New Mercury Build

[jags]

chainreaction cycles sell those  seatposts.

[uksteve58]

Cheers Anto but I already ordered from Wiggle they were £3 cheaper than Chain Reaction.

[John Saxby]

Steve, a thought on tires:  I'm now using Schwalbe Marathon Racers on my day-ride derailleur bike, 700 x 35 (actual width, 32 mm inflated) & I've been very pleased with them -- very good ride. I'd opt for the 38 mm width if I were buying again -- I was looking for 35 mm tires, and foolishly thought tires labelled as such would be that width...

The Racers are available with a wire or a folding bead, the former slightly heavier (435 gms instead of 375) and half the price.

A few people linked up with my LBS here in Ottawa ride Compass Bicycle tires (from Seattle, Washington), which range up to 700 x 38, and rave about them.  Not sure if there's a UK supplier for their products, however.

[markbUK]

Steve ... You move quick! I read page 3 and was just going to post that I had an ST sitting in the garage and was wondering if you were local enough to give it a try, on tyres I'm using marathon supreme in 32mm running 58 psi f and 75 on the rear,  worked out using the 15% drop method

Mark

[jags]

Cheers Anto but I already ordered from Wiggle they were £3 cheaper than Chain Reaction.

ah yes but chainreaction doesnt charge postage
looks a great bit of kit tho hope it works out for you.took me a while to warm to that design but if it does the job happy  days.

[uksteve58]

Thanks John..yes I would have assumed the same!!, 35=32???.....I measured my clearance it's in the 35-40 region, so unsure what will be the maximum size I can fit, that's why I just bought these cheapies, £19 delivered ...the pair!!, so if it turns out there's a  better option then I won't have wasted too much money....how can a pair of pedal cycle tyres be £100??
Compass tyres...yes I discovered those yesterday and saw the good reviews, I found a dealer here but doesn't seem to have any stock of larger width 700c, but I'll keep looking.

http://www.velovitality.co.uk/collections/700c-tyres

I've always opted for wire beaded tyres, and rightly or wrongly have always assumed  they must have better puncture proofing....what are you using and hows the puncture resistance been?

[uksteve58]

yes you're right Anto, I do actually use CR whenever I can as they are very prompt with deliveries, usually next day which is important to me as I have zero patience, but I was ordering some other stuff too that CR didn't have.

[jags]

Steve hows the build going are ya nearly finished yet 
i cant't wait to see the bike finished  loads of photos please.
god bless the bike builder.


anto.

[markbUK]

Yep 32mm supremes are 700c,

[Swislon]

I have 28mm (29mm measured!) on one bike and 32mm on my Club Tour Grand Bois tyres similar to the Compass tyres. Very comfortable, supple and fast. However not cheap and I wouldn't use them commuting. They have transformed my riding as they are just so comfortable.

Steve

[jags]

Steve have you a link to where you bought your compass tyres please..

cheers
anto.

[uksteve58]

Anto, yes it's finished enough to ride, but still waiting on a few extra bits to arrive (mudguards, new lights and charging setup, and trying to get saddle seatpost combo as comfortable as possible. Will add some pics when finished. Hope your back feels better, shame to miss that ride...I went to Donegal 25yrs ago...amazing beaches and completely empty. My ex-wife's father came from a village in Donegal called "Gweedore" near Mt Errigal. Also remember the lovely smell of the turves of peat they burned on the fires.

John, I ordered some 40mm Marathon Supremes, the cheapo 32mm, aren't any bigger than my current 28's. The Thorn blurb says they'll take 40's ok...but maybe a squeeze. Maybe even tighter with the new mudguards...but they're 45mm so hopefully will fit ok. This Mercury is going to end up a fat one I think.

Dan, good news on the Thudbuster, it definitely is better. I did 40 miles last night and I was fine upto 25, then it started to hurt and at the end still quite painful. But went away fairly quickly whereas before it would last well into the next day. I changed the elastomer to No7, correct for my weight, but I'll change back to No5 to see if there's a difference. Also got the Deans plugs...good pointer from you Dan, they're really small, just what I was looking for.

[Danneaux]

Yay, Steve! So glad to hear forward progress, and relieved the Thudbuster is helping, at least. IT does reduce the pounding, but does nothing for the saddle interface, so perhaps you may need to fine-tune that a bit to get ultimate relief.

As for the Deans connectors, the "easy" way to solder is to couple the connectors and use a heat sink on the far pins, then briefly tin the pins (they're gold plated, so conduct heat well; just a flash of heat will do it). Then, pre-tin the ends of the wires and slide the heat-shrink tubing on the wires well back of the heat-affected zone. The actual connection then takes just a brief touch with the tip of your soldering iron to do.

Good luck on all going forward.

Best,

Dan.

[uksteve58]

Bit of an update for anyone interested in my ar*e saga.......

!. Brooks C!7 is definitely a no go!!...it will never be back on the bike. I never felt the "pogo stick" sensation that Mark mentioned...in fact I don't feel any movement from any of the posts I've tried.
2. The Rido2 saddle was used for a few rides, definitely less painful than thr C17 but far from comfortable...so may come back to that.
3. Decided to give my old B17 another chance.....it's like a different saddle with the Thudbuster....by far the most comfortable of the saddle's I've got. Much flatter profile than the C17.
4. 40mm Marathon Supremes....Eureka!!!.....Thudbuster, B17 and these tyres is a totally different league now, did 50m yesterday and 30 today....with only 8 hour gap...I've never been able to do that before. still painful at end of 50m but, no where near the level of pain that I was previously experiencing. Started with 50/60 psi but now finding 60/70psi better. 40mm actually
 measures 35mm width. I was expecting them to be noticeably slower....in reality..not so. Can't see myself ever going back to my normal 28mm tyres.
5. Got new mudguards, PDW metal fenders, almost perfect colour match to gunmetal frame colour.....but the aluminium stays are a bit naff, I can't get the 'guards to sit centrally....will try to some how graft SKS stay attachments onto these 'guards, I don't think you can beat the SKS steel stays for adjustability and rigidity.
6. Because of new 40mm tyres I had to ride without 'guards for a few days....B&M IXOS IQ light failed...presumably due to water ingress...Edeluxe 2 now installed. (had been having a few probs with usb socket for some while). Edeluxe light pattern is wider but can't say a massive improvement....and I miss the handlebar on/off switch.
7. Started doing the Strava PBP challenge so no time to take bike off road to do decent wiring upgrade and full mudguards fitment. Will do that that at end of month. First time I've ever been able to even contemplate such a thing with my new comfortable setup......Thanks again Dan for the Thudbuster suggestion. Will definitely get a LT version for my Surly KM
8. Just back from beer and curry celebration with a mate of mine....40yrs since we both started work together at Post Office Telecommunications as apprentices.....40yrs....where did it go?...I left in 1989..he's still there!!!

Steve

[Danneaux]

Bit of an update for anyone interested in my ar*e saga...

Very interested! A number of friends have had to take recent breaks from cycling due to sore bottoms. One of our more well-traveled members has had to take a complete year-long break from cycling for this very reason. Another is making the rounds of physicians trying to find the root cause. By so generously sharing your journey and efforts to address the problem, you're helping a lot of members who are suffering silently.

3. Decided to give my old B17 another chance.....it's like a different saddle with the Thudbuster....by far the most comfortable of the saddle's I've got. Much flatter profile than the C17.

...and...

First time I've ever been able to even contemplate such a thing with my new comfortable setup......Thanks again Dan for the Thudbuster suggestion. Will definitely get a LT version for my Surly KM

So glad it brought some relief, Steve. I've found the B.17 and Thudbuster ST/LT combo  to be sublime and wished I had overcome my reluctance motivated by appearance, skepticism, and cost years earlier. Putting the two together really has made a difference on my longer (300-400km) day rides. I return feeling fresher and it just isn't as tiring along the way. Sure hoping the change will remain positive for you and you can get some distance in *comfortably*.

Best of luck and all support on the Strava PBP challenge.

All the best,

Dan.