NotSoBigBen

Got the oval Rotor chainring thing done, an absolute nightmare to adjust the 'locked ' front derailleur to keep the chain on though. Even had to dremel a little piece down so there'd be no scraping! Still couldn't use 1st gear anyway 😩 Then about 50k into the ride a thought crossed my mind, what if I put the clutch on the derailleur? Stopped, flipped the switch ... aweh me se kind it all flippin works 💪 I am well aware that there are some esteemed hubbers that have very strong opinions on oval chainrings, be that as it may it's not my first go with these on the road and I like the feel of them! Does it ease the feeling of the big gaps between gears on this wide range cassette? Felt like it but then again I ride a few bikes with wide range cassettes so maybe I'm actually just used to it .... Anyway it's now ready to be pressed into normal duty and just one of the bikes 😎

Updated bike day ... superb day on the Highveld

Gravel ... the worst of both worlds 😜 A crap road bike and a crap mountain bike 😅 BUT I still love riding it 😎

Direct mount guide, done and tested on my IDT bike Will print for the Tarmac and my TT bike next week ... long ride on the Tarmac Sunday so don't want to change anything before that.

You would have to have read one of the books even libraries don't keep by that oke that didn't win the tour 7 times to know Hincapie seemingly said when you have good legs 'it feels like riding with no chain' ... or some or other elusive mojo like that

TL:DR I changed this bike from 10sp Di2 2x with mechanical discs to an 11sp 1x Ultegra with hydraulic brakes I've had this bike since Jan 2019 and have done 12500k's in that time, running a 10sp Di2 groupset with mechanical disc brakes. Gave up the groupset recently as it was originally my son's and he just built himself a decent roadbike and ... I do have another bike with Di2 😜 Pondered about just fitting a 'normal' 10sp groupset for which I have bits floating around but I only had some of those ugly old shifters with the cables dangling out the side ... tried to find some suitable ones but didn't really find anything I wanted to fit Then .... the Grumpy one at The Workshop had some levers 11sp hydraulic Ultegra, the left tip (about an inch) was broken off. I fashioned a 'splint' out of a small piece of aluminium and cut a piece off another old lever I had and Pratley steeled it together. Not 100% the same but damn it'll work! So now what to build? Keeping in mind this is one of the very first Specialized disc road frames so it uses MTB hubs and calipers. Had some SLX calipers so that was no problem .... but what about the drivetrain? Decided to do something different, 1x 53x11-42 😎 Had an 11sp SLX derailleur as well so just printed a mullet adapter STI to MTB I found on Thingiverse , it's somewhat updated to the one I used on my gravel bikes. Uses bearings so should be smoother etc. Running a 12sp T-Type chain cause that's what I had ... using the standard front derailleur as a guide at the moment but I'm busy designing a direct mount 3D print guide. First prototype is printed but needs some refining What next? I have a Rotor 53 oval I want to try but I don't have a suitable crank ... I've read that there is talk that an oval 'smooths' the big gap in gear ratios on the wide range cassette. I'd like to try that! Big thanks to @GrahamW from The Workshop in Alberhoughton! Your help, advice and odd bits have always been absolutely invaluable. That shop is an absolute treasure trove for a bike enthusiast like myself, you would not believe what he pulls out of the back there 💪

It's to get that 'no chain' (IYKYK) feeling!

Nice, it is best of course to stop for 🐻 😜

Pretty neat looking solution but sjoe like mentioned if you got a bit exuberant it could be dodgy?

I have 2 other bikes running 1x ... TT bike with 55x11-36 (perfect for the routes I use it on for a specific winter TT series), lots of top end and enough climbing gear Bianchi with 50x11-36 (again fine for all my training routes, those who know the south I can go up Biggarsberg and Comaro, not easy but I can ... enough top end This bikes top end will be the same, and I suspect the climbing gear will be enough for me

A bit off topic but .... Since I have to change the groupset that was on my Tarmac Disc road frame I decided to do something different. I mean the pros used something like this on some TdF stages didn't they? It was 10sp Ultegra Di2 with Avid BB7 mechanical calipers Now 11sp Ultegra hydraulic shifters, 1x 53x11-42 ... SLX 11sp MTB derailleur That frame, although a road disc, takes MTB calipers, fitted SLX ones Couple of small things to do, hopefully test before the weekend then go for a longish ride Sunday ... sort the brake hoses, bleed and finish the gears (3d printed a more 'modern' take on the previous mullet adapter I used) #BecauseICan

Goes exactly where I want it to and leaves at whatever time I want 😎

Was going to say something about horses and ladders .... but suffice to say one day I want to be a perfect cyclist like some on here 🤪

Some rides hurt more than others, today was one of those. I'd still rather have gone out than not though 😎

My first ride on a clown bike was on Grumpy's Karakoram, felt like a dikwiel I rode when I was a kid on the farm!

Looking for a set of 10sp road shifters, for a 1x 'project' .... so if anyone has a set with a broken left shifter that would be perfect! Not really fussed if they are Shimano, SRAM or Campag. Would certainly prefer the 'internal' cables type i.e not those ugly old time Shimano ones 😎 Happy to pay a few shekels and PUDO to Alberton if necessary

Who knows perhaps the UCI UeberFuehrers make it 'moot' 🤷‍♂️ https://escapecollective.com/uci-considering-a-ban-on-32-inch-wheel-size/

There was that time, quite a few years ago I tried this .... I distinctly recall thinking what the hell am I doing? 3 or so rides then it morphed into something different that was also trashed ....

1° ai ai ai ma se hare 🫣

Good to know, thanks! Was just interesting that the DUB BB worked, and the fact that he got me a used one to try it out was just a bonus. Serviced it and since it's indoors only it's good enough

I have similar thinking about BMW drivers and full leather racing suit superbike riders ... maar nou ja

I check with him in the morning ... I do know he is now also using MyWhoosh

Up to now I've used my son's Magene power meter crank .... long story but I came into possession of a really good condition slightly older Quark Riken carbon PM crank - PF30 though and this is a standard Shimano external BB frame I'm using on my IDT. Normally that'd be a 'showstopper' BUT my son told me before that using a DUB BB it could be done. Remove the plastic insert in the BB bearings, remove that 'screw' adjuster goodie on the crank. Adjust with a small spacer and a wavy washer to get the spacing right and Bob's your uncle! Done and tested 😎

You are a scholar and a gentleman my friend, thank you so much!

I 3D printed 'Tanpan' goodies for both my gravel bikes One with 10sp Ultegra shifters and 10sp XT rear derailleur using an 11-40 Sunrace (I think) cassette and the other with 11sp Ultegra shifters and 11sp XT rear derailleur with 11-46 Shimano Cassette