youngoldbloke
The older I get, the faster I used to be ...
A thought occurs - why aren't frames sold with the BB already faced? It is going to have to be done anyway.
Buy off the shelf or build my own?
- Thread starter jay clock
- Start date
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youngoldbloke said:
It's not necessary to face for a "normal" internal type BB as these don't rely on the sides of the shell being parallel to align the bearings.
Actually, I didn't have mine faced before upgrading to an external BB / Hollowtech II and haven't had any probs (18 months 60-100miles per week). YMMV and on an expensive bike / components I'd have it done.
One other thing to the OP:
Your new frame doesn't need a BB like this does it:
http://www.parktool.com/repair/readcalvinscorner.asp?id=231
because in that case I'd definitely get a good shop to do it.
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
My LBS reckoned that most modern frames are manufactured to pretty good tolerances (so the BB shell faces should be parallell). On their own bikes, they remove the paint from the shell face and fit the BB - on customer bikes, they offer the option. (Facing does allow you to be 100% sure, I guess).leoc said:
At Sideways Cycles, they did the facing gratis, and tbh, I couldn't see a downside to having it done.
OP
OP
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
OK, great news all round. My LBS is run by a great bloke who knows his stuff and I have ended up with a great deal. (I went to their other branch yesterday and was looked at as if I had shít on my shoes when I asked about full carbon bikes)
He cannot get near Merlin on price for the groupset, so we have agreed that he will strip the Campag stuff off the frame, and then fit thegroupset that I will get from Merlin. He is selling me wheels, tyres, handlebar and stem and assembling the whole thing. He has knocked the frame back from £xx to the price that Wiggle have it reduced to. He is not making lots of money on it, but it is a frame he is happy to let go.
I am interested in the comments about "fashion". Partly true, but why would I spend £2k+ on a bike I really did not like the look of? More importantly my Shimano experience has been one of smoothness, whereas the Campag kit on that bike I found noisy and very imprecise. I also was not at all keen on the thumg operated shifter which are very similar to the Sora ones I used to have. Things like the rubber hoods on the Campag have a really obvious moulding seam right up the middle, whereas (to me) the Ultegra look like a beautifully engineered bit of kit.
Either way, I am happy with what I am getting and looking forward to riding it. I just hope it makes me faster!
He cannot get near Merlin on price for the groupset, so we have agreed that he will strip the Campag stuff off the frame, and then fit thegroupset that I will get from Merlin. He is selling me wheels, tyres, handlebar and stem and assembling the whole thing. He has knocked the frame back from £xx to the price that Wiggle have it reduced to. He is not making lots of money on it, but it is a frame he is happy to let go.
I am interested in the comments about "fashion". Partly true, but why would I spend £2k+ on a bike I really did not like the look of? More importantly my Shimano experience has been one of smoothness, whereas the Campag kit on that bike I found noisy and very imprecise. I also was not at all keen on the thumg operated shifter which are very similar to the Sora ones I used to have. Things like the rubber hoods on the Campag have a really obvious moulding seam right up the middle, whereas (to me) the Ultegra look like a beautifully engineered bit of kit.
Either way, I am happy with what I am getting and looking forward to riding it. I just hope it makes me faster!
OP
OP
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
I hope to have the bike by the end of the week..... The Ultegra groupset arrive today, and as I am away I had my girlfriend check through it all to see it was what I ordered. She pretended not to know much about bike parts, but my favourite was " sort of spanner thing" which turned out to be the left hand crank arm! Sadly I am not there to see it, but she will drop it at the shop for them (hopefully) to get cracking. Who knows, I may be racing on it at the weekend in my final triathlon!
Jonathan M
New Member
- Location
- Merseyside
jay clock said:
Like I said, not meant to offend, but while Campag will always seem "clunkier" than Shimano, at the price you are going for I'd have thought that the difference was negligible. Besides, we'd better not say too much about this, before it turns into another campag vs shimano thread, although there does not seem to have been one for a while.
OP
OP
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
Not all offended!! I just think that the Campag bike I rode was noticeably more clunky, and I much prefer the look of the Shimano.
I cannot wait to see how it all looks
I cannot wait to see how it all looks
OP
OP
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
...and rides of course!
OP
OP
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
OK. I picked it up today. Due to a misunderstanding (mine!) the deal was that I am to assemble it all. Not a huge problem, so have just spent a few hours fiddling and fettling. One issue was the brake bolt on the front was too short- solved by buying a longer nut (recessed type) for the back of it. I also screwed up cutting the gear cable outers so had to go and buy more and get them cut to size.
The only thing I am missing is that the rear wheel he had in stock was a campag freehub, and the Shimano one has yet to arrive. My old bike has identical wheels, so I have set it all up, and YIPPEE test ridden it up and down the road, and nothing fell off! Also I have not got bar tape on it, and I have some ordered from PBK (very cheap and colour is called "silver carbon").
The groupset is ice grey Ultegra and I love the look.
I am racing in my last triathlon of the year on Sunday, and whilst I would like to ride it, I am going to use the old one.
Here is a pic....ignore the pedals and saddle which are spares from my odds and sods box, and note the missing cassette as it is the wheel with the Campag freehub.....
The only thing I am missing is that the rear wheel he had in stock was a campag freehub, and the Shimano one has yet to arrive. My old bike has identical wheels, so I have set it all up, and YIPPEE test ridden it up and down the road, and nothing fell off! Also I have not got bar tape on it, and I have some ordered from PBK (very cheap and colour is called "silver carbon").
The groupset is ice grey Ultegra and I love the look.
I am racing in my last triathlon of the year on Sunday, and whilst I would like to ride it, I am going to use the old one.
Here is a pic....ignore the pedals and saddle which are spares from my odds and sods box, and note the missing cassette as it is the wheel with the Campag freehub.....
accountantpete
OAP
You're not leaving the dustcaps on are you?
Seriously - it looks great.
Seriously - it looks great.
OP
OP
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
Oh no, what a terrible faux pas! I will be taking them off to reduce weight but more importantly for speed of changing them when I race.... no lock nuts either (but I think they are smooth valves anyway!
OP
OP
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
all done now! http://mybmc.weebly.com/ I am pleased with the outcome. I have a 5am start tomorrow for my last triathlon of the year and will be (sadly) using the old bike... the BMC only has 400m on the clock so I want to get it fully fettled and to transfer over the bottle cages, computer, tribars etc.
