Ugly bike begs for ugly wheels.
I’m really enjoying the process of looking for the ugliest parts for this ugly frame (I joke as the only reason I own it is because it’s grown on me over time). I’m also really looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about how amazingly Dura-Ace shifts as I have SRAM Red on everything else I own. I’ll also have to get a Direct Mount Derailleur Hanger! Always felt like I was missing out on that with SRAM.
I can’t bring myself to spend $7K AUD on a set of the new Princeton Evolution wheels (can’t help but feel that for that price I’d rather order them in bronze to put on my SL8), but I am in talks with a guy who has a set of the previous model for sale and we’re close to closing the deal.
I did some more measurements last night after setting up my saddle height. The seller let me choose from 3 different saddles. A beaten up Selle Italia SLR (a saddle I’ve always wanted to try), a heavy and plain looking Fizik, and a Repente Aleena which I’ve never heard of before. It had an Italian flag motif on it and felt pretty light so I took it home.
Turns out it’s a 150g MTB saddle. The rails do let me push the saddle a lot more forward than other saddles I own though, so with the measuring tape out the saddle to bars with this saddle pushed forward is only 1cm more than my SL8 setup. With the Hylix 0 offset seatpost I’ll easily be able to get in the right window.
The shorter 90 Roval Rapide cockpit which replaced my 115 made such a huge difference to my SL8 though. I’ve got my fit so dialled in so I know that pushing the saddle forwards isn’t as good as getting a shorter stem. I can’t find any local stock of the Most Talon Ultra cockpits with a shorter stem (shame as there are a few in stock in wider/longer options all on sale). There’s a 90 stem cockpit on eBay for $1400 AUD (and I thought paying $850 AUD for a Roval Rapide cockpit was bonkers!), and I can get the new 2025 cockpit in any size for, get this, $2K AUD. Another option is to get an AliExpress replica for $138 AUD.
I still think the move is to at least get the bike together and ride it (I’m itchin’). Hopefully the Princeston wavy wheels will be mine today. Off to the LBS later today to get this crankset off and look into a a 165 replacement (they have a 165 Dura-Ace non-power meter in stock with 50T chainring and they have a 162.5 Cybrei too I think. Leaning towards the Dura-Ace though as I have no intentions of going too weight weenie on this build and I’ve not owned the new Dura-Ace (I also think the plain black Dura-Ace crankset suits the overall look).
Speaking of looks. I’m not sure I can look past the ugly SMP eagle beak saddle as the perfect saddle choice for this build! The 3D printed version is $1K AUD (crazy). Might happily settle for the all black EVO model with steel rails for half the price (still crazy).