New Bike is Ready!

[roubaixtuesday]

Should take possession Saturday...

[Jamesh]

Beautiful!

You must be tall!

What tubing?

Cheers James

[wirral_cyclist]

I'd forgotten Pete was building again, looks lovely!

[roubaixtuesday]

Beautiful!

You must be tall!

What tubing?

Cheers James

Yeah, I'm 6'4" That's my excuse for "needing" bespoke.

It's in 953

[roubaixtuesday]

I'd forgotten Pete was building again, looks lovely!

Thanks! Actually built by the other partner, Rob Wade

[Brucey]

Nice! I do hope your tyres don't swell up over time though; that looks very close to the seat tube!

cheers

[jimlews]

That's lovely craftsmanship. You'll weep over the first 'ding'.

I'd have specified the offset at the other end of the fork. Much more elegant and also more comfortable IMHO.

Different strokes etc.

Perhaps you should commission another.

'One Swallow doesn't make a summer'.

[peetee]

It's in 953

Ooooh, yummy. I’ve not had an opportunity to try that yet. I will expect a full report in due time.

[Samuel D]

I like the look of it. Do you know all the build details? Curious what the headset is if those are grease ports top and bottom. Is that 1" threadless set-up or just the long head tube messing with my sense of proportion? Something about it looks neater than the usual bulkiness of 1-1/8" threadless.

Saddle type?

Handlebar while I’m asking?

[Des49]

Very beautiful!

Looking up their site I see you have probably had a fair wait and have a fairly exclusive bike.

Lovely detail and colour, not too detailed or flashy, just how I like things.

Enjoy the bike.

[roubaixtuesday]

So, some more specs musings and history for the curious.

Materials: 953 build, the top tube is, I'm informed, the exact longest they go to in 953. All fillet brazed.
The headset and hubs are Hope.
Bars, stem, seatpost Ritchey
Groupset all Ultegra
The fork is actually a late change - the original was a Colombus carbon fork more in a classic style but unfortunately turns out not available in long enough steerer, hence carbon bladed fork shown.
DT Swiss rims, asymettric rear
Tyres 28mm Corsas
Saddle is just for the pictures - I have my own to fit when I get it.

I've not yet seen it of course, posted the pics last night when I got them.

The intention was for the "best" (obviously subjective) bike for day rides I could get done bespoke to my rather outlandish dimensions. I wanted something with great performance and also showing craftsmanship and elegance, to bring me joy for the rest of my cycling days.

Swallows actually built our tandem (not for us originally) a quarter of a century ago, and getting that refurbished provided the impetus for this build. I had a bike fit with Rob Wade at Swallows which turned into something more like a half day tutorial in framebuilding lore. I was originally more on the page of polished lugged construction but decided on fillet brazed in the end, a rather more modern look to my eye. Rob reckons there is little or no difference in performance or weight, so it's an aesthetic choice. Rob/Swallows have been great, but not the place to go if you want something rapidly - this was originally ordered late 2018...

I've realised I've completely forgotten bottle cages - any recommendations?

[Cyril Haearn]

'outlandish dimensions' You are tall, are you otherwise unusual, heavy? Please post the actual weight when you have collected it

[Marcus Aurelius]

That’s very nice.

[reohn2]

Should stop the livestock escaping

[Samuel D]

So 1-1/8" threadless without grease ports.

How about the classic Elite Ciussi Inox? Works well, stainless steel, not priced like a boutique item as many pretty cages are. It’s what I use.