Post images of beauty (quote pics sparingly) - see Mod warnings in OP

Lumen

Built up my new custom Enigma travel bike last night.

Will post more in the specific thread at some point, but components are:

- Custom Enigma Ti frameset with S&S Ti couplers. 570mm toptube.
- Easton EA90 SLX fork
- SRAM Red shifters, Force mechs, Red chain
- HED Ardennes wheelset, KCNC skewers, Conti 4000S tyres/racelight tubes
- DA7900 12-25 cassette
- Zipp SL bars, SRAM bartape
- Planet-X 120mm Ultralight stem
- Planet-X Ultralight CNC brakes
- USE Alien Ti seatpost
- Spesh Toupe 143mm saddle
- Lifeline Ti cages
- Cinqo Saturn powermeter cranks, shared with my other bikes

Total weight as pictured is around 7.5kg. More pics here.

I'll be fitting the cable splitters and computer mount tonight, then seeing if it all goes in the box.

As the pic shows, there is a bit of a problem with lack of drop on the rear brakes (I specced enough clearance for a full guard at the back), so I may need to find some light, good looking medium drop brakes. Suggestions welcome.

Enigma actually got the finish wrong - I order polished - but I think it looks OK. They've offered to sort it out, but not sure that's going to be practical. Needs carbon or brighter metal cages to add some contrast.

levitronix

Thats a serious looking bike lumen, ti bikes always have that real classic look carbon always looks cartoony not that i dont like carbon bikes

Raam

Lumen

Raam wrote: »

Cable end fail

LOL, well spotted. I ran out of those little crimpy things, must pick some more up today.

Raam

It's very nice bike. I'd be inclined to leave the bottle cages as is. There is just enough red with the brakes, chainring bolts, shifters and logos. However, if I was asked to change them, I'd go with black.

'68 Fastback

Lumen wrote: »

Good idea. I'll probably pack a roll of tape for repairs. The Corex stuff is fantastic, perfect combination of stiffness, puncture resistance and some surface squishyness.

Its the future!

Paul Kiernan

Thanks Dirk. Full picture of my beloved Planet-X:). Looks very ordinary after Lumens sleek machine:o, but mine weighs 7.5kg too:).

I know the stack/stem positioning looks awful but I have difficulty bending for prolonged periods. I wonder would a shorter stem help?

ROK ON

Lumen.
Well wear. Hope you get some nice sunny miles in.
I like matt but matt black ftw. Grey looks like a German WW2 bike. However that aside it is a nice machine and the join is much smaller that I remembered from the photos when the project began.
Enjoy.

Some red pedals would be nice.

ipodrocker

Paul Kiernan wrote: »

Thanks Dirk. Full picture of my beloved Planet-X:). Looks very ordinary after Lumens sleek machine:o, but mine weighs 7.5kg too:).

I know the stack/stem positioning looks awful but I have difficulty bending for prolonged periods. I wonder would a shorter stem help?

nice pic!

what light set and computer you using?

DirkVoodoo

Nice bike Lumen, I would get some alloy (or Ti) cages in the metallic red of your brakes, would look pretty nice.

@Paul: It may be worth asking Mr.Skeffington what he thinks, I know he helps peoplel with position as well as setting up bikes. I would suggest maybe trying some light stretching to help out, is this your first road bike? I remember I couldn't even use the drops on my first road bike but it got better in time.

levitronix

Lumen wrote: »

Good idea. I'll probably pack a roll of tape for repairs. The Corex stuff is fantastic, perfect combination of stiffness, puncture resistance and some surface squishyness.

How tight do you have tighten the socket when putting the bike back together ?

Paul Kiernan

ipodrocker wrote: »

nice pic!

what light set and computer you using?

Lights are basically this. Front light solar powered, very bright and pretty good value at Wiggle. Lasts 6 hours flashing from solar charge but cleverly also has a normal battery which lasts for up to 30 hours. Mind you it needs sunlight to charge so not much use in this bloody climate.

Computer just a basic HRM type Ciclomaster 4.2 HR which cost £25 and stops me blowing up too soon.

Paul Kiernan

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

@Paul: It may be worth asking Mr.Skeffington what he thinks, I know he helps peoplel with position as well as setting up bikes. I would suggest maybe trying some light stretching to help out, is this your first road bike? I remember I couldn't even use the drops on my first road bike but it got better in time.

Mr. Skeffington actually built the bike and he did it properly (with spacer over stem) - I changed it subsequently to get more height:o.

You have a good point about the time factor. I'm only doing long cycles for under a year. My back used to be killing me after 2 or 3 hours but now I can do 5 or 6 without much problem. I'm increasing it all the time so maybe I'll just adapt. I should also make the effort to stretch, especially hamstrings, but I always forget to do it! It would probably make a big difference.

tuffbum

cost 410e very happy with my first road bike

also i love the retro gears

Tackleberry

Paul Kiernan wrote: »

Gap from steerer to top of stem is about 3-4mm. Total height of stem (where steerer goes through it) is about 40mm. Worry, I guess, is that the top bolt of stem is creating pressure very close to top of steerer

That worry is well founded - the advised maximum distance between top cap and stem is 20mm

Paul Kiernan

Tackleberry wrote: »

That worry is well founded - the advised maximum distance between top cap and stem is 20mm

Thanks, Tackleberry, but do you mean minimum? Do you have a reference source of info? Is this specific to carbon steerers?

I am starting to have nightmares of my handlebars snapping off if I hit a bump on a fast descent:eek:.

PS Apologies to the bike pornsters for off-topic posting.

short circuit

Go to the different fork manufacturers website and look for installation instructions. I have seen a max. rating of 4cm and 5cm .... but never below that. And I am sure even that is rated to save their ass ... but I would not be one to test that ... With those, I would probably go to 3cms and feel safe.

Of course, the above was for full carbon forks ... something with an alloy steerer might have different ratings ... I would suspect slightly more than above.

I on the other hand have a steel fork ... ... so I can even put stem risers and feel safe ... :cool:

If you have more than 3cms of spacers, why don't you get a stem with a higher stem angle ... then you can put it further down.

Paul Kiernan wrote: »

Thanks, Tackleberry, but do you mean minimum? Do you have a reference source of info? Is this specific to carbon steerers?

I am starting to have nightmares of my handlebars snapping off if I hit a bump on a fast descent:eek:.

PS Apologies to the bike pornsters for off-topic posting.

short circuit

Not the same bike, but I recently moved to the DT shifters too ... work pretty good and damn easy to setup ... just not comfortable shifting on rough roads .. you have to shift down before any rough section if you think you will need lower gears or higher.

But don't post web pics... post some of your bike

tuffbum wrote: »

cost 410e very happy with my first road bike

also i love the retro gears

crashoveroid

My go faster machine

Some mix of components on this 105 Crank with Dura Ace ring 56/42
Sram force front and rear mech and return to center bar end shifters.
Pro bars and stem and Dura Ace 9spd brakes.[IMG][/img] Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Paul Kiernan

short circuit wrote: »

Go to the different fork manufacturers website and look for installation instructions. I have seen a max. rating of 4cm and 5cm .... but never below that. And I am sure even that is rated to save their ass ... but I would not be one to test that ... With those, I would probably go to 3cms and feel safe.

Had a look at installation instructions for Easton EC90. Specifies 50mm max below stem and one 10mm (no more, no less) spacer above stem. This, of course, is what Mr. Skeffington fitted and what Dirk stated earlier in this thread.

short circuit wrote: »

If you have more than 3cms of spacers, why don't you get a stem with a higher stem angle ... then you can put it further down.

I don't know if I could handle the shame:o. But then again, I already attract disparaging scorn for using flashing lights and wearing visible clothing so I may as well be a total Fred.

Raam

Back the original topic

AstraMonti

Raam wrote: »

Back the original topic

Man.. that's the definition of a beautiful bike.

Lumen

Looks like a Stratos with Lightweights.

Raam

AstraMonti

Lumen wrote: »

Looks like a Stratos with Lightweights.

niceonetom

Without the white backgroud.

I like it. The BB area is absurd.

DirkVoodoo

That's a drop Raam would be proud of. I think it looks sweet, I can't quite put my finger on what it reminds me of.

Dr_Colossus

I think this looks class, really like the colour scheme and the red hoods on the brake levers. I think if I was minted it's something like this I'd go for.

Chips Lovell

reminds me of the De Rosa Idol.

tuffbum

short circuit wrote: »

DT shifters.

But don't post web pics... post some of your bike

i wish i could i dont have a digi camera the pic is the spiting image of it, only difference is i put a drinks bottle on it.
dt shifters, down tube shifters ?? huh! retro gears sounds better lol