A Dummy Builds a Lynskey GR300
10-24-21, 12:29 PM
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A Dummy Builds a Lynskey GR300
I don't really need another bike, but I don't have a dedicated gravel bike, so I thought, why not? If I am being honest with myself, I am pretty darn bad at wrenching. I am thankful that nearly 30 years ago a guy named Lew White taught be basic bike wrenching. He was the perfect mentor fro me. I have built seven bikes in my life. All of them have been flat bar bikes of a mountain or commuter type design. Never have I dealt with drop bar builds or drop bar shifters. This is going to be a first. I have a hunch I'll end up at the local shop getting them to bail me out. I am certain I'll cuss some along the way. But I am excited about what I am going to end up with.
The first of the parts have started rolling in. I managed to apply rim tape to the rims without the need for an emergency room visit, so I am off to a good start. I'll mount the tires in a few minutes.
The first of the parts have started rolling in. I managed to apply rim tape to the rims without the need for an emergency room visit, so I am off to a good start. I'll mount the tires in a few minutes.
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10-24-21, 01:19 PM
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Unfortunately, no badge is awarded for Worked On Drop Bar Shifters for those! Gevenalles earn the same, 40 year old badge as Works On Shifters. 
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10-24-21, 02:43 PM
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Got the Vittoria tires mounted. This is the third set of different Vittorias I have used. They are TIGHT.
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10-25-21, 11:26 AM
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I didnt ask in an earlier thread you started- why do you need to have mechanical disc brakes? I am not criticizing, I just saw you mention it as a must and am curious.
10-25-21, 12:35 PM
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10-25-21, 12:45 PM
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I don't really need another bike, but I don't have a dedicated gravel bike, so I thought, why not? If I am being honest with myself, I am pretty darn bad at wrenching. I am thankful that nearly 30 years ago a guy named Lew White taught be basic bike wrenching. He was the perfect mentor fro me. I have built seven bikes in my life. All of them have been flat bar bikes of a mountain or commuter type design. Never have I dealt with drop bar builds or drop bar shifters. This is going to be a first. I have a hunch I'll end up at the local shop getting them to bail me out. I am certain I'll cuss some along the way. But I am excited about what I am going to end up with.
The first of the parts have started rolling in. I managed to apply rim tape to the rims without the need for an emergency room visit, so I am off to a good start. I'll mount the tires in a few minutes.
The first of the parts have started rolling in. I managed to apply rim tape to the rims without the need for an emergency room visit, so I am off to a good start. I'll mount the tires in a few minutes.
10-25-21, 01:24 PM
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Simplicity. That and I have them in two applications already, and am very happy with them. Hydraulic brakes have done two things to me that mechs haven't. I have grabbed too much brake and dumped. I have had a brake malfunction that necessitated a shop visit...while I was on vacation. Both are clearly the consequence of my shortcomings, but I don't see myself getting much better at threshold braking or working on hydraulic brakes, so mechs it is.
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10-26-21, 03:25 PM
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I got my SLX 11-42 Cassette in and got it installed. The handlebars arrived today. Things will be at a standstill for a while now until the frame comes in, then I have to wait for GRX derailleurs and cranksets to come in stock. Seems like middle of November is when businesses are expecting them.
Last edited by Paul Barnard; 10-28-21 at 06:42 PM.
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10-28-21, 06:44 AM
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Good luck, and give that bar wrap a try. Most tape these days is pretty forgiving, if you screw up you get do-overs! And as far as the overall build goes, good luck, and don't be so hard on yourself. Just the fact that you appear to be using all new parts (or close to it) is a huge advantage. Most of my builds are 90% soaking, sanding, or scrubbing, 5% assembly, and 5% fiddling to make wildly unrelated components work well together.
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10-28-21, 06:43 PM
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Sourcing parts for this build has been interesting. I have always been able to score killer deals from various merchant's clearance bins. No such joy anymore! TRP Spyke brakes are hard to find. I picked up the second to the last set an Ebay vendor was showing in stock. 11 speed chains are also very hard to come by. I have located everything but the GRX crankset.
11-03-21, 01:56 PM
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The frame arrived today. More parts will trickle in through the week. I should have everything but the crank by week's end.
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11-03-21, 02:20 PM
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good looking blue graphic
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11-22-21, 06:53 PM
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Well, I have screwed this up royally. I finally got the crank in a few minutes ago. It didn't slide into the bottom bracket easily. I had to tap it in. I had installed the spacers in the bottom bracket. It apparently didn't need all three. No big deal, I'll tap the crankset out and remove two. Nope. Crankset will not tap back out. I am throwing in the towel and taking it to the shop. For the life of me I cannot figure out why the Shimano GRX crankset wouldn't slide into the Shimano bottom bracket fairly easily.
11-23-21, 06:10 AM
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FWIW, I installed a GRX crank in my old Bianchi a couple of months ago and it was a noticeably tighter fit than any other HT2 I've dealt with. It took more than a tap to seat it. Also, even w/o spacers the spindle length out the NDS seemed marginal. In your situation, I'd secure the frame, protect the end of the crank and give it a substantial whack.
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11-25-21, 08:08 AM
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Well, I have screwed this up royally. I finally got the crank in a few minutes ago. It didn't slide into the bottom bracket easily. I had to tap it in. I had installed the spacers in the bottom bracket. It apparently didn't need all three. No big deal, I'll tap the crankset out and remove two. Nope. Crankset will not tap back out. I am throwing in the towel and taking it to the shop. For the life of me I cannot figure out why the Shimano GRX crankset wouldn't slide into the Shimano bottom bracket fairly easily.
11-27-21, 12:37 PM
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FWIW, I installed a GRX crank in my old Bianchi a couple of months ago and it was a noticeably tighter fit than any other HT2 I've dealt with. It took more than a tap to seat it. Also, even w/o spacers the spindle length out the NDS seemed marginal. In your situation, I'd secure the frame, protect the end of the crank and give it a substantial whack.
11-27-21, 04:56 PM
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No spacers. It was a Shimano HT2 68mm bottom bracket. 105 or Ultegra, whichever was available.
