Almost thru my 1st bike build.

[newfsmith]

I just got back from my shake down cruise on my newest bike, the first that I have built on my own. I started with a Novara Safari XS frame, added the bottom bracket, a Sugino triple chainring crankset with 165 cranks for my short legs and then bogged down for 18 months while I finished up at work and was taking care of my mother. I took the frame and cheap Pyramid fork with me to UBI, installed the fork crown race and a new Cane Creek S8 headset there. When I got back, I was busy getting ready for my PMC ride (153 miles) and fixing a friend's bike. Finally, last week I mounted the Tektro Cyclocross CR720 canti brakes, cut the steering tube, mounted my 90mm stem, Salsa Short & Shallow bars, canti brake hangers, Velo Orange bell and Ultegra 8 spd bar end shifters. This week I put a SRAM 8 spd cassette on the Alex wheel, gave the wheels some Specialized Fatboys (26 x 1.25, silk tread, 100 psi), mounted the Alivio M410 rear der and Deore M531 front der, cables and housings. Then I sized a Wippermann chain and started to get my multi-national, multi-manufacturer drivetrain to play happy. I added an old Terry Liberator seat and the British Pedalites with toecages. The pedalites have a generator in the spindles that power the LEDs on the ends. By leaving the steering tube long, I brought the bars back 1 to 1 1/2 inches, while letting my knees stay over the pedal spindles more. The ride is very good and I am feeling quite pleased with myself; no, I am feeling very smug indeed.