.

Having forsaken the frustrating and retro-taxed world of Campag 8v, I don't know what I was thinking buying this, when what I need is a sensible Winter workhorse.

Let's be clear, the chrome is shot. Flaking on the forks and peppered with rust most everywhere else.

None the less the overall effect is still rather striking and I have only given it a light once over. It was previously oiled and wrapped, so there is plenty of crud still to come out of the heavenly Capella lugs and some time spent with Coke and tinfoil should improve things further.

Aside from the Capella lugs it has a Nervex BB shell, 60cm x 59cm (ctc), takes a 27.2mm seatpost and I imagine that the use of anything other than 531 in Fifties England would incur a spell in the Tower of London.

It's had the once-over at the LBS and given the all clear: frame & forks are straight, the rust is only superficial and threads are good.

It could look like this (traces of red paint in and around the lugs) or this; it does look like this.

The hubs are BH Racelite (32/40), which are the younger, more dashing brothers of the common-or-garden Airlite. Racelites were an improvement being one-piece, all alloy affairs. I'm 99% certain the 27" rims are Constrictor ASP (being 1" wide).

The wheels came off of a 1960 Holdsworth and I surmise that the rear has been relaced, as when I got them the front spokes were completely rusted and had to be cut out.

The rear could do with truing but is serviceable as is. I fitted new bearings and it is as smooth as the proverbial. One of the front cones has been replaced with a narrower one, so either needs replacing (complete 5/16" axles are available on eBay for a pittance) or you could add a couple of washers. Otherwise (again I fitted new bearings) it is nice and smooth and spins freely.

Pics here.

The Brampton Alatet headset has a FUBAR crown race and the other races are worn: I've degreased it, given it an Oxalic acid bath and replaced the bearings, but it's far from smooth and needs replacing sooner rather than later.

£175 for the frameset and wheelset including shipping.

£150 frameset and £50 for the wheelset (subject to the frame selling first), again shipping included.

NB The chainset and rear sprocket aren't included, but are available to the buyer of the frameset; the wheelset does include a Villiers lockring and you can have the sprocket that came with the wheels, but it looks pretty worn to me.

1 Attachment

Dibs wheelset if splitting

Noted.

Ideally I want to sell the frame first and am hoping the wheels will sweeten the deal.

I'll see what sort of interest this generates and let you know at the weekend.

Second dibs wheelset

Wheels are too cheap obvs :/

Dibs the lot.

Too late to the party :(

You have PM.

A bargain it seems!

I've come out of it more or less square, so I'm happy with that :)

I'll let you know if it falls through (ElGato has seconds on the wheels if split).

It's been pointed out to me, that I missed out the vital statistics:

• seat tube 60cm ctc
  
• top tube 59cm ctc
  
• wheels 27"
  
  

#idiot

Yeah consider it a third dibs on the wheelset. Frame is too big.

Sold: many thanks!