Cycle builders OCD? « CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum

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Cycle builders OCD?

(24 posts)

Started 12 years ago by Smudge
Latest reply from crowriver

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Smudge
Member

Just been doing the brakes on my latest bike build, there is something strangely satisfying about getting a good new/fresh/refurbed set of calipers, brand new inners, and tweaking, fettling, adjusting until they are just perfect, trimming the cable back neatly (so it matches the other brake), crimping on the end to ensure it doesn't fray.
I look at it now, and even though I've spent a slow hour doing a fifteen minute job, (ignoring time spent tea drinking natch) I get a warm glow of satisfaction. Lovely :-)

Is it just I'm weird? Is it a form of OCD? Or is it natural bike building meditation leading to a peaceful mind?
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Or all of the above! lol

Posted 12 years ago #
Uberuce
Member

I fear you.

Posted 12 years ago #
Smudge
Member

:-0 but,
but,
I'm not scary....

am I? :-s

Posted 12 years ago #
recombodna
Member

Perfectly natural....

Posted 12 years ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

Ohh, we need pictures...

Posted 12 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic (long-term) mental health condition that is usually associated with obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviour."

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Obsessive-compulsive-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx

And that's a problem why?

I've just spent the afternoon 'creating' a bike.

Newly acquired 753 frame, too small really.

Agonised about which bits I'd have to take off other bikes (only wheels so far).

Found some brake levers I'd forgotten about.

Can't find the 105 gear levers I've 'definitely' got.

Obsessive - perhaps

Compulsive - maybe

Disorder - nah

Posted 12 years ago #
BikeFan
Member

If you really had OCD, you'd be telling folk that you had rearranged it to CDO surely?

Posted 12 years ago #
Smudge
Member

lol
@Baldcyclist, no pictures yet... I've still got to swap over the cassette and fit the chain, oh and the new 'guards haven't arrived yet, and I've still to fit the carradice support. Oh and clean everything properly :-o
But it's getting there B-)
I'll maybe try for a quick photo tomorrow, spec so far is Black Shimano 105 throughout (compact double), Pro-Lite Merano wheelset fitted with Schwalbe Durano tyres, FSA seatpost and Brooks B17, oh and narrow Deda bars.

Very pleased with the look of it so far :-)

Posted 12 years ago #
Smudge
Member

Specially for Baldcyclist...

Giant Zero build 081012 by Cyclingdriver, on Flickr

Posted 12 years ago #
Cyclingmollie
Member

You may call it OCD if you like but I prefer to think of it as paying close attention to something that your life depends on.

Good looking bike. What is that mahoosive gas cylinder under the futon?

Posted 12 years ago #
Smudge
Member

stage/bailout diving cylinder, forgot that was in the pic! :-o

Posted 12 years ago #
chdot
Admin

Black'n'white is good.

Posted 12 years ago #
Smudge
Member

Why thank you (blushes)
Build has rather stalled just now :-( as mentioned on twitter, the mechanic who repaired my pro-lite freewheel when it broke appears to have used a scaffold pole to tighten on the rear cassette :-<
(His boss is on here and will guess, but I wont name names!)
Just used a 1/2" drive powerbar and socket to get controlled power on it and only succeeded in breaking a cheap chain whip. Will re-try once the park tools one arrives...
Also got the carradice bag support fitted but discovered that my M:Part combined seat clamp and rack mount is too small a diameter so I'll need to use the carradice seatpost clamp and modify the bracket slightly to allow the support rails to reach up to it. Ho hum (that'll teach me to be a short***e! Still, makes for a lighter bike ;-))
Hopefully some more progress once the next lot of bits arrive (cheap builds? I've heard of them...:-o )

Posted 12 years ago #
crowriver
Member

Bike looks nice.

Not sure about those cushions though. Are they for the inevitable bus shelter snooze on that 600k audax next year?

Posted 12 years ago #
Smudge
Member

Ha! Shows what you know about soft furnishings... these "cushions" are pillows! ;-) ;-p

Posted 12 years ago #
fimm
Member

Nice looking bike.
I'll be interested to see how you mount your Carradice - my boyfriend has similar issues due to lack of leg length... :o)

Posted 12 years ago #
DaveC
Member

Hmm hope you don't brake a spoke on a long audax! looks like that wheel will go all bendy if you do ;-) I second that comment about bus shelter pillows, very handy for that 600! Nice BCD BTW!

Posted 12 years ago #
crowriver
Member

I'll be interested to see how you mount your Carradice

Indeed. Maybe you need a Lowsaddle Longflap? SJS have a reasonable price on these just now.

Otherwise you might need to do a DaveC and just fit a minimalist tool roll style bag. The Carradice Zipped Roll is nice...

Posted 12 years ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

Nice, except, why have you put that saddle on a racing frame?

Joking aside though, yep, very nice.

As DaveC said wrt the wheels, I *think* I had exactly the same wheels on my road bike originally, the were branded as Xero, but looked exactly the same, same spoke count, 'aero' spokes, hubs look the same too. They were extremely 'flexey' when climbing, and I trashed them in 18 months. In fairness though I am a 'big lad' (ok fat), and used them all year round on a commuting bike, so you will probably get good usage out of them.

Posted 12 years ago #
Smudge
Member

Ok, thanks for the positive comments, in no particular order;
Wheels have done around 1,000 miles so far over a huge range of surfaces (including Edin-London last year). Touch wood they're pretty robust and certainly feel very stiff to this 11 stone weakling ;-)

Carradice lowsaddle Longflap, yup that's what I have, still too deep without the bag support. I mainly want it for bulkier (but lightweight) items like waterproofs, warm/cool tops etc on longer runs. . I'm not a fan of having my back pockets ram jam full!
Will post pics/bring to PY once it's sorted.

600km, not in a oner thanks, I ride for fun and I really don't see myself doing much more than 200's, besides, I've been doing stupid things for a long time now and have little to prove to myself ;-) no promises mind!

BCD, good spot Dave, but did you mean the classic (ie old) Buddy Commando slimline or the Custom Divers wing ;-)

Posted 12 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

What is that mahoosive gas cylinder under the futon?

How do you think he is powering the little motor inside the bottom bracket?

Very nice, but you appear to have forgotten mudguards! Or are you intending on wearing that diving suit or the combat fatigues instead? :)

Posted 12 years ago #
Smudge
Member

@Kappers, not forgotten, just not arrived/fitted yet, I refer the honourable Gentleman to my earlier comment, "oh and the new 'guards haven't arrived yet,"
;-)

@Baldcyclist, re the saddle, (as you no doubt know fine well :-) ) as explained to some envious riders at the second checkpoint the other weekend, on that saddle the legs and everything else may hurt but at least my behind is comfortable B-)
(The Chap running the checkpoint was taking great delight in telling them he had the same experience as they looked ruefully at their own perches!)

Posted 12 years ago #
EddieD
Member

OCD is only a problem if, on the morning of the club ride, you're sitting there with spanners, pliers, allen keys, tweaking your bike long after the ride has departed...

Nice looking machine - I've still got to get round to building something round the frame and forks I have under my bed - I think I have casual procrastination disorder (aka laziness)

Posted 12 years ago #
crowriver
Member

I refer the Honourable Gentleman to ~~my earlier comment~~ the remark I made some moments ago

FTFY - if you are going in for Majorisms, best get it right!

Posted 12 years ago #

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