So I broke the forks on my Heuvelmans CX frame a while back, so I swapped the SRAM Rival group set over to the Cannondale (formerly Cannondale Rack). This was always a temporary solution until I saved up enough to buy a new frame (and then I cracked the Cannondale). I wasn’t sure what frame to get (was looking at the All City Mr Pink and some secondhand touring frames on eBay), when my friends shop got a Space Horse in. I wasn’t initially sold on it, and was hesitant to go back to canti’s, but after looking at some builds online I put a deposit it on there and started saving some $$$ for it (and a trip to Japan). This is my first brand new frame, so it’s pretty exciting.
What I wanted was a bike to do (almost) everything. I missed the bigger tyres of my CX bike, but liked the gearing of my road bike, but hated how limiting it was. I was also sick of clip on mudguards (the rattling and poor coverage), so I wanted full guards and I missed having a front rack. Hopefully this will cover commuting, longer hill rides (with a lot of gravel / single track) and maybe some (very light) touring.
The build came together reasonably easily, except for the front rack which took some grinding to fit. Took it out briefly this afternoon and I’m in love. It’s everything I wanted in a frame. It rides awesome and fits perfectly.
• Frame and fork: 55cm All City Space Horse
• Wheels and tyres: H+Son Archetype to Shimano 105 hubs, Clement X’Plor MSO 700x32
• Groupset: SRAM Rival shifters, cranks and dérailleurs, compact gearing (34/50), GXP bottom bracket. Shimano XT MTB 11-32 Cassette, SRAM 10speed chain.
• Pedals: Time ATAC Aliums
• Bar and Stem: Salsa Cowbell 2 (42cm I think, or 40cm) and a Sim Works by Nitto Dirty Rhonda stem. Lizard Skins DSP tape, MASH SF bar ends.
• Headset: Cane Creek S8, MASH SF top cap.
• Seat and seat post: 1990 Flite (reissue) and stock Giant two bolt seat post.
• Brakes: Tektro CR720’s with Kool Stop Salmon pads
• Misc: SKS P45 Longboard mudguards, Soma porteur rack, Spur Cycles bell, Velo Orange “Moderniste” bidon cages.
I need to tweak the guards a little to sit closer to the tyres, make a better front light bracket and adjust the fit a tiny bit.