Just in

Where to begin? The first of 3 boxes arrived from Rose Bikes. Like a child at Christmas I couldn't wait to open the box up and drool over the contents.

First up is a Shimano Deore FCM591 chainset. Using the HollowTechII bottom bracket the chainset has 26-36-48 toothed rings. I opted for 26-36-48 as it's a good mid-point between 22-32-44 standard MTB triple rings and 30-39-52 road triple. Initially I was going to go for a square taper BB set up but then changed my mind. Square taper BBs are easy to replace and are widely available. Being internal they are well sealed from outside dirt and, in my experience, last a long time. External bearings, such as Shimano's HTII offer an increase in stiffness over square taper set ups and are lighter. 

On the other end of the chain I've got a 9 speed CS-HG61 11-34t from the big Japanese S. It's nothing fancy, it's just a mid-range cassette.

Also in are Vittoria Randonneur Touring Reflex tyres in 700x35C flavour. Using Vittoria's Ultra Shielding Puncture Protection and Micro Carbon Compound they keep my wheels rolling for a long time. 

Holding the front wheel in place is a rather shiny rigid fork from Rose Bikes. Costing £27.90 it is cheaper than most 700c rigid forks out there. They featuring a shiny chrome finish, and braze-ons for a front rack and full length mudguards. Available in 1-1/8th inch 280mm threadless steerer only. I'm not looking forward to cutting the steerer! Measure twice, cut once!

To keep my hands happy on the bar is a cork bar tape with a gel strip underneath, again from Rose Bikes. The tape comes with bar end plugs and extra tape for finishing off.