Gene’s Di2 light touring bike

Building this bike for Gene was like building my bike over and making a bunch of little improvements along the way. I do love my bike but some of the details I would’ve changed include using an inverted Edelux headlight, slightly different wire routing, seat tube taillight, improved lowrider design, and a needle bearing headset. All of those details were attended to on Gene’s bike. On this bike the Di2 shifting is not powered off of the dynamo but that’s okay. The advances in the system allow the rider to just plug the power from a wall/portable battery/dynamo charging device into the bar end junction box if desired.

This bike is designed for day or night road/dirt/light touring in mind. If Gene rides in the same style as me, it will have it’s fair share of dirt as well as pavement. The Compass 650x42mm tires are great for both worlds even in the ultralight version.

There was a fair share of anodizing of components on this bike. Cranks, chainrings, brakes, hangers, headset, and handlebars were all anodized. Even the Velo-Lumino seat tube mounted taillight was anodized black. The inverted Schmidt Edelux headlight is available in black and is powered off of the Schmidt connector-less dynamo hub. The Grand Bois Chouette centerpull brakes are some of my favorites and look great in their modified black color. The custom front rack and removable lowriders were powder coated black to continue with the theme.

Gene recently acquired one of the new all black Gilles Berthoud handlebar bags and it was a perfect match for this bike! I’m excited for Gene because I know what his bike is capable of and I hope it brings him the same joy that my bike has brought me.

See the full slideshow of the build here.