Last updated on January 8, 2014
Chris from Motorless City Bicycle Company and I have been emailing back and forth about the specifics of the frame that he’s building for me; the unexpected prize from the drawing just before the Detroit Invitational Cyclocross race. This is likely going to end up as a basic 2×10 gravel road bike, and thus I need to start thinking about component selections. While I’ve got some fairly shiny, well-equipped bikes, I tend to prefer equipment that falls on the side of robust and cost effective.
Here’s my working list of how I’ll kit out the bike. Italics are have/already purchased/will be provided:
Frame/Fork: Motorless City Bicycle Company custom frame, for obvious reasons. RAL 2004 / Pure Orange. SM-CS50 adapters on downtube shifter bosses.
Headset: Cane Creek 40, or maybe a 100 if I pull it off of the Vaya.
Crankset: SRAM Rival, 172.5mm, 50/34, QBP CK4435
Bottom Bracket: SRAM Rival (comes with crankset)
Wheels: XT or Formula hubs, Velocity A23, DT Swiss Competition 2.0-1.8-2.0 butted spokes, 32 spoke, 3-cross, all black, brass or alloy nipples (or DT Swiss X370 / X470 wheelset originally from the Titus Racer X 29er).
Tires: Bruce Gordon Rock ‘n Road 700 x 43c (Alternate: Clement X’Plor USH since I already have them.)
Handlebar: Salsa Cowbell 2, 42cm
Stem: Custom Motorless City Stem, Matte Black (RAL 9005 / Jet Black). Measurements TBD. (Alternate: Thomson, 110mm, rise based on head tube and stylistic desires. 0 Degree X4 matches Vaya TT angle. Black.)
Seatpost: Thomson, non-setback, based on bike fit/frame requirements. Likely 27.2mm x 330mm or maybe 250mm. (Alternate: Salsa Pro Moto 2?) Black.
Seatpost Collar: Salsa? Thomson? DKG? Dimension? Something plain? Chris says he’ll provide something. 30.0mm. Black.
Saddle: Specialized Avatar Comp Gel (143mm)
Bar Tape: Generic black gel cork, whatever I find/have. Lizard Skins recommended by Ryan, maybe Specialized Roubaix?
Shifters/Brake Levers: SRAM Rival (Carbon Levers)
Front Derailleur: SRAM Rival, 31.8 clamp, to be shimmed w/ Wheels Manufacturing Delrin Front Derailleur Shim.
Rear Derailleur: SRAM Rival, Short Cage
Cassette: SRAM PG-1050, 12-28
Chain: SRAM PC-1051
Pedals: Crank Brothers Candy 3 (Black)
Brakes: TRP HY/RD, 160mm front, 160mm or 140mm rear. (Likely 160mm.)
Bottle Cages: King Cage Kargo Cage and Stainless Steel Cage (from Vaya)
Other Accessories: Planet Bike Superflash Stealth, UHMW Tape for Cable Rub, Scotch 2228 for Chain Slap, Timbuk2 Bike Seat Pack, Topeak Road Master Blaster Frame Pump, Niner YAWYD, Garmin Edge 510 w/ GSC-10.
(Updated 2014-Jan-08.)
(Notes from Apto fit: “Ended up moving the saddle forward about 5mm and seatpost up about 5mm. It was suggested that I consider moving my left cleat back a few mm to compensate for a slightly longer leg. I’ll probably go to a 2cm narrower bar, and got some great pointers for positioning the controls. I’ll likely go to a 172.5 crank, and I got numbers for it all that I can use on the custom bike.”)