The Bike That Phill Built: Finishing Touches

The bike is nearly ready for assembly. The last things I need in order to have a fully functioning bike are quite trivial

1. I needed some cables for my brakes and gears shifters, complete with rubber tubing to protect the brilliant "gravy brown" of my frame.

This was surprsingly expensive!

2. I needed some metal caps called bike endsfor the cabling that helps stop fraying as well as keeping things looking neat and tidy. Also shown in the photo are little rubber donuts that stop the cable from bouncing off the frame.

I would never have thought of picking these up items withou advice from Phil Byron

3. And of course no bike is complete without a bell

This is the most exciting part of the whole bike!

Bell = $1.80
Cables and Tubing = $18.00
Bike Ends and Donuts = Free

Total
Frame Set $1099+
Wheel Set $ 495
Handlebars $135
Headset $ 77.50
Cassette $ 89.90
Crankset $198.02
Rear Derailleur $108
Brakes $86.38
Front Derailleur $54
Seat Post $54
Brake Levers $45
Handlebar Tape $22.60
Tubes $12.60
Tyres $71.95
Chain $31.50
Pedals $58.45
Shifters $153.00
Stem $36
Saddle $63
Bell $1.80
Cables and Tubing $18

$2910.70

Back in Kioloa

I returned to Kioloa, ANU's coastal campus, for the third time this year to supervise Fenner's 2010 social committee's first training.

Training the social committee in the art of being social

The day wasn't too exciting, we started with a team building exercise, involving a blindfold and an obstacle course. My team failed epically.

You can already see my team is in trouble, turn around dammit.

This was followed be group planning, brainstorming sessions, goal setting, etc. After all the work was down I drove the group to the local liquor store to stock up on 'evening' supplies.

The all important brain storming session

The night started with a game of Kings (my favourite), then we retreated down to the fire pit to satisfy the primitive urge of dancing naked around a fire.

This is us; naked around a campfire

Hours later I indulged in some poker with three others and we played into the wee hours of the morning...

Its the new me

Things have changed in the last month or so - after about 12 years it has finally happened.

The Bike That Phill Built: Saddle

The saddle is an all important bit that will offer the support necessary for my delicate buttchecks whilst peddling for hours on end. Upon seeking advice I was told that each person has a unique bum and as such a bit of trial and error is essential. Further research from a friend alerted me to the fact that a big soft looking saddle doesn't always mean a more comfortable ride.

Satisfying yes...

I test rode a quite small and narrow saddle - the Selle Italia Flite Max Gel Flow (its quite expensive) - but it caused my right testicle to ache after 10 kms or so on the road.
I then tried this saddle - the WTB rocket (team black). Comfortable and yet affordable.

Its the colour that makes it so comfortable

black

240g

leather | flex-tuned shell | comfort zone | dna padding | kevlar corners

Saddle = $63 (including 10% discount)

Total
Frame Set $1099+
Wheel Set $ 495
Handlebars $135
Headset $ 77.50
Cassette $ 89.90
Crankset $198.02
Rear Derailleur $108
Brakes $86.38
Front Derailleur $54
Seat Post $54
Brake Levers $45
Handlebar Tape $22.60
Tubes $12.60
Tyres $71.95
Chain $31.50
Pedals $58.45
Shifters $153.00
Stem $36
Saddle $63

$2890.90

The Bike That Phill Built: Stem

The stem is a piece of equipment that is attached to the front forks via the headset and also holds the handle bars in place. I don't have a close up of my stem but the important aspects are its length - as this dictates how far forward you lean whilst riding, and its bar bore - which needs to be the correct size of the handle bars. My handlebars require a 31.8mm clamp. It also had to match my fork width and I wanted a road stem to suit my drop down handlebars. I bought a Token Matrix Stem.

A picture of my stem sourced from the net

Once I had the stem I took my bike into Maladjusted and they attached the headset for me (this was a procedure that is best done with the proper equipment). The result is shown below!

One happy Gatt and his frame

Bar Bore: Ø31.8mm

Steerer Clamp Dia.: Ø28.6mm

Angle: ±8°

Titanium bolts or Cromo Bolts for options

Extension: 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130mm

Stem = $36 (including 10% discount)

Total
Frame Set $1099+
Wheel Set $ 495
Handlebars $135
Headset $ 77.50
Cassette $ 89.90
Crankset $198.02
Rear Derailleur $108
Brakes $86.38
Front Derailleur $54
Seat Post $54
Brake Levers $45
Handlebar Tape $22.60
Tubes $12.60
Tyres $71.95
Chain $31.50
Pedals $58.45
Shifters $153.00
Stem $36

$2827.90

The end of an elastic era

For years I have possessed a remarkable ability to, at full pace whilst carrying heavy backpacks, fall upon either of my ankles and shrug off the injury. My ligaments behaved like rubber bands and would spring back in place with barely a change in my stride.

This all changed on Monday night when out on a light jog I managed to snap two ligaments in my right ankle, forever reducing my seemingly inherent joint flexiblity. Now I hobble like a cripple as I throw money to the local physio in an attempt to return my ankle to its former strength. Most disturbingly this has happened just weeks before the the hotly contested RSC cricket match.

Success in 2009

In an unbleivable effort by our Resident's committe Fenner was able to pull in

2nd in the Interhall Sports Shield

and for the first time in eight years

1st in the Interhall Arts Shield -

we came first in every arts event except talent night (3rd) and Theatre Sports (last). This year I was a member of two teams - the winning pool (8-ball) team and I entered the talent show in the non-musical category conducting a science show in which I set myself on fire (don't try this at home kids).