Ciocc restoration

Decided to kick off the process of turning my singlespeed Ciocc into a light tourer/MGOOF hybrid today. First job was to take the current stuff off it (most of which I'll flog) and do some, or rather, lots of cleaning.

Here's what it looked like this morning...

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And here it is stripped back to just frame, forks, headset and stem...

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As you can see, it's a bit tatty and the forks are definitely not original (if anyone has any Ciocc forks lying around they want to sell, do let me know). But for the time being, the whole thing is a work in progress. I'm aiming to upgrade the parts and maybe get a new paint/chrome job done in future when I can afford it. For now, it's getting basic Campagnolo stuff and some pretty old (odd) wheels that'll do the trick until something nicer comes along.

Here's where I got to today before getting to the point where I'm fed up with cleaning/wielding an allen key and deciding to down tools and head to the pub instead. Chain, cables and the remaining necessary stuff tomorrow.

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Do like a 90s steel bike .i had a Concorde with 105 groupset.

This is an 80s frame, I think. It's the Designer '84 San Cristobal. I toyed with the idea of sticking to parts of that era but my bank won't let me take out another mortgage.

Stymied by the lack of a stepped ferrule today. I didn't even know what one was until it turned out I couldn't install the cable outer at the cable stop boss on the chainstay. Did manage to clean the cassette, run the cables through the shifters and put the chain on, but that's about it.

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Nice and shiny cassette is today's highlight.

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Cables, new saddle and stepped ferrule installed. Now have to add some extra chain length as I cut it too short to go on the largest cog on the big ring. Wouldn't say the rear mech shifting is all that 'crisp' either, but it's good enough for now. Discovered the rear wheel has a fair bit of wobble in it, so might be learning how to true wheels this weekend.

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Bit of chain wrangling and swapping out the small chainring from 28 tooth to 30 tooth means it's now about ready to ride. Still plenty to do - I need a long cage rear mech ideally so I can properly sort out the gearing so I can use all sprockets on all chainrings, but I'm OK with not using the lower sprockets in the small chainring (when would I need to do this in real life anyway?).

Rear wheel needs truing, front wheel bearings probably need a regrease/repack and I cocked up the bar tape, so will have to re-do that at some point. Also not hugely happy with the position of the shifters, but can't be arsed changing it for now - will just reposition the bars a bit, I reckon. But it's now rideable and what I am designating as the starting point of an ongoing work in progress. Plan is to upgrade practically everything and get the frame resprayed/re-chromed, try and find some Ciocc forks for less than stupid money and, first up, get some new 25mm tyres.

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Nice that

Cheers. And thanks for some of the parts that have made it possible.

:)

As it's Valentines Day, I gave it a bit of love in the form of new tyres, repositioning the shifters and redoing the bar tape. Reckon it's getting there, though I'll be happier once I sort out a long cage rear mech.

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Looking like it's going to be nigh on impossible to source a set of Ciocc chromed forks, so am wondering what the hive mind thinks is the next best alternative.

I've a few options:

1. Get the current 531 forks resprayed and chromed
   
2. Source some generic Columbus chromed forks
   
3. Try and find some 1" threaded carbon forks
   
   

What would you do?

This is a long/expensive shot, but just came up on my eBay alerts - have the forks and part out?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325572157517

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Yeah, that's a very pricey option as it's just the F&F for sale (plus headset and BB) and it would leave me with a frame to sell (or more likely, to clutter up my already over-filled small flat). There's a set of forks for sale in the US for £150, which I don't want to have to stretch to but it might come to it.

Ta for the heads up, though.

No worries. As to your original questions, my 2p would be to leave the forks as they are, they tie in just fine with the saddle/tape/tyres.

They definitely don't look out of place. But I'm a sucker for chrome and a set of original/other chromed forks would go really well with the rear triangle and the silver groupset. Absolutely fine for the time being until something suitable comes along, though.

Acquired a few more parts, so have bunged them on today. New longer-cage rear derailleur is particularly welcome as I can now use all the gears. Plenty of teething issues to sort out, including skipping gears under pressure and one of the front brake pads weirdly being a bit out of alignment (not sure how or why). Also need to get some better bar tape as the cloth stuff is nice but stupidly difficult to wrap and doesn't offer much in the way of padding.

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Never goes old this build:)

@ketsbaia sorry to hijack but I wondered where you got hold of the stepped ferrule? I bodged one when I rebuilt my Fondriest (details of the nightmare here): https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/362125

Got mine from Veloheaven on eBay. They're out of stock now, but there are some here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275611531458

Excellent, cheers mate - the bike is in storage at the moment but I'll order one and try it out in a few weeks.

Worth saying the one I have doesn't fit exactly into the stop (I've just read of your trials in this regard). There's a teensy bit of play, but the cable tension keeps it solid enough.

Finally got the steerer cut on the chrome forks, so fitted them earlier. Now need to do new bar tape and consider getting it repainted/new decals so it looks less tatty. Might quite like a new headset and bottom bracket, but otherwise it's getting there.

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