Kestrel CSX build

[Elfman]

OK, time for an update! I think where I last left off was, I was having difficulty with the 2k Spray Max clear coat. Color and decals were perfect, but the clear coat was not coming out smooth as glass like I thought it would. Kept getting orange peel texture, no matter how many different techniques I tried. So I threw my hands up and headed over to a local carbon fiber bike repair and painting shop (Sypder Composites in Scotts Valley, California) and spoke to the owner, who told me he could give me a professional clear coat for relatively cheap ($100). Given my level of exasperation at this point, I of course agreed! But just like most of these small shops with real artists at the helm, scheduling and getting clear answers on when it would be finished was...well...a bit tricky. Took about 2.5 months. I don't have pictures of the results, but the frame wasn't as glassy as I thought it would be from a pro job, but I think it was a combination of oils from my handling of the frame and dust and residue from hanging in his rafters the whole time prior to clear coat (I'm not totally sure he dusted off and cleaned my frame before applying clear coat). The result, he told me, which was typical for his process, would require sanding and buffing and eventually applying a final treatment of rubbing compound. Even with that, he said, there were imperfections in my rattle can paint job that meant a showroom quality glassy luster wouldn't be universally possible everywhere on the frame. He gave me sanding pads and I went and sourced rubbing compound from the local hardware store and I went to work. All wet and dry, starting with 1500 grit, then up to 2000, then 3000, 4000, and finally 5000. Followed by the rubbing compound. I gave a final wax with car polish to get as much shine as I could. Here are the final results, which I think is a pretty damn good job. The rubbing compound was magical, taking a very smooth but hazy surface (from the 5000 grit) to almost glassy. The wax took it the rest of the way.

 

[Elfman]

More pics...

 

[Elfman]

And a few more pics...

 

[Elfman]

Now, like I said in the beginning of this sojourn, this will be a mostly period correct carbon build. So first step (which allowed for the mounting of the frame from the stand) was to install the seatpost. NOS carbon fiber RaceFace Next seatpost with gold ano titanium seat binder bolt.

 

[Elfman]

I have choices on a few things, though. I say mostly period correct....because I can either use a period U.S.E. carbon water bottle cage (thank you @Magpiegifts !) or a new Wiel carbon cage (I'm sure from China, but cheap, light, and matches the color scheme). Thoughts? More gold ano Ti bolts will be used to affix to frame, but need to source those.

 

[Elfman]

I also have choices on the saddle. Spyder Composites restored a damaged Selle Italia Flite Evolution for me that I snagged off of fleabay for very cheap, as it did not have the rails and the carbon was damaged in two places. Here's the saddle as I received it:

 

[Elfman]

The Flite Evolution had two small tears in the fiber, and no rails. So for $100, Spyder Composites fixed the carbon, applied new decals (thanks Velocals!) and clear coated. I harvested Ti rails from another totally trashed ti Flite saddle (ebay for $20) and we inserted into the Evolution (this was hard!!) and applied special glue that won't squeak and creak. Here's the harvested rails:

 

[Elfman]

And here are my three saddle choices:
1. Fully restored Selle Italia Flite Evolution Ti/Carbon
2. Selle Italia Flite Carbonio in VGC (looks like it was ridden very little)
3. Carbon Engineering full carbon saddle (Chinese made, brand new)

Thoughts? I think I may use the Carbonio for display and the Carbon Engineering for riding, and save the Flite Evolution for another Klein build that is forthcoming. The Carbon Engineering has the nice matching color highlights, is super light, and has the family jewels saver which will be nicer for riding. But it is, of course, not period correct. All of them are light, and all of them would look sharp.

 

[Elfman]

While you all help me decide on saddle and bottle cage, I'm moving forward with the build. Next is something I didn't know existed until in appeared on ebay, for a relatively decent price given its rarity. A carbon SRP Integrex crankset with integrated bottom bracket. I was thinking there's no way I would be able to find a carbon crankset (that I could afford) for this build, but it also came with lightly used Race Face chainrings, so the whole package was too enticing to pass up. And I could continue my carbon fetish on this build. Here's the pieces:

 

[Elfman]

I'll source some red ano chainring bolts to tie together colors on the build. While I wait for those to arrive, I installed the bottom bracket. Interesting unit, kinda like a Tioga Revolver or Bullseye: hollow spindle with outboard bearings/cups and a splined end that seats the crank arms. While this unit isn't NOS, it is pretty close. Bearings are nice and buttery. Bottom bracket installed, below. We'll see how this does with chainline later.