Owens, there's this:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/frame/2012-civilian-bicycle-co--ramble---2012-10919.html

I don't know about the brand, but the site has really impressed me with it's warranty and returns policies recently. It's legit. Lifetime returns and 3 year warranty on that frame is pretty killer.

Floris Backer van Ommeren said:

Does anybody have experience with Williams wheels? At 1350gr & $570 for climbing wheels seems like a very good deal. http://www.williamscycling.com/Wheel-System-19_p_7.html

Don't do it.  Have a set built with better rims for less.  Those wheels have a low spoke count for very light aluminum rims.  Go with a 24/28 spoke count for wheels that will stay true, won't flex when standing and will descend well.  Spend $130 on some ebay hubs $200 on a pair of Stan's Alpha 340 rims (24/28).  That leaves you with $240 to get spokes, nipples and a build. You will be left with wheels that come in under 1300 grams and cash in your pocket.  The Stan's rims have a wide inside cavity that really increases the footprint of the tire.  They feel like 23mm wide rims.  My training wheels use Alph 340 rims (24/28) with Alchemy hubs.  The hubs are way overkill and cost me close to $600 alone.  I had a very good wheel builder (Ergott wheels).  In fact, you should contact Eric (the wheel builder).  Tell him you want climbing wheels and that your budget is around $500 and you don't mind going cheap on the hubs.  Why not get better wheels, built just for you (your weight & intended purpose in mind) by a local craftsman (Eric is on Long Island)?  Yacks

Oh cool.  Thanks Vlad.  Yeah, I like the CVLN's but they seemed a bit pricey (I've heard they're much better built than the Linus, which a few folks have told me aren't so great for their price, construction speaking).  But on sale, this is pretty dope.  Maybe I'll order one too!

@adam i envisage yours looking something like this:

http://3dbik.es/1127b7w

Anyone know about this?
http://nyvelocity.com/content/equipment/2013/wahoo-fitness-rflkt
paired with this?
http://imobileintervals.com/app/
Seems like a no-brainer way to train; just plug in your program, get your playlist on and train like Rocky IV nemesis Ivan Drago.

Floris Backer van Ommeren said:

Does anybody have experience with Williams wheels? At 1350gr & $570 for climbing wheels seems like a very good deal. http://www.williamscycling.com/Wheel-System-19_p_7.html

Edwin Ortiz has a pair of these on his CAAD10, you should ask his opinion.

Thierry Bonnaire said:

Floris Backer van Ommeren said:

Does anybody have experience with Williams wheels? At 1350gr & $570 for climbing wheels seems like a very good deal. http://www.williamscycling.com/Wheel-System-19_p_7.html

Edwin Ortiz has a pair of these on his CAAD10, you should ask his opinion.

Yea, I was gonna comment but I have to agree with Yack. You could definitely get something comparable or better built up for less, my set is an older/cheaper version. I am actually put off by the low weight now that I am like 10 pounds lighter than when I bought them. My rear rim started developing a crack near a spoke nipple and had to have it warrantied. There's only 1 year for the warranty so they are obviously not meant to be very durable.

Also, I noticed in one of my races that the rear wheel would slip out under power, not sure if it has to do with flex, or loss of traction.

A little more research and you'll find that they are just re-branded chinese rims, Mr. Williams is a fine salesman.

The Blanco team uses Vittoria Pit Stop in their tires: 

Edwin Ortiz said:

Also, I noticed in one of my races that the rear wheel would slip out under power, not sure if it has to do with flex, or loss of traction.

Things that make you go hmmm ...

I just noticed my saddle (a Specialized Toupe) is a bit loose where the rails go into the nose.

Edwin Ortiz said:

Also, I noticed in one of my races that the rear wheel would slip out under power, not sure if it has to do with flex, or loss of traction.

Things that make you go hmmm ...

Just felt the same sensation when powering out of the PP chute... these wheels are so sprint discouraging. but at least now i can put part of the my crash's blame on the wheels right? Yep, totally the wheel's fault... :P

my rear wheel sometimes feels like it's slipping under power, but it's actually just my poor weight distribution moving too far forward and lifting the rear wheel off the ground.  perhaps the same is happening to you?  only happens to me out of the saddle.  should happen less now that i have the proper stem!  thanks, edwin.

Brendan Rigby said:

my rear wheel sometimes feels like it's slipping under power, but it's actually just my poor weight distribution moving too far forward and lifting the rear wheel off the ground.  perhaps the same is happening to you?  only happens to me out of the saddle.  should happen less now that i have the proper stem!  thanks, edwin.

possible fit issues? Ive never had a proper fit, but ill try experimenting and see how i can avoid this from happening.

No problem, dude! Enjoy.

i'm about to throw my cross bike together and am only shy one component, a cassette. what's good all around gearing to pair with  46/36 chainrings up front?

12-27.

Try husky brand refurbished from home depot.

Was meaning to chase down the "creak" in my bottom bracket but until my rear shifter went all squirmy on me today I just couldn't find the time.

I have the derailleur hanger alignment tool. You can always come by.

Rick Perner said:

also does anyone have recommendations for a cheap(er) home air compressor that kicks out enough pressure to mount tubeless tires?

I've been able to mount tubeless by using a co2 cartridge.  It gets expensive, but works in a pinch.

eragot said:

I have the derailleur hanger alignment tool. You can always come by.

Thanks for the offer of the "Re-bend-o-tron"  Those things are bendy enough (I find) and once they begin to get squishy it's game over.  I see that you can buy TITANIUM ones (Yaks) but I think they're meant to give first to protect the frame & derailleur themselves, no?

mugwump said:

Rick Perner said:

also does anyone have recommendations for a cheap(er) home air compressor that kicks out enough pressure to mount tubeless tires?

I've been able to mount tubeless by using a co2 cartridge.  It gets expensive, but works in a pinch.

I'm seeing a lot of these around at better supported races these days

mugwump said:

I've been able to mount tubeless by using a co2 cartridge.  It gets expensive, but works in a pinch.

Me too...

mugwump said:

Rick Perner said:

also does anyone have recommendations for a cheap(er) home air compressor that kicks out enough pressure to mount tubeless tires?

I've been able to mount tubeless by using a co2 cartridge.  It gets expensive, but works in a pinch.

I had tried that previously to no avail. But I just now got it to work with a lot of soapy water. The fact that for the last month had the tires (Michelin Mud II's) mounted with tubes in them probably helped a lot too in shaping the tires to the rims (Ultegras)

Rick, can I just say how much I love the fact that your assembling your cross bike in May. Cross season in just 4 months! Yeah!

@Rick Perner  If you're not already doing so...please just make sure to wear glasses when you do a heavy shot of CO2 inflation, particularly with a non UST tire.  I have a friend who did some real damage to the bridge of his nose and just missed his eye when the bead exploded while trying to do a tubeless mount with a non UST tire.

@Rick - I've ridden my cross bike to Cunningham park in Queens.  Not the best single track (not challenging enough) out there for me, but the closest if you don't have a car.  It's about 10 miles from Astoria.  We can ride there when you get your bike all put together.  The best part of it is, when the local MTB guys see me leave the trail and ride home on the same bike.  

Jules said:

eragot said:

I have the derailleur hanger alignment tool. You can always come by.

Thanks for the offer of the "Re-bend-o-tron"  Those things are bendy enough (I find) and once they begin to get squishy it's game over.  I see that you can buy TITANIUM ones (Yaks) but I think they're meant to give first to protect the frame & derailleur themselves, no?

ever bend a paper clip?  If you re-bend it multiple times, it gets stiffer and stiffer until it breaks.  Derailleur hangers are no different.

My ti frame uses a chunk of 6/4 ti for it's der. hanger.  It is the same material aliens use for their space crafts...I'm pretty sure you would break machine tools on it...

No word on where @twoyacks got said chunk of alien space metal...

Rotor Cracked Crank update: Rotor emailed the deal (Chad who gave me one out of his stock.  New crank is happily back on the Dark Knight.  Sometimes customer service is good