I finally made a start on Project SS yesterday.
My wife doesn't use her bike at all and I want another hard tail, but am not allowed, so I've decided to butcher her old Claude Butler and turn it into a winter single speeder! It's a Claud Butler Rock which dates back about 10 years but looks like a fairly good frame.
This is what I started with.
I set about stripping it down which was mainly done with just a 5mm Allen key. I had to dig out some old tools to remove the old square tapered cranks. I also had to borrow an old style bottom bracket removal tool from Chunk too.
About 20 minutes later I was left with a pile of bits and the bare frame.
I've been collected components over the last few months, some old, some new. I've got some Avid Elixir 5s to fit but the frame had V-brakes and guides for cable discs.
30 mins with a drill and file soon sorted that out though.
As I no longer need the brake bosses and the fact I've just bought a Dremmel, lead me to a bit of savagery on the frame!
That's about as far as I got yesterday. I still need to smooth the other brake boss off and remove the stickers. Then I think I'll sand the rest of the frame to give it a rough and ready finish, then lacquer over it.
I still need to source some forks, either suspension or carbon rigid, can't quite decide on these yet. I also need to get a few bits and bobs like brake adaptors and an SS cog and chain.
I'll report back when I'm a bit further down the line with it.
I'd bought Shimano wheels which have the splined disc hubs, but I also had the Avid Elixirs off my Blood! Superstar do adaptors, £15 for 2 and these went on as follows.
Hub
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s...0/IMAG0485.jpg
Adaptor
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H...0/IMAG0486.jpg
Disc and washer
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-c...0/IMAG0488.jpg
Lock ring
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q...0/IMAG0489.jpg
It gives a neat finish, but I think I prefer to be able to unbolt my chainrings, rather than use a cassette tool, as I don't often carry one of those in my pack!
The headset and forks went on next, which is easier when you've got the right tools. (Used the club ones).
So on to the front brake! The Dremmel was obviously feeling bored so plotted against me again! I was using Avid brakes with a 185mm rotor, but I have a Hope bracket for 183mm rotor. The Avid bolts were too long so needed to be cut down which took no time.
When I fitted it all together, the disc wouldn't turn in the caliper, I guess the 2mm disc difference does matter!
A couple of washers later and we were back in business!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9...0/IMAG0495.jpg
I then spent the next two hours bleeding both brakes, which feel spot on now they're sorted. I think a good bleeding really is key to getting the best out of any set of brakes.
Just a few tidying up jobs to do, fitting stem, bars and grips and torquing all the bolts up.
I bought Superstar's extra large grips thinking they'd be a bit fatter as I've got long fingers, they're not! They are however, very long, which does give you a choice of position!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w...0/IMAG0506.jpg
Last job for the Dremmel was to 'bling up' the cranks
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y...0/IMAG0502.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R...0/IMAG0493.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-K...0/IMAG0494.jpg
I had a very short ride on it, just up the hill at the side of my house. It feels really spritely and accelerates quickly, but my right thumb was looking for a lever to push to change gear! Also think I need a carbon post and more padded seat as it's really rigid!
Thanks to everyone who's sold or donated bits and tools! Hope to get it out on one of the more gentler club rides soon!