Specialised Globe Vienna 4 bling bling

[hcjg1]

(08-08-2014, 02:06 PM)painkiller Wrote:  looks killer for sure, that is one straight crank arm and some tight tolerance to the chainstay. what kind of headset are you using on it?

Hi PK
thanks for the comments. The bike is a real killer and most of my bikes are for sale but this one I dont feel I could sell because I bought it new and I feel we've been journeying together like best pals. The cranks are close but doesnt touch the chainstay. The BB is 110 so I can always go up to 113.. The headset is the original fully integrated one that came on the bike. I have never had any problems with it but they are notorious for problems on the Specialized, as some of my friends have experienced. Imagine spending £1500 on a bike and you get a headset with loose ball bearings. I am running a Continental Grand Prix 4000s 700x23con the front and a Maxxis Detonator 700x28c on the rear so the only other change to make is to get another Grand Prix for the rear. My friend has a pair on his bike and its a very fast tyre so with one on the back I am sure I can increase my speed. I'm gonna post a pic of the computer showing the top speed next week. This bike has turned me into some sort of speed freak and has greatly improved my ride performance.

[hcjg1]

Now everyone wants in on the SS act. Just finished this one for the latest SS convert from Road bike.

[Painkiller]

Nice, one of these days I will make me a Fixie, I notice on your bikes you like to right hand brake on the front. Where I am from, we have to set the bike up for the left hand front unless specified by the buyer to do so.

[hcjg1]

(08-24-2014, 10:51 AM)painkiller Wrote:  Nice, one of these days I will make me a Fixie, I notice on your bikes you like to right hand brake on the front. Where I am from, we have to set the bike up for the left hand front unless specified by the buyer to do so.

Thanks mate. I am terrified of fixed wheel but lots of my work colleagues ride them but mostly short journeys. I tried one about 30 years ago when I lived in Brooklyn and almost got killed trying to stop the thing. The guys I used to hang out with used to weld the freewheel cog solid to stop it from freewheeling because we didnt know about the flip-flop hubs. The other reason why a fixie is out for me is because of my daily commute which is a 30 mile roundtrip and on a fixie I wont be able to rest.
In the UK the front brake is on the right hand. I think if I were to ride a bike with the front brake on the right hand side I'd end up over the h/b.

[jeracravo]

I don't like the idea of fixies and I'm not a big fan of SS... but I like the look when we don't have the rear derailleur hanging in the back of the bike

[hcjg1]

(08-24-2014, 04:18 PM)jeracravo Wrote:  I don't like the idea of fixies and I'm not a big fan of SS... but I like the look when we don't have the rear derailleur hanging in the back of the bike

I used to believe I couldnt do my commute on the SS because I have 2 hills but I wont go back to gears now as the SS is just perfect for commuting on (at least for my journey). I have been doing the same journey on a lot of different MTB's and RB but now I have to say the SS definitely comes out on top in all areas and I feel guilty when I think of the advantages over my geared bikes. It took me a long time to get the gear ratio that suits me (48x16) so I think once you get that right, its just awesome. My average speed is up but max speed is slower than the gearie but getting closer all the time. I have lost more weight in a matter of months than I have lost in years on the gearie. My door to door time is down. I havent been dropped yet by the London Red bus. I havent had to make any adjustments. The rear wheel has stayed perfectly straight unlike the my geared bikes. My stamina, leg strength and pedal speed has improved. I am climbing the hills faster and still have a lot of energy to accelerate on the flat. Best of all I havent lost a street race yet and I feel kind of guilty and pity sometimes when I effortlessly blow riders away.
I've got mates and work colleagues now queuing up for SS.

[hcjg1]

32.6 mph on a flat road on my single speed.

[Painkiller]

nice!

[hcjg1]

Another Specialized Globe with internal hub gear on its way to becoming a single speed. This one belonged to a mate who recently got bitten by the single speed bug.

[Painkiller]

Let the magic begin!

[hcjg1]

(10-26-2014, 05:21 PM)painkiller Wrote:  Let the magic begin!

Hi PK lets wait and see. This one is for my mate who is making his conversion from a Scott Scale 35 to SS. I've advised him to ride it through the winter and next Summer we could give it some bling.

[hcjg1]

Finished the Specialized Globe today and off it went. Starting another project tomorrow for another mate to convert hus Specialized Langster to flatbar.

[JanJ]

Question.... I've polished aluminum engine cases until they shine, but unless I put a protective spray coating on them, they eventually oxidize.. Do you encounter that, too? (Was mine engine heat related?)
And if so, what product do you use to prevent it?
Love that brushed metal look!!!

[Painkiller]

(11-29-2014, 05:45 PM)hcjg1 Wrote:  Finished the Specialized Globe today and off it went. Starting another project tomorrow for another mate to convert hus Specialized Langster to flatbar.

He should have some fun with that, light, tight, and right! did you give him the 48t and 16t combo? I do not think I can ever get over the the right hand front brake thang. Ha!

[hcjg1]

(11-30-2014, 10:33 AM)painkiller Wrote:  

(11-29-2014, 05:45 PM)hcjg1 Wrote:  Finished the Specialized Globe today and off it went. Starting another project tomorrow for another mate to convert hus Specialized Langster to flatbar.

He should have some fun with that, light, tight, and right! did you give him the 48t and 16t combo? I do not think I can ever get over the the right hand front brake thang. Ha!

I dont know who came up with that right hand front brake or vice versa but you'd think that this might be standard. I think car pedals are standardised / in the same position worldwide (acc on the right, brake in the middle, clutch on the left). I see a lot of tourist cycling round London on the 'Boris Bike, also called Barclays Hire Bike and I'm sure a lot of them are from the US. I wonder hos they cope but then again I dont think they travel very fast for it to become a problem.
Yes this one got the 48x16 gearing. That set-up is very fast and efficient all-round.

[hcjg1]

Finished the Langster today - I replaced the drop bar with an integrated carbon stem / handlebar. Running the usual 48x16 combo. I am in love with this bike. It had a unique feel to the way it rides and I really struggled to hand it over to the guy when he came to collect it. Its a 2014 with the flat sloping top tube. I'm due to build up an older 2008 model Langster soon and I could see the shape and the feel of the ally is different so I am eager to compare the 2 but I doubt it would feel like the 2014. If you get hold of one of these grab it today.

[Painkiller]

(11-30-2014, 03:51 PM)hcjg1 Wrote:  Finished the Langster today - I replaced the drop bar with an integrated carbon stem / handlebar. Running the usual 48x16 combo. I am in love with this bike. It had a unique feel to the way it rides and I really struggled to hand it over to the guy when he came to collect it. Its a 2014 with the flat sloping top tube. I'm due to build up an older 2008 model Langster soon and I could see the shape and the feel of the ally is different so I am eager to compare the 2 but I doubt it would feel like the 2014. If you get hold of one of these grab it today.

Nice, I bet it makes for a light SS. one thing I notice about those frame's are tight tire clearance on the stays that limit choices. I just did Felt and it was way to tight in the rear and the fork for anything larger than a 25 tire. real bad for pad clearance to even remove the wheel. Pro's and con's to anything though

[hcjg1]

(11-30-2014, 04:09 PM)painkiller Wrote:  

(11-30-2014, 03:51 PM)hcjg1 Wrote:  Finished the Langster today - I replaced the drop bar with an integrated carbon stem / handlebar. Running the usual 48x16 combo. I am in love with this bike. It had a unique feel to the way it rides and I really struggled to hand it over to the guy when he came to collect it. Its a 2014 with the flat sloping top tube. I'm due to build up an older 2008 model Langster soon and I could see the shape and the feel of the ally is different so I am eager to compare the 2 but I doubt it would feel like the 2014. If you get hold of one of these grab it today.

Nice, I bet it makes for a light SS. one thing I notice about those frame's are tight tire clearance on the stays that limit choices. I just did Felt and it was way to tight in the rear and the fork for anything larger than a 25 tire. real bad for pad clearance to even remove the wheel. Pro's and con's to anything though

you're right about the limited tyre size. You also cant get a wider rim (hybrid style) between there. Bad news if you keep bending lightweight flimsy road racing rims and need something heavier and stronger as you're either stuck with the bike, ride more gingerly and avoid every pothole or get frustrated and sell the bike cheaply (lesson recently learnt by one of my mates with his full race Merida) but fortunately now much happier on a hybrid due to the option.

[hcjg1]

Raleigh Activator single speed conversion. The forks are completely seized but the rigid is sweet. Its running on a 44x15 gearing (not the usual) but it feels very good. The story with this bike is that I found it dumped under a bridge and it was in a very bad state with every part either siezed, rusted bent, broken and covered in grime. I knew it couldnt be restored to original spec.The frame was in good condition and with the horizontal drop outs I knew it would make a nice s/s conversion. I am replacing the black seatpost, quill stem and handlebar with alloy silver ones. Just goes to show that there are times when less is more.

[hcjg1]

My Winter commuter. Careers Subway Zero. Freewheel sprocket : Halo Clickster 16T with super quick pickup and Hope-like ratchet noise. Specialozed single speed wheels with Globe hubs. Tektro b-levers with Avid calipers. Rear tyre - Maxxis Detonator 700x28. Front tyre - Continental Grand Prix 4000S. Generic alloy cranks with 48T chainring. Mudguards enxtenders courtesy of Tango.