link bike
so, i just sent a letter to rob, which he will get in a few days. see, i do this thing. where normal people day dream about new kitchen floors, dream vacations, hot dudes or girls, piles of money, ect, i day dream about building rad bikes for people i know. i take into account everything i know about that person, ie daniel hates maintenance, so his bikes have to be overbuilt, with sealed bearings, and tough wheels, ect. mark rides with finesse and likes very simple parts, like sugino cranks and 90s diacompe cantis. john needs tandem quality stuff, he keeps knackering rear wheels, so i would say john’s ideal custom bike would have 145mm rear spacing and a tandem 40 hole hub, laced up with a mavic touring rim and xl 14 spokes. obviously all of this is beyond anyone i know’s financial reach. its just for fun. sometimes i write it down. i have done so on this blog, even. it’s probally boring to most people. but i am facinated by not only the beauty and quality of the possible materials, but also by how inexpensive the perfect bike generally is, in comparison, to say, a high end look frame with dura ace parts, and carbon wheels. the obvious difference being that my build outs are theoretically meant to last for years, while the 8000 dollar Look is built for a season.
Anyway, as I said, I actually do this for my friends, or people I know, more than I do it for myself. I have designed lots of bikes for starmer, a few for mark, 1 for john, ect. The person I have been designing the longest for is starmer, and in fact, he comes closest to actually having built some of my designs. (his cove, a chunky canadian freeridish bike is still going strong, despite the fact that my build ideas were less than fantastic at the time) his current ghetto white trek hybrid to crappy touring bike conversion works fine, although he wasnt into the moustache bars. Here is my latest starmer dream bike. its not his dream, its mine, but with him in mind, ie tough no nonsense parts, standardized everything, so that replacements are easy. comfortable riding position with plenty of low gears, strong brakes that are easy to adjust, integrated lighting, and versatility.
here it is, my first ‘link bike’ list, so you can see what all the nah nah is about.
Frame: Waterford lugged. Fast turnaround, simple lines, fully customizable geometry. I would say: 72/72 angles, 80mm bb drop, long ass chain stays, 3 water bottle cages, mounted low, clearance for 37mm tires and fenders, canti posts, eyelets for racks and fenders, 47mm fork rake. lightish tubing, but touring solid. $2200 ish depending on details, like paint. Paint recommendation: black with cream panels.
Headset: King. No nonsense, I know he likes them, environmentally friendly, last forever. $125
Stem: Nitto technomic delux. Same as above. Light, strong, not bad looking, japanese precision. $44
Nitto Noodle, 46cm. Has ‘em already, they are plenty stong and good looking. $60
Levers: This is a hard one. I dont really know what he thinks of his tektro campy knockoff. I personally like the feel of 80s levers, and also their ease of maintance: non aero levers are easy to replace cables on. I would recommend some diacompe gran compe levers. They are classy, drilled, and have built in barrel adjusters. Couldnt find a direct picture, but these suntour levers, if they, uh, had hoods, round drill holes, and barrel adjusters, plus a nicer finish, would be dead ringers. $40ish
Bar Tape. This is easy. Brooks leather. Dont even ask why. cause you knows why. $80
While we are up front:
Front Rack. He doesnt have one now, but everyone needs one, really. Also a good place to mount a light or 3. Nitto’s are light, elegant, and strong. I’ll pick the Nitto m-12 because it is even lighter than the others, and has a fender mounting spot. $60
Need a light or two for that, eh? The german schmitt e-6 light goes nicely with a generator hub. Need a switched version, no big deal. $109
Why not have a back up light, or a light to turn on when you really dont want the marginal extra drag of the hub. The B and M Ixon is bright enough to climb with, and fairly light. It can mount on the other side of the rack. $130
Need a bag for that rack. I find my Ostrich bag a bit bulky and too large. Then again, Bertound bags are way expensive. How about a Rivendell Lil’ Loafer. Downside: you can’t stick a map in it too well. $80
Bells are bling $16
Seat post: I think starmer needs setback. A nitto s 83 should do nicely. $65
Saddle. he likes his b-17 champion. Just needs anouther, for this project. $100
Saddle Bag: his carradice is nice, but not super classy. Why not go the full potato with a nigel smyth country bag. (thats it on the back, sorry best photo i could get) More room for sundries, more bling for the ladies. $170
Fenders: Honjo extra long, smooth. Hammered just seems to bling for starmer, and I dont mean that in a bad way. $80
Wheels: I love freewheel hubs, but I bet starmer just wants no nonsense good hubs that are easily serviced. I’d say White Industries Racer X rear hub, which comes apart easily, and can take upgraded enduro max bearings, to last forever $150. Shimano Ultegra level dynamo hub up front $90. Rims: something burly, like a mavic 36 hole touring rim, say the mavic open sport $65. Spokes are always XL14s, unless its a race bike. then maybe sapim cx-rays. $80
Tires: He’s riding 35mm Paselas now. Lets just upgrade to Gran Bois Cypres tires, 700/30mm. Lighter, potentially faster. $120
Cassette: 7spd Shimano joint. Last forever. heavy though. 13/34 mega range. Ugly but brutally effective. $30
Chain. Sram PC 68. Nicest 8spd chain outside of the rohloff. $34
Rear Mech: Vintage 1990s XTR long cage. Not bad looking, bomb proof, kinda affordable. $60ish
Ft Mech: Shimano double ultegra. No nonsense, works on a wide range double. $50
Cranks: White Industries Road cranks. 46/26 gearing is highly versatile and still leaves you with a low Q. $220
BB: Phil, I guess. Maybe an SKS, but the Phil I have works great, although it costs more than 4 shimano XT bbs put together. $130
Rear Rack: Park Silver Hupe (30), to support the country bag.
Sundries: Blackburn frame pump (30), King Cages(30).
Grand total: 4510. I always go overbudge, ie underestimate. I bet incidentals would run anouther 50-100, plus shipping would be from 100-200. Obviously, going with say, a Rivendell Saluki, or a Gunnar frame, would save almost 1000 dollars, with little compromise. But this is a dream build, without regard to cost, and look how cheap it came out. I mean, a look 585, with a fairly basic ultegra kit, costs over 5200 dollars. The 585 isnt even look’s highest end frame. Its not even its second highest end frame. You dont get a pump, lights, bags, racks or fenders for that price.
Wow, that was a huge pain in the ass to compile. Starmer, this is in no way supposed to be a pressure move for you to go out and drop a shit load of cash. I just do this for fun, and I thought i’d share. That’s it yo!
can you make one for me?
a link bike? sure. but um, i bet you wont like it, just on principal.
yeah, that’s kinda the point I think. Pick a riding style that I do and make me a link bike. Ask me any riding related questions and I will give you unbiased truthful responses to make your choices.
ok, open letter to cory,
cory,
i am going to link you a townie bike. would you refuse on principal 650b wheels? grand bois makes a 44mm clay red tire that you could ride off road, on road, around town, on centuries, ect. seems like the perfect size to not have toe clip over lap with fenders. um, what else? what are you specific needs for a townie. i think i know, but i want to hear it from you. this townie is a townie without cash constraints, so dont worry on that end. also, would you refuse a brooks on a townie, on principal? my plan is to make a rad, quirky townie that is versatile enough for longish road rides, maybe a trip to an area like schafer, and is simple and easy to maintain. holla back with ideas.
-casey
I wouldn’t refuse on principal. but I don’t see any real benefit over 700c. plus are those tires broken beer bottle and fallen off bumper durable?
beer and dirt and a good lock and subtle flash seem to be basic requirements.
brooks is cool if it isn’t afraid of getting left out all day in the rain.
Can you provide more information on this please.
kevin,
write what kind of bike you want and out pops a link bike from the mystery of the ridelugged expertise?!
johnson. i’m tired of fighting it. build me the mightiest (or whatever) of link bikes.
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ok, so this last comment got popped as spam, but I think it deserves a read anyway! -ed.
My fellow on Orkut shared this link and I’m not dissapointed that I came here.
Bonjour, Ladylike to yoke you, I am Kiwi