Current Projects chat and miscellany

So my 25th anniversary Ron Cooper Columbus SL refurb project is coming along nicely. Here's what it looked like back in the day. Excuse the dodgy NDS pic - I'm not sure what came over me, especially as the Stronglight chainset was one of the nicest things on it.

Here's me taking it along to Colour Tech recently for the new paint job, and bumping into the man Ron himself. 80-odd years young and still welding away! Spot the lovely Cinelli XA stem which unfortunately had to be hacked out. I've sourced a replacement 1A, which is in better condition anyway. (Cheers J.D.)

I effectively replaced the bike with a PX carbon for everyday duties about three years ago but I couldn't bring myself to get rid of the Ron, so the idea with the rebuild was to get it into shape with modern parts but sympathetic styling, as a Sunny Day Special. "Period-correct" was never gonna happen if that meant downtube shifting and 6-speed on the back. So I've gone with full SRAM Force groupset and a nice pair of wheels built by Harry Rowland, Ambrosio Excellight on Novatec hubs. The only surviving components are the Cinelli Campione Del Mondo bars and a Dura Ace AX aero seatpost. (Graphics for which were wearing away badly so I did some judicious scrubbing and it's come up rather nice.) Together with some gum wall tyres, Fizik Arione saddle/white Microtex bartape, I'm happy I've got the old school/new gear balance about right for my tastes.

Currently awaiting delivery of a Stronglight headset and Columbus SL tube decals, then I'll be shipping everything round to the LBS for building. Apart from a lack of tools beyond the usual allen keys and spanners, I've never set up STIs in my life, so might as well get it done properly. Besides, the LBS in question is Vaidas in Honor Oak, all of 50 yards away from Ron's old shop where the frame was made in 1987, so it's all rather apt. I couldn't help myself though, knocked it all up after I picked up the frame yesterday, and it'll look something like this:

Your post made my day man! Love the picture of you and Ron Cooper, I knew he was still around so had no clue he was 80!
Love the non period correct approach too!
Well done!