200%totally confused about which bike to buy

[kyuss]

That looks pretty good to me BTFB. Veloce is at least on a par with 105, possibly even somewhere between 105 and Ultegra.

The wheels (and tyres) you've chosen look much better than the ones on the Kinesis build too. They use standard double butted DT spokes as well which is a bonus, as if anything goes 'ping' most LBS should have them in stock. You can get them cheaper at Chain Reaction though.

No need to worry about cables or BB, they will come with the groupset. You have missed out the headset though.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

Cool...thanks. Headset.....ok...I'll track one down.

Do you think I will need to buy any special tools to assemble it all? I have the basic spanners, allen keys, screw drivers etc...but what about fitting the cranks/ bottom bracket etc?

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

So which headset?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.aspx?Search=FSA+Orbit&x=7&y=10

They all look th esame to me except for the price

also:


I am unsure what cassette option to go with (or indeed what the difference is)

..or the medium or short rear mech option???

..or if the braze on option is the correct one for the front mech?


..oh and one more question...brakes....long or short drop brakes on this frame? I am unsure of the difference but notice the demo bike has short drop brakes and the 'kit' has long drop brakes...will the campagnolo veloce groupset brakes fit the frame?


EDIT Revised shopping list:
http://www.shinybikes.com/bikes/campagnolo-veloce-compact-groups

et.html
Groupset £285

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/17389/Kinesis_RaceLight

_Gran_Fondo_Limited_Edition_Frameset_2008
Frame £552

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&Mod

elID=18355
Wheels £300

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&Mod

elID=24317
Stem £45

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24663
Handlebars £58

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Pro_Adhesive_Gel_Bar_Tape/536

0036005/
Bar tape £12

http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/product/parts_accessories/tires

_road_clincher/TI_VITTORIA_EVO_CX23.html
Tyres £52

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=6183
Headset £18
Total £1322


Tools:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=C

AMPTOOL290000000000
£6

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Campagnolo_Ultra_Torque_BB_C

up_Tool/5360030546/
£12

 

[Joe]

Looks good to me
I'd personally go for a £20 stem as I can't tell the difference between them and the more expensive ones...might just be me and my weedy arms though!
ITM forged lite Alu is under £20 with a claimed weight of 137g and I've not managed to flex it in the slightest!

 

[Crackle]

Personally I don't get on with that shape of handlebar i.e. the drop bit.

Also, that 53/39 chainset, is that going to be right. 53 would be too high for me, I'd opt for 50/38. What gears do you normally use on your Galaxy?

 

[kyuss]

So which headset?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.aspx?Search=FSA+Orbit&x=7&y=10

They all look th esame to me except for the price

This one. The one with 36/45 degree angular bearings. They drop in by hand so you shouldn't need any tools for this.

For fitting the rest, other than screwdrivers and allen keys, most you'll need is the relevant campag BB tool and a lockring tool and chainwhip for fitting the casette. Take a look at the campag site, there's a downloadable pdf with fitting instructions for the crankset. Apparently the cups screw in by hand so for fitting the most you need is this, but because you need to use loctite on assembly you will need this if you ever need to get it off again.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

Also, that 53/39 chainset, is that going to be right. 53 would be too high for me, I'd opt for 50/38. What gears do you normally use on your Galaxy?

I think I am going to change that and go with a compact 50/34

Personally I don't get on with that shape of handlebar i.e. the drop bit.

ok...thanks..I may not also...I just picked one at random...care to suggest a better one for me?

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

..anybody got any thopughts on these?

also:


I am unsure what cassette option to go with (or indeed what the difference is)

..or the medium or short rear mech option???

..or if the braze on option is the correct one for the front mech?


..oh and one more question...brakes....long or short drop brakes on this frame? I am unsure of the difference but notice the demo bike has short drop brakes and the 'kit' has long drop brakes...will the campagnolo veloce groupset brakes fit the frame?

 

[Joe]

Short mech is compatible with everything except the 13-29, Medium cage would cope with any campag cassette.
Up to you really, short looks better but medium gives you more options. I switched to a medium when I ran the 13-29 on a big sportive and haven't bothered switching back.

As for which cassette you go for...have a play with Sheldon Browns gear calculator (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/). Compare with your Dawes ratios (though you won't want anything as low with a lighter unloaded bike, it should give you an idea).
11-25 with a compact crank gives a pretty good range imo.

It says on Winstanleys that your frame is built for short drop brakes.

Braze or band on depends on your frame (check with Kinesis) but you can always run a braze on front mech with a band on adaptor.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

thanks...perhpas I will start with the 11-25 then and change if necessary (but I doubt it )


Any thoughts on crank length options?

Currently on the Dawes I have 170.5 I think. I know if I opt for longer cranks that should give a big bloke more power right? But what about cornering...wont long cranks hit the ground first?

It says on Winstanleys that your frame is built for short drop brakes

I dont really understand the difference between long and short drop brakes. Would it be fair to assume that the brakes in the Campagnolo veloce groupset are long drop and therefore unsuitable for that frame?

Apologies for so many Knb questions but it's how I learn. Ta for helping all.

 

[P.H]

The frameset includes a headset, so scrub that from your list.
And the frame is designed for short reach brakes.
Both bits of information come from your own links!

Campag - I'm a fan of the shifters, but in 2007 they changed the mechanism, you lost the ability to trim the front and to make multiple shifts in one direction at the back (I forget which direction). Campag have decided this is such a great idea they've changed back for the 2009 groupsets. The exceptions to this were the high end Record and Chorus which got lighter but kept the original features. Campag stuff works across the groupsets of the same speed, so you don't have to stick to one. Shop around, Ribble and Parkers could probably do a better deal than those you've linked so far, Same Veloce groupset from Ribble is £267.

Wheels - Those Reynolds wheels look great, they're being promoted as shaving seconds off your TT time! Is that what you need? The low spoke count is only possible with a stiffer rim and they're not even exceptionally light. I'm not saying they won't be fine, but for all day rides you could do better. The Planet X 32/32 at around £150 and 150g a pair heavier get great reviews or one of the countries top wheelbuilders could custom build you something really special for around £300. If you do go with the Solitudes shop around, I've seen them at £285.

Tools - I'd get whoever you buy the frame from to fit the BB, it's not hard but can go wrong, why risk it. A workstand would make the whole build so much easier, especially when it comes to adjusting the gears, they're a great thing to have anyway (you may already have one) Decent quality cable cutters are also worth having, though not essential. Apart from that you'll only need allan keys.

Hope you find this helpful

 

[P.H]

Would it be fair to assume that the brakes in the Campagnolo veloce groupset are long drop and therefore unsuitable for that frame?

No, Campag don't make any long reach brakes, so any Campag brakes will be right for that frame.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

..cool...many thanks!

 

[Crackle]

This is a classic drop, probably similiar to your Galaxy. The problem I found with the one you first picked was that it kinda shoved me back a bit and rounded my back.

A 50/34 chainset sound eminently sensible but as suggested familiarise yourself with Sheldons gear calculator, in particular what you now use on an unloaded Galaxy bearing in mind you should be able to use higher gear to shove this bike along with less effort than the Galaxy.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

unloaded on th egalaxy I never use the small front cog. I occassionally use the middle one on hills but mostly I do my loops entirely on the big cog. BUT this is essex and pretty flat for th emost part.