Build: 2014 S-Works Crux - you pals wanna join the fun?

[ridethecliche]

Weisan, I love the token thread together bbs if you can use one for your build. It makes things so much easier.

[weisan]

Thanks Cliche pal.

I got impatient and wanted to take it out for a spin instead of waiting for the shipments to arrive....so I did the next best thing: single speed conversion

I used the dremel tool to slice off/shorten the length so the 24mm conversion kit will fit in the narrower BB. Then I used a couple of headset spacers to augment the Shimano crankset.

[rallizes]

let's see a driveside shot

[weisan]

Originally Posted by rallizes

let's see a driveside shot

Why?

I am too shy.

[jasonification]

Good meditation practice!!

Originally Posted by weisan

There are holes coming out of every corner, I am living in internal routing hell....



I have the routing tool but it was hardly ever used, I guess I will be doing a lot of practice soon...

[weisan]

Originally Posted by .RJ

I tried the 650b, a 650x42 will kiss the chainstays.

I also didnt like it - it had a very weird pneumatic trail going on and it was a touch too low.

Mine showed at least 3mm clearance on both sides.

650bx42mm Panaracer Pasela tire front
650bx42mm Compass (now Rene Herse) tire - rear

I actually like the ride. For some reason, sitting lower gives me a better sense of stability and confidence on the rough stuff.

[weisan]

Originally Posted by rallizes

let's see a driveside shot

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by weisan

Mine showed at least 3mm clearance on both sides.

650bx42mm Panaracer Pasela tire front
650bx42mm Compass (now Rene Herse) tire - rear

Yep, but no room to go to the next usually available size.

Looks like you have a little more room in the frame than I do, but maybe there was some re-working of the BB area with the alloy shell than the carbon shell. The fork has loads of room.

[weisan]

Originally Posted by .RJ

Yep, but no room to go to the next usually available size.

Looks like you have a little more room in the frame than I do, but maybe there was some re-working of the BB area with the alloy shell than the carbon shell. The fork has loads of room.

42mm is more than enough for me to do most, if not all, gravel rides. If it gets more garnly, I revert to my MTB.

It's easy to forget this bike was originally designed and intended as a cyclocross bike, not gravel.

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by weisan

It's easy to forget this bike was originally designed and intended as a cyclocross bike, not gravel.

Yep, and US cyclocross at that. Thats what makes it great for mixed surface rides, its basically a road bike for fat tires - its stiff, light, sharp and doesnt have goofy geo like the Euro CX bikes.

[weisan]

It will live its life as a single speed ...for now.

Love the simplicity and the flickability lightweight!

44t-front, 17t-rear
650bx42mm Rene Herse Babyshoe Pass

[.RJ]

gave up on the cable routing I see

[weisan]

Originally Posted by .RJ

gave up on the cable routing I see

Not really, managed to get the rear brake cable routed internally but don't really like the way it exited out of the hole and curved upwards to get to the caliper. I would rather it comes from the top and straight down along the seat stay, no turning or twisting. just a personal preference, don't care really for the neatness or hiding the cables benefit that internal routing offers, you are talking to someone who actually likes the external deraileur cables hanging out in front of the handlebar for 9-10 speed shimano STI shifters. Easier for maintenance/replacing cable and it doesn't seem to offend my aesthetic sensitivity.

[weisan]

Decided to move back to a geared bike. the build is essentially completed, but i have to ditch my initial plan to use the SRAM Red crankset because I couldn't find the correct BB30 bearings for the bottom bracket. It's hard for me to imagine something being so difficult, when face with that, I usually choose the path of least resistance, in this case, I went with a campy crankset.

20240324_164512 by Wei San Hui, on Flickr

20240324_164605 by Wei San Hui, on Flickr

20240324_164530 by Wei San Hui, on Flickr

[bshell]

That was a strange move by Specialized to route the rear brake through the chain stay to a post mount. Did other builders do this?