Principia Track Jet

I've been in touch w/ Nemesis who I believe are the importers of Principia in the UK. And with Principia in Denmark.

Tried hunting for a new headset which they did not stock.

@Skunkworks : The headset originally in my RSL was a Principia branded Chris King.

@ Skipper : The original Principa's IMHO are better then the Cannondales of the same time period - unless you follow form over function.

Oh and get some pics up both of you!

Oh and get some pics up both of you!

Hey, I have to wax first!

Looks like we got us a Principia appreciation society......

In fact I was laughing with a friend that we ought to start a collection in anticipation for the "90's high-end aluminium" bikes retro-craze - once the fascination with carbon and any old junker made of 531 passes

(I should add that I have a neat Gazelle steel single speed that I'm very fond of in 531c)

Anyone that had one of those Principias seems to have loved them - was out cycling and me ta guy on a Colnago who got all teary eyed when reminiscing about a Principia TT bike he sold and then regretted selling

I'll get some pix up - once I've dusted it

And yes, definitely as good as the Cannondales

Meant to link to what the experienced people at Ciclos Uno say

I bought my RSL from them

http://www.ciclosuno.com/products/complete-bikes/little-used-principia-track-bike

When I'm loaded, I WILL buy the REX with SRAM Red.

Meant to link to what the experienced people at Ciclos Uno say

I bought my RSL from them

http://www.ciclosuno.com/products/complete-bikes/little-used-principia-track-bike

Heh. I liked the sales speech they have.

Not the best pictures but you get the drift

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Fuck yes.

In fact I was laughing with a friend that we ought to start a collection in anticipation for the "90's high-end aluminium" bikes retro-craze - once the fascination with carbon and any old junker made of 531 passes

I thought that too .. but I thought the Sinclair C5 was going to be a hit back in the day .. Anyhow ..

The REX is looking good. When do you expect to finish building it up?

Thanks.

It's actually been sitting around for a while now waiting for me to transfer over the good parts from my current bike but in order to do so I need to get hold of some mid-range stuff to replace what I remove.

It's just a logistics thing and and dare I say........I'm a little sick of spending on bikes

Still, hopefully by the time the summer comes around.....or the post-2012 Olympic velodrome opens to all comers.......whichever comes soonest

And the actual build won't take a day

Seen this?

http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/paul-smith-blog/la-flamme-rouge,563,PBL.html

I ride this Rex e Ellipse Project. Mavic Heliums, FRM Cranks, Massi stem, DA 9 Group aside and a Brooks Pro Pre softened (which I nabbed off a Gitane I bought at a Calais car boot for monkey nuts!) It is a tad too small for me but I love it :o) Was going to buy one of the red Limited Edition SX frames from CRC but not managed to get any feedback if they were that much better (though a fair bit lighter) than the REX to invest, then the 58s sold out so that put paid to that.

I have to say the level top tube looks better than the sloping tube of the SX models (as is usually the case).

When I was buying my road frame, I don't think there were any Ellipses left. I think there was the team issue limited edition frame, but that cost A LOT. I did not have the money to get it.

The larger of the SX limited editions was down to £630 or thereabouts but frame only & no fork/headset. Though going by the prinny blurb the larger frames had a less pronounced slope on the SX hence why I was interested and as you say the horizontal top tube frames do look nicer :o)

Is principia still building bikes? I thought they'd gone bust years ago. Or is it leftover stock they're selling over at CRC?

http://www.principia.dk/

They are very much alive, it would seem.

But the frames CRC sell are "vintage".

it has a Profile Design fork which is pretty awesome. don't have any experience with the frame though...

As this looks like being the official Principa page, I just happened to see a road version being ridden yesterday late afternoon somewhere near Jack Straws / Spaniards Inn / Highgate village - nice looking bike

I guess Principia has never been that well-known a brand. Not that much info available nor is there an abundance of riders sharing their experiences. I hope it's more of "a select group" than "an acquired taste" thing.

I heard from a Principia owner that one of the reasons the original company went out of business was that in pursuit of perfection they just junked anything with the hint of a flaw. Ally this to a painstaking build process in Denmark and the laws of volume economics and it was no longer viable - especially as at the original price point they we're competing with much better know brands such as Pinarello etc.

This came from the guy I mentioned above who was riding a Colnago but regretted selling his Principia. It was an interesting conversation as he was an engineer - although the finer points of why their aluminium alloy was unique and perfectly constructed were lost on me as the gradient kicked up.

Needless to say, I love them and they're often complimented upon when out riding so I'm saying Skunkworks 'select group' as opposed to 'acquired taste', fits.

I'll try and put up some shots of my RSL later.

Viva Principia

Here is a pic of my RSL road bike. I know it is not a track bike but I just love the color :-)

@Oswald: Nice bike ! but I would turn the stem in the other way so it poits to the ground.

That RSL is gorgeous. I love the colour. What groupset do you have there?

@Oswald: Nice bike ! but I would turn the stem in the other way so it poits to the ground.

Thanks .. truth be told I'm getting on a bit now and don't have the flexibilty I had when I was younger, and as the steerer was cut back in the day (I've owned the frame and fork from new - parts have changed over the years) .. the only option when I decided to put the frame on the road to make some use of it again (I no longer live in easy distance of a track) was to flip the stem.

I really like the color of your RSL and a very nice build too

That RSL is gorgeous. I love the colour. What groupset do you have there?

If you are talking about mine, it is shimano 6700 with a fulcrum torq R :)
For this season I added a few white parts ( brake- and shiftwire, whtite wcs saddle, withe HUDZ covers ans white bartape ) But I am not sure, if I like it :D