Big thank you to Gypsy at Gear for helping me get hold of the frameset; buy your stuff from him. It was a while waiting for all the bits and pieces to come in for this, but I’m so happy with how it’s all come together. Having given it a couple of rides to and from work the geometry is spot on. Really snappy and responsive, much like the press releases say.
Frameset: Leader Renovatio 56cm
Stem/bars: Cinelli Mash 110mm stem / Mash drop bars / Cinelli topographic tape.
Headset: Integrated FSA
Wheels: H Plus Son Archetype 32H / Phil Wood high flange hubs
Drive train: SRAM Omnium cranks/bottom bracket, Soma sprocket (48-17 at the moment).
Saddle/seatpost: Fizik Vitesse HP/Thomson Elite
From what I’ve seen, a lot of these frames are being built almost exactly like this, but probably for good reason. Really happy with all the little details through the all-black build. I know the general trend is away from the stealthbike look but I dig it still. I’ll leave the crazy colours to other people, haha. The only thing left to do is suss out some better pedals than those cheap $30 ones; I’m having bum luck finding nice pedals that fit the Cinelli straps I have and am used to, so I might look into cages or clips or something soon. Any suggestions are welcome I’d like to get that back wheel a little closer into the cutout but I also want to be able to get the chain off without having to open a link it so we’ll see how we go.
Thanks guys.
Mike
edit: I’m not sure what happened with the photos, but you can see some nice big ones here if you’re interested (click for larger): Flow like water.
Agree about the saddle, but after a couple of rides to work and back (which is a 25km round trip), I had to tilt it forward a touch and now it’s spot on, despite not looking as picturesque. I’m running 17T for the skid patches for the moment until I can put a 49T chainring on, which I guess will also pull it in a little.
I have to say, the frame is really, really nice. They’re really similar in shape to the Dosnoventa Houston, which I fell in love with when they came out, but I feel like these are pretty damn good for half the price. Can’t find anything to complain about thus far. Would recommend.
Thanks guys! Feeling the love My previous bike was just an unknown internet-special fixed-gear that I got off a friend last year, and before that I was riding a mountain bike/commuter bikes. Compared to my last bike, it’s very twitchy and stabby but so was that bike compared to a mountain bike. The geometry is a lot more aggressive (less spacers, slightly bigger frame going from 54 to 56, shorter wheelbase), but not bad on the back in any noticeable way, yet. It’s unbelievably responsive. I don’t know how it’d compare to other bikes having not ridden many in this kind of range, but it feels like a friend of mine’s Mash Histogram in Perth moreso than any other bike I’ve ridden.
If you’re looking at some quality flats, check out Easton FlatBoys. They have plenty of room for foot straps, are bomb-proof, and grippy as a mofo. Just don’t ride them with Havianas on a quick scoot to the shops - they’ll eat the soles up.
I’d like to get that back wheel a little closer into the cutout but I also want to be able to get the chain off without having to open a link it so we’ll see how we go.