Built a thing.

"Chinny Raccoon" (chinnyraccoon)
05/27/2020 at 08:16 • Filed to: None

Finally got this built up, after a lot of shopping around and deal hunting, which was made harder by the current situation as everyone is buying bike stuff.

Spec is a bit of a mix of Shimano 11 speed kit, with last generation Ultegra shifters and crank (50/34), current 105 FD and cassette(11-34) and GRX 800 series brakes/RD. Wheelset is from Prime, currently with some 32mm continental tyres. Clearance is quite tight!

From a short ride outside my house it feels great, a big step up from my old bike. Still a bit of fettling to do, but looks good so far.

DISCUSSION (27)

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Chinny Raccoon
05/27/2020 at 08:29

Very nice...but yes I do despise the Ultegra crankset with a passion.

dumpsterfire! > Chinny Raccoon
05/27/2020 at 08:29

that looks fantastic. enjoy!

TheRealBicycleBuck > Chinny Raccoon
05/27/2020 at 08:38

Great job! I’ve pondered getting a wheelset from Prime. How was the spoke tension when you unboxed them?

Gone > Chinny Raccoon
05/27/2020 at 09:06

Nice look - like the not black bike trend . And the matching orange bar tape. 32 is a big tire, surprised it fits ! If nothing else, it’ll be more reliable than any of their motorcycles...

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Chinny Raccoon
05/27/2020 at 09:13

Love it. Nice bike.

smobgirl > Chinny Raccoon
05/27/2020 at 09:17

That color is fantastic!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Chinny Raccoon
05/27/2020 at 09:27

That is quite nice. Should be a fun bike. I tried larger tires (28) on my road bike and it just felt odd. I settled at 26’s and am happy with that size.

Chinny Raccoon > Gone
05/27/2020 at 10:04

The frame is a 2016 before everyone went for boring black frames. The tape isn’t quite the right shade, but close enough.

Chinny Raccoon > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/27/2020 at 10:12

The tyres are subject to a bit of experimentation, but price and availability is holding that back for now.

Chinny Raccoon > TheRealBicycleBuck
05/27/2020 at 10:15

From my unscientific noob test of making sure they sound the same they seem fine. I can’t argue for the price.

jminer > Chinny Raccoon
05/27/2020 at 10:17

That looks amazing!

Chinny Raccoon > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
05/27/2020 at 10:20

I’d originally ordered a 105 R7000 but Amazon only sent me half of it. Then the Ultegra came up on eBay as a new take off for a bargain price so went with that instead.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Chinny Raccoon
05/27/2020 at 10:44

Machine-built wheels are notorious for being improperly tensioned. On my first mountain bike, the bike shop failed to check the tension on the rear wheel and I tacoed it with a bunny hop on my first trip to the trails. I’d hate to see something like that happen to you.

This article might help you out a bit: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/spoke-pitch.html

Nom De Plume > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
05/27/2020 at 11:02

Can I ask why, visually appalling?

At least it is calm in the brash contrasting colors and branding department.

Nom De Plume > Chinny Raccoon
05/27/2020 at 11:28

Two orange bikes! GRX rear derailleur! Overall a very nice parts selection other than that handlebar and what appears to be one sided mtb pedals.

I zoomed in to examine tire clearance. Remove those stupid nuts and caps off your tubes. The first does nothing but wear holes in your rims and the second does nothing because unlike a Schraeder the valve doesn’t leak once locked. Rotational weight is bad, very bad. Imbalanced, bad.

Again, I zoomed in to examine tire clearance. 25mm is the largest performance road tire, outside boutique options, worth buying. That is to say really fun to ride. If you lend a little detail what type of riding you plan to do I might be able to suggest a few to consider when replacing those Conti. Also where to find them at a reasonable price.

Nom De Plume > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/27/2020 at 11:36

What tire worth using is a stated 26mm, Specialized ?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Nom De Plume
05/27/2020 at 12:18

Yes. I think the 28 continental’s I had were more like 30's. Anyway they were bouncy and handle corners like poo.

Nom De Plume > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/27/2020 at 12:51

25'ish is about the limit of road race performance and handling with modern construction. My favorite 23's measured closer to 25 and rode closer to a 22 until you rocked over off that tiny contact patch.

The really high quality boutique stuff, 28 and above 700c or larger 650b, lacks that edge. It does work really well if you can adapt to a more endurance focused mentality. Basically always feeling like your tires are low and easing into any effort.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Nom De Plume
05/27/2020 at 13:07

My favorite race tires have been 23 mm Michelin pro race 4's.

Nom De Plume > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/27/2020 at 13:26

Uncanny.

There might be some rather crucial road composition similarities to deal with Winter conditions and plowing. Michelin are not the favored tire down South where rain and melting pavement are the predominant factors being accounted for.

Just installed my first set of Michelin Power Endurance 23's. The better semi-pro team locally had no end of trouble with the full on race version of these flatting constantly, tubular and clincher . PRO4 Service Course didn’t have this issue.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Nom De Plume
05/27/2020 at 13:29

Do people still ride tubulars? I have not been on the race scene for years so I just don’t know. Seems like Continental is still the top of the heap for road clinchers.

Nom De Plume > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/27/2020 at 14:46

Handmade tubulars are still the best tires available for the type of forces encountered in a race. For obvious reasons the average person saves them for special races with good support. A defining difference is wheels under a pro that were made * right* by the best mechanics money can buy v. under an amateur just slapping on an endless stream of new stuff on basis of supposition and marketing.

Conti makes perhaps the best training tub. Synopsis of clincher/tubeless standings is in flux and often unresolved. Anyone at any time could walk away with the crown while everyone else holds back easily added improvements.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
05/27/2020 at 14:53

Other than looking odd those ultegra cranks are freakishly stiff and very easy to maintain. I think the ultegra’s are stiffer than my sram force carbon cranks on my previous bike.

Chinny Raccoon > Nom De Plume
05/27/2020 at 15:04

The pedals are like that so I can ride to work.

The tyre setup is going to change- looking at mildly gravel type tubeless setup as although it’s for the road, calling many of them I use roads would be very generous. This one has a reasonable surface by local standards.

Kinja'd!!!

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Nom De Plume
05/27/2020 at 17:58

I've almost never come across a bike that was visually enhanced by them...which is annoying because it's a very good crankset.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/27/2020 at 17:58

Yep...no argument there.

Nom De Plume > Chinny Raccoon
05/28/2020 at 01:17

Generous clearance with fenders and 32's would be nice if that is a good road.