I have the following:
-- frame with forks
-- wheel and tyres
-- saddle
What I need is some recommendations as to ALL the other bits I need to create a decent touring bicycle.
I'd be very happy to receive recommendations for bits and pieces to build up this bike as a project.
Thanks all.
Building a bike - what bits
Gears: I'd use Shimano MTB kit, probably 8 speed as it uses the stronger chain. It depends on whether you are heavily laden - for camping a 22-32-44 chainset, but a 28-38-48 for light touring.
For shifters personally I like bar ends as they are simple and have a friction mode as backup. For brakes I love Magura drop bar levers, but they are as rare as chickens' teeth now they are discontinued. It's overkill for a light tourer though. Otherwise I'd use Campagnolo Ergos (10speed ergos shift exactly with a Shimano rear mech for 8 speed, not just a bodge) and Shimano calipers as Campag calipers don't come in deep drop for a mudguard.
For handle bars nothing beats 3T Morphe for me.
All a personal choice, the next post will show that we all have our own preferences.
For shifters personally I like bar ends as they are simple and have a friction mode as backup. For brakes I love Magura drop bar levers, but they are as rare as chickens' teeth now they are discontinued. It's overkill for a light tourer though. Otherwise I'd use Campagnolo Ergos (10speed ergos shift exactly with a Shimano rear mech for 8 speed, not just a bodge) and Shimano calipers as Campag calipers don't come in deep drop for a mudguard.
For handle bars nothing beats 3T Morphe for me.
All a personal choice, the next post will show that we all have our own preferences.
I'm doing the same at the moment. I'm getting a dynamo hub, and one of those IQ lights, but as you have the wheels....
Probably some more crucial things that I can't think of...
- Stronglight Impact triple, but probably a narrower range cassette than PW suggests as I don't want the top couple of gears on the 11-34 (on another thread...).
Shimano M959 pedals, but that's because I'll just switch them from my day bike.
Campag Ergo shifters, with a shiftmate for Shimano hub/cassette. Down tube levers weigh nothing as spares in case of problems with the Ergos.
Not sure of bars - possibly the Morphe (which I have on another bike), maybe the Nitto Noodle.
SKS mudguards, unless I go for the shiny Berthould stainless ones.
Tubus carriers (can't remember what the models are called).
2 Elite Cuissi (?) Inox bottle cages, and probably a bikebuddy too.
Zefal HPX pump.
Probably some more crucial things that I can't think of...
Thanks Guys! You've both gone for TTT Morphe bars and Ergo's, so they definitely are on my shopping list.
Building a bike is actually a lot more complicated than I imagined - I've done a bit more research now. At the moment I have a Marin Lucas Valley (hybrid thing, alu and carbon) and a Dawes Horizon (alu frame) I could cannibalise the parts off, but that would then mean I have parts of 2 bikes and 1 completed bike.
I'm kinda undecided what to do. Cannibalise 2 bikes to make a third, then sell whatever is left over.
Or
buy in a bunch of bits, then make the 3rd bike, and sell the other 2 bikes. (I'm leaning towards this as it'll make a good project and a great blog).
In addition to any more recommendations from anyone, I have a new question: anyone recommend a good book that shows how to build up a bike from basically scratch? Thanks!
Building a bike is actually a lot more complicated than I imagined - I've done a bit more research now. At the moment I have a Marin Lucas Valley (hybrid thing, alu and carbon) and a Dawes Horizon (alu frame) I could cannibalise the parts off, but that would then mean I have parts of 2 bikes and 1 completed bike.
I'm kinda undecided what to do. Cannibalise 2 bikes to make a third, then sell whatever is left over.
Or
buy in a bunch of bits, then make the 3rd bike, and sell the other 2 bikes. (I'm leaning towards this as it'll make a good project and a great blog).
In addition to any more recommendations from anyone, I have a new question: anyone recommend a good book that shows how to build up a bike from basically scratch? Thanks!
If you're mixing Ergos with a Shimano rear you'll need to cough up for the expensive ones - Chorus or Record 
unless you drop lucky & find a pair of 2006 or earlier from one of the cheaper groups. (Campag indexed the front shift on cheap models after 2007).
PS I like that 48 X 11 top gear, but then I do most of my riding in the Peak or somewhere similar, if you're in the flatlands it's a total waste & a smaller chainset or a closer ratio cassette might be more appropriate.
unless you drop lucky & find a pair of 2006 or earlier from one of the cheaper groups. (Campag indexed the front shift on cheap models after 2007).
PS I like that 48 X 11 top gear, but then I do most of my riding in the Peak or somewhere similar, if you're in the flatlands it's a total waste & a smaller chainset or a closer ratio cassette might be more appropriate.
If at first you don't succeed - cheat!!
PW wrote: (Campag indexed the front shift on cheap models after 2007).
I'm not sure, but I think you're not quite right.
The new lower-end models of Campag Ergo - Xenon, Mirage, Veloce have a system called "Escape". It fits in well with QS - Quick Shift.
As far as I understand, and I am willing to be corrected, is that Escape is a system where the LH Ergo moves the front system very easily from outer to inner, but 'trimming' is still required if you have a triple middle-ring. That is, it is NOT indexed on triple, but FEELS like it on a double.
Escape has a cheaper, non-repairable and a non-modifiable mechanism.
Mick F. Cornwall
Hi PW,
Yes, my Chorus system is "ok", but so are my Mirage 2004 Ergo levers. (were 9sp, now 10sp)
Just a thought - if a triple was indexed, it would require only two clicks from outer to inner. And two clicks back again from inner to outer. One click from each end would get you to the middle.
Does such a perfect indexed device exist?
Yes, my Chorus system is "ok", but so are my Mirage 2004 Ergo levers. (were 9sp, now 10sp)
Just a thought - if a triple was indexed, it would require only two clicks from outer to inner. And two clicks back again from inner to outer. One click from each end would get you to the middle.
Does such a perfect indexed device exist?
Mick F. Cornwall
