531 'thing' - 15/10/10 update

[legrandefromage]

So, here we are...


Again.


Anyway, I love it!

Nitto stem arrived and required 22.2mm bars to fit - no problem, some budget super wide Moto bars later, an angle grinder and no loss of limb/ blood and a couple of tweeks, we have lift off.

The ride is stable, thats the best way to describe it, it may weigh a ton but it feels a lot lighter than it should. Those wide bars inspire confidence that shouldnt really be there or have I been missing something all these years with super low flat riding postion? I feel I could ride this for absolutely miles...

My favourite part is the DX chainset, it came out lovely. I also like the blue cabling picking up the blue logo of the biopace and the tiogas. That stem is a beast.

It is a cocktail of over engineered parts, long wheelbase and wide bars, something I started out on some 24 years ago.

Jobs to finish - First Flight Panaracer Timbuk Two tires, gold lug lining and decals.

Mudguards are a bit flappy though and will be coming off for the summer - and I think I'll lose that brace too.

 

[Easy_Rider]

Coolio

Not sure about the brace on the bars though :?

 

[GrahamNR17]

It looks awesome :shock:

I'm very upset about the asymmetrical way you've left the front mudguard clamps, please re-adjust them so they're perfectly positioned and symmetrical :roll:

Agree about the brace on the bars, lose it soon

All in all, a really fine job, really happy you got the bike and done all that rather than me turning it into the local hack I was planning

 

[dendy]

Cool and the gang

 

[raymondluxuryyacht]

Nice

That frame and fork (especially) really reminds me of the late 80s Dawes Wildcat. I remember seeing one in (pains me to say) Halfords. But it was very nice for the time. Was bright yellow with some small red decals on it. Can't remember the kit that was on it, but think it was mid/low end Shimano, possibly early exage or something. Do remember the huge black four finger brake levers with rubber boots.

 

[legrandefromage]

Nice

That frame and fork (especially) really reminds me of the late 80s Dawes Wildcat. I remember seeing one in (pains me to say) Halfords. But it was very nice for the time. Was bright yellow with some small red decals on it. Can't remember the kit that was on it, but think it was mid/low end Shimano, possibly early exage or something. Do remember the huge black four finger brake levers with rubber boots.

you sayin' my bikes shit?

I actually copied it from the Dawes Ranger, a uniquely UK take on the mid '80's burgeoning MTB scene.

heres what the majority think it is (myself being that majority):

and heres what I wanted to achieve:

I think I hit the nail on the head...

 

[Sithlord]

I think that is really nice, and you have done a superb job fella.. , looks very comfy and I could see you could do some serious mileage

Top marks fella..

That frame and fork (especially) really reminds me of the late 80s Dawes Wildcat. I remember seeing one in (pains me to say) Halfords. But it was very nice for the time. Was bright yellow with some small red decals on it. Can't remember the kit that was on it, but think it was mid/low end Shimano, possibly early exage or something. Do remember the huge black four finger brake levers with rubber boots.

I had one of those Dawes 531tubed wildcats bitd , and it was a ace bike,, iirc it came with exage stuff

Not seen one for years.. :shock:

 

[raymondluxuryyacht]

Cool. The frames of the Dawes and the Saracen do look very similar...perhaps put together by the same folks.

 

[fingers]

I really like that...

 

[legrandefromage]

thats pretty much it except for decals - just got make the mudguards a bit more stable....