So how did it all start, well having returned to cycling 3yrs before I started this project to help overcome my disability (something I am still doing). One thing I found was each bike I bought I ended up pulling them apart & changing it piece by piece to suit me & my cycling ergonomics. So in 2013 I decided it was time to get a bike built up to suit me from the frame upwards. Now I just needed to work out how to go about this & first thing I did was draw up a concept design to get an idea what I wanted.
Now I looked around at having the bike built for me & as good as they were, custom built just was not affordable for me & not an option. So next best thing was go with buying a 2nd hand frame & build the bike up from there. And at the time I was volunteering at Re-Cycle, a charity that sends bikes to Africa. They managed to find a frame with forks as well as wheel rims for me at a price I could afford. So I bought them & managed to get it all home by bike to start the project.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj628ar99ExvW-OoeKs579lm0b6yqMdGRlbr94JmEluRSxB6b6QlbLTch0L9iz9xWaENq_DQ4CLnoUnTeviggH5P6VldFn8yEkuuSNGtPIdZrNVzwoCOxbAVKZoHzJZURN7wx0cjn7_iA/s320/2013-09-02+16.22.14.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4tBginAJYLZiepa_F35PzxjSlI-lNBYwfQGGU7lsiu8gACNwebGVRuD6tjGpuIzKmlI2F8EXsgWqpueckkbrm30yIJAV8083IAy0fvRG7FdXlp0PhaScPwDATgpVUWnlx5cAL77yBQ/s320/2013-09-03+17.28.55.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5nnKF5jC0eUodermA3eVxNGaO2eyusRZVehNrmV7t3f4n4bDJyDxx8tvPcDvjkRzjlNkmFRmo14jDbxrO4eedfDWikCMMTLTmhHtNRHGjBlJQesx_c3U7Pr4Oa9P4L7T0P0wLKW82A/s320/2013-09-03+18.24.50.jpg)
Doesn't look much but was a starting point, so next was to get tyres & I decided I wanted hybrid tyres as some of the cycle 'network' was more like dirt tracks. Only ones I found that would fit & made by Schwalbe were the 23x700 Marathons & I was concerned they be too thin a profile for me but there was no room for wider & as I found out from many miles done on them, they were the right choice.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RUGQb66I80ie5HNVUc1CQ4_SBCaqzHKhjXGGhq1l7kSbV6WIpV9LtRWLHJHmAebc_cY-IgQNtxSPHPGXgcwEEH_1lWNJICiGmo5gIJffSgruZPnRvv8rC3bL4L0TwLHLf774auy0hA/s320/2013-09-23+08.27.41.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmBUovFlGDZxbr1BwVe7vtXqZacYO9EUz0je2tkT7R7-jj8ynkNTD68WYrYohX1ml6HMoJQRlSvy8goLe96s96AuUt7-qusYPV9cv_pRVSMV_J4q40HAdruEJfMoNQj1exSpCVpc5ng/s320/2013-09-23+20.38.01.jpg)
So next was to find parts in boxes around the flat to piece it together until I find the parts needed & replace them. Like the saddle, I tried a few & just couldn't find what I wanted so went with what I had used on previous bike for now. And then changed handlebar to a boomerang (ergonomic) one as it felt right to hold & of course the brakes...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIjmhCu0PDHgotNKmiaH8oszbK6fw2coGeVIi1rXwUVaEPw_0amT9K-iR-jKxFxBY-3g69ZtRymSrQlqoyxxm4C94gi0WdG68eS2Al1sORJyPHmj-PqO9gER2pjzsDB0RgFt7ARZieA/s320/2013-10-26+17.24.35.jpg)
It was slowly starting to take shape, so next was a rear rack as I always use panniers so went for some low profile Tortec Velocity as they were on offer & felt they looked good on the bike.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINVOsBhnl_MOm6GrToCMqt6jacg9jdRKNbM-_08oDl6vqkgm-xJd6F-R_XoMq12rt4CBVZA7n6J3oG3mogvrGKJ1K3EJvPHcMGNl84fA4BCJawD5UQVH6ZYJq_76XGACtVNO0EfxCww/s320/2014-03-17+18.58.03.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjOV_vcetCgLYpC6LhdPKwtabF3SQfnBiQ6PBk3-Imt81otDQTHjKFrYj40wFXnea-3W7KBVCgEP97yv5pbU8s1BRqhpSvoGFHKGdjjSsE5keToniiT84INSdRZVSAcTZcqmN0ROPmQ/s320/2014-03-19+20.37.26.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbAUMWEGEX2GbsqP8jeFn4IbtUs4QlxU9cccugNTe31ceujGLGhA1ZgNPLUbKUlZbprvzQLhZtzZiW9B6_2an9xKOllSk9GAtRBoIr2sUStPk_fIuSWjHyFfp3P5HSYAzDKgZKvXvww/s320/2014-03-19+20.39.24.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GgbFesFp5g0Ot5OXjqDVL-2Is1EC_kYg98b3e1HFFNc0PEf3cBSF6dYBR3V5x1GVgx-9RCxxWfqUb43_yjbDt-hqpE8fCFyEsQw8VysAyWa9eKCz3x9AxQpa8xgaVWMOo5-IZ1carg/s320/2014-04-07+16.00.25.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ2ESTUSJSOffDsTZhD0kLK5eoOFhDGI4YMQan6Cn5ekp92FgN5y184wOms0XdQ8n9Kc1_eLral3eNInueJwfxs1BL6ixOGN9eJ_MzMH-jzBzK7InXQsS4Idqt9TgmA8upuJyWY0E2Q/s320/2014-04-07+16.00.42.jpg)
Its starting to look like what I am aiming to build & riding it for the first time was definitely a joy. Far easier & quicker to ride than my other bikes. Tho of course with all prototypes, you find some snags. Main one which worried me was the panniers kept going into the wheels & I needed to change the rack. So I changed it for a slightly pricier Axiom Streamliner Disc Deluxe Rear Rack which resolved the issues as it supported the whole pannier & moved it further back thus giving a bit more room to pedal.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSvpW0brGp1kcWiy7OuCVURac2DfBH4NR8sMUudmNQYQZ4zpxHda1vy0nC2NmDtpybiPQDbh4NtWLlIqs9l2A8xPO73dl59oCY86FBIG6FkNgzIGiSm29TH2gX3OUQuDUrrE8dcBtMw/s320/15000871941_049a0207b5_o.jpg)
And of course as an all weather cyclist, I needed mudguards. So I went for SKS Raceblades as they had to fit around the brakes.
So now it's May 2104, a month before Nightrider London & just done a 50 mile cycle ride for Pedal 4 the J's on lil Trekr & it was a struggle. Roadrunner was almost ready & after a few more tweaks on setting up I had Roadrunner set up as best as I can get her & she looked good!!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip50TSyw64r9wpyxtnqMWC7nsK-DTxDVLwaRNHLT3k9jwpwnGTy5P7K50zWztPx83q07KXQeQUiM2lMMl8HhVdgKliFNE2G4mH_orjUrTgtPwKn_7egofUYfAjuGw8rH0BJYIjKjTvhg/s320/2014-05-31+16.35.15.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFjpRpHzPUm3whCf4eG-U5-0WEO7dy3W5FXPCMzE4yaX2G7CUnh3OKS0-EQK2eR2vOEM7ReLNj9B_xCzwehDlAqueLiudTX3wuuMzrnz6ivQSGeDiAL8nIYKoDbEoSRwh4XhmVOJ5cA/s320/2014-05-31+16.35.34.jpg)
So now Roadrunner was ready, her first long ride was Nightrider London as no chance to do any before then. So in a way this was her maiden voyage & a true test on the design.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMIuCZH-YFJpv9fl5KAz3zIyQipgLPGNwgUmv3BPszQJ41pAsKK8WuMaG16HYCYg2VCQfWL1zdrHTfN0jWVkLBdlCWgStHOI8j9N9geapI-WjWGZcYIZtFa0eXfg5M_V7TrjsyTTIsg/s320/2014-06-07+20.53.20.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8zMcOQ37qiP3BBSFq12VIYjd6VVHhpXEdFPE49i_hdp_L6We8L53HMRTIebIlObk0Al8GN38sl_O2HjRjsxvX-X-nQGTyjaaOxJ5E_wETJZrp_xClgYmV0NaZttI1QDmwfQaKNZUoA/s320/2014-06-08+04.06.43.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf_WGUGyj281PbuBNQf5md5l3allf_IdNiuBdOeBQh-9o5IXFvZf_hapAlGvB0V9yNBR8lob-Rkr2zlzXhyphenhyphenVyiliVF0YFtaDov52619fCtgWR9JBCsh-Po7T44pSOPfDC-xywBjH9pQ/s320/2014-06-08+06.03.58.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18lT82G0sBy8wlQhAM-PHXxJ8LJ4F_iKjOvCYn1oU4-didxrFubNCKmVxWs7i0_Qxjan_5-_eRqyAN5XtY_lJ0O7G1G1azdxAXdGfzDyucIjB9bL8yfdZy7C3f7H33UTqbjZtBYRwng/s320/2014-06-08+07.56.38.jpg)
So how did it go, 100km overnight around London on a bike I built & was it's maiden voyage? It was Fantastic!!! Bike was a dream to ride, it did better than I did on the ride but we both completed the 100km with no hitch or issues. Not only was the build a success, this bike was so well balanced it saved me from a nasty tumble as I was going downhill fast & hit a pothole. The bike refused to go down so to me, Roadrunner is a keeper!
So now to try finish what I started, it was time to add what I want on this bike & get a paint job sorted. Since June I went & bought another Boomerang handlebar but in black, a Brooks Cambium saddle for starters...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPvceEnyLO9KUcXEUEHi4H7i-WVMs9vPOKkRvHCSBTPALUyfSx_AWUQmbH3j-4bkRFJzGp7-OUbAHlXRD9l_Zbb8y9DCsrI8TEY_WjCAYoydGP4naodCq6ZAY4WlWmV8xNKcDj5TrJA/s320/2014-08-12+20.30.54.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaiqp5B-SFvghywIltByrb-Tnlm6jiznZ3pvsIfrIr29-tvnqqV5hEFz193fw6udrDMQp3jGEFB1kl6G64GsL2cdG0ppKkMtkqmtpNBWFRxmoGTWkNHCEERvo3dUK4cvVWKgbqPHuCg/s320/2014-10-01+16.29.29.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mOC4dFRSdzTbSQg2QUDTCbnb0cvV0dHZhpBeB8n1IFR3zTdizNCCAEQnpfxgwxaw52PzfEyo4RpGTpjVDiHOYBvtaACW_uxaosOsOtBIkBngMTmUveckhLGKVuwWxjw0FLeb853y9Q/s320/2014-10-02+19.20.07.jpg)
Then after I was happy & ready do get it done, I stripped her down for a paint job & then rebuilt her again with her new looks & oh boy she looks sexy...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchy4VaYAdExlL5wi_jUSsrun8hW6W4iLeL77zF4BxTPdsMGgX7R-rJpO1zY48xWoQkSx7O5S3Ol5EmiTFc17FwOdbJ2h5QjQJKtjLun4WLG1J8XdLk6e2LaKL-sDJe1pU22ASbrnlCg/s320/2015-06-10+21.52.11.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1C-BUY0ifDqdK4J-bF_NLXzK94pcbB2MtQsxW8mzxKSJ9PK7IsiPgIzs57u_JPsxuVS2gWaZqK-7pnt0EbXGvmgVe_8VY7TpbXfEBmV5vsmzv1vPZqzQUkMuYxlXUdZUuOfRyz-QCg/s320/2015-06-10+21.52.16.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmykrboJa8oCfgfoZZMdZmHwaX8Z3JUTr6jIHdJ4ry1_Rqu1X5y8WyU5TaVk0r8qIhCAZGCvRpnGZ7YlCxWBsQOkIixZazSdINdf7bcQbz4cwouMj18uBVoUotlVlD4EtLiNS4EtI-g/s400/2015-06-16+13.58.02.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNmaXxR0CeoDRorpIFEDCR9Pqf6zwcPi48GVDAP6HimWJppIfqhMXwi-8Si4-LNgToNIKai194unDkJYEIUjv_M_HKhzpB-QmwBGTdv09Vka6v3d9dej0zvDZwOKNCYoRVNq_356wBg/s200/2015-06-16+13.58.54.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILVu3lkEPh2i3G-zIgOedccKuN8rR-riy0JNcghv4R03NndNOsJwylksdkUeyPKa-C_Ee7P7H0TQ01C14ZoyGnEkVL7lmLfcWM5TGT7KbFgDbzap7KAWK5E15wHUeqVUWH6JKMw8U0Q/s320/2015-06-16+21.58.56.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidS5uoRhTKjjQZtS_CAWzXNwYqOShe5GMtiMol9cRrbVxPQYcGxDXAt1UvjBYCeu2U7NlHRZBL1vZ4hTpLBN2E3XZ8a9Pi0bvO6PXIDMdllBgo5RtznadoWuoQgF5wvKe2YgxUr203uQ/s320/2015-06-16+21.59.22.jpg)
So here's the almost complete Roadrunner, why almost? Well there's a few more bits I like to do, gearing mostly as I like to tweak the gear ratios a bit to get more out of pedaling with less effort.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEM9M1SsrdaseyA8nuzXpsfvUSFbNd2Lk_rTmOnG9ItJ7md4jBQTg7O1P6LrPEEFiXwBl75LDa2-QiNh2YE_QyEw6Vsfr5nRzG1452xxwVvSnl2UVSbpwCsmvdDFuURCFdhwriewruA/s640/2015-08-08+14.59.54.jpg)
But for now I am enjoying the rides on her, we've already conquered Box Hill, cycled across the Surrey/Hampshire borders, gone from Chelmsford to Colchester & many more rides. And all this whilst my legs arent doing too good too, so Roadrunner as a design concept becoming a reality has really become a success in my books. She hangs on my wall as my pride & joy & hope eventually she manages to help me finally do a 100 mile ride. :)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkff1IwTESVPI8dWzzvCcEUepViAAMIN6IHsdMB33mO5ooVMuGvVrCBCWQyIcsYC0uEKM-cnvLbAZwvwly8gEq7W_HQlA1uqcnfncQZxWMVqxb_S9akpuWDr6QG9Q-dwvEzopbTXEVzQ/s640/2015-10-20+02.15.49.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment