What you don't dare do, people - Ti `98 Voodoo Loa

Exquisite curation of pieces! Looking forward to know more about these cantis...

Is it just me or are 90s hybrid (or like you 26" to 700c) conversions becoming a trend?
 
I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted to do with this and I found much of what I wanted pretty quickly.

I had the Colnago fork chosen before I pulled the trigger on the frame and with that I wanted to throw as much Italian/Euro on this as I can with concessions made here and there of course.

FRM kit with the help of @ibbz. Headset came minus bearings direct from FRM but I found some Cane Creek bearings to fit. Hoping that it comes together to work alright. The cranks are super rad I think, supposed to be very stiff and certainly are very light. Integrated BB came with, all in nice shape.

WTB stop from @synlos ( Ti ferrule not pictured ;D )

135mm rear spacing as mentioned which makes the wheelset a bit challenging. There are hundreds of nice enough and cheap enough 100/130 wheelsets to be had but that means running a spacer which I'm not into at all so build a set it is. I'd been eyeing this old set of faded black 100/135mm 32h CK hubs to use on the green Race Lite which already has a wheelset, but I wanted these hubs to match the rest of what is going on. I was going to swap them in but alas I decided to just run the wheelset I have as is. Still wanting an old CK wheelset I was able to pick the hubs up for a very reasonable amount of money, and they even came with a spare nos freehub (not pictured.) Considering a few different hoops to mate them too. Anyone have a strong feeling to go with silver or black for the rims?

View attachment 707052


With the single downtube shifter boss on the left the plan is to run a lever there for the front while these Gevenalle levers with the thumby will manage the rear 11 cogs.

View attachment 707056


the rest of the cockpit is sorted but en route.

I bought a set of really sweet, complete w/ all hardware and hangers, nos CX Spooky cantis for a great price.

View attachment 707055

They're keeping with the Euro (Netherlands) spec and also, if you've noticed, the almost "anywhere there is text it's white" theme.

In all my research about CX bits from the late 90s to early aughts I came across another set of cantis that also fit the bill. Apparently only made from '08-'09. They're lighter with all Ti hardware/bearings/pivots and I think they look amazing. Made by Ciamillo who's better known for his road calipers. I think they're made in the US (anyone know? he's Georgia based from what I gather) but his name sure sounds Italian and the text is white enough! Also in my research I found Ciamillo is an engineer and built some titanium dolphin fin that you wear when diving and he was planning to use it to be the first person to cross the Atlantic using the fin as a human power submarine...or something.

View attachment 707054

Something like ~185g for the set with pads...just need to figure out the right pads, they have they're own pad holders (flipped 90 degrees in the photo here to lay flat.) Check the skimpy hangers with a Ti pinch bolt.

Next up are the pedals. I'm going to try clipless for the first time and while I was looking at nice light pedals

-current gen XTR - pretty light at 314g , white text, not IT/EUR, not cheap at $110.
-Xpedo M-Force pedals which I love the look of and they're damn light at 215g but $285 ! and they're not IT/EUR, and the text....

enter Look S Track - made in 3 variants with the base model coming in at 287g (320g with cleats + hardware) and easily found nos for $50 shipped. Origin - France & text - white!

View attachment 707057

maybe I'll hate clipping and cleats but it's a cheap enough way to find out. I like the look too.


...and the boring bits, the modern drivetrain. Plan is to run the XTR m9000 mech in the rear with a matching m8000 11spd XT cassette. Up front will be an Ultegra 2x mech.

View attachment 707053

Do not get the S Track pedals. They are pants!

If you want to go Look then go for the newer X Track which are available in 4 types. Standard X Track has an aluminium body, the Race version has a composite body, the Carbon a carbon body and top of the tree is the Carbon Ti which has the carbon body and a ti spindle.

The Race version is the best bang for buck as it is alot lighter than the aluminium and only about 10grams heavier than the carbon. The Ti spindles can be bought as an "X Track rebuild kit" which will save about 50grams for 100euros.

I have them and am very happy. Top tip for the X Track is to open them up and stuff the bore and spindle with a good amount of Grease, even from new. You do not need to buy the 3 pronged tool to unscrew the end cap. Just use a straight edge that will engage well with two of the slots. Then a socket to get the body off.

Look make 2 cleats for them(standard and easy release) but Shimano will work, too.
 
Do not get the S Track pedals. They are pants!

If you want to go Look then go for the newer X Track which are available in 4 types. Standard X Track has an aluminium body, the Race version has a composite body, the Carbon a carbon body and top of the tree is the Carbon Ti which has the carbon body and a ti spindle.

The Race version is the best bang for buck as it is alot lighter than the aluminium and only about 10grams heavier than the carbon. The Ti spindles can be bought as an "X Track rebuild kit" which will save about 50grams for 100euros.

I have them and am very happy. Top tip for the X Track is to open them up and stuff the bore and spindle with a good amount of Grease, even from new. You do not need to buy the 3 pronged tool to unscrew the end cap. Just use a straight edge that will engage well with two of the slots. Then a socket to get the body off.

Look make 2 cleats for them(standard and easy release) but Shimano will work, too.
uh oh, they're already in my stash of parts going on there.

What's your qualm with the S track?
 
uh oh, they're already in my stash of parts going on there.

What's your qualm with the S track?

Engagement feels odd and they have a habit of releasing your foot when you don't! The former might just be me but the latter is what they get slated for. I think i am right in saying that Look admitted the flaw, themselves, some years ago.

Edit: starting to think it might have been the Quarz that was the bad one. It is all a bit of a blur and Maybe i had the Easy cleats without realising !
 
Last edited:
Engagement feels odd and they have a habit of releasing your foot when you don't! The former might just be me but the latter is what they get slated for. I think i am right in saying that Look admitted the flaw, themselves, some years ago.

Edit: starting to think it might have been the Quarz that was the bad one. It is all a bit of a blur and Maybe i had the Easy cleats without realising !
I did make the decision to pull the trigger based on a couple of 10 yr old reviews that were mostly positive.

In any case, they are mine now! I guess any subsequent spd's will be an upgrade.
 
Sorry for the photos on this update, it's dark in the basement.

Spooky's look good but the Ciamillo are too cool.

2023-01-27-10-40-34-359.jpg

This being my first drop bar bike, I've really no idea what sort of fit is going to work so it's time to throw some stuff at the wall and see what sticks.

I started hunting stems a while back and came across a sweet old Moots that seemed to fit the bill. 1 1/8" steerer so it would need a shim, but 120mm with some rise sounds about right.

2023-02-15-13-51-05-834.jpg

Searching craigslist in vicinity of where the stuff is made is a worthwhile endeavor. The seatpost popped up not long after the Colorado found stem and so they're mates now.

2023-02-15-19-32-26-366.jpg


I thought there was an ocean of variety in mtb bars, drop bars is an absolute abyss. The stem with a 25.4mm clamp narrows things considerably but I think I'm ok with that, I don't need the 560mm wide bars that seem to be everywhere on modern "gravel" rigs. Nitto/ Rene Herse has a nice looking set that I almost went for until I found these Nitto/Fairweather (Blue Lug Japan) for a fraction of the price of the Rene's. These are shallow in the drops and short in the reach. I figure better to start a little cramped if anything and stretch out the reach in time if I need to.

2023-02-14-17-49-05-161.jpg

2023-02-14-17-55-41-593.jpg

My dreams were crushed though, there is no way a drop bar (at least not the one I have) is getting threaded in there. I tried tire levers, a stack of coins, grease, simple green, grunting... no dice. Turns out this stem with 2 clamp bolts is ~4mm wider than a couple other 25.4mm stems I have around hence my woes.

2023-02-14-18-10-15-455.jpg

I feel awfully committed at this point with the matching post and the cockpit plan, so I'm now looking to swap this stem for a Moots, road version which has scalloped edges and a single bolt though finding on of those seems a stretch so maybe just go for one with a removeable face plate.

If I hate the drops all's not lost.

2023-02-13-16-14-29-763.jpg


While searching for cantis I found some in-line/cross top levers that I thought would be perfect here, especially with the narrower 420mm bars, having brakes on the flats seems prudent. Old Frogglegs.


frogglegs.jpg


2023-02-15-19-34-08-511.jpg
 
Last edited:
Exquisite curation of pieces! Looking forward to know more about these cantis...

Is it just me or are 90s hybrid (or like you 26" to 700c) conversions becoming a trend?
missed that one, sorry and thank you !

Maybe they are becoming a trend? I found my 700c built Bontrager Race that way. The guy that built it was either right on trend or just grabbing stuff in the dark.
 
Back
Top