[Wipey Why]

I know nothing about push bikes, but I thought this was cool

[Nibile]

Of course I managed to transform a simple idea into a proper OCD constant thought.
So, after stripping down the Rampichino frame, I went to my parents' house and got my old Aquila roadbike.
Will first convert that into singlespeed to test things out, then it will be the Rampichino turn, maybe into fixed gear.
The Aquila should be fine without too much work and money, shame due to rust and lack of specific tools I didn't manage to take the pedals off and will have to take it to the shop tomorrow.
Hope to post pics soon.

[Nibile]

The Velominati rules linked above are truly great, and I was very happy to find out that many of those were well present in my mind when I used to ride, esp. the positioning of the quick release levers, socks length and so on.
By the way, firs night of sleep lost over obsessive compulsive thinking about the bike, yesterday. I couldn't stop thinking about the following crucial questions, regarding: a coloured chain with matching pedals, wire cover and bar tape; or leaving the bar without tape; which kind of bar: normal, flat crono, lowered crono; other bar options, like cutting the original curved bar to make it a crono bar and the likes.
Tic tac tic tac.
Hope my psychiatrist comes back soon from the holidays.

[mrconners]

Sock length is probably one of the most flouted rules and the hardest to get absolutely right. I go for the slightly longer than the type you wear when you want to appear to be not wearing socks and slightly shorter than a full length, normal sock. About mid ankle bone or slightly higher is perfect. Wiggins is useless at this.


Bar tape to match decals or black.
Cable covers same, or black. No questions.


Chain? Difficult one, I go standard but I'm afraid of change 


As for bars, thats desperate. Depends on the bike etc etc etc etc . Your on your own there I'm afraid.


Keep obsessing these vitally important questions, many of which can only be answered after years of just feeling your way through the minefield. I always feel there is room for improvement, always.
Keep us posted,  will be looking forward to the final outcome.

[Nibile]

Thanks for the support, I do feel alone!!!
This online shop is the culprit for my sleepless night of yesterday (together with mental illness) http://www.lastazionedellebiciclette.com/site/vendita/categoria/componenti
I definitely would like to use as much as possible the original parts, maybe customized or modified.
So I think that I'll cut the old bar to make it like a crono bar, and then will fit the old brake with the lever cut as well to have the necessary range of motion. Everything is aluminium, old style, and I like it.
Let's see, probably that online shop needs my money.

[mrconners]

That shop is amazing.


You need to spend that cash.


However, after cutting the bars to a crono, what do you use to plug the ends of the bars? Or do they remain unplugged?


Now I'm beginning to worry for you.


Shit.

[Nibile]

I don't have the original plugs anymore, and that's another concern. I think I can find a replacement, or I'll file the ends to make them rounded.
Opinions?

[Nibile]

manubrio by Nibile, on Flickr

[mrconners]

Classic curve. Nice look in the Aluminum.


Cant you leave them alone? Seems such a shame to chop.


Or if you have to, these may work. as end plugs or as it says simply use a cork.


Bit naff? I'm not sure but if its a classic looker might be a nice touch.


Shit, this is an addictive thing.

[Nibile]

Yes, I'm not entirely sure about chopping it, but the fact is that I like the look of the crono more, and the ones I've found are either really too expensive, or have a bigger diameter - 31,8 mm vs 26 mm - and don't fit my bike.

[Nibile]

The line...

manubrio2 by Nibile, on Flickr

Bright and shiny after polishing!

manubrio3 by Nibile, on Flickr

Very happy.

[rosmat]

Have a look here at my friends recent conversion to fixie:

http://jadelittlewood.tumblr.com/post/28544418293/fixie-finished

Hope that might be of help,

Cheers

[Nibile]

That is one fine bike.
Almost perfect, for my likes.
Mine will be much rougher!!!

[Nibile]

Ahah! She chopped her bar as well!

[Nibile]

Ongoing work.

shiny by Nibile, on Flickr
Will finish the taping after mounting the bar. Not perfect, but the best I could do for the moment.
If I'm getting boring with this, just tell me.

[mrconners]

Nice job.

Good choice of tape as well.

Whats the next phase?

Keep us posted.

[Nibile]

Hey thanks!
Next phase is:
- get the bike back with new cranks, big ring and sprocket (hopefully right terms)
- strip everything again
- cart the frame and repaint it
- mount everything back on
- buy new pedals (with matching cages), saddle pole and saddle
- keep searching for new wheels (nearly got a couple of carbon Spinergy for 300 Euros today, but came late)
That should keep me busy for a while...
I really hope to do a nice job, would like to have a beautiful one.

[Nibile]

So, I'm stressing a bit over this issue: I want to buy for my bike the most beautiful saddle ever manufactured

that I wanted to team with this saddle pole, in black

Unfortunately, the saddle frame is unpainted aluminium, not black.
So, what should I do?
Go with black saddle and black pole not caring about the frame?
Buy an unpainted aluminium pole?
Buy the black pole with another saddle with a black frame, althoug a less beautiful one like this?

Help much appreciated.

[underground]

I vote 'not caring about the frame'  - in practice aren't the rails going to get scratched up anyway? Better have aluminium rails that don't have chips of paint flaking off them IMO

Besides that Regal saddle looks very nice.... you must have it regardless 

[Nibile]

Besides that Regal saddle looks very nice.... you must have it regardless 

We all know I have to have it, don't we?

[mrconners]

How about the Brooks Colt?



I think it has black rails. My Wife has a black brooks standard saddle with black rails and they hav'ent chipped.


So many choices. Good luck with it all, I'm still looking forward to the final product.

[Nibile]

Hey thanks for the advice!
It's a beautiful saddle, but I like something a bit slimmer. The Regal will be fine even with aluminium rails, I'm sure.
For the moment, I have bought a very cheap, slim saddle, for the winter months. I don't want to let my precious Regal sit there all day under the rain... will surely buy a saddle cover, but still humidity will be high. Or hopefully not and I'll be crushing big numbers. But I digress...
I am searching for a carbon front wheel, just to waste some money, and I have found a few candidates, but unfortunately it seems that modern hubs are wider that old ones, so probably no modern wheel will fit my narrow fork...
We will see.

[Nibile]

New crankset arrived yesterday! This one, aluminium.
http://sardicicli.com/it/prodotti/?idp=410&idc=15&ids=1

Getting the bick back today, stripping it, sanding and painting. Very excited. Also, today will order the other spare parts, carbon wheel included!!!!!!

[Nibile]

SO, got the bike back yesterday, with the new crankset. Started stripping it off and cleaning various bits and bobs, with the main work of removing the paint starting today.


bike3 by Nibile, on Flickr


bike2 by Nibile, on Flickr

I cut off the rear derailer, so that the line is clean.

bike by Nibile, on Flickr

Very excited!

[Nibile]

I cut off the rear derailer

*rear derailer hanger