Final design for the English. Should weigh around 13.5 lbs with pedals and saddle.
The head tube is long and there isn't much drop. Not much choice, as I can only handle a limited amount of drop due to a crushed disc in my neck that occurred a few years ago from hitting a pothole at 30 mph. One 10-mm spacer under the stem so I can lower my position if I regain more range of motion.
I don't have the exact tubing specs, but it's mostly 0.7-0.4-0.7 with an aero 0.6-0.3-0.6 downtube, which should be functionally equivalent in terms of stiffness and strength to standard round 0.7-0.4-0.7.
The trail is higher and the wheelbase longer than normal for one of Rob English's race bikes; I requested that he make the bike relatively stable--the majority of my miles and time on bikes are on rides 50-200+ miles in length, and I'm not going to be racing, so I want a bike that isn't going to be dangerous when I'm tired or doing a long ride in the cold. For example, a few weeks ago I took out the current "race" bike on an 80-mile ride in the cold and rain and almost shook myself off the road and over a cliff during a descent.
The bike will be fitted with 26 to 30 mm tires, and an array of ultralight components. I didn't go as light as possible with all the components, as some of our rides can be a little rough on equipment because we hit a lot of gravel and poorly maintained roads. I'm using a Clavicula compact M3 crank; Super Record derailleurs and shifters, eeBrakes; Alchemy hubs with Stan's rims, Dash saddle, Enve compact bar and stem "barstemmed" by Calfee. Scaupla matte fork (miraculously found a new one for cheap on E-Bay). Seatpost will have an internal expander. Also have a tubular wheelset for some 27 mm FMBs or Dugasts. The seat tube will have an integrated tail light since I ride in the dark a lot (there is a picture elsewhere in this set). Tires up to 32 mm fit under the Clavicula/eeBrake combination.
It will be black-on-black, and the only bit of vanity is a carbon fiber headtube insert. (see the English Cycles website for an example). Rob tells me that the CF insert will add stiffness to my overly long head tube, but I'm not sure the effect will be detectable.
Overall, it's not a randonneur and not a race bike, and it is not a good representative of Rob's usual designs. It's more of a dirt-road steep-climb long-ride bike.
Coming in March!
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