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Project Pipedream

It's new bike time at BM Towers - a quick look at Dave's latest project before he joins the dots...


Posted: 30 November 2006
by David Arthur

A while ago we tested the Pipedream Sirius, the first steel frame from the previously titanium-only company. Some bikes we ride we like, some we don't, but just a few of them we fall in love with. Such was the case with the Sirius for me.

So you can imagine the overwhelming temptation that was brought to bear when Pipedream offered that very same green and white prototype frame for sale at a very agreeable price. But he who hesitates is lost, and by the time I'd decided to take the plunge, someone else had had it. By then, though, the idea had taken hold and I ended up just buying a new Sirius in glorious red.

pipedream pre-build

A frame isn't much cop without all the bits that make a bike work, so I've pulled together a collection of bits from Magura, FSA and SRAM. There's the brand new Menja fork in its 100mm version, with various knobs for, um, changing stuff. I'll figure out what they all do when the bike's finished. Keeping the weight of this build to a minimum is a bunch of FSA stuff - carbon bars and post, lightweight stem and the stunning K-Force MegaExo chainset. The wheels are from FSA too - new XC-300 lightweight hoops.

As is traditional, a smattering of previously-used parts will find their way on to the frame. Some well-used SRAM X-7 shifters and rear mech will handle the main gear shifting jobs, and I found a headset lurking in the spares box. Obviously there's a few odds and sods missing - tyres, saddle, seat clamp, cables...

Building up new bikes never seems to go as smoothly as you hope. Share my pain in the "Pipedream's progress" gallery here.


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Discuss this story

I will be very interested to see this bike built up. I have been riding mine for a few weeks now and am getting more and more out of it.

I will be interested to know how light yours builds up as mine has ended up at 28lbs without any weight saving kit. Some of it is darned heavy.

Also, i would like to know how much clearance you get at the front mech with 'bigger' tyres fitted cos its rather tight imo.

Only other things i would change are 2 x sets of bottle bosses. There is no reason for there not to be. And possibly a crud guard boss.


Posted: 30/11/2006 10:44

Dialled Bikes PA?




























IGMC :)
Posted: 30/11/2006 11:27

Bontrager rules
Posted: 30/11/2006 14:23

For old blokes
Posted: 30/11/2006 14:27

and the father of mtbing is??????
Posted: 30/11/2006 15:00

Andy, did you get my email about the Magura brakes?
Posted: 30/11/2006 15:04

and the father of mtbing is??????

An old bloke...?
Posted: 30/11/2006 15:05

called Kieth
Posted: 01/12/2006 08:34

or Gary
Posted: 01/12/2006 09:07

No i didnt get any email Montgomery
Posted: 01/12/2006 09:31

OK, the email address I have for you must be out of date. Anyway, I'll need some new brakes next year, and current favourites are those Maguras you're running - comments and opinions from a Lakes rider?
Posted: 01/12/2006 09:52

Very happy with them. I am on my second set of pads since i got them in July (I think). The peaks finished the pads off good * proper.

The power/control is of such a standard that i now do 1 finger braking 100% of the time even on the steepest decents. I never managed to do this with the supposedly powerfull hayes HFX9's. Setup is a little more difficult being IS but as long as you face the frame and use shims you get perfect setup (Uncle barry has all the tools) and it takes about 10-15mins to do front & rear). Meet up with us for a ride and i am sure he would sort you out pre ride.

What else do you want from a brake? They hose length seems long enough for most bikes from the box, otherwise again its very easy to shorten the hose without too much hastle.

I got mine in a merlin deal including a set of Deore/mavic wheels for £210. It was £210 for the brakes alone so it would have been stupid to turn the wheels down.
Posted: 01/12/2006 10:00

OK, sounds good. I'll probably get them at KMB, though.

I'll take you up a test spin, but I won't be back in the UK until April. I finished work yesterday, but now I'm off on the bike for a bit - it's getting a bit chilly here now, so I'm flying south for the winter...
Posted: 01/12/2006 10:13

That looks cold. Keep safe :-)
Posted: 01/12/2006 10:29

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