Kestrel CSX build

[Elfman]

Had the wheels built by a local shop, using a NOS Shocktech carbon fiber front hub, NOS Paioli HPS carbon rear hub, the latter of which I installed a new titanium axle and had to purchase and install a new freewheel body (the hub didn't come with it, even though NOS). NOS 32h Bontrager ASYM Mustang Ceramic rim up front, NOS 32h Matrix Swami RDR Asym Ceramic rim in the back, new red ano nipples, and NOS U.S.E. Spin Stix (black ano) for skewers. And the rubber is a very rare and good condition set of Ritchey Z-Max WCS red low durometer tires! VGC Shimano 11-28 CS-M735 slapped on the freewheel body with NOS red anodized Ultimate Machine lock ring. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to present, in its native habitat next to a redwood tree:




Full build spec:

Frame: 1991 Kestrel CSX, custom decals, gold Ti bottle boss bolts
Fork: Specialized FSX with Ultimate Machine Crown
Headset: Chris King NoThreadset, black
Bottom Bracket: (NOS) SRP Integrex
Crankset: (NOS) SRP Integrex carbon
Stem: Toseek SC50 gloss carbon
Stem cap: Control Tech carbon
Handlebar: Race Face Next 3k gloss carbon
Bar ends: Onza carbon
Grips: Oury Lock-On (black)
Seatpost: (NOS) Race Face Next SL gloss carbon
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Carbonio
Seatpost collar/bolt: Ti (gold ano)
Pedals: Look X-Track Carbon/Ti
Front Hub: (NOS) Shocktech carbon
Rear Hub: (NOS) Paioli carbon
Front Rim: (NOS) Bontrager Asym Mustang Ceramic
Rear Rim: (NOS) Matrix Swami RDR Ceramic
Spokes/nipples: 14g, red ano nipples
Tires: Ritchey WCS Megabite Z-Max 2.1 soft condition red, amber wall
Wheel QRs: (NOS) U.S.E. Ti Spin Stix (black)
Brakes/levers: KCNC VB-1 Ti v-brakes (black)
Rear brake booster: (NOS) Nashbar carbon
Shifters: (NOS) Shimano SL-MT62 thumbies
F. Derailleur: (NOS) Shimano FD-M735
R. Derailleur: (NOS) Shimano RD-M735 w/NOS Carmichael red ano pulleys
Chain: (NOS) Shimano CN-HG91
Cassette: Shimano CS-M735 11-28t with NOS Ultimate Machine red ano lock ring
Chainrings: Race Face 44-32-22 black w/red ano chainring bolts
Bottle cage: Wiel carbon gloss

 

[Elfman]

More pics:

 

[Elfman]

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Dear Lord... That is something. I mean, practically brand new by any metric. Have you ridden yet!?

What is the final weight?

 

[Elfman]

Only one test drive around the neighborhood to make sure all the shifting and brakes are in check. My rush to the finish line was partly because I will be taking it up to Oregon with me next week to go on a ride with an old friend. So a maiden voyage will be completed soon!

I didn't weigh it yet, but will try that soon. I'm guessing 24 pounds. It doesn't "feel" quite as light as I expected it would be, but also wasn't necessarily trying for the weight weenie approach.

 

[Elfman]

Ride Report! Took the Kestrel on a maiden voyage a few weeks back in Oregon. The pilot was clearly less capable than the bike....I'm really outta shape! The brake cables stretched out pretty badly as expected with a first ride and new cables, so a decent amount of fiddling during and post ride was necessary. My muscles aren't fully in tune yet to make an accurate assessment on its handling on single track, but it has been a relative pleasure to ride. Relatively absorbent of bumps, as carbon should be. I've been back in the saddle on this every weekend since, with some daily hill climbing rides thrown in. Quite pleased with the setup, although I put some "less vulnerable" tires on for my daily morning training rides on the pavement (don't want to prematurely grind those soft Ritcheys up yet!). Also swapped the saddle with a chinese carbon cutout saddle, again to preserve the Selle a little bit more.

Here's a pick from one of the local weekend rides at the coast in Santa Cruz (Wilder Ranch):

 

[br0qn]

you finished it, hell ya!

looks great (especially with the Ritchey's but I wouldn't be shredding those up either) and nice to hear a ride report. must be endless amount of riding to do through the Santa Cruz mountains.

will be interested in hearing how it fares compared to the Bontrager. cool you've got both bikes born right there in your backyard

 

[Elfman]

you finished it, hell ya!

looks great (especially with the Ritchey's but I wouldn't be shredding those up either) and nice to hear a ride report. must be endless amount of riding to do through the Santa Cruz mountains.

will be interested in hearing how it fares compared to the Bontrager. cool you've got both bikes born right there in your backyard

Thanks, Ryne. I agree it is pretty cool to be working on both these bikes that were born here in Santa Cruz. Kind of a full circle approach! Bontrager is still a ways off as I'm still fiddling with the Mag 21SL.

 

[Elfman]

Well, for the sake of BOTM, here's the final build spec on the CSX:

Frame: 1991 Kestrel CSX, 16" C-C, 17.5" C-T, resprayed Kent Blood Red
(with full original documentation and extra decals)

Fork: Specialized FSX Ti/Carbon
Fork Crown: Ultimate Machine black ano

Headset: Chris King NoThreadset, black
Bottom Bracket: SRP Integrex
Stem: ToSeek SC50 gloss carbon, 6deg rise 110mm
Stem Cap: Control Tech carbon
Handlebar: Race Face Next 3k gloss carbon, 31.8mmx580mm
Bar Ends: Onza carbon
Grips: Oury lock-on, black

Brakes: KCNC V1 VB1 7075/Ti, black ano
Brake Pads: KCNC V1
Brake Cables: Gore Ride-On Low Friction ROSSBEA
Brake Levers: KCNC V1 VB1 7075

Shifters: Deore SL-MT62
Front Derailleur: Deore XT FD-M735 bottom pull 34.9
Rear Derailleur: Deore XT RD-M735 short cage w/Carmichael red ano pulley wheels
Derailleur Cables: Gore Ride-On Low Friction ROPRSEA-B
Cassette: Deore XT CS-M737 11-28t 8-spd
Cassette Lock Ring: Ultimate Machine 11t, black ano
Chain: Shimano CN-IG90
Cranks: SRP Integrex Carbon
Crank Bolts: SRP Intergrex
Chainrings: Race Face 94bcd 44-32-22t, black
Chainring bolts: AL 7075-T6 8.5mm red ano
Pedals: Look X-Track Race Carbon

Hub Skewers: USE Spin Stix Ti, black ano
Rims: Bontrager Maverick Asym ceramic front/Matrix Swami ceramic rear, both 32h
Hubs: ShockTech Carbon (front)/Paioli Carbon (rear)
Spokes: DT 14gage with Wheelsmith 2.0 14g red ano nipples
Tires: Ritchey WCS Z-Max Megabite soft condition red (skinwall), 2.1

Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Carbonio
Seatpost: Race Face Next SL 3k gloss carbon, 27.2x300mm
Seatpost Binder: M6x20mm Ti bolt (gold ano)
Water bottle cage: Wiel gloss carbon with gold ano Ti bolts
Brake Booster: Nashbar carbon

 

[Sartodt]

This is just stunning!