Washing RB26 at ZEN Garage Lecihhardt.
I often forget how the stuff I did impacted others. I was too in the zone to realise, but it fucking blows my socks off when people say that they met their life long friends through my communities, or got into cars, or bikes because of my communities.
The post I made on Facebook this morning has 42 comments so far. All of them are positive. I’m feeling the energy. It’s electric!
Nick has inspired me to soft launch ZEN Garage again, pretty awesome as I’ve had no motivation to do so despite so many people asking for ZEN products and stuff.
He’s starting to contribute to the blog (which was all me and my depressing depression shit for ages), and is working on new community related projects as well as getting the ZEN shop going again (pretty excited for this as I really want some new ZEN hoodies for myself!).
Nick’s first feature: https://www.zengarage.com.au/better-late-than-never-lz-world-tour-melbourne/
Left to right: Forticus, Chardae, ZEN, Count Minaba.
It’s been a fun weekend of gaming with some old Diablo clannies! Weather was so nice this weekend, but decided to avoid the crowds at the park and play games instead.
The Matrix has me.
So stoked to have @therealnickturner help me to document the restoration of my R32 GT-R. He’s just created this little teaser video of our trip out west to check out the car and in typical Nick fashion, it fucking rocks!
New (bottom) vs old (top). Spotted this as new S-Works Power Saddle on eBay for half the price of a new one and pounced on it.
I was pretty happy with the power saddle already on the bike, this new one is the same width and full carbon so buying it was a bit of a no brainer.
Old saddle weight.
New one. Decent weight savings for sure!
I’ve decided to stop stalking new Canyon Aeroad’s and S-WORKS Tarmac SL8’s and instead go all out on my Allez Sprint.
The deep dish ENVE wheels I put on the bike made the bike look, feel and sound so much faster which has confirmed for me that the frame is awesome (and worth it!). As much as I like the concept of mechanical Shimano 105 being the groupset of the people, in reality it’s heavy and despite the Allez having semi-integrated cables the sight of the 4 cables around the stem was doing my head in so I thought I’d give electronic shifting a go.
I’ve decided to go 1x for weight savings (from removing the front derailleur and extra front chainring) and also for simplicity (less is more!) as well as attitude. I’ve chosen to go for an aero chainring too (it looks so damn hot!).
A 1x SRAM RED AXS E1 groupset is on order with CCACHE. I bought a Roval aero handlebar from Wooly’s Wheels, Tarmac SL7 stem direct from Specialized.com and the stem accessories (cable bat and cover + 3D printed spacer to adapt the SL7 to the Allez frame) from various online shops.
Updated specs below, final weight TBC!
SPECS: 2022 Specialized Allez Sprint Comp in Tarmac Black/Brushed Foil
GROUPSET: SRAM RED AXS E1 rear derailleur, shifters and calipers, SRAM DUB BB, SRAM Red AXS chain, SRAM RED AXS E1 cassette 10-36, SRAM RED 1 AXS Crankset 165mm 50t AERO chainring.
WHEELS & TYRES: ENVE 65 Foundation wheelset, ENVE SRAM XDR replacement freehub body, ENVE SES 27mm tyres, Tubolito S-Tubo Ultralight tubes 80mm valve, Shimano 160mm RT-CL900 Ice-Tech centerlock rotors.
COMPONENTS: S-Works Tarmac SL7 Stem 110mm -12 degree, Tarmac SL7 stem cable bat and stem cover spacer and transition kit, RaceWare 3D printed stem spacer, Specialized Roval Rapide aerodynamic carbon road handlebars 380mm, Specialized S-Works Power Saddle 143mm & Carbon Rail Clamp, S-Works Tarmac FACT Carbon seat post 20mm offset, Xpedo Thrust SL Titanium pedals, AliExpress carbon cages, Pas Normal Studios bidons.
FORK: FACT Carbon, 12x100mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc.
WEIGHT: TBC
You’ve come a long way, baby. Once upon a time we were unloading a container of XXR wheels, now it’s Voltex.
Hello Nasty, where you been?
Sad but true.
Went out west to get the ball rolling on restoring the GT-R today, and I’m left with a mixed bag of emotions.
On the one hand I was excited to see the car again, but the hard reality of seeing the rust (in the usual places, around the windows etc.) hit pretty hard.
I’ve got no-one to blame but myself for letting it get this bad in the first place, so I have no choice but to be AOK with it. This is no spray job, it’s a full metal restoration.
Plenty of time, no deadline. Baby steps.
Spotted an illustration of my GT-R on a cushion cover for sale on Redbubble. Kinda had to have it!
So chuffed to have legend Tom Boorman of Hell on Wheels build the bike.
Couldn’t live with the zip ties so I installed some Jagwire alloy stick-on guides for a cleaner look.
Much cleaner!
Odd one out at the park.
Feels strange to not have any foot retention. I do have some Brotures straps ready to go so will get them on ASAP.
SO happy with how it turned out! Forgotten how awesome riding fixed is. What a fresh experience! Feels like riding a bike for the very first time!
Specs List
Frame: Dosnoventa Los Angeles (small)
Headset: Columbus
Seatpost clamp: Columbus
Wheels: STIFFI The Shuriken 4 + STIFFI Track Cog 17T + STIFFI Titanium Track Nuts
Tyres: Continental Gatorskin 700x25mm Black Edition + Continental Race 28 700×20/25c 60mm presta valve tubes
Brakes: Extralite UltraLevers 3 + Shimano Ultegra + Shimano brake pads for carbon rims + Jagwire brake cable outers + alloy stick-on guides + black teflon coated cables
Crank: Rotor Direct Mount Track Axle 30mm with Spider BCD144x5 ALDHU 165mm crank arms
BB: Rotor TRACK30 BSA
Chainring: Rotor Round Ring BCD144x5 Track 49T
Pedals: Brotures INFEEL
Chain: Izumi x MASH Racing Track Chain Black & Silver
Stem: Thomson Elite X4 90mm 10 Degree 31.8 1-1/8″
Bars: Thomson XC Carbon 730 x 31.8 x 0mm (flat) x 8 Back Sweep
Grips: Strong V
Seatpost: Thomson Elite 27.2 x 410mm
Saddle: Selle San Marco Shortfit Dynamic Narrow
Weight: 7.73kg
