Dawes Linear Build

[Benrad]

So that's the bike when I first got it. I've got some parts coming over christmas and some already fitted and it'll be undergoing quite a transformation. Thought a thread would be nice

Fitted:
-SKS mudguards (after my crud racers imploded)
-Brown Charge Spoon
-Dual Pivot front brake (included drilling out the fork crown to make it accept a recessed fitting
-Tyres (Btwin cheapos, I am a student)
MTB platform pedals, it's a short distance commuter so no use for SPDs

Awaiting delivery:
-A spares or repair Claud Butler San Romero or something from which I will be butchering
--STi Brifters
--Triple chainset, boo but it was cheap and the shifters are for a triple
--Potentially BB if chainset isn't square taper
and
-frame mounted cable stop
-all new cables and outers, black outers, gold cable end crimps
-dual pivot rear brake
-Brown Deda Bar tape
-Shiny new headset

Maybe one day I'll respray the frame but this will do for now I considered changing the bars and stem, I could use it being a bit longer stem and wider bars but I can't bring myself to put modern black bars on it and can't afford a new stem and bars too.

Unless anyone has a 100mm quill stem they're getting rid of and or wide ish chrome bars

Oh and replacing internally routed outers, just poke it through and there will be something in there to guide it out the other end yes?

Edited by Benrad on Tuesday 22 January 19:30

[gazza285]

All good, but the Deda tape gets very dirty very quick, put some tan on my cross bike, looked ace until after the first race.

[Benrad]

Ah, I won't mind replacing it if needs be. Mind you I won't be using this for cross!

[Benrad]

Wouldn't want to start one of those threads that never gets finished!

So I didn't take photos whilst I was doing it but I've got some after pictures. I ended up replacing the bottom bracket as I had to take it to my LBS for the headset anyway so thought they could do that at the same time too. However this bike does now owe me quite a bit more than a new Decathlon bike would have been, maybe even a half grand bike... oops. But I've built this myself and that makes me feel good



It rides very nicely, I've run out of money but I'd like to put it on 25c tyres, with the roads the way they are it would give me much more confidence! Oh and I need to practice my bar taping! The first one is st but the second one isn't half bad. I wouldn't recommend fake leather stuff for your first go, I suspect foam type stuff would be a bit more forgiving.



The brifters work great despite being a bit bashed about, I stopped reaching for the down tube after a few rides and I'm in the right gear at traffic lights now! I don't think they look too incongruous, what's the view on the gear cable lengths and routing if you can see it? I left the lengths the same as what they were on the bike I butchered them off The gear cables do hit each other and rattle as I'm riding The principle of silence



Shiny headset and gold cable end crimps, I am a tart!



I see why everyone recommends it, comfy and feels quality. Although it's quite grippy so will work better when I get out in my bib shorts rather than the jeans I'm doing the commute in



I managed to keep the double chainset (although that does mean gay gears on the back) Gives me a very high top speed! And it fits in with the rest of the bike, is lighter, can still trim the small ring with the shifters



Now this was a bloody bargain! So cheap and really really nice quality, the bolt even had a little dot of grease on it. And I got a little letter in badly translated English thanking me for my purchase etc Works a treat and isn't too obtrusive for a work around. I definitely need to repaint the frame next summer though as it's in a state, chipped and some surface rust too.



Shiny new bottom bracket fitted by Max at Tony Butterworths in Hillsborough highly recommended.



Gay gears! And my lowest gear gets used daily too Need bigger legs, I'll ask Chris Hoy for some training tips, my mate races Radicals and I help out so I might bump into Sir Chris after he's thrashed his SR1


And my new dual pivot rear brake (not recessed fiting) so the brake pads both move away from the rim and no more rub on my very very slightly buckled rim

And finally a pic of how it used to look, I'm pleased with my work



Oh I bought some proper cable cutters, albeit cheap ebay specials, made the job much easier, the cables didn't fray instantly like using my side cutters! And fitted allen key crank bolts to make removal easier next time if my socket set is at my parents house.

The rest of the donor bike will be turned into a flat bar hybrid for SWMBO. It's an old steel frame that hasn't been turned into a fking hipster fixie mobile too

[gazza285]

Good stuff.