Engineered Bikes!

My new project, Engineered Bikes, is go!  Follow the link to the new blog.

Something's stirring

It has been quite a long time coming, but I will imminently be launching my new project.

I'll be focusing on race bikes, the first product following my passion for cyclocross. 

Watch this space.

Calling it a day...

Any follower of this blog will know that a few months back we stumbled, lost momentum and, despite a few stutters, never quite got going again.

So sadly I must announce that the Such Bicycles venture will be abandoned. This does not mean the end of my foray into designing and building bicycles; just that the focus and flavour of what I intend to put together will change.

Further details will be posted here in due course. Thanks for your interest.

Edit:
Building bicycles again: http://engineeredbikes.blogspot.co.uk/

Flak Jacket for the Kula

The weekend in Afan was very very hard on the poor Kona. Apart from going through a complete set (front and rear) of new pads in a day, I'd also suffered from gear cables that stiffened on day one and all but jammed on the second day. So something had to be done. My plan was to try cleaning the cables out to see if that would help, and then, if that didn't work, splashing out on some Gore professional sealed cables.

So, while poking through my parts box (as you do) I remembered that I had some leftovers from some SRAM Flak Jacket cables. I'd used that kit for full cable runs so I had the sealed ferrules and sealing tube left over. The ferrules were a bit of a loose fit on the Kona OE cables, which may have been a route in for muck, but a but of tape suitably sealed those off.

The task of fitting was really easy, and in the process I manged to ease out the sharp bends from the cable routes to further help smooth cable operation. I'd never tried fitting the Flak Jacket before for a broken cable run - I must admit that I was quite impressed with how easy it was. And it all fits well, so I trust it will be able to keep out most of the trail muck while also providing some resistance to the inevitable attack with a pressure cleaner.


I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out - but I was also quite amazed with how much muck came out of the existing cable outers! The only bit that I wasn't happy with was the end of the rear derailleur cable - I'd already used the rubber boot to seal off the open end of the cable so that will be vulnerable to pulling in muck; Thankfully I had a nice Shimano boot for for the end of the front cable.

Afan Raid

My road racing friends Andrew and Stu invited me to join on a mountain biking weekend in the valley. I couldn't wait and was counting the days - but little did I know that it would so massively exceed my expectations.

Firstly off, I could not have asked for a better group of guys - and, apart from battling a little with names, I felt at home from the start. Then the trails, just totally sick. I don't know if I've ever used that term before but it just makes sense here.

Despite leaving Bath to glorious sunny skies, Saturday morning in South Wales was bleak; heavy showers threatening to make a misery of any riding. So we procrastinated. And it paid off - the rain abated and so at least we didn't get rained on. But the trail was extremely wet - brilliant conditions for me to become reacquainted with this whole mountain biking lark!

So we set off up White's Level, a great up and down course. The climb gains 525m through nice single track - a few little technical sections but mostly just straightforward, flowing trail with a few hairpins - the MTB feels like a tanker compared to the crosser! Then from the top the trail cascades back down the hill to the trail centre; the Energy section being particularly brilliant with the table tops and some rocky banked turns.

I need to grow bigger balls - I found it difficult to resist confidence braking into corners, only to realise I could have carried a load more speed! I'm sure it will come with time, but I still feel a little out of sorts come the descents.

So I wasn't too surprised when I managed to clip a rock the next morning and then put my wheel off the edge of the trail. I emerged bruised, still not entirely sure how I did that, but learning that perhaps over-thinking is my enemy. Later I got happier to just let it flow; not that I quite got the knack, but thanks Steve for constantly nagging me to leave the brakes!

Speaking of brakes - goodness - the Welsh mud is vicious! One set of pads (front and rear) after two circuits of White's on Saturday! Madness.

And apart from the crash (and the annoyingly stiffening knee that resulted), Sunday we hit W2 - a combination of White's and a trail ominously named The Wall. It was a good day on the bike, but hard. Not that I could complain: Simon, who had done zero exercise in the last 6 months, let alone having ever ridden an MTB, gamely took it on and finished it. The dude was simply mega.

So overall, a totally awesome weekend. What I've described of the riding is just the tip of the iceberg. More so, I've hardly talked about the group - suffice to say that they are just stellar bunch. I couldn't have asked for a better crew to ride & hang out with, talk bike-geek stuff, stretching techniques and ponder 21-year-olds.

Ace! Thanks guys!

The Hotel Gym

I hate gyms. Passionately.

Being outside and getting exercise is fun, liberating, exciting. Gyms are just boring. The only diversions are good looking women who tend to look back at you like a sad loser if you're caught appreciating.

So I don't usually do gyms, but my sub-standard performance in recent races, and stupid schedule have driven me to using the most dreaded of all gyms; the sad, deserted confines of the hotel gym.

But all in all it was actually quite a good experience. A good half hour each of running and cycling, looking at flashing lines on the screen, managed to feel particularly good today. I was training! A rare occurrence, I know.

So, hopefully I'll be able to keep up this good habit. Bring on the weekend!

The worst part of cyclocross

Mud. It gets everywhere.

Don't get me wrong. I love cross. It is the best from of cyclesport, ever. But it is hard on equipment. Sure, the Battersea proto is designed and specced to take this sort of abuse, but now living in a top floor apartment I do find bike cleaning a bit, er ... difficult.

So after the Purdown Race today, the bike was a mess. Faced with the problem of how the hell to clean the bike in my "Fight Club" apartment, I decided to head to the car wash. The dudes are the car wash were more than slightly perplexed that I wanted the bike cleaned and not the car - but when they saw the state of it, I think they got the idea.

And they jumped in will full enthusiasm, blasting every last bit of mud off the bike, pulling all the grass out of the cassette and the jockey wheels - they even shampooed it down!

Ok, I am well aware that high pressure cleaning is hardly the best way to take care of a bike, so the next step was getting the bike onto the workstand pronto to properly dry and re-lube it, but what a pleasure to have a clean bike - especially after getting it completely plastered.

Thank goodness for car washes.

Pre-race cleanliness

One thing I love and hate about cyclocross is the mud.

Here is a pic of the pre-race cleanliness. Goodness, better enjoy it while it lasts.


ps. I raced without the bottle cage. In retrospect, given it wasn't muddy - I should have kept the cage with a 500ml bottle...

Discs and cross

The recent rule change initially sparked quite a debate, but it all seems to have gone quiet. Apart from the Tr!ckstuff CX brake master cylinder, there have been few examples of new kit and particularly new top level disc compatible frames hitting the market.

Now, I guess the rule announcement came pretty late so many manufacturers were well into polishing off their 2010/11 season equipment - but the (lack of) uptake of disc brakes has been (to me) startling. Certainly, as the tech stands, it adds substantial weight with benefit only in really mucky events, but from my outing at the end of last season I still believe that discs provide an advantage in muddy or very wet events.

Which brings me to my first outing of the season at Lydiard Park, a dry and very cold, windy day on a virtually bone dry circuit. I did notice the extra weight and, as fatigue took hold, I over-braked a few times. I must admit that at times I wished I was on my canti-braked Kinesis!

So what do I take from this? The seriously competitive cyclocross racer needs both. For fast hard-pack races, nothing will come close to a canti-braked bike for sheer speed - but in the murk I'm sure the disc brakes will help me out. May this be a really wet and mucky winter!

The Advantages of Bachelorhood

Last night I had to smile quietly to myself. I've been a bit torn up lately in my transition from (supposedly) happily married back to bachelorhood, but suddenly an advantage popped up.

I have a house guest, and so the room where the bikes are usually kept is occupied. OK most of the time, but a pain when I need to use the bike first thing in the morning. "No sweat," I thought, "I'll just stick in my bedroom." This is something I doubt I'd have gotten away with before, but here we go - just happily stuck in the bedroom.

And with the Gates Carbon Drive Belt, it is clean so no chance of getting oil all over my white bedding.

Getting down and dirty

Last night I joined a local MTB group for a thrash around the local trails. Given that I haven't got a (working) mountain bike (and because I am a bit otherwise), I took the proto out.

It was a bit mad getting out there. Despite trying to leave a lot of time, I ended up leaving my flat 2 mins before the meet time, making a madcap dash through Bath traffic (and possibly breaking a rule or two on the way).

For the outing, I took the bike out with the Alfine, belt and a pair of Conti Speed Kings; so I was a little apprehensive when I saw that most of the early arrivals were on serious looking full sussers - "Hmmm ... was I going to regret this?"

They are a great bunch of people and I felt at home from the off. The ride took us up a very steep road/trail on which I quickly ran out of gears and had to work hard to keep just enough weight on the rear to maintain traction but keep the front wheel down.

The ride got knarlier from there on, some crazy descents that had me wishing for something with suspension. That said, the proto felt pretty good. Fairly easy to control through the long slides over rough ground; the rigidity being a bonus as the steering remained wonderfully responsive. I gave myself a pat on the back for that!

The flowing singletrack was fun, the 'cross bike coming into its own - the only problem being nasty tree roots, but these could be fairly easily hopped - even with the Alfine out back. The Alfine itself is a wonderful piece of kit. Always precise, and utterly reliable in shifts. The limitations found in hard road riding failed to materialise on the trails where it just proved to be a great companion. Plus, now that I've ditched the standard Versa cable adjuster for an in-line adjuster on the cable, the adjustment issue have disappeared.

The last stop on the ride was a treat - a blast around the local BMX track. Not the natural stomping grounds of a 'cross bike but a helluva lot of fun. I was a little worried about the fork when I got a few landings a bit wrong, but with a bit of speed and keeping the weight back, it was a treat! Certainly must go back there again!

All in all a brilliant evenings ride, will definitely do it again. But most of all, from the point of view of developing the bike, I was really happy with the way it handled and felt on the rough stuff. 95% of the time I felt perfectly happy keeping up with the MTBs, only the really rough descents causing me any problems.

'Cross is life.

The benefits of taking the wrong train

So, somehow I managed to get onto the Swansea train instead of the train to Bath tonight, so I ended up having a rather tedious trip via Bristol Parkway and then Temple Meads which I really could have done without.

But the upshot was chatting to other cyclists on the train about Such Bikes, where we are and where we're going. I don't know why, but I tend to be a bit shy to talk about the bike - but it is great to talk to people about it and find that the ideas are positively received.

But apart from Such, it was so great to just chat to other guys who just love their bikes and love riding (if you're reading, "hi" and thanks for popping in). Kindred spirits.

Commuting on Knobs

Why is it that the combination of knobblies and single speed has me riding like a teenager?

Yesterday I'd gone out exploring with some 'cross tyres on, and then was too lazy to swap them for the (train assisted) commute today. So, tyres whirring away, I attacked the Swindon streets and cycle lanes. It was dodging around barriers and taking the odd, semi-legit detour across dirt paths. With softish, 'crossing-type pressure the bike felt unstoppable. I found myself flying off pavements, hopping obstacles. Just riding for the love of it.

But what about Such Bikes?
The break-up crisis and other unrelated events have put the boot in; Andy and I are trying to work out what to do next. But I'm really keen to get moving with this even if it is perhaps only framesets on a built to order.

Lansdown Hill

Given the issues with my parking situation (i.e. no parking within 1.5 miles of my flat!), I had to leave the bleeding car in the Lansdown Park and Ride. I took the bus down, but decided to rather cycle back up to fetch it (many will say the wrong way around, I know).

It was made all the more challenging by the bike having been reverted to the single speed set-up. And me deciding (pointlessly) to try racing a bus up the hill.

First, I must say, the single speed set-up is so much lighter and sprightly than the Alfine with the heavy 29er rims. No surprises there.

The 55x24 was pretty hard going up Lansdown (especially after trying to race the bus), but I managed and only stopped once (red light at the roadworks - though I was dying).

I do miss riding the bike more regularly. As a single speeder it is a joy. I found myself riding past my road a few times and just adventuring around town. I guess that is what riding is all about.

Racked up

I've been getting a lot of miles in lately, but more crucially testing out aspects of the bike that still need to be resolved - load carrying.

Although the bike is designed as a fast commuter, it does need to carry if a load if need be. Having ridden an entry level road frame with "load carrying capability", I realised that it isn't enough just to have the mounting points for the rack, the bike needs to handle properly with the load on it. This was always part of the concept, and was accounted for in the geometry - but needed to be tested.

So I've racked it up. A Racktime rack fitted beautifully, though I have found compatibility with some other racks quite problematic; this will be addressed for the production dropout design. I was very pleased with the rack mounting points. The bottom mounts directly on the 7mm thick dropouts are rock solid, and the top mounts - welded, not riveted, to the frame - add rigidity. All good.


I've ridden over varying terrain commuting between Bath and Swindon, taken it fully loaded across London and into Essex and humped it on and off a few trains. And I am pretty happy with how it rides. The handling is pretty good loaded, so I'm happy with the geometry. Certainly it is a compromise and it does lean towards better performance unloaded, but it is still pretty solid and confidence inspiring when loaded up on the rear.


The same rigidity issues that cause problems with the belt drive when really giving it can plague the stability on rough surfaces or when trying to crest a rise at a high cadence, but these will be resolved and I'm happy will be designed out of the next iteration.

I still stand by that it will be ready when it is ready, but that it feels like that point is coming closer.


ps. The belt drive and Alfine are a wonderful, wonderful combination.

Back in the saddle

It has been a long time. It will take a while to get the last few months, but I have started living the rest of my life.

Starting with my first commute to the office from my new home in Bath - my new abode.

Decided to ride it, 50km each way. It was good fun. I do love the bike, though the frame needs tuning as it beat the hell out of me on the rough tarmac. Also think a switch to a steel fork might be the answer.

Anyhow, more miles and more R&D. Watch this space!

Sorry I've been quiet

For regular followers of the blog, I must apologise for two things - the lack of postings here and (to a lesser extent) the lack of progress. A friend at work laughed when I referred to the breakdown of my marriage as "a minor setback"; this is certainly a low and unfortunately this has suffered.

A few words though, I've spent a lot of time on the bike lately. If anything, recent events have meant even more time in the saddle. I'm getting on well with the Alfine + Gates Carbon Drive - it certainly is a brilliant combo. But the way we have it at the moment is not perfect, and I've also picked up some minor issues with the Alfine 8 and Versa shifters.

More to come soon, I promise.

Been sick :(

I've been ill with a viral infection, so nothing much to write about (though I did ride the bike to the doc - goodness, it is nice).

So, here is a brilliant blog post that captures the joy of commuting in London.

A long time coming

I finally managed to prise the Alfine off Andy. Ok, I might be exaggerating slightly, Andy was always very happy to hand the Alfine over, but I was having a ball with the smooth simplicity of the single speed belt drive and certainly learning a lot about the belt drive.

I remember when I first mentioned the Alfine to Andy (many months back), he was skeptical; now he is a total convert. Personally, I've never ridden an Alfine for any significant period, certainly not on a day-to-day basis, so while I am sold on the concept, I'm yet to be totally won over.

Although I got the wheels on Tuesday, a seriously annoying bout of man-flu over the last few days has kept me from building and riding the proto, but finally I got around to it. In reality, it hasn't been that long, but it certainly has felt like it.

The build itself was fairly painless. The belt line was just about perfect and with the Alfine sprocket also being a 24T, the same as the single speed set-up, I didn't even need to adjust the EBB. The cable guide was also spot on, giving a very tidy routing.

The Versa VRS-8 shifters are also interesting. If you are used to Shimano STI levers, these do feel a little slender, but seem perfectly comfortable. The shape of the levers is fairly Shimano-esque so no surprises there. The action of the shifting is smooth and positive, though I'd probably have preferred a shorter shift lever arc. The only criticism I have of them at this point is that they are supplied with a rather flimsy cable adjuster (a Ritchey branded component); it does the job but I think I'll swap in some SRAM in-line adjusters on the weekend.

I've only ridden it around the block (a few times) so far to early to write about my experiences with it, but once I've got a few miles in, I will surely let you know how it goes.

ps. Thanks for all the interest. I was surprised with the response and questions that rolled immediately after I added the Contact link. We do have a lot of work still to do; particularly testing ver2.0 as well as resolving the numerous commercial issues. But we are getting there. Keep the questions coming, and thanks again for following our progress.

Stacks of Racks

I don't know how many racks I have looked at, either online or in the metal, over the last two weeks. The problem is that I am fussy. I wanted it all - something lightweight that could easily handle the load of a week long unsupported tour and provide enough clearance for my size 11 feet when carrying my large-ish pannier bags.

I also ended up buying (and returning) quite a few racks: the Tortec Ultralite, which I like a lot but proved incompatible with the frame; the Racktime Lightit, which proved to be too short, not providing enough heel clearance; the Tortec Velocity that fouled the 'guards; ...

To cut a long story short, I eventually settled on a Racktime Addit; a solid looking rack, only a very small weight penalty over the Lightit version, but crucially with longer rails which allow mounting the pannier bag further back (and a second set of rails to mount the bag lower, should I choose to), so giving very generous heel clearance. It is also helps that it is beautifully designed and built, certainly a good example of what the Germans are so famous for. I've done a test fit and it is spot-on; but I'll leave the final proper fitting until I do the "tourer conversion" during the week when the missing parts arrive.

Time to enjoy a beer, then!