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I approve. Have you ridden it yet? If so how would you describe the handling?

When i took it out for a ride last sunday it was great. The handling was smooth and the frame soaked up the bumps nicely. I still think i could have got away with the larger frame size. But putting this next to my mtb they are almost the same. Steering feels really responsive and the marathon plus tyres roll well and add to the smooth ride. Looking forward to loading the bike up and having a proper test ride.

Indecision. Put the gears back on. Looked at the bike. Fiddled with cables. Realised either old shifters are knackered or old mechs are. Hated the tangle of wires up front. Came to a decision. This bike is going single speed for this spring/summer season. I will concentrate on getting the touring attachments and get out for some rides. Gears can wait. Instead of using the SS bits of my mtb ill get a new ss chainring,spacers and cog and get the vertical dropouts from planet x to avoid using a tensioner.

I thought the KAff had the same geo and clearances as the pomp?

Yes, i think it does. I am sure i can find a guard that will fit without snipping. Want to get a nice finish, eventually, with this bike.

Oh, not forgetting mudguards. The slightly duller, but essential part of a tourer. I see from other Kaffenback projects that full guards have to be snipped to fit on the back due to the tiny clearance between tyre and front derraileur. Not sure what i will go for yet.

Decided to persevere with the straight bars for now. Going to get some bar ends. Also going to hook up the rear cassette again with rear mech and run the bike in 9spd mode to see how it goes. I will put the front mech on as a way to keep the chain from slipping off the chainring. Probably go for the middle ring for now. Maybe, if 9spd feels good i will stick a single chainring on, either gusset or similar. Exact size, not sure, 36T -40T i think. The SS set up was 40T with a 16T cog at the back.

I thought the kaffenback came with interchangeable dropouts, cab you not use these and relieve the chain tensioner? Looks like a fantastic build though, done a great job with this. Get some gears on it!

Thanks. If i remember rightly i had to choose which dropouts came with the frame when i ordered it. The horizontal ones can be ordered separately from planet x. Yes i will get gears on it. All i need are the right bars and stem. Have also considered butterfly bars as an option.

But this ain't no "Desert Storm".

Also, leaning towards something like this for a rear rack. I have some side packs from an Army bergen that would be ideal, strapped to the side as pannier bags.

Maybe something like this, with an adjustable oversized stem.

nice project, however the photo above, with the placing of the frame next to that substantial fence plus angle of shot, has the effect of making the bike look like a child's!

Yeah, i thought that as i took the shot. Funny how perspective works.

Re-post?
I like.

Nuff said?

My Kaffenback is currently in single speed mode, check the East Anglian Tourer thread in Current Projects. It ain't the lightest frame but you can throw it around corners and cane it over bridges with ease. I am going to go 9spd ( at least ) with mine and stick some drops with bar end shifters. I know it divides opinions but i love my Kaff.

Boom!

^Nice. But selling your namesake?

Oh, and the compact frame means the occasional toe rub with the front tyre. Only when steering sharply, something i will have to remember i guess.

Hooray ! First ride out for the Kaffenback. Out of desperation i cobbled together some parts from the other bikes to get it out on the road/paths. Apart from the annoyingly noisy tensioner the ride was lovely and smooth. The frame seems to soak up the worst of the bumps, both wheels and the marathon plus tyres helped to give a very pleasant ride on the road and on the cycle paths.
The slightly compact frame is very responsive and felt really nippy around the city centre. However i have decided flat mtb bars are no good for this bike as a tourer. The ride height is fine but i reckon a slightly longer/adjustable stem and drops would give a better choice of positioning.
Gear wise i doubt i will get far in single speed to be honest. Riding around as it is feels great, but i could feel that with extra weight on the bike and some inclines a few extra gears would be needed. As i have decided for drops i will have to search out a bar end shifter or two (depends if i go 9spd or more).
Just need to wait for another pay-packet to bolster the funds and this bike will be done. Until then i will keep riding it in its current form.

^ Noice. I would love a bike like that. Good job.

Sorted. Steerer cut and filed to fit, spacers and stem on and star nut (carefully) knocked in and tightened.
Been trying out the cable routing for gears but still have a strange aversion to them. I think i have single speed obsession or something. My guess is the next picture i put up will be a single speed set up.
The ride height seems fine with the 50mm of spacers in, the proof will be in a long(ish) ride. I have put the system ex seatpost in and stuck the selle san marco saddle from the old Schwinn on. Should be nice and comfy.
Anyone any thoughts on the idea of SS touring, considering we don't have that many epic hills in these parts.

If you havn't put the star nut into the fork then you will not be able to tighten up the headset sufficiently for it not to wobble. As long as you have the top of the steerer below the top of the stem/ top spacer the headset cap will grip the star nut and compress the stem, spacers and headset. If there is steerer protruding/just by the stem, the headset will not be able to compress enough. I hope this is clear. Cut the steerer to the right length, put in the star nut and you will be fine.

Yep. I see the error of my ways. Cheers. My previous builds have all been conversions. This is my first build from scratch. A learning curve with, hopefully a happy ending.

I haven't put the star nut in yet as i still need to cut the steerer. I was not expecting this much play before doing that. Oh well ill get sawing and see what happens. I'm such a n00b.

Shite. Put the carbon spacers on and sat the stem on top. But no matter how i adjust, re-assemble, apply pressure, swap stems i cannot get it all tightened without an irritating bit of play in the steerer. I have assembled the sealed bearings etc as fsa advise. But when all is tightened up and i lift the front end the forks move. Could Planet X have fitted the headset wrong? I doubt it. The bottom sealed bearing doesnt seem to fit snug over the crown race, it merely rests leaving a slight gap of a couple of mm. Surely i dont have to get another headset fitted. I am getting really frustrated with this.

That's the classic question when it comes to bikes... Are they ever finished?

I don't think mine ever are. Always swapping parts or adding new bits.

Yeah, mudguards. Thats what i will have to find next for my Kaffenback. Hope i don't have to go all Heath Robinson and cut to fit. And if the feckers rattle i'll chuck em out. I like a nice, quiet bike. Hence the electric tape wound round my rattly lights.