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MCamb
For some time now, I have nurtured a strong desire to own a 'Bling' frame constructed from Columbus Max tubing.
I had hoped to construct a Max frame on my recent frame-building course at Enigma. However, whilst the tubes are still available, the lugs are not, or at least they are as rare as the proverbial rocking-horse shit. The only build option would be to fillet braze the tubes, which is beyond my competence; and besides, I really like the look of the lugs on Max frames.
Toward the end of the year, I turned to the 'bay, where decent Max frames are not uncommon.
First, I was attracted to this beautiful Llewellyn frame:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Llewellyn-Columbus-MAX-Custom-Road-bike-Campagnolo-Athena-Record-/192014618038?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=VbD%252BPKPAjedMYCTCo8pFlqD8DVU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
Delightful, but pricey, and it was in Australia so shipping costs and the associated agg were prohibitive.
Then I found the grail:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Eddy-Merckx-Corsa-Extra-Columbus-Max-/201746425280?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=VbD%252BPKPAjedMYCTCo8pFlqD8DVU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
Merckx built Max, with Dura Ace in great nick, good price and based in Germany. I contacted the owner and asked for a price for shipping to the UK. In the meantime, someone else pressed the BiN button, and that was that, bollocks.
At the same time, this Grandis was available (indeed, at the time of posting, it still is);
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282309700292?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Perhaps not as good value as the Merckx, but not too bad. I had pretty much made my mind up to buy it, when a thought crossed my mind. Quite a few of those old established Italian builders are still around, and quite a few of them have either continued making their classic old steel frames, or have re-introduced them to their range in recent years.
So, I had a quick Google, and what do you know? Grandis still produce their Over-Max 'Classico', in fact I now understand it is their best selling model:
http://www.cicligrandis.it/produzione-telai-biciclette_ENG.aspx
Before long, with the help of Google Translate, I was swapping e-mails with a gentleman by the name of Alessandro Grandis.
One thing led to another, and this afternoon I found myself in Nat West on the Commercial Road transferring funds for a deposit payment to Italy.
I don't 'need' it, shouldn't have done it and can't really afford it. But fuck it, I am excite!