New build - Kona Dew CX/Tourer/Thing - kit reccomendations!?
Discussion
So, a new job thats a reasonable commute away, on b-roads on b-way. Never owned any kind of road bike or anything other than 26" wheels! I can (and do) spec up and build mountain bikes till the cows come home, but this one is requiring a bit more pondering, being something rather different.
So spur of the moment I've picked this up off CRC. I had the Deore C-lock hubs knocking about, I found some really cheap Halo rims (£18ea) and built the rims up with Sapim Race spokes (Impressed with these, always used DT and these are sooo much cheaper!).
Also just bagged myself some Shimano 505 calipers, not as nice as BB7's but much much cheaper - if there rubbish I'll get BB7's in the future. And Centre lock rotors from On-one for £4 each!
Kona Dew by simonholehan, on Flickr
Kona Dew by simonholehan, on Flickr
Nope its not in the kitchen, it is on the bed though!
Its a long time since I've had an Aluminiun Kona. Very pleased with the frame for the money - much nicer quality than I expected, smoothed welds, great paintjob and a lovely real metal headbadge! I expected very generic, bland, cheap alu frame but I am pleased, its a looker.
Its going to end up as a bike that roadie would think is a hulking heavyweight monster, but it will probably be the lightest and flighties bike I've ever had! Full racks and mudguard too I reckon, can't wait. Perhaps I'm getting old!?
So what next!?
Primarily I need a fork. P2? Or something a bit swisher? It needs disc mount and rack mounts. My LBS has offered me a very nice black Koga Miyata fork, the only thing that puts me off is it has canti mounts and also its Aluminium and quite beefy/straight bladed, so maybe a bit harsh?
I also need some reccomendations for some cheap drop bars. Also some really nice fat chunky bar tape, from what I've tried the chunkier the better - this bikes going to feel very solid I think!
And finally tyres - say 35-40mm, strong tough. Kenda do a small block 8 in the right size - any good? Or do I just look straight for cyclocross tyres?
So spur of the moment I've picked this up off CRC. I had the Deore C-lock hubs knocking about, I found some really cheap Halo rims (£18ea) and built the rims up with Sapim Race spokes (Impressed with these, always used DT and these are sooo much cheaper!).
Also just bagged myself some Shimano 505 calipers, not as nice as BB7's but much much cheaper - if there rubbish I'll get BB7's in the future. And Centre lock rotors from On-one for £4 each!
Kona Dew by simonholehan, on Flickr
Kona Dew by simonholehan, on Flickr
Nope its not in the kitchen, it is on the bed though!
Its a long time since I've had an Aluminiun Kona. Very pleased with the frame for the money - much nicer quality than I expected, smoothed welds, great paintjob and a lovely real metal headbadge! I expected very generic, bland, cheap alu frame but I am pleased, its a looker.
Its going to end up as a bike that roadie would think is a hulking heavyweight monster, but it will probably be the lightest and flighties bike I've ever had! Full racks and mudguard too I reckon, can't wait. Perhaps I'm getting old!?
So what next!?
Primarily I need a fork. P2? Or something a bit swisher? It needs disc mount and rack mounts. My LBS has offered me a very nice black Koga Miyata fork, the only thing that puts me off is it has canti mounts and also its Aluminium and quite beefy/straight bladed, so maybe a bit harsh?
I also need some reccomendations for some cheap drop bars. Also some really nice fat chunky bar tape, from what I've tried the chunkier the better - this bikes going to feel very solid I think!
And finally tyres - say 35-40mm, strong tough. Kenda do a small block 8 in the right size - any good? Or do I just look straight for cyclocross tyres?
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