New to Curly Hetchins

[Chdot]

Getting there

I’ve built the back wheel to match the front - round hole Normandy hubs, 32 & 40 with Conloy rims and 15G spokes.

Replaced TA 44 with a 34. The DNP 8 speed 11-32T freewheel means I can get up most things and do about 20mph on the flat - don’t pedal downhill much these days!

Gears shift immaculately with Campag friction barend lever.

Still a few tweaks to do, but it’s NICE.

 

[Chdot]

Must change ferrule on rear cable!

 

[bikeworkshop]

Must change ferrule on rear cable!

And fit toeclips!
And perhaps fit a plastic flower into the vestigial rear cable hanger

 

[Chdot]

And fit toeclips!
And perhaps fit a plastic flower into the vestigial rear cable hanger

Yeah, can’t decide on toe clips.

Have several pairs and red straps. Haven’t used for years. Will try them.

Ah the hanger.

I put it there because I have a pair of GB centre-pulls that I thought might work better than the GB side-pulls (original). But they are fine (with Shimano levers).

Still trying different blocks.

So might remove hanger when I raise saddle fractionally. (Just added Reynolds round-topped seatpost.)

 

[dirttorpedo]

The handlebar orientation is hurting my brain. Otherwise the bike has cleaned up nicely.

 

[Chdot]

The handlebar orientation is hurting my brain. Otherwise the bike has cleaned up nicely.

Yeah know what you mean.

They are an odd shape (compared with what I am used to)

Want to keep (they are original), but not entirely compatible with my riding style and bar end shifter.

 

[dirttorpedo]

Yeah know what you mean.

They are an odd shape (compared with what I am used to)

Want to keep (they are original), but not entirely compatible with my riding style and bar end shifter.

I get that, but I hate that bar profile I replaced all of mine with Nitto Noodles. I think Maes produced bars BITD with the nice round bend of a Nitto Noodle, but they are hard to source. Rene Herse sells a nice modern Maes style bar as well - probably just another Nitto product.

 

[Jonny69]

Don’t take these comments the wrong way, it’s not my intention.

The angle you’ve got your Brooks is going to make you keep sliding to the front and you’re going to be constantly pushing yourself back up. It’s not comfortable riding like that. You should level it out or, if it’s gone a bit more hammock-like, slightly nose up. You’ll then be able to lower the seatpost a little.

That’s one reason you need your bars at that angle. But you shouldn’t need your bars at an angle like that. You’re obviously fairly tall. See if you can find some wider bars which are flatter across the top and with a more conventional bend. There are older bars in this shape, but you’re more likely to find non-anodised bars from the 1980s in the shape I mean and they won’t look out of place on this bike. The squarer bends at the tops of the bars will give you more hand space across the tops and let you put that type of brake lever nearer the tops of the bends without them sticking out or being too high up.

Finally, I think you probably need a longer stem. The one on there looks quite short and I think you’re taller than that reach. Look for an 80mm stem to start with and maybe consider 100mm (but older stems can be hard to find that long).

I think once you’ve done those things you won’t need the bars at such an extreme angle. Slightly off-horizontal, but not how you’ve got them. Once you’re sitting on the saddle and not pushing yourself back onto it, you should be able to level the bars out somewhat. Then the bike will be a lot more comfortable to ride

Example attached is my daily. That’s more how it should look if you have a bit of saddle to bar drop. It looks a bit extreme because of the angle of that picture but I’ve done over 35,000 miles on this bike.

 

[Chdot]

I get that, but I hate that bar profile I replaced all of mine with Nitto Noodles. I think Maes produced bars BITD with the nice round bend of a Nitto Noodle, but they are hard to source. Rene Herse sells a nice modern Maes style bar as well - probably just another Nitto product.

Yeah,

I think there may be some different bars on next week…

 

[Chdot]

Don’t take these comments the wrong way, it’s not my intention.

The angle you’ve got your Brooks is going to make you keep sliding to the front and you’re going to be constantly pushing yourself back up. It’s not comfortable riding like that. You should level it out or, if it’s gone a bit more hammock-like, slightly nose up. You’ll then be able to lower the seatpost a little.

That’s one reason you need your bars at that angle. But you shouldn’t need your bars at an angle like that. You’re obviously fairly tall. See if you can find some wider bars which are flatter across the top and with a more conventional bend. There are older bars in this shape, but you’re more likely to find non-anodised bars from the 1980s in the shape I mean and they won’t look out of place on this bike. The squarer bends at the tops of the bars will give you more hand space across the tops and let you put that type of brake lever nearer the tops of the bends without them sticking out or being too high up.

Finally, I think you probably need a longer stem. The one on there looks quite short and I think you’re taller than that reach. Look for an 80mm stem to start with and maybe consider 100mm (but older stems can be hard to find that long).

I think once you’ve done those things you won’t need the bars at such an extreme angle. Slightly off-horizontal, but not how you’ve got them. Once you’re sitting on the saddle and not pushing yourself back onto it, you should be able to level the bars out somewhat. Then the bike will be a lot more comfortable to ride

Example attached is my daily. That’s more how it should look if you have a bit of saddle to bar drop. It looks a bit extreme because of the angle of that picture but I’ve done over 35,000 miles on this bike.

“Don’t take these comments the wrong way, it’s not my intention.”

Not a problem

Thanks for taking time to write a post.

Obviously confirms my maxim of ‘personal choice’!

Found some bars that should suit me.

Many people have commented on my saddles’ orientations (not just on here).

I prize comfort quite highly and certainly don’t go along with idea ‘if it’s not hurting, it’s not working’!!!

Not slipping off saddle as it’s old and a bit saggy.

Have tightened up (Brooks’ spanner) and will be lacing it in near future.


“think you probably need a longer stem”

Before I rode bike, I would have thought so too, but in practice it suits - bars relatively long between stem and levers.

Haven’t got ‘new’ bars yet, so future decisions…