Build a bike, fix a bike

This will be of limited interest to anyone straying onto this blog but having thrown together lots of bikes over the years (the first being in 1988 age 17!) I figured I should document at least one build for posterity. It does surprise me the number of people who want a custom build but will pay a bike shop to do it rather than do it themselves. I know bike shops make good money doing this but given that its pretty easy when all's said and done it should be something any keen cyclist aspires to. Of course in my case, the somewhat organic nature of my bike collection pretty much dictates that they are all DIY jobs. I've only ever bought two complete new bikes and done one custom build where pretty much everything was new. Every other one was a case of buy a frame swap as many bits over to it as possible, upgrade, buy another frame etc. etc.


This one was possibly a result of too much confinement in the house, under the current circumstances, prompting a need for some retail therapy. I'd also just off loaded a frame and realised I'd not built a new bike for three years.... The cue was a few rides I did in the early part of the 'lockdown' on a fixie I'd thrown together about 12 years ago, but never really used. This was dragged out and fettled, a pair of sawn off drops used for 'bullhorn' bars (fixie de rigueur) and the 18mm tyres ditched for some 23mils, all that would fit in the frame. This frame is quite nice as its an ex track bike frame sporting the name 'Sandy Wallace' of Edinburgh (in)fame. It was actually built by M Steels in Newcastle, source of many custom steel frames over the years. Being a track bike, it was incredibly stiff, had bugger all clearance and was actually quite heavy. I'd drilled the forks to take one brake, fitted a 42/17 gear and gone for a proper try out. Having ridden a lot of single speed this year, I was in a much better frame of mind to appreciate a fixed gear. But the frames limitations were manifest. No room for mudguards, so useless other than for dry weather, very twitchy (not ideal when every time you try to freewheel it tries to hurl you out of the seat) and very uncomfortable.


So as usual the seed had been sewn and I spent some weeks ruminating on whether I should invest in something that could be run fixed but was overall more usable. A surly steamroller was the obvious choice but its still track geo and not that versatile off the road. Furthermore there were none to be had in the UK or Europe in my size. Some of the fixed gear specialists offer some nice frames, specifically Brick Lane Bikes in London, but none of them quite met my exacting needs. I could have fixed the Straggler but this would have involved a new back wheel and a fair bit of fiddling. Plus disk brakes on a fixie??


Hmmm, how about a Cross-check then. I'd actually had one of these previously, my first ever Surly. It was a great thing but I'd got it a size too large as I hadn't a clue how road bike sizing went. So it was always a bit long plus I only really used it for commuting. By the time I was back into cycle touring, it was totally knackered and therefore got neglected. Soon after I became enamoured of the idea of disk brakes on a road bike so the cross-check was abandoned and eventually sold. But if I got the right size then it would be a far nicer prospect, the dodgy canti brakes would only be a back up to the fixed wheel, and being a 'classic' Surly, pretty cool to boot. Or something.


Of course there were non to be had of these in my size either. Some web searching sourced one in Germany for not much more than the bargain priced ones in Spa cycles (that weren't due in stock until October). I was pretty dubious about this as if it went wrong, sending it back would be a PIA. I also like to buy my frames from Bothy Bikes these days as its the nearest thing to my local bike shop but they had none in stock and were therefore dependent on Ison getting more in October. The shop had good reviews and if you used a bank card rather than Paypal the exchange rate was pretty much what was being advertised as the standard rate across the board. Word of advice, Paypal rip you off for exchange rates, paying this way would have cost me an extra thirty quid. So I hit the button and fretted for 10 days until it duly arrived on Monday.





All was well (in fact it was mint) and I noted that unlike my old one, its now also got the ED black coating which cuts down on rust inside and out. Also new were extra barnacles on the fork crown and mid blade, for a front rack. I'd been digging through my parts bin, as well as looking at what was on the track bike and figured I had most of what I needed. Wheels were a pair of Miche track wheels with a 120 rear hub, and practically unused. I had a selection of stems, various drop bars, various cranks, some old XT cantis, nice Cane Creek road levers, a choice of seat pins and a nice brown leather Charge spoon saddle. I then got the chance of a set of mini V's cheap so went for them figuring they'd be easier to set up and live with than the cantis, which were always a pain in the backside back in the days when there was nowt else.





First job, waxoyl the frame. I use a sprayer which fits into a standard waxoyl can on my compressor. This is very messy but if you thin the waxoyl with white spirit, the spray coats the inside of the tubes with a thin film. I've done this on all my steel frames and ones that have been used for many years in all weathers are still mint inside. ACF30 spray gets used for awkward nooks and crannies, chainstays and fork blades etc. This then gets left to dry for a few hours.






Next up, what used to be my least favourite job - bashing in the headset. These days I use a Park headset press which is a nice thing. I also have a 30 Ton press for the stubborn ones. The Cane Creek headset I got off the BB forum classified is nice in that it has a slight machined reduced diameter which allows you to push it in a bit square prior to pressing it it fully. These are half the price of a hope one so guess what I'll be buying next time. You can use a bit of M20 threaded bar, nuts and washers to do this but the Park tool is really nice, comes with stepped spacers and makes it a breeze. The crown race put up a fight as it was quite tight. I prefer the split ones as you can just push them on.


Next up, in with the forks, put some spacers on and fit a stem to hold it all in place. I've not cut the steerer yet as I want to have a sit on it and measure up. On three of my bikes I've been a bit keen cutting the steerer and ended up with bars too low. Given my age and dodgy back I err on the side of long and upright. I hate the horrible star fangled nut things so used a BBB wedge type steerer bung. Lavish use of copper grease figures in all of these proceedings. Then on with a seat and put the wheels in. I'd converted the front to QR and spaced the 120 hub out to 130. The cross check has forward facing drop outs with adjuster screws sticking out the back. Years of motorcycle ownership has lead me to appreciate screw adjusters to tension the chain but these adjusters only locate the wheel, not adjust it as they would for rear facing drop outs. I contemplated various designs in my head to turn these into things that would drag the wheel back but in the end got a Surly hurdy gurdy chain tensioner. Despite the stupid name it's a nice piece of machined stainless kit designed specially for this or other forward loading drop out frames. The only issue is that the wheel spindle is a bit short . I'll have to get a new axle but this will do for now.






The plan was to use these RF 46 cm deep drop bars cut down to bull bars. But they have a short reach and initial sittings-on suggested they would be uncomfortable. I then did my usual internal debate about bars and stems and what I could buy; but in the end stuck to my original determination to not end up spending huge amounts of dosh on new bits for what is only going to be a commuter come mess-around machine. So the RF bars got returned to the back hedge and the bars I'd had on the track back went on. They are a wee bit narrow but fine for now. Note short stem (70mm with a 35 degree angle). I just do not get fitting a 120 stem on any bike road or off-road. And thats speaking as someone who (like everyone else) had a 150 stem on my mountainbike, back in the day. Short stems make for very light and responsive steering and mean your not facing the front tyre. For me its crucial to minimise the angle I lean forward on a bike, in order to minimise back pain. So short stems are a double whammy meaning sweet steering and a nice comfy riding position. After further debate I decided to lop an inch and a half off the steerer tube.









Another job I used to make a meal of. Using a saw guide helps immensely - this is an Ice toolz one. Annoyingly my only hacksaw blade was blunt so I reached for the power saw which is a bit of a scary thing but licked through the cromo tube in jig time.


I wired up the brakes and got them set up with minimum fuss, justifying getting the mini V's. Got a good lever feel so they should be fine. There is some amount of nonsense talked on the net about setting up cantis or V brakes. People talk about having lots of 'modulation' for good feel, but this is what I (and any other motorcyclist) refers to as a crap, spongy brake. I like to feel the blocks hitting the rim / pads hitting the disk; followed by a generous dose of braking power.


I was still awaiting the arrival of a BB so cracked on with fitting the mudguards. These were previously on my Strag but were a bit narrow for 40mm tyres. For the 35mm marathons I'd bunged on this they were ideal. After a bit of stay faffing and messing with bits of bracket, bolts and washers I got them on. The front was a bit tight under the brake cable so I may need to fiddle a bit more. The brake works fine however, it just rubs the 'guard a bit. I always run the front stays to the mid fork mounts. This gives a much stiffer front guard as the stays end up very short. It requires a bit of bending and fiddling but works really well and eliminates horrible mudguard off tyre rattle. I don't use the safety clips on the end of the stays. I appreciate why these are fitted but I don't like them, despite once having a rock up mudguard / jam fork / face plant / cracked skull scenario many years ago. They wear quickly (The SKS ones with the waggly bit on the plastic lump that detaches under force) meaning they can detach under normal use. Having a loose stay flailing about as you descend a gravel track is not a good thing. The chances of a stick getting caught up are slim, and I just take extra care when riding trails covered in sticks.... Whilst doing this I taped over all the weld vent holes. Water can get in these holes and can't drain out so the tubes could rust from the inside, even though I've waxoyled them. I also tape round the chainstays where the tyre goes and up the seat stays where the bike will get lent against posts.


The BB arrived so it was on with the (laughably simple) drive train. I had various crank / ring / BB options but fancied using a set of old Ultegra cranks that were actually on my last Cross-check. They are Octalink and the BB I had was worn out. They don't last as long as the square taper ones and cost £32 so I may revert to square taper at some point. Ring wise I had a choice but went with 38 to the 16T back sprocket. Gearing on fixies takes up a lot of internet space and the 'standard' seems to be 46/16. Fine for the city or open road without any big hills but way over-geared for my needs. I'd had 42/16 on the track bike with the 23mm tyres so 38/16 with the 35's will work out a wee bit lower in terms of gear inches. Note I use circumference of the wheel to calculate this (not the stupid convention of diameter only to compare with a mythical penny-farthing!) as you get a real value i.e the length traveled for one pedal revolution. A check of the chainline with a straight edge indicated it was spot on by good fortune. More wrenching and tightening, a quick check of everything I've done so far and.....






Boom, finished. Just need to ride it, faff a bit, ride it some more, faff some more and then get on with it. So it proved. First ride of 12 miles revealed a few minor tweaks required and then the next day it was out for a proper ride. As it happens I ended up doing 60 miles (mostly in the rain) and it was great. But knackering as freewheeling involves taking the feet of the pedals which looks highly dubious to me.


In fact I've been checking out all of those youtube vids showing nutters screaming around various metropolis's on fixies with scant regard for personal safety. (Search for Terry Bartensen, they are well worth a look.) There isn't much scope for such silliness round here and I'm too old for it anyway; but its clear that fun is to be had on these things, which makes a change from my normal bike riding exploits. Next blog from the hospital!

June BAM

Midsummer. The longest day of the year and the official start of Summer 2020. Given the weather we've had throughout Spring it seems inevitable that we are in for another 'typical' Scottish Summer.... This went through my head as I looked at a final weather forecast prior to starting out on my annual midsummers ride. Saturday looked to be fine but Sunday was going to be wet, starting at the notional dawn of around 3.00am. The plan was to ride until last light, await the dawn and then ride home. Sleep would figure in this plan and as usual, I had numerous bivvy sites in mind.

So 1.30pm saw me head roughly east on a not dissimilar route to my August '19 BAM. That day I'd intended to ride the whole of the Fife Pilgrims route to St. Andrews, bivvy in Tentsmuir forest then ride back. A somewhat damp forecast curtailed this plan and I ended up in the five star bivvy spot at Falkland. That wasn't an option today but I figured I wouldn't need it. Unlike last year, the trails were pretty much dry apart from a few bits thanks to Fridays rain. This led me to depart the Loch Leven trail at Scotlandwell and head straight up the Bishop hill on what is a fierce climb, largely pushed given my single gear. It was roasting going over the Lomonds but the trails were running great. I've not been over here since the beginning of March so it was fab to get re-acquainted. 

The car park at West Lomond was mobbed. I watched a large group of people setting up their barby in the adjacent disused quarry and got out of there sharpish.... As per last year I hit the Pilgrims Way at Balbirnie. It was quiet, dry and I had a stiff tailwind.

Path through the fields. This was stubble last year and hard work. This year the farmer has left a margin and the path is a smooth and firm line.

My fairly TLS load out and the Lomonds behind

Pedaling up through Kennoway revealed much traffic. So much for any idea that peoples travel habits would change once restrictions on movement were eased. People seem to have rushed back to their cars as soon as they were able. Beyond here the route is great as previously reported. It was now early evening and I had the place to myself, Likewise the next few sections to Ceres. Sunshine, smooth, easy trails through pleasant farmland, views to the hills to the north; all added up to a fab ride, all cares forgotten. I rode straight through Ceres and continued east on what was now new ground. More of the above in the event, then a stiff climb up to Kinninmonth farm where I left the Pilgrims route to head north to the coastal path. 


North Fife farmland



Riding through Guardbridge I could smell the chippy and was sorely tempted to stop. I did have all my food with me however so stuck to my guns, and route. Tea was needed though given the plan to keep riding until last light and it was now after 7. Entering Tentsmuir forest I was therefore on the lookout for a quiet spot to have food. A vague line to my right took me to a sunny clearing with enough breeze to keep the midges away. Food was heated and eaten, including a much needed cuppa. As it happened I wasn't alone, a load of mosquitoes decided to join me. I'm never quite sure where and when you get mozzies and I've not encountered them very often. I guess the mild winter and the current damp but warm conditions around me was their ideal breeding ground. Oh well, live and let live. (When I got home I discovered I'd been thoroughly savaged by the little swines!)

Fed and rested off I went through the forest edge, past the spot where I'd bivvied in Midsummer 2017. There were still no parking and road closed signs everywhere but I suspect this will change soon and Tentsmuir, like the other forests, will become mobbed once more. From Morton Loch Nature Reserve I hit the tarmac and started my return west. There is a few options off road along here, including the Coastal Path. But this is a bit faffy with lots of gates; and the other options needed to be scoped when it wasn't after 8pm and I was 50 miles from home. 

I rejoined the FCP near Brunton and started looking for bivvy spots as the miles were taking their toll. That said I made it up the climb past Normans Law without too much effort (or pushing) and started checking out the woods. Hmm, someone seems to have established a permanent camp up here with a campervan, awning, various huts and teepees. No way was I stopping here as they would inevitably have a heard of rabid mutts about the place so instead I hared down the long descent to Glenduckie. Its odd that such an encampment is tolerated by the landowner (who would typically have them firmly evicted) or the locals. It does seem an odd place though - a real land that time forgot. The weirdness continued approaching the tiny community of Glenduckie when I passed a group of teenage girls glammed up to the nines, wandering through the farmyard.....

I lifted water out of a burn just past Dunbog. I've taken to carrying my filter on these trips as good water is hard to come by, unlike the Highlands, and the filter means you can pretty much drink anything. I'd already filled up at Clatto res but the heat made me want to keep topped up. Finally I was on the last climb up to Weddersbie hill. I knew I'd get a bivvy spot in the woods here and as it was now 10.30 I was done. Sure enough I found a nice sheltered spot by an old wall in amongst some broom, got the tarp up and flaked out after 9 hours and 82 miles. I lay in splendour sipping whisky and eating chocolate whilst looking at the thickening cloud through the tree branches. The sunset had been fairly red so maybe the forecast rain wouldn't appear.

3am and I woke to the unwelcome sound of rain on the tarp. So much for welcoming the sun. It was just starting to get light but I rolled over and crashed out once more. Then at 5 I was woken by my bladder. The rain was heavy and the wind quite strong in the trees above me. By the time I'd got my gear on, done what had to be done and got back into my bag, I was wide awake. I guess I could have got back to sleep eventually but I figured there was little point. Home, a hot shower and breakfast was 2 hours or so away. I had a quick cuppa, packed up and headed out into the rain. 


Hello Summer....


Another good flat tarp pitch

It lasted through Pitmedden forest but by the time I got home the sky was clearing. Total distance was 112 miles in about 10 and a half hours of riding, the longest I've done on the single speed. All being well there is a chance I will be able to head north next month. I'm not holding my breath given how the Scottish Government is playing the 'who can keep the restrictions in the longest' game but if I can, I've got a few trip ideas, including a monster!

May BAM

This one seems to have been a long time in coming after my back garden bivvys of March and April. I'd deliberately hung off until the end of the month on the basis that a reduction in restrictions were imminent and un-restricted exercise was now officially permitted. So it proved and better yet, the weather forecast for the whole weekend was looking stunning.

I'd also actually taken the Friday off and had planned a longish day ride to celebrate our new found freedoms. I did resist going to visit my parents in Durham however..... 

This ride turned into a disaster / opportunity to test ones ingenuity in bodged repairs. I'd gone about 40 miles when a once per wheel rev ticking noise became a thump. On inspection a large bulge on the tyre, about an inch across, was the culprit and it was growing as I looked. A quick grab for the valve and I saved the tyre from blowing out, but now what to do? Fortunately I had my full tyre first aid kit with me, so I set too. For some reason the carcass was de-laminating with threads exposed over several sections. Everything I had with me had to be used to hold the tyre together - thank goodness for superglue! In went a tube and I inflated it to about 30psi. No bulges but the ride home was a bit wobbly as the tyre hadn't seated properly at this low pressure. It made it home however the tyre boots had nibbled holes in both my spare tubes by the time I got back to the house.

So Saturday I was feeling a bit apprehensive about disappearing into the wilds again and made sure I had selection of tyre bodging stuff as well as my usual repair kit and tools. Funnily enough I've had a run of punctures over the last couple of months, despite not riding anywhere drastic, so hopefully the above would draw a line under this period. I loaded up the Jones, aware that there was no chance of rain, it was going to be a scorcher but could be cool at night. Full self sufficiency was the order of the day so in went a boil in the bag meal and other food and after some stove deliberation I went with the Soto. Its heavy and bulky but meths burners don't do simmering and I was out of gas.

Ready for the off, fairly TLS despite the food load.

My route took me roughly east into a stiff breeze which was a relief after the roaster that Friday had been. I traced various trails and back roads towards the Lomonds, only encountering others on the Loch Leven trail. I've avoided this popular path recently but felt it would be quiet at this late part of the day. Yes and no. The small beach at the east end was busy and I met a few groups walking either side of this but as the car parks are all shut, the rest of it was quite apart from an occasional bike. Falkland to Collessie was done on a couple of easy trails and some fine woodland single track before I climbed into the eastern Ochills above Newburgh. This is a route I've done many times and it largely follows the crest of the ridge west.

Howe of Fife - a large flat area of rich farmland.

Looking south to the Lomonds from Pitmedden forest.

It was just after 7 as I left Pitmedden and followed various back roads to Glenfarg before climbing back up into the hills above Milnathort. There are definitely options for a more off road route through here but now is not the time to go trail blazing! I'd been thinking of various bivvy spots but it eventually occurred to me that I'd been following a similar route to my 2018 February BAM. Then I'd found a snug spot in the woods just off the road over to Path of Condie and I figured a repeat visit would be the easiest option tonight. I was starting to feel a bit weary, the wind was quite strong so a sheltered site well off the beaten track was in order.

Pitch up shot. I needn't have bothered with the tarp given the forecast but I'd noticed a haar forming out by the coast and if it spread inland things could get damp. Plus I wanted the practice putting it up.

So I was able to sit in the open making and eating food whilst listening to the woodland sounds around me. After the bizzareness of the last two months this was like a major pressure relief valve for all the stresses, worries and uncertainties. Eventually I turned in for a read before dropping off. I woke later on and lay away listening to a couple of owls calling to each other, then woke again to the glorious dawn chorus. Finally at 8.30 I got up, had breakfast, packed up and left.

My route home continued west along a wooded ridge before descending to Dunning Glen. I paid a brief visit to Glendevon woods to pick up a couple of bits of single track, then cut across to Glendevon itself. 

Looking west up onto the main Ochills. My onward route is the wooded hill to the left. So one more climb over Commonedge and Seamab hill before my usual back road and trail route home. The icing on the cake was meeting up with friends who live just outside the village. We had a lengthy chat and cuppa sat outside in the baking sunshine.

So. Second ride on the SS Jones with bags which went well. My plan is to do a couple of spare bivvies over the next two months to make up for the two I missed in March and April. They will all be fairly local I suspect but I've got plenty of sites to choose from so no worries with that.