm rear dropout spacing is  narrower than I was expecting so my old faithful 36h tubular wheels were pressed into service.
With Clement Campionato del Mundo tubulars it is impossible to dislike a bike with these wheels.

Saturday morning, I wrapped the bars with white Fizik Microtex tape, soldered the cable ends and set out for a test ride.
Needless to say, it rained.

MORE PHOTOS
Headset               Cane Creek 100 Classic
Bottom bracketSugino Mighty
CranksetSuntour Superbe Cw-1000 175mm, TA 41 & SR Royal 53
PedalsSuntour Superbe Pro track PL-2000, with Christophe aluminium toeclips
BrakesSuntour Superbe CB-4000 standard reach
Brake leversSuntour Superbe CB-3200
ShiftleversSuntour Superbe Pro LD-3250 power ratchet
Front derailler             Suntour Cyclone FD-1300
Rear deraillerSuntour Cyclone RD-1700
Hubs Campagnolo Record, wide flange 36h
Front rimFiamme Ergal
Rear rimMavic Monthlery Legere
FreewheelSuntour Ultra 6, 14-24 or 14-26
SaddleIdeale 2002 Titanium
SeatpostSR Royal ESL 27.2mm
StemSalsa 15cm
Handlebars Nitto 185 44cm
Handlebar tape Fizik Microtex


Friday, October 08, 2010

The Ritchey is here







Collected this morning from the NZ Post depot at Auckland International airport.