EltonFrog
Legendary Member
Lovely. I want.
Temple Light Tourer build project, winter 2023.
- Thread starter All uphill
- Start date
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Lovely. I want.
OP
OP
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
I had a lightly used Spa triple crankset in my box of bits. 48/38/28.
With a clean up and a new outer ring it's ready to go on this build ( once I've worked out what length BB it needs).
The black outer ring gets added to the pile of parts to be sold.
With a clean up and a new outer ring it's ready to go on this build ( once I've worked out what length BB it needs).
The black outer ring gets added to the pile of parts to be sold.
OP
OP
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
Work proceeds on the wheels. Green spoke nipples, green skewers. Tan wall tyres.
Rear wheel before, front wheel after.
Rear wheel before, front wheel after.
OP
OP
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
The build starts.
OP
OP
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
Progress, decisions and delays.
Delay. My bottom bracket tool has gone missing, so I spent hours clearing out the garage looking for it. Loads of stuff to the local cycle charity and loads to the tip, but bb tool not found so a new one is on order. A new stem is on its way from China.
Decisions. Brooks Saddle is on for now; it's heavy but comfortable. I found an unused 8speed chain and Acera derailleur so they are going on and the 8speed cassette remains. I bought a Carradice Zipped roll. The saddle and bag may be replaced by lighter alternatives later in the interest of saving weight.
This may end up looking like any other Temple so I'm playing with ideas to make it more distinctive. Any thoughts?
Delay. My bottom bracket tool has gone missing, so I spent hours clearing out the garage looking for it. Loads of stuff to the local cycle charity and loads to the tip, but bb tool not found so a new one is on order. A new stem is on its way from China.
Decisions. Brooks Saddle is on for now; it's heavy but comfortable. I found an unused 8speed chain and Acera derailleur so they are going on and the 8speed cassette remains. I bought a Carradice Zipped roll. The saddle and bag may be replaced by lighter alternatives later in the interest of saving weight.
This may end up looking like any other Temple so I'm playing with ideas to make it more distinctive. Any thoughts?
I think it looks lovely as is. Dont see many around so I wouldn't worry about it.
Gotta love a green bike.
OP
OP
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
Thanks, that's helpful.
OP
OP
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
Finally making progress again.
Brooks and Carradice bag off - too heavy.
Chainset on - also pretty hefty and may be replaced by a single chainset later.
This currently weighs 10.4kg which is lots lighter than my round town bike and my tourer (14-15kg each).
Bar tape and gear cables tomorrow, and a play with a different stem..
Brooks and Carradice bag off - too heavy.
Chainset on - also pretty hefty and may be replaced by a single chainset later.
This currently weighs 10.4kg which is lots lighter than my round town bike and my tourer (14-15kg each).
Bar tape and gear cables tomorrow, and a play with a different stem..
OP
OP
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
Saddle height is good, but I need to change the quill stem - it's much too long.
Long? Do you mean high?
Sorry, I'm not criticising, just that seems a very upright riding set up.
OP
OP
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
I mean high.
One of this week's jobs is to get the bars at a height my old body can be comfortable with. I'll get the gears functioning then try different stems.
OP
OP
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
A couple of happy hours playing with stems this morning brought me to the conclusion that none of the six I have will give me the position I need.
I've ordered a new Nitto stem that will do the job, and introduce another week's delay before I can finish the build.
Rides up and down the street have reassured me that going for a small frame was the right decision, and that this bike will ride nicely when it has functioning gear shifters.
I've ordered a new Nitto stem that will do the job, and introduce another week's delay before I can finish the build.
Rides up and down the street have reassured me that going for a small frame was the right decision, and that this bike will ride nicely when it has functioning gear shifters.
OP
OP
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
This project is complete. Not finished, none of my builds are ever finished.
Lots of faffing with stems, a last minute change of brake cables, replacing braided fake Jagwire with real compression less Jagwire.
It needs a couple of links out of the chain and it will be ready for some less slow days out.
Lots of faffing with stems, a last minute change of brake cables, replacing braided fake Jagwire with real compression less Jagwire.
It needs a couple of links out of the chain and it will be ready for some less slow days out.
OP
OP
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
I've now had a couple of rides on this bike and am delighted with it.
The ride quality is excellent - there's nothing like a slim steel fork for a comfortable ride. I'm glad I went for a 52cm frame rather than my usual 54cm one - that has allowed me to have a longer stem. The bar end shifters also suit me well.
Two things didn't work well. The original braided brake cable outers resulted in very spongy braking; replacing them with jagwire compression less outers have transformed stopping. The light, but uncomfortable to me, Madison saddle has been replaced by my Brooks B17. Now I can forget my bum!
The total cost of this build was just over £600, even though I used quite a lot of parts I had lying around. I'm happy with that.
Alternatives would have been to buy and rebuild an old bike, or to start with a Spa Audax frame - that's probably my next build!
The ride quality is excellent - there's nothing like a slim steel fork for a comfortable ride. I'm glad I went for a 52cm frame rather than my usual 54cm one - that has allowed me to have a longer stem. The bar end shifters also suit me well.
Two things didn't work well. The original braided brake cable outers resulted in very spongy braking; replacing them with jagwire compression less outers have transformed stopping. The light, but uncomfortable to me, Madison saddle has been replaced by my Brooks B17. Now I can forget my bum!
The total cost of this build was just over £600, even though I used quite a lot of parts I had lying around. I'm happy with that.
Alternatives would have been to buy and rebuild an old bike, or to start with a Spa Audax frame - that's probably my next build!
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