Vivalo NJS

No worries, the info helps, I think I will need a 107 in that case.

Well i built it up and i've taken it for a ride.
Initial impressions?
Well i bought it with the idea that it has a 51 seat tube and a 53 top tube so its bound to be shorter. Wrong, the relaxed angle of the seat post combined with the shorter seat tube means i have a bit more post showing on this frame, and with it being set back it has made the frame feel almost the same, maybe even longer than the vivalo.
Really unsure about whether i want this instead of the vivalo, aesthetically i like it, ride wise i think it maybe the wrong size for me. I have even told the person who was going to buy the vivalo that i'm unsure about selling it yet.

Anyway here is a picture of it built up, not a great pic i know.

I really don't know which one i want, i will have to take this for a longer ride and see how i get on.

Any advice welcome, and let me know what you think.

Without seeing you on the bike its hard to judge but... Do you stretch? My advice would be start stretching, your legs and your back....

As for which to keep, I love the paintjob on the vivalo, but this is rad too andthose forks are some of ythe best looking forks you can get....

This is so good George. Bravo.

No i probably don't stretch enough tbh, I got back ache from being too stretched out, hence the 60mm stem, i don't know if that was because i'm not that used to it, or it is too long.

Thanks for the feedback though, i will give it a fair trial, but i am more attached to the vivalo than I first thought!

Cheers Jake.

When I got the fort, which was 62 ctc top tube, and way too big and way tooagaggressive for me... I started stretching. After a couple of weeks stretching I was pretty comfortable on it, you might be surprised the improvement it could make.

Interesting to hear, thanks for the info. I could have either frame if that is the case, not sure which i prefer. I will ride it a bit more a go from there. This will have more drop than the vivalo either way as it is 2cm shorter seat tube.

It is for 75s, but i need to figure out what width. Trouble is they have been used on JIS so i need a JIS BB now, i have been struggling to decide between UN55 in 107 or 110 width.

My initial thought was 110, but the vivalo has a 107 UN55.

Sugino 75's use ISO not JIS

I know, but as they were used by the previous owner and myself on jis there isn't much point going to the trouble of going back to iso.

Oh right, well as long as it works.

lovely frame, if only more njs frames had forks like these:)

Yeah I figured I would probably do more harm swapping between the two than just sticking with it. I have never had any issues at all with them.

Thanks 1000aa, I agree, straight blade forks are nice. I think this is why I think bigger frames look better. :)

I decided to keep the vivalo, i just like it more, it rides so well, and i really do feel comfortable on it.
Just got back from 35 miles on it, it was silly steep on some of the coast roads though, i will gear down next time!
Also 75s will be going back on.

Good call.

Thanks man, yeah i have no regrets, i will be keeping this for the foreseeable future.

This is why i wanted to gear down

This hill is 2.3mile in total, and the first mile is 11%, 48/17 was hell. (going up)

it's only 11%....

48x17 is near perfect allround gear.

On this route it really felt like too much by the end of it, never thought that till now though.

^^ This 48x17 is da bomb. Great control at speed without spinning out without being to heavy for hills.

[I hate hills]

On this route it really felt like too much by the end of it, never thought that till now though.

It's early Spring, it'll get easier quickly!

Haha i hope so! i feel differently about it already actually. I was just very warn out when i got in, i will do this route again soon.

I took TM's advice to try and stretch, i put an 80mm stem on with the compacts and it felt great, pretty happy with this setup.

To prove it gets used here is commuter setup:

And after a good clean and with my latest addition, hhsb setup :)

I will be going back to bull horns again, as i found i don't use the drops enough when i have to carry a bag.

Beast!

I took TM's advice to try and stretch, i put an 80mm stem on with the compacts and it felt great, pretty happy with this setup.

To prove it gets used here is commuter setup:

http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt238/georgearchard/2BDEFFD9-9D1C-4F54-A17C-30A6B2A3744C-3839-0000048CAA9DE2E6_zpsaddca918.jpg

And after a good clean and with my latest addition, hhsb setup :)

http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt238/georgearchard/BD54D16C-73BD-46DD-AAAD-42647CB7EEB4-3839-0000048CA4AD90A5_zps97168504.jpg

I will be going back to bull horns again, as i found i don't use the drops enough when i have to carry a bag.

Good work man, sled build looks mega!

keep up the stretching, I try to keep up but don't do enough of it. Great for comfort on the bike and injury prevention/treatment.

Now I've got the plate out of my collarbone I'm hoping to give yoga or pilates a go.