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Decided to go for 44cm Nitto Noodles instead of the FSA compact bars - arrived from Hubjub this afternoon, and got some urban camo splash tape to go on them. Going to see if I've got an adaptor to fit a 140mm rotor on the back, otherwise I'll use the 160mm I've already got. I'm sticking with the ugly silver Spa compact double cranks that are currently on another bike at the moment - at least they've got the right chainline and I can re-use the existing ring and BB. Just waiting for a Ø26mm stem, some compressionless brake outer and some decent cable for the dynamo light.

And the frame - hopefully it'll be finished next week and on its way to me the week after.

I don't think it does. The cable is always in contact with the 'beak' in front of the clamp bolt on the moving arm, so the radius of the cable from the pivot doesn't change throughout the travel.

Anyway, the brake definitely felt better as I was riding in this morning, but the braking was still poor, even after some very noisy stoppies. I'm going to sand the pads to see if they improve, otherwise I might just go back to sintered pads.

I tensioned it - as though the brake was being pulled on. There was a little slack in the cable at rest before, winding the arm in a bit has removed it and added a bit of spring preload to the system. The brake feels more positive now, but I also realigned the caliper and re-fitted the pads so I'm not sure which adjustment made the difference.

No, but thanks for the reminder - I did move the arm about 10 degrees while adjusting and cleaning them this afternoon. They do feel more positive and have less lever movement now, but still don't work that well. Will try some stoppies on the way to work tomorrow and see if I can bed the pads in a bit.

Possibly. They're organic pads - first time I've used them - so maybe they're just not as good as the sintered ones.

Weird problem with my BB7 road caliper. Over time - a few rides - the braking seems to fade, as though the pads are glazing slowly. There's a bit of noise from the brake (front) so I think that one pad is rubbing the disc.

Need to try to fix it so I will
1) clean the pads (they were new a few weeks ago so don't think they need replacing) and re-fit with some coppaslip behind them.
2) check and adjust caliper alignment if necessary
3) check, straighten and clean the rotor (Shimano centrelock)

Cables are in good condition with clean square cut ends.

Anything else I should consider (other than changing to Hylex or Spyres)?

Excellent, glad it turned up OK.

Might be this:

£4 on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262296264468

Boring photo of current pile of bits:

Amber bikes: http://www.amber-bikes.com/104_BCD_Chainrings/p3835754_15658112.aspx
No idea of quality, no connection with the seller etc etc

I couldn't work out a reliable way of holding the wire in place inside the guard when I did mine, so routed it along the chainstay and mudguard stay with cable ties and spiral wrap for points where it might rub/catch. I switched to a PDW Fenderbot not long after.

Managed to wrestle some Challenge Strada Biancas onto the Stans Alpha 340 rims for this build without using tyre levers last night, so it'll have gumwalls instead of the Gravel Kings. Wheels are a bit heavy at 3.5kg for the complete pair (inc. QRs, discs, tyres and fixed cog) but they'll do. I don't think there's a much lighter solution without changing to a minimally spoked SON Delux dynamo. Fork, headset and seatclamp are scheduled for delivery this week sometime.

Ok, thanks.

Have the Shimano cranks gone? Interested if you've still got them, and might be able to collect too.

Any reason you chose Waltly over others?

Only that they're who Brant works with. He designs it, acts as middleman and arranges shipping. They build it, and I think have worked with him for years on various frames.

I'm excited to see how this goes too - I've been thinking about this kind of frame for a few years now. There are plenty of similar ones out there, but nothing that ticked all the boxes exactly. I just hope I've got the spec right.

Just placed an order for my first custom frame, designed by Brant at Pact Bikes. Geometry was based loosely around the Planet X Kaffenback 2 which he also designed - I used to own one and liked the way it rode. Frame is being made by Waltly Titanium in China.

Other bits of the spec:
Long 44mm HT (no spacers under stem, tapered steerer)
Same reach and stack as my Synapse
CX fork (400mm A-C, 45 mm offset)
Long-ish chainstays
Short seat tube, long post
Clearance for 32mm tyres + guards
Single chainring at 53mm chainline
Disc brakes with adjustable dropouts
High BB
Rack mounts, 3x bottle mounts, external cable routing

Frame drawing:

I added routing for a rear derailleur just in case I want to run it as 1x at some point in the future.

Have got the following parts already:
Wheels - Surly ultra new fixed/disc rear, Shimano XT dynohub front, Stans Alpha 340 rims
Panaracer 32mm Gravel Kings
B+M Luxos U light
Thomson post and Cambium saddle
Truvativ stem
FSA Vero bars, SRAM S500 levers
17T cog
Mechanical disc brakes from the Synapse (Bengal MB700T) + 160mm rotors
SPD-M540 pedals

Frame should be here by the end of next month and I still need to get:
Kinesis Tripster fork - only full carbon tapered fork I could find with QR dropouts, mudguard mounts and a through hole in the crown for a dynamo light bracket
Cane Creek ZS44/28.6 EC44/40 headset
Mudguards
Cranks, BB - have got a pair of old Shimano 600 road cranks on the way, will probably have to use a 125mm BB to get the chainline I need.
43T or 44T chainring
Seat clamp
Chain, cables, etc
Might upgrade the brakes to TRP Hylex - have got BB7s on another bike and they're OK, but fancy trying the hydraulics.

What size ring do you want to run, and what length/type BB shell do you have?

Standard road double outer ring chainline is 46mm - Alfine S500/501 HTII chainset is a good option if BB is 68mm but only down to 39T ring.

Velosolo do a cheap Lasco 104 BCD 4 bolt crank - with a short BB (107/110 mm?) the outer ring will be in about the right place. Comes fitted with 36T and a chainguard, but you can fit rings as small as 32T (or maybe 30).

Yep, QR too. With the plastic block on the back of the saddlebag it's quick and secure. I prefer the clean looks of bikepacking-style bags and they do work well for MTB and longer tours but for commuting the Carradice is hard to beat IMO.

Rock Lobster do custom aluminium: http://www.rocklobstercycles.com/
6-8 months wait though.

You could try http://pactbikes.com/ for custom Ti at a fair price, but in my experience the wait will be about the same. :-(

Agreed. I've got both sizes of Bagman II and they function much better than the older version. Bloody ugly though.

Thanks!

Do you find the saddle bag affects the handling at all?

Not really. It used to wag the steering a bit but spreading the Bagman struts out to triangulate things fixed that. I know it's there, but soon got used to it.

Permavent is more waterproof but narrower and heavier than the Tyvek

Tyvek - Paper - like feel but very tough. Sold as waterproof and breathable but I consider it very water resistant as heavy direct pressure from a knee or elbow can push water through if it's on saturated ground. Cuts easily with scissors and doesn't fray. Bit crinkly at first bit softens up with use, non-slippery. 140cm wide and 90g per meter.

Permavent - Feels more like material. 100% waterproof and breathable. Cuts easily with scissors, sew's okay and doesn't fray. non-slippery. 100cm wide and 92g per meter.

http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7243#p82485

Depends on the eyelet and frame material. If you've got clearance on the other side I'd drill out to clear whatever size screw you're using then put a longer one in with a nut and washer on the back. Or just drill and tap to M6 instead of M5.

I don't mind the looks, but didn't like the through axle dropouts so bought frame only. ^ that's a Salsa Vaya fork - same length and offset but with stainless dropouts and low-rider mounts.

Also looking for some tyvek or other light tarp/sheet enough to cover two bikes and six panniers.

Stuart at Bearbones Bikepacking has just started selling Tyvek by the metre: http://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/shop/?product=tyvek-housewrap

Could be used as a groundsheet for the tent too.