Trying to thin the frameset herd a bit, since we don’t have a garage for guest bikes I’d planned to keep around. This is a 58cm early-90s Specialized Allez frameset, OS tubing with lovely DiNucci lugs, and aluminum fork blades (!) bonded to a steel steerer tube. The fork actually has a great durability record, though it’s probably a straight trade-off of ride quality for lower weight,
I offered to build it up for a mid-20s guy I know who’s an accomplished endurance athlete (goes for long backpacking FKTs) and also mostly used parts that I wouldn’t expect to have much use for myself but are well-suited for him.
- long-and-low quill stem, and 90s ergonomic-drop bar fit him well on the bike
- 130mm BCD 53/39 chainrings with 12-32 cassette gives low enough climbing gear for his strength and where he lives
- pre-SLR Shimano 600 single-pivot brakes have a stiff return spring compared to late-80s-and-since rim brakes, but he’s got big hands like me (less sensitive to not-having-enough-braking-power, and the spring strength) AND these brakes have the best tire clearance of any non-flimsy rim brake I’ve ever measured, allowing the frame to fit a 28mm rear tire (the front has plenty of clearance)
- I find paired-spoke wheels kinda ugly, but the wheels should serve him well and durably, and while I dislike garish rim graphics, the red on the rear wheel pairs nicely with the Shesh lettering on the frame, as do the red-and-yellow graphics on the tire
- Funnily enough, the 8-speed downtube shifters are the thing I’d have been most likely to use myself, but they were well-suited to his use (no racing, less-frequent shifting with the jumps across a 12-32 cassette, but also easy to reach given his aero posture)
- I hadn’t quite finished the build when he came by to pick up the bike. In retrospect I should have just wrapped the bars since I’d do a better (and much quicker) job. But I just gave him the red bar tape. Maybe he’s put it on by now.
It’s fun when a project comes together meeting multiple criteria across the board. I’m curious to hear similar build experiences from others.
