Alfano Saffron Lane Pista

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  • Don't worry if you've not heard of one of these as this will be the first.
    In what will very definitely be the last throw of the dice in terms of bike acquisition i've decided to have a custom track frame made for me. The plan is to roll around Derby velodrome in my dotage when I return to the UK from the Isle of Man.
    The frame builder is Pete Alfano from Leicester. He's done some nice work under his banner of Alfano Frameworks (look him up on instagram) and is incredibly enthusiastic with no preconceptions. He also a big lad so there is solidarity and understanding.This will be Pete's first track bike so it is an exciting adventure for both of us.
    So far we have decided it will be Columbus Max tubing with stainless steel drop outs. The rear drop outs will have integral chain tensioners. We're using my Merckx Pista as a reference point for sizing.
    Yesterday's exchange included deciding on a name for it. In the best tradition we've opted to name it after a Velodome and came up with the Pacciarelli which has in its time witnessed battle between Coppi and Bartali and hosted the Italian national championships.
    Thoughts, further musings and pictures will follow in due course.

  • Nice , Pete is an old friend and built my current road bike .
    10000kms in its a good bike, comfy and fast.


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  • That’s great to hear and what a super bike! Looks like it ticks a lot of boxes as a good all rounder.I suspect you’ll clock up a fair few more on it over time!

  • First drawing of the proposed bike from Pete. I've opted for a green and white colourway a bit like the Cinelli or the Cannondale track bikes although the latter had a silver rear


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  • We've also debated the kit out for the bike and so far we've decided on a Nitto NJ89 stem and bars...


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  • Suzue Promax hubs...


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  • Araya rims...


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  • Chainset will be Dura Ace...


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  • The whole project is being financed by my sale of bike stuff here on LFGSS. A big thankyou to all who have bought something so far and i hope you are pleased with your purchases. I'll be posting more stuff on my thread over the next couple of days.

  • Shaping up to be really nice !!
    Cannot wait to see it when its finished.
    Always wanted to build wheels exactly like that!

  • Cheers Sam

    Yes it is quite exciting. A once in a lifetime gig for me.

  • An update from Pete. The tube set had arrived. Lots of Columbus MAX loveliness...


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  • Small update, hubs and stem ordered from Alex’s cycles in Japan. Hopefully they will be here in a couple of weeks. Looking to order rims on payday. Unfortunately I can’t get this stuff via the cycle to work scheme as my LBS doesn’t stock Nitto or Araya!

  • A timely arrival in the office this morning of the hubs and stem. Timely as I am catching a flight to the UK this afternoon for a couple of weeks with the family which will also include a visit to Pete’s frameworks


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  • A closer look at some of the shiny bits inside...


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  • Nice!

  • A small flame from the slow burn of this project when the DA cranks were picked up today.
    I’m hoping to push the project along in a couple of weeks when I move to Derby.


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  • How's the frame coming along?

  • Pete broke his arm a few weeks back and I told him to leave it until he’s sorted. I contacted him today and said we’ll have a meet up and go through the spec one more time before he fired up the torch.
    To be honest I haven’t pushed the build as it was all contingent on my move across being finalised.
    Apparently there is a piece on him in this coming month’s Cyclist magazine

  • Ah I'll look out for that. Get well soon Pete. This is such an exciting project : )

  • Another acquisition.
    I've just bought a Sugino 75 chainring off fleabay like the one below. It's a used 50t one from Charlie Tanfield so i'm hoping it will have been reasonably looked after in terms of chain line and lubrication and probably light on use as i imagine he will have generally used larger rings. The 50t will be perfect for accreditation gearing. The price was good and the chainring can certainly consider itself in retirement compared to its previous owner


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  • What a way to have a track frame, plan each stage and component rather that blunder into it on a whim like I did...

    Loving it all so far!

  • Cheers fc

    The big move to Derby has happened and I was able to give Charlie the address to send the chainring to. It arrived this morning in excellent nick but the engraving on the back shows it belonged to Harry!


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  • Other recent acquisitions include a pair of Vitoria Pista control tyres and a dura ace bottom bracket. Just handlebars, seat, seatpost and chain and I think we are about there


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  • One interim change will be the use of these dura ace/open pro wheels I built for the Merckx Pista a couple of years back. I never used them outside as I thought they were too good for road riding so until I build the Suzue’s up these will be on the bike.


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Alfano Saffron Lane Pista

Posted by Avatar for EcuriePeril @EcuriePeril

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