How to build a gravel road racer with handy parts!
03-30-13, 12:16 PM
#201
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Ah, these gearing options sound reasonable. I really do like the design of this era Campagnolo though, so clean!
Thank you! I've thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with various forum members and a local shop on the project. We were happy to bring the nos frameset to life.
As for gearing, you are spot on. The crankset is a 53/39 while I am running 12/26s in the rear. I can handle pretty much everything around the metro area with this set up. This will not cut it though for the Almanzo 100. A member on another forum I frequent offered up a Veloce compact, medium cage Chorus rear derailleur and 12/29s for a week or two around the event in May. If I survive the full 100, I will have done a little over 8,000 ft of climbing.
I am looking for a loaner long cage rear, as that would give me an option of wrapping a 13/29. That would be a dream.
This event is going to be a major push for me, but if the weather is decent, stranger things have happened.
I did 60+ miles of the same route in October and had a blast.
Recently, we did 45+ miles of the route on our fat tire bicycles and I rode my Fargo.
Piece of cake on that beast.
So, we will just see what happens.
As for gearing, you are spot on. The crankset is a 53/39 while I am running 12/26s in the rear. I can handle pretty much everything around the metro area with this set up. This will not cut it though for the Almanzo 100. A member on another forum I frequent offered up a Veloce compact, medium cage Chorus rear derailleur and 12/29s for a week or two around the event in May. If I survive the full 100, I will have done a little over 8,000 ft of climbing.
I am looking for a loaner long cage rear, as that would give me an option of wrapping a 13/29. That would be a dream.
This event is going to be a major push for me, but if the weather is decent, stranger things have happened.
I did 60+ miles of the same route in October and had a blast.
Recently, we did 45+ miles of the route on our fat tire bicycles and I rode my Fargo.
Piece of cake on that beast.
So, we will just see what happens.
03-30-13, 12:26 PM
#202
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In addition, I thought it would be more interesting riding this than my Fargo or El Mariachi.
Creates a different challenge and adventure.
We'll see if I sing the same tune after the event.
03-30-13, 02:20 PM
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Grady, my wife has a VGC 8spd racing triple setup. Would you be interested in trading for a short (or med) cage RD, double front, and a compact crankset?
03-30-13, 03:38 PM
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I plan on trying the other Veloce/Chorus option
first at Almanzo and see if I really like the frame enough to invest additional resources.
Thanks!
Last edited by gomango; 03-30-13 at 03:58 PM.
04-22-13, 05:10 AM
#205
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Piling the miles on yesterday.
Love the Challenge Almanzo clinchers.
The Croll handles like a champ so far.
Will finish the build this week and post some pics taken with a real camera.
Love the Challenge Almanzo clinchers.
The Croll handles like a champ so far.
Will finish the build this week and post some pics taken with a real camera.
04-22-13, 05:15 AM
#207
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beautiful build grady..very happy to be apart of it.
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04-22-13, 06:12 AM
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Would think a 34 front could cover the useful range for almost all gravel duties. You'd prolly be covered with a 12/29 on a 50/34. Interested to see if you wind up with a CD or a triple for your event.
Turned our great at any rate and a real head turner. Really dig the red cables. You'll be easy to spot on the road with that one.
Turned our great at any rate and a real head turner. Really dig the red cables. You'll be easy to spot on the road with that one.
05-07-13, 09:13 AM
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My retro-fitted Pug has come together. Did the first gravel ride Sunday, 52 miles of central MN rolling washboard. The Challenge Almonzos were a little squirrelly at 60 psi, but settled in nicely at 50.
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05-07-13, 10:43 AM
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Grady: The Croll is gorgeous! I hope I can inspect in person in Spring Valley in a few days.
My retro-fitted Pug has come together. Did the first gravel ride Sunday, 52 miles of central MN rolling washboard. The Challenge Almonzos were a little squirrelly at 60 psi, but settled in nicely at 50.
My retro-fitted Pug has come together. Did the first gravel ride Sunday, 52 miles of central MN rolling washboard. The Challenge Almonzos were a little squirrelly at 60 psi, but settled in nicely at 50.
05-07-13, 11:47 AM
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Yes, but the sram is so simple, inexpensive and light without the annoying proprietary bolt pattern. Plus they have more length options.. i.e. like the rival because it is an inexpensive 180mm crank..
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05-07-13, 12:07 PM
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Agreed, that's why I mentioned the silver rival too. I was really just suggesting silver cranks to complete the "fly" factor.
05-07-13, 12:51 PM
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If you'd like I can start a thread on this "versatile Peugeot" build and explain why it has a black Rival compact rather than a silver one. And I could get some pictures tonight "in the wild".
And the Almanzos are great!
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05-07-13, 01:07 PM
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You did a great job on your build and lots of folks would love these bicycles if they heard/knew a little more about them.
Ps Glad you like the Almanzos. Along with the Eroicas, Challenge really has some winners on their hands.
Last edited by gomango; 05-07-13 at 03:00 PM.
05-07-13, 01:25 PM
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05-07-13, 02:16 PM
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Our roads here are so bad this spring, I've been apprehensive to take the regular road bikes out.
Did you do the Ironman a week or so ago?
I split time between the Tommasini Casey built for me and the Croll.
Pretty easy to swap bicycles the way they set up the loops of the course.
The Almanzos were actually quite comfortable and performed well over the 50 miles I did on them.
Again, a great all around tire.
05-07-13, 04:33 PM
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Yes, did the MN Ironman... was watching for you but then there was a huge number of riders due to the nice weather (finally). I mounted up a fresh set of Conti GP 4000s, as I didn't want to burn down the knobbies (diamonds?) on the Almanzos. The climb out of Afton was good fun (especially with my compact and bail-out 34 cog). I could have done some swapping too, but wanted to get some test miles on the gravel destined bike.
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05-07-13, 04:57 PM
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Yes, did the MN Ironman... was watching for you but then there was a huge number of riders due to the nice weather (finally). I mounted up a fresh set of Conti GP 4000s, as I didn't want to burn down the knobbies (diamonds?) on the Almanzos. The climb out of Afton was good fun (especially with my compact and bail-out 34 cog). I could have done some swapping too, but wanted to get some test miles on the gravel destined bike.
Over 1,000 showed up and registered that day, which is a huge walk up.
There were a few hills that were a major pain with the gearing on both of my bikes, but that's the way she goes.
I was simply blown away be the quality of the bicycles I observed.
Vanillas, Sachs, Kvales, Andersons, Weigles etc.
Quite a few for the c&v crowd as well.
Fun times!
05-07-13, 05:07 PM
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I've only put a few hundred on the SP due to our weather, but the bicycle has a very refined balance.
Does lots of things just right.
I'll be able to push it a lot harder as I gain fitness this summer, but I really love it.
Fwiw They were really eyeballing your build at GP the other day.
Lots of favorable comments about your build.
05-08-13, 04:31 AM
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I just found a crack last winter in the right rear chainstay of my Sintesi.
I've elected to not repair it and it will become wall art.
This Super Prestige is my only other Tommasini, as I have no plans to buy another Italian racing bicycle in the near future.