More Progress, and....Another Stopping Point!

The fork was sawed; I left it slightly long as a precaution - about 3/4" beyond the stem. It should give me ample range for stem placement, and I can always have it cut down more should I decide to in the future. (I read up on this and found that the star nut can be pushed down with the proper tool. This would be another bike shop job.) I need more spacers (keep using them on other bikes) but some are on the way. It is getting hard to find alloy (not carbon) headset spacers, but I sort of prefer the look of the plain black, especially as the aero set up is all flat black.

I purchased mountain cables (for the Cane Creek TT brakes) and ferrules (probably not enough I determined late in the day, but that doesn't really matter as I'll detail shortly) but LBS did not have 60 mm presta valve tubes (sold out and it doesn't appear that there is great demand). The best deal on tubes I continue to find at Bike Tires Direct where I made an order this a.m. (Great prices/selection on tires, too!) One of the reasons I went with Clinchers (the main one was unfamiliarity with tubulars) was the perceived cost savings on tires/tubes versus tubular tires. I am beginning now to wonder about that, even given what I think is a good deal on the tubes and a pretty good deal on my tires (Vredstein Fortezza). I am glad I got the 38 mm rims and not the 48 mm which I assume would take 80 mm valves which are really expensive and not that common, making tubular tires look yet more cost effective, especially if they don't flat very often. I guess now the main argument I can find against tubulars is the question about adhesive working with carbon rims (that Zinn speaks about in the most recent edition of his book) but I haven't kept up on this and don't know what the present thinking is about gluing tubulars to carbon. (There is also the issue of pricey brake pads for carbon rims, too). Bottom line is that I would not be quite so set against a tubular wheelset if I had it all to do over again.
I purchased two valve extenders at the LBS (have hated these in the past!) after I was convinced that the metal ones are better than the plastic ones I used to use and that judicious application of plumbing/pipe tape will secure the extenders. The point of tubes, of course, is so I can mount the tires (in fact, they are 'half mounted' at this point) and fit the wheels to adjust the brakes. You might note, however, in the photo above that only the rear brake is shown. That is due to the fact that I discovered last last night (hours after the LBS closes down not to open again until Tuesday a.m.) that I need an extra long (22 mm) brake nut which apparently doesn't come standard with the brakes (at least it didn't with mine). This is due to the width of my fork (which is about the same width as any carbon fork used on any bike these days..). This part costs $7.99 and won't be here until Wed or so (purchased along with some other odds and ends from Excel Sports, who have been quick, reliable and seem to carry many of the unanticipated necessities. So I can wire one brake partially maybe (miscounted how many housing ferrules will be needed), I can finish the derailleurs (and if I put on the valve extenders, wheels and chain, can work on the shifting) and it is still (today) pretty cold outside (32) although I have a commitment for the bulk of this afternoon and really quite a bit of schoolwork to get to. Spring break (mid March) as a completion date is unfortunately again beginning to look more realistic. And I can always ride my road bike for the late March short duathlon I have planned.
On the positive side, I am quite pleased with the look of the integrated headset despite my apprehension about using one. It is ironic to me that the 5-6 year old frame I was determined to use ended up being a very early use of this technology. But I think it looks neater and sleeker than a standard threadless with caps, and doesn't interfere with the paint job between frame and fork. Also it probably makes my bike look 'newer' as integrated appears to be state of the art these days and was not in 2000-2001.
A surprise to me is how much noticeable weight the aero bar/base bar set up adds to the bike.
I had thought riding with clip ons in the past that I descended faster because the bike was so front heavy. No wonder people get fanatical about saving weight on TT bikes - it reminded me of the feeling of lifting a light bike before and after putting two full 24 oz fluid bottles and a seat bag packed with tools on it.
The more I look at shifters, the more of them I see that are right-side up (the way I put mine on) including a Cervelo at the LBS for service yesterday. Maybe some people have been looking at the directions upside down.
More to come later or tomorrow, including my promised but still unwritten 'rant' about pedals....