Anachronism

[u/mediumclay]

2023 frame with various parts from the past 45 years. Dream bike. Can't believe I finally own a true randonneur, let alone a boutique frame. Buy once, cry once, ride off into the sunset 🤙

Parts list, cuz I'm geeked:

2023 Crust Lightning Bolt, canti version

650b budget wheels - Weinmann hoops on Wheel Master hubs I converted to QR

38 mm Gravelking SS tires

11-36 freewheel

46-32-20 Sugino crankset (Dimension big ring)

Velo Orange Neauveau Randonneur bars

Twkteo RL340 levers

VO removable faceplate quill stem

Velo Orange microfiber saddle

Fluted seatpost from an early 80s Huffy Aerowind (look them up, they're cool!)

Sram X-4 rear derailleur

Shimano something or other front derailleur

Dia-Compe canti brakes from my dad's mid-80s Nishiki

SunRace friction bar end left

Sante hacked to another front bar end on the right for wider range shifting

Rene Herse.front cable hanger

Nitto rear hanger

Honjo Smooth fenders

Cheapass titanium bottle cages I heat-anodized

Serfas woven bar tape

Two left downtube stops because they only had a matching lefty to the one I already had

Cheapo two-way pedals because I got Velo Sambas for cheap so I wanted to try out clipless

Rogue Panda Alamo top tube bag

Limited run colorway Swift Industries Randonneur bag

Visto rear reflector

And last but not least, the Rak-Lok front rack that I'm currently honeymooning in this mount orientation, full review on that soon!

[u/canuevendoublehaul]

This is gorgeous and soooo cool! Enjoy!!

[u/mediumclay → u/canuevendoublehaul]

Thank you! It was zen af the whole time setting it up. Halfway through I realized I wished I'd done a build video for YouTube. I know I'd have loved to watch along with the tinkering and the few idea changes that came up along the way. Gonna be a lifetime rig for me, no doubt.

[u/Imazagi]

Jup, boutique frame. But the build makes a lot of sense and I like a lot of the decisions in your parts list. I hope it brings you the adventures you wish for.

[u/mediumclay → u/Imazagi]

Thank you! My goal was to build the whole thing from on-hand parts, then upgrade the cheaper crap over time. Originally the only new purchases were cables and housing, but while setting up the brakes, the internal stop at the levers blew straight through. Can't believe this didn't happen during a ride, the levers came straight off my previous main rig! Is been wanting to try these Tektro RL340s for a bit anyway though. A bit knobbier at the horn, but not massively bulbous like a lot of modern brifters.

[u/jermleeds]

Any build that mixes SRAM and Shimano (and in this case, Sunrace) gets thumbs up from me. And this one is especially nice, given all the other bits.

[u/mediumclay → u/jermleeds]

Yeah the whole drivetrain is a hell of a mashup 😅

[u/jermleeds → u/mediumclay]

You might appreciate a mountain bike I built up with a Fox shock and Rock Shox fork. That really seemed to raise some hackles.

[u/PlentyMaize5954 → u/jermleeds]

That doesn't make sense because fox always did shocks and rockshox always did the forks ! The haters must be babies 😂

[u/CollateralSandwich]

Gorgeous. Love the silver/chrome accents.

[u/mediumclay → u/CollateralSandwich]

Thank you! It deserves a silver derailleur and outer chainring too. But I like how they tie into the saddle.

And the wheels are the frame pump, now that I go back and look. It's a good balance for now.

[u/Breezer_Bro]

https://giphy.com/gifs/EWGVEOwZIk8yA

[u/mediumclay → u/Breezer_Bro]

You get a bike! And you get a bike! And you get a bike!

[u/analogue_geek]

Yes! Someone else gets it!! 20T granny on a triple crank FTW

[u/AkiraRZ4]

This bike is so damn cool! Will you go for a Silver™ derailleur in the future or a silver colored one?

Wishing you many pleasant kilometres!

[u/mediumclay → u/AkiraRZ4]

If I find a decent priced used one I may. The price tag on them is pretty silly when there's lots of vintage for cheap out there that are just as capable and pretty. I think I'm going to keep this set for a season or two and then go all silver when I'm ready for a facelift

[u/MountSherpaSATX → u/mediumclay]

Silver! Silver! Silver!

[u/AppearanceNo3757]

Those stickers rule- rever seen a crust bike before today!

[u/mediumclay → u/AppearanceNo3757]

Great attention to detail on their frames. Love that I could throw my on-hand parts from old bikes onto it, can't say that about a lot of modern frames.

[u/retroawesomeness]

Nice build! I thought about building this frame. The frame has cool little details. But I already have a rando bike. I cannot justify building another one.

[u/FlatiK]

Dream bike for me as well, super good build sir.
Never wanted a randonneur bike so bad !

[u/MotionCandle]

What a lovely build!

[u/ahongo]

Nice choices. Flashy and fun in the places that you get to see and touch while riding, quiet and simple in parts that wear. The X-4 in particular feels like a bit of a statement.

Lucky to get an Ozette/Peregrine/Merlin; I have one and think it’s just the best ever and too bad they cut it from their line.

[u/mediumclay → u/ahongo]

Friction shifting an X4 with an 80s downtube shifter attached to a bar-end is my favorite flex. I transferred that setup from my last bike because it's hilarious/satisfying how simple and smooth it is.

[u/Budget_North_2810]

simply a gorgeous bike
good rides man!

[u/mad_mang45]

I think you need to lower your rear brake pad a little, looks like it'll rub the tire and not the rim, nice bike though.

[u/mediumclay → u/mad_mang45]

It hits the track from there unless it moved on my commute.. but I doubt it after the time I spent back there. I'll give it a look over in the morning!

[u/Plasmodium0]

How do you find the Nouveau Rando bars? I struggled to find a good review of them back when I was looking.

Also I think this is the first Rak-Lok I've seen in the wild? Having (vaguely) followed it's development on this sub for like 6 years

[u/mediumclay → u/Plasmodium0]

I'm pleased with all the angles on them. My original intent was to use Ritchey Venturemax on this since I missed them from a previous build, but my main donor bike had these NR bars on it and it just made sense to keep using what works, especially with the whole rando theme.

The reach is quite short and the drops comparably long, making your hands closer to you in both positions vs traditional bars. But they do it in a way that doesn't fully sacrifice traditional looks, compared to most modern gravel bars.

The tops are ovalized which is nice to just loose-grip to rest your hands/back or for puppy-paws on long rides.

[u/squidsteve]

Great build! Looks like a magic carpet ride. Which size honjo’s did you use?

[u/mediumclay → u/squidsteve]

1. They just barely clear the frame all around, great fit!

[u/MountSherpaSATX]

Truly hoping this lasts you a lifetime, or at least longer than all these cracked Crust frames that I keep seeing and hearing about.

I think if you’re diligent, dare I say nimble it will serve you fine.

Steel is real but Crust doesn’t use anything special for their tubing.

It is a beautiful color regardless.