Custom Built Enigma

Hoopdriver
Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
edited February 2012 in Your road bikes
Here's a photo-rich story of a custom build by Mark Reilly at Enigma who made this lightweight road-tourer for me under their Excellence range:

http://www.my-bicycle-and-i.co.uk/2011/my-new-bicycle-and-i/

And here is a photo gallery of that same frame being made:

http://www.my-bicycle-and-i.co.uk/category/galleries/

Comments

  • wow :shock: Just.... wow! :shock: :D
  • Evil Laugh
    Evil Laugh Posts: 1,412
    Immense.
  • Not sure about the rear brake cable routing, under the stay? But otherwise...

    borat_nice-1.jpg
  • Beautiful. Great, original colour scheme as well!
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    Thanks. I've been really pleased with it. And it rides beautifully. A real delight.
  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    It is indeed a very very pretty bicycle

    Why did you go for bar end shifters ?
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    Thanks.

    I've been using bar-end shifters on tourers for more than 30 years and I'm really used to them. I like their simplicity and reliability - important on a touring bike, I think.

    Because of its retro-classic lines I did consider - briefly - going for down-tube shifters, but I wanted the bike to be my bike, my own ideal tourer, and an expression of my own cycling past, not somebody's authentic ideal period piece - and so bar ends it was.
  • PhilPub
    PhilPub Posts: 229
    Stunning, and nice blog! Maybe when I get bored of my open-mould carbon machine...

    Nice to see my old frame builder Ron Cooper get a mention. There's another legend.
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    Beautiful bike and wonderful blog. Congratulations
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    Thanks!

    I hope you'll keep reading
  • the_fuggler
    the_fuggler Posts: 1,228
    Lovely bike. Enigma will be my next port of call without a doubt. My dearly departed LBS was an Enigma stockist. Every single custom build they did was an absolute peach.
    FCN 3 / 4
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    Here, by the way, since I’ve had a few queries about this, is a list of the specs and components I have on my bespoke Enigma tourer:


    Frame Columbus Spirit tubing, silver brazed, with Newvex stainless steel lugs
    Fork Columbus Spirit tubing, silver brazed, Newvex stainless fork crown

    Headset Chris King (threaded)
    Stem Nitto Pearl (quill; 100mm)
    Handlebars Nitto Noodle (46cm)
    Tape Gilles Berthoud leather
    Seatpost Thomson Elite
    Saddle Brooks B-17


    Cranks T.A. Specialities Zephyr (triple; 175mm)
    Chainrings T.A. Specialities Zephyr 48-34-26
    BB Phil Wood (stainless spindle; 130mm)
    Pedals T.A. Specialities road pedal
    Chain Rohloff
    Front mech Shimano LX
    Rear mech Shimano Ultegra
    Cassette Shimano Ultegra 12-27 (9 speed)
    Shifters Shimano Dura-Ace bar ends
    Cables Gore Ride-On (both brake and shifting)
    Brake levers Shimano R600
    Brakes Shimano R650
    Brake pads Koolstop salmon

    Hubs Phil Wood touring (36H, front and rear)
    Rims Ambrosio Excellence
    Tyres Panaracer Pasela (cream; 700x28)
    Inner tubes Schwalbe

    Front rack Gilles Berthoud
    Decaleur Gilles Berthoud
    Handlebar bag Gilles Berthoud
    Bottle cages Orange Velo
    Bottles Rapha
    Mudguards Gilles Berthoud (stainless steel, painted to match frame)
    Mudflap Gilles Berthoud leather

    Here are the pics etc:
    http://my-bicycle-and-i.co.uk/2011/my-new-bicycle-and-i/

    And here:

    http://www.my-bicycle-and-i.co.uk/category/galleries/
  • rajMAN
    rajMAN Posts: 429
    Lovely looking bike 8) 8)
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    Thank you.

    Sorry for ignoring your kind words - I have been away, travelling, alas, not on my bike! :-)