Well moment of madness

andyh01

Just brought myself a new bike
Finally ordered a Mason Bokeh 52cm in Shutter black, Ultegra.
Few questions;
Mainly tarmac /parks/country parks/tow paths mostly flat but few climbs and descents, all weather.
What gearing? Considering semi compact with 11-28
What second set of wheels 709c or 650B
What size tyres? Looking tubeless.
I'm 69cm tall 80kg weight.
What crank length? 170 or 172.5 or other?

What decent secondary rear rack mounted usb charge light? To go with Hope rear district seat post mounted light?

I've opted for the 3T carbon gravel bar will I notice much difference between the stock default alloy bar?
Is it worth upgrading the seat post to carbon too?

andyh01

Oh how do I know what stem length/degree angle?
What width bars?
Do I look to but the 3T finishing kit off the bat or wait until I have bike and feel it first then swap out?

I've also ordered 8020 SPD pedals, gold sold locks, Hope rear light, just need guards and a rack I think?
Wait time is approx 4 weeks...
Never spent so much on a bike o just for myself before. Long time coming though.
Could've brought a sports car for less too

benjamess

AndyH01 wrote:

Just brought myself a new bike
Finally ordered a Mason Bokeh 52cm in Shutter black, Ultegra.
Few questions;
Mainly tarmac /parks/country parks/tow paths mostly flat but few climbs and descents, all weather.
What gearing? Considering semi compact with 11-28
What second set of wheels 709c or 650B
What size tyres? Looking tubeless.
I'm 69cm tall 80kg weight.
What crank length? 170 or 172.5 or other?

What decent secondary rear rack mounted usb charge light? To go with Hope rear district seat post mounted light?

I've opted for the 3T carbon gravel bar will I notice much difference between the stock default alloy bar?
Is it worth upgrading the seat post to carbon too?

At 69cm tall do you need a seatpost?!

andyh01

Haha
Should be 169cm

Cheshire Cat

For the price of the 3t gravel bars you could have bought a spare pair of wheels and run both 700c and 650b for when you felt like a change. I fail to see how you would feel the difference between carbon bars and alloy bars when running low tyre pressures.

akh

Congratulations, some pics if possible when it arrives would be awesome. I'm about your height and weight, I'd also ride a 52. The Mason stall at the cycle show this year had me drooling.

Just some thoughts:
If off tarmac is going to make up a significant amount of your riding, I can't see a 52 outer chainring being useful. If you don't fancy a compact, have you considered a 36/46 or 36/50? To get a 36/50, just but a compact and change the inner ring for about £20. I used that on the road for about a year, massively preferred the smaller jump between rings and found the inner ring much more useful than a standard compact. I ride 165mm cranks, but then I like to spin.

Regarding carbon bars and seatpost, yes they make a difference, but maybe not a massively noticeable one on a bike with larger tyres. Switching to a carbon post and bars made the ride on my very stiff Canyon Ultimate AL with 25mm tyres bearable. The same bars made little to no difference once fitted to my steel Genesis with 28mm tyres. It's harder for me to be sure with a carbon seatpost because I made the switch years ago and only own carbon seatposts now. Personally I'd only buy carbon bars as a last ditch to save a bike you otherwise don't enjoy (as I did), they're very expensive for what they bring, and stand a better chance than most components of being damaged in a crash.

Hope you enjoy the bike!

andyh01

Thanks guys, just gotta wait ....
As say moment of madness and I have order an additional set of wheels too, at the moment 650B but may change to 700c.
It'll be gental off road like going over the playing fields with the kids, Rutland Water, Beacon Hill, great central way bradgate park, based in Leicestershire.
I wouldn't mind having a go at the local new cycle cross league but clashes with the Rugby we do also on Sundays.
Yes the 650B offer more range/versatility however mud guards then becomes an issue as would need 53mm if running 47mm 650B. Also if suffer mechanical on the 700c I could swap tyres over and use the other 700c as emergency spare whilst getting the other one sorted. Although I guess the 650B shouldn't be that much slower on the 10 mile each way commute.
Similarly with the gearing as mostly flat with a few short sharp inclines, I'm currently getting up them on a Carrara Subway 8 with 8 internal hub gears. I also did the old commute on a compact 11-25 which was a bit more hilly. I think to start with compact should give me a good guide and can always swap them out if needed.
If went with 650B then would look to run a wider 11-34 on these with the 11-28 on the 700c. I could look to swap the cassette around if I need lower gearing on the 700c.
It's already bugging me that I know the stem and post doesn't match the bars. I think on a bike like this, once in life time forever bike I might as well spend the bit extra, I was tempted with the Open UP or the 3T Explora but no guards/rack tyre clearance or costs compared to the Mason. It'll be gental asier to stick the post and stem on the final balance but as not sure on sizing etc (no other bike to use as guide) it makes more sense to get a fit and then order right size.

andyh01

I mean semi compact.
I just think compact too low for flat tarmac.
I was more of a grinder but as fitness improves spinning faster.
I might get my old edge 500 set up with cadence sensor so I know my cadence.
I know tendency these days is shorter cranks are in, I think the old road bike was 172.5 but I doubt I'd notice any difference between 160 (didn't know could go that small) 170, 172.5 and same other side again I guess bike fit would help