Brian Rourke 853 (The Red One)

[ultrazenith]

Re: Rourke 853 build

Yesterday I decided to take the morning off work, and rode 20 km up the Douro river into the interior of Northern Portugal, until I found some open country with higher hills. The Rourke performed excellently, but I am finding the front end slightly high on the steepest climbs, and the forks are too soft for someone of my weight.

 

[The History Man]

Re: Rourke 853 build

Still got the rigid chrome ones?

 

[ultrazenith]

Re: Rourke 853 build

Still got the rigid chrome ones?

Yes, still got the chrome rigids stashed away out of sight, just in case the pace forks need to come off.

 

[ultrazenith]

Re: Rourke 853 build

Spring is here...

I've added a Nitto Bullmoose bar/stem combo to the Rouke, along with a set of Ergon grips and bar ends. I really like the look of the stem, and almost as importantly, the set up is a lot more comfortable on long rides. After two years of niggling dislike of the bar and stem I had been using, finally I'm happy with that part of the bike.

I've switched from a 1.9 to 2.0 Maxxis Larsen TT on the rear, which just clears the chain stays as long as the rear wheel is kept nice and true. Also recently added is a Maxxis Ignitor 2.1 tyre on the front wheel, which seems to be a pretty good all rounder in the area I ride. I did toy with the idea of fitting a 2.35 Maxxis Larsen TT, but I wasn't convinced the tyre would have enough clearance under the fork brace.

Overall still very happy with this frame ... eternally grateful to THM for sending it my way.

 

[The History Man]

Re:

Has it really been that long?

My pleasure. Glad to see it out there.

 

[ultrazenith]

Re: Rourke 853 build

The Rourke's still going strong as my main rider.

I've been pondering whether to have a rigid fork made for the Rourke, with clearance for a 26x3.0 tyre. Anyway, I was just browsing the rourke.biz site and found this 90s beauty (not mine obviously), which Rourke Cycles recently renovated:

 

[ultrazenith]

Re: Rourke 853 build

Out for a ride with my daughter recently: