OK.
So, work took over for a bit and I couldn’t update this. Gotta say, I enjoy stuff like this. Not just because of cycling, but because of the engagement in finding the right balance between cost and performance and between wants and needs. You know, you want something, but in reality you don’t need it. Technically, I do not need this bike. I have another geared bike, flat bar, city type of bike, but I do want to build a proper roadie. If all goes well (pray, cross fingers and touch wood) I will be moving to a semi hilly area in the outskirts of the city. There should be plenty of places to ride for hours around there and I’d love to be able to have a self build to enjoy.
My instinct was to go with the new Rose Xeon build from their site. Get the Red crankset (because of the deal that was happening) and resell the Force crankset that comes with that bike. Also sell my h/bar, post and stems because I would be doubling-up for no reason. Recoup some of that money back. After working out some numbers, the cost of the new Rose bike, with the RR22 (OEM version of the RR21 Dicut but with the 340 hubs instead of the 240, ergo a bit cheaper) Force groupset and the sale of my parts, the expected total cost would have been eur2,045, and I would have ended up with an expected bike weight of 7,080g (Force groupset + red crankset + rr22 wheelset)
New Rose Build: ~eur2,049 = ~7,080g
Then, the other option was to build the second hand Rose frameset I mentioned earlier. A bit more expensive at it’s original price point (eur500) and then Force-it-up, as it were, with the exception of the Red crankset, spring for the Bortola wheelset (because I would always wonder if I didn’t go all in) and I would end up with about eur1,905 and a bike with an expected weight of 6,945g.
Second hand Rose build: ~eur1,905 = ~6,945g
Eur145 difference for roughly 135g.
Well, work happened and I got to sleep on it for a bit. I really had to come to terms on whether I should end up doing it or not. I love cycling, as you all would, so I was about to pull the trigger on the new Rose build because 1) new is always nice, 2) ready to go and 3) warranty. Minor weight difference, but I would be happy with the set up.
Then, a few bits and bobs happened in front of me all of the sudden. Worked some numbers out. Stayed up late. Re-checked those numbers and:
1st: Got the GXP Red 22 crankset in my size for 200GBP. Plus postage, it will end up costing 240eur. NEW.
2nd: Thanks to some sellers, the price of 3 key components came to be very tempting. The second hand Rose frameset came in at eur390 shipped and…wait for it…eTap shifters and RD for eur750, shipped. In case you are not aware, the RD is the main unit and there are a couple of youtube videos suggesting that 1) eTap can be run in a 1x11 set up and 2) eTap RD may run a 32t cog in the back.
So, those 4 bits have brought the bill so far to eur1,380 and the weight up to 2,809g (as per SRAM specs and the confirmed 1700g frameset weight including headset and BB)
OK. The challenge is now to find the other bits. Red brake calipers? Too expensive. We are already running high on the bill. Force callipers? Better, weight seems OK. BOOM, forgot about the two brands I remember researching brake callipers on, some time ago, when building my single speed: TRP and Cane Creek.
TRP 920: 250g (mfg spec) – lighter than Red. Allegedly better than any SRAM brake and on part with Shimano. Eur130.
Cane Creek SL: 260g (mfg spec) – allegedly the same as the TRP, but with some difference that creates that weight difference. Not many reviews on those. Eur99.
Force brake set: eur110, 280g mfg spec weight.
I like the look of the TRPs more than the Cane Creeks. I like the price of the Cane Creeks.
Next: We need a cassette, chain and wheelset:
I came across this UK shop called Cycling Division and they have their own CERO wheelset range. AR24 EVO: 250GBP, 1466g -/+ 1% (their specs) + 110g skewers. AR30, bit more aero, same width, 420GBP, 1430g -/+ 1% (their specs), better hubs, 90g skewers. Let’s go for the 249GBP ones. Postage is 20GBP to where I am: eur312 total on that.
The same shop also offers a 240g chain which, apparently, it’s rather good. 23GBP. Sadly, out of stock. But, now keen to find that chain or similar for that price (roughly 8eur less than SRAM Red/Force or Shimano chains) Have not checked KMC just yet but will soon.
Without the FD, the eTap-mix grouppo weight (with the average weight of a 11-28 cassette at 250g) comes in at: 1849g (609 CR +260 Sh + 240 RD + 250 Cas + 250 Br + 240 Ch) with that new chain I found AND the TRP brakes.
Groupset of Victory: eur1,240 = 1849g
Wheelset: eur312 = 1566g
Frameset: eur390 = 1700g
So far: eur1942
Only element missing now is tyres (Schwalbe Pro One TL), saddle and pedals. Got an estimate for those to come in at eur165.
Projected total: eur2107
Having the same calculations I did before for the weights, we end up with a complete bike at:
6,830g + whatever the weight of the brake cables will come in at.
Saddle: Pro Falcon = 205g (mfg spec)
Post: Deda Superzero = 210g (mfg spec)
Stem: Deda Zero 100 80mm or S-works SL 100mm = ~100g on either, expected, I need to weight them
H/bar: Deda Zero 100 compact = 255g (mfg spec)
Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One 25c = 255g (mfg spec) + 30mm of sealant: ~300g per tyre expected (600g total)
I can play around with the last bit of components, I guess. Any ideas on good value saddles or other to save weight? I had one of these carbon only saddles that come from China. Super light (mine came in at 100g spot on) but needs a bit of padding. I like Arione VS (I have two) but I would like the Pro Falcon saddle weight and price better. On tubeless tyres, I can’t find the same balance of weight, rolling resistance and puncture resistance in any other tyre. A current combo I run now is Michelin Pro4 Endurance with Latex (~310g per tyre, mfg spec)
I think that eur2107 for Etap and a potentially sub 7kg complete is not going too shabby. My thought as well is that if I wanted, later on, to shed some weight and I had some cash to spare, all I have to do is to look for a CF or other lighter frameset (say, the CR1 I had looked at earlier) and transport all the components to that bike because, really, a 1850g groupset and a 1576g wheelset are not too shabby of a combo.
An RT-90 build would shave 250g or so with the same parts….or would it? I recently found this auction and I thought it was a bit…discouraging on the RT-90 possible weight:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Planet-X-RT90 ... 7675.l2557Red 10spd all. Lot’s of carbon, including the wheels and a lightweight (I think so, anyway) saddle of 190g and the frame still comes up to between 9,980-7.050? I mean, if I end up with a 7kg bike with aluminium…something has not gone right for him or those wheels and tyres are heavy.
Happy to hear suggestions for saddles and tyres.
Also, very grateful for all of your inputs. Thanks a lot.