The RCUK winter bike build has taken another step forwards with the fitting of drivetrain, brakes, and steering components. 

In the spirit of recycling common to winter bike builds, we dusted off a box of Shimano 105 components kindly donated by UK importer, Madison, for the bike we built for the Dunwich Dynamo.

We salvaged the PRO handlebars used from the same project, and attached them to the carbon steerer tube of the Kinesis Tracer fork with a 110mm Cinelli Vai handlebar stem, sent by Chicken Cycle Kit.

The Shimano brake calipers are also pre-used: the Pearson Easy Come, Easy Go, ridden through the night from central London to the Suffolk coast on the aforementioned Dynamo, was another, like the Kinesis TK3 pictured here, that required long-drop units.

As we edge closer to completion, a saddle and seatpost combination must be chosen, along with wheels, tyres, and mudguards. Check back soon for the final installments.

Thanks again to the boys at Ride for use of the workshop (and heater).

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 The Shimano 105 bottom bracket cups threaded easily into the TK3’s BB shell, requiring a final nip from the splined spanner. No other tools required.

The Shimano 105 chainset needed only slight encouragement to settle into the bottom bracket

Fitting the front mech was a simple procedure that involved only tightening the allen key on the clamp band, and routing the cable

The Shimano 105 rear mech, only slightly scuffed from its outing to Suffolk, was easily installed

Steering duties will be handled by the PRO handlebar salvaged from our Dunwich Dynamo mission, but will be held in place this time by a 110mm Cinelli Vai stem

Shimano’s RS650 brake caliper is a long drop unit which we hope will accommodate the mudguards that are a feature of any dedicated winter machine

We mounted a pair of Shimano 105 STIs, leaving only tape to conclude work on the handlebars. Check back soon for our bar taping clinic