'98 Voodoo Loa Ti

[br0qn]

I've lurked here a bit but figured it time to post. This is my first bike that isn't a 26" mtb. Interest was spurned when I found and bought a '94 Bontrager Race wearing 700c x35 , the wheels you see here as placeholders. It was weird and wonky and I bought it to bring it back to a proper period spec mountain bike but I loved riding it anyway and so I set about finding a cross bike.

Came to me as a frame only but I quickly found & pulled the trigger on the fork. Proper 1" canti fork not the easiest to come by but I think this Columbus (I believe) Colnago fits the bill.

Also has 135mm rear spacing, wheels being built now which is the final piece.


Initially I thought I might run 2 wheel/tire sets - 1 for road and 1 for whatever else - but the deeper I got into this build but more I realized I should have a proper road bike which is next on the list and it's got to be a Gt Edge Ti, 52cm... the heart wants what the heart wants.


Here it is in mockup. It will be 2x11 with an XT cassette.

cheers

[charliedid]

Nice

[mhespenheide]

Nice!

Maybe try to match the handlebar tape to the orange in the fork?

[mhespenheide]

Oh, and those Syncros posts are awesome, but can develop cracks at the top of the shaft where they join to the head. Keep and eye out for those and inspect it periodically.

[br0qn]

Originally Posted by charliedid

Nice

cheers!

Originally Posted by mhespenheide

Nice!

Maybe try to match the handlebar tape to the orange in the fork?

Thanks! I thought to pick the orange up somewhere, Saddle would have been best atop a black seatpost I think but I couldn't find anything. I think tape will be black. There is orange in the frame decals though which is partially why I got the fork.

Originally Posted by mhespenheide

Oh, and those Syncros posts are awesome, but can develop cracks at the top of the shaft where they join to the head. Keep and eye out for those and inspect it periodically.

Thanks for the heads up! This one is over in very neat condition and I'm light at ~135 lbs, hopefully it will go a while but I'll check it as you suggest.

Photo dump below of some of the other components I tried and other details like my favorite bit, the rear mech cable routing through the canti post.

[br0qn]

trying a moots layback and american classic posts with a look stem....Ti!

The salsa stem was comically long and the moots stem was also long and the clamp is too wide to thread a dropbar, definitely for a flat bar only that one.

bars here are Bluelug / nitto and I like them apart from the drops being super stubby. Doesn't seem so much in the photos but in the drops my hand nearly hangs off the back.

White perforated Flite and and Iscaselle Dakar....Ti!

Ultimately I think I like the black post/stem on the bike though, thoughts?

[mhespenheide]

I think the black saddle looks better, but a perforated white Flite is balleur.

If you do want to go with the white Flite, I'd go with white handlebar tape (silicone can work well since it's washable).

If you're still interested in an orange saddle, Fizik makes some (including their "test" saddles, which can make in into the secondhand market...)

[br0qn]

Mostly wondering about seatpost/ stem. I've decided I'm def going to run the SLR, time to try a saddle that isn't 30 years old.

Here is Ti AC post, Ti Look stem,and HWY one bars.

[br0qn]

it's kind of in this grey area of not being super capable off road while not being as good as I imagine an outright road bike would be. But, once I find the right road bike to build up this will get some chunkier rubber and a little wider drops and should be good to go.

specs as she sits


Frame:
1997 or 1998 (I think these are the only 2 years it was offered) Voodoo Loa, Titanium ~50cm

Fork/Headset:
Fork - Colnago steel straight blade, maybe from a Dream? I think Columbus tubes, ~700g

Crankset/Bottom Bracket:
Crankset - FRM cu2 Evo 172.5mm w/29 & 44 rings
Bottom Bracket - FRM integrated

Pedals:
Look S Track

Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain:
Cassette - Shimano XT CS-M8000 11spd 11-40
Chain - Shimano CN-HG901 - 11 Spe

Derailleurs/Shifters:
Front Derailleur - ULTEGRA FD-R8000
Rear Derailleur - Shimano XTR m9000
Brifters - Gevenalle gx 11spd
Downtube - Ofmega Colnago

Handlebars/Stem:
Bars - SOMA HWY One 400mm Grepp tape with Fizik gels
Stem - Look Ti 100mm

Saddle/Seatpost:
Saddle - Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow Ti
Seatpost - American Classic Ti w/ DKG collar

Brakes:
Ciamillo cantis

Front Wheel/Hub/Tire:
Hoop - Pacenti Forza 32h
Hub - Chris King
Tire - Ultradynamico Cava Race 33

Rear Wheel/Hub/Tire:
Hoop - Pacenti Forza 32h, Asymmetrical
Hub - Chris King
Tire - Ultradynamico Cava Race 33

Accessories:
King Cage Ti cage, Nissen cables


a bit under 20lbs as pictured

[mhespenheide]

How much wider can you go on tires? The Rene Herse knobbies or the Bruce Gordon Rock n' Road tires would add a lot of dirt capability without taking too much away from the road.

[R3awak3n]

I really like this

[Ssalmon]

This is a solid build, bravo!

[br0qn]

Originally Posted by Ssalmon

This is a solid build, bravo!

thank you, I'm really happy with how it turned out for the most part.

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

I really like this

right on, thank you !

Originally Posted by mhespenheide

How much wider can you go on tires? The Rene Herse knobbies or the Bruce Gordon Rock n' Road tires would add a lot of dirt capability without taking too much away from the road.

It will, surprisingly for it's age, clear ~ 43. I've had my eye on several tires that should be good for the mostly hard pack we have here in LA including the Bruce Gordons and also WTB, some Challenge, Pirelli, Schwalbe, other Ultradynamicos... ton of options in the 40-43 range.

I picked up this frame with the intentions of building up a cross/drop atb but the build started taking on the road guise as that is what I most immediately want so I can ride pavement daily until I get a road bike sorted though. I got the Cavas because I figured I could work my way down skinnier to a ~28 which I may end up on depending on the road bike I find (can't hold my breath for that 2013 GT Edge Ti) and roll fast enough in the meantime.

Searching now for a road project that fits similarly to this which is about 500mm c-t seat tube and 525mm top tube c-c. Anyone in the LA area have something they want to be rid of?

[owly]

Nice build. Crank/ringset looks good also.

Was thinking the BlueLug guruguru tape would complement the other orange bits.

[cs124]

Rad bike.
Especially because it’s just my size😉

(My commuter is sort of a blue collar version of this. Bianchi Volpe frame built with the spoils of my parts bin and running on 32mm GK slicks. It rides just fine on road, MUP and light gravel.)