My rear hub failed a few weeks ago. I had a pair of early 1980's Dura Ace large flange hubs which had been given to me, and I'd laced Mavic A719 rims onto them. The rear wheel flew badly out of true one day, and as I tried to rectify the proble, there was a loud bang and the flange had cracked and split. Game Over. Fortunately, I had a pair of Shimano XTR hubs which I had bought a couple of years ago, with the intention of building them into MTB wheels. I bought a Mavic Open Pro rim, as the hub is 28 hole. I still have the old wheel on the front, while I await a new rim, which has been on back order at the local bikeshop for the past couple of months. (they finally had it delivered today, but it's the wrong colour...)
I'm tweaking bits as I go, mainly due to finances. Having resigned from my job at Bluestone a couple of months ago, I don't have as much disposable or regular income as I had, but they did give a month's pay in lieu of notice, so I was able to get a few orders in for upgraded kit; winter cyclocross tyres, a rather nice (and fairly cheap) brown synthetic leather Charge "Spoon" saddle, brake levers which are actually designed to work with V-brakes, a very nice rack (sadly not a steel Surly rack, which was way too expensive!) I have new pedals on order, and when my brake levers are fitted, some lovely new blue bartape...
It's becoming a very well equipped and good-looking bike, and something people notice. It stands quietly out from the crowd. I've had several interesting conversations about the bike - one very memorable chat outside Tesco with a lovely man who was himself riding a vintage Moulton folding bike, but he was far more interested in talking about my bike than his! Around the time I built my bike, my friend Pete bought a Sabbath titanium frame and built up his "dream bike" - 11 speed Campag Record (my old Dura Ace hub had a 6 speed freewheel block!). We go out riding regularly, and he's talking about building up "something like mine...".
With such a bike comes responsibility though. I like trying new ideas out - for instance, I first had butterfly bars, rather than drop bars. I went in for downtube gear shifters because firstly, the bosses were there on the frame, and secondly, it meant I could change the handlebars from flats to drops with only brake cables to worry about. It also meant that when my hub broke, I could take a 6 speed wheel off and replace it with a spare 8 speed wheel with very minimal adjustment needed! However, I've found myself considering the aesthetics of each new idea before implementing them - if it's not going to look right, it's probably not going to get past the planning stage. For instance - I'd have happily put a crud-catcher type mudguard on the downtube of my old frame, road bike or not. I wouldn't entertain that idea now. Functionality still holds sway, but it has to look good.
