Hetchins resto - the bike that taste forgot

Black. Red will get dirty

red cotton tape, brush coated with shellac. four coats should nice it up!

Black cotton, no shellac - two layers if you're feeling rich. Then you might get away with red cables (might).

Mannnn this make me wish I'd kept my hetchins and chromed it up!

absolutely red
but maybe not quite that red
something deeper

I vote for black bar tape but don't underestimate the importance of the cables.
;-)

also if it was me i'd paint the flutes in the chain set and seat post red
You might say ott, but i mean what is the bike if not ott (in the best way possible)?

also it would match the bb axle

Sorry Hilly, SWMBO has spoken ^^. And TBH I think she's right - I've been flicking between the photos for ages, and I still think the red just looks wrong.

CoppiThat and njclee, I did think about cotton tape but decided that cork would be more in keeping with the general early-to-mid eighties theme of the bike.

So boring black cork it shall be.

Good choice, and none of that red cable nonsense either.

I'm with Hilly .. Red tape / cables and flood filling the flutes, maybe even flood filling the screw heads as per Masi .. But I don't have to answer to the boss ;)

and the little holes in the brake levers

Black cotton bar tape...........

I think to much red is going to detract from the awesome paintwork

then.........

large flange hubs.....oooops :)

I looked at large flange hubs, but decided that in my world large flange hubs are for track bikes and small flange hubs are for road bikes. Anyway, La Cycliste has just got some rather tasty Dura Ace 7120 large flange hubs for her Roberts, so I'll leave the big flanges to her.

Anyway, rapid updates to follow as I need to get this bike finished for tomorrow. First up, pedals. Record Superleggeri pedals, new Grade 25 bearings - fitting them was a right swine of a job too. I decided against trying to hunt down some very rare and very expensive Super Record pedals, as the thought of my fat arse bouncing up and down on, ahem, that is, my awesome leg strength being transmitted by, pedals with a 30 year old titanium axles which had a reputation of snapping when they were new was a bad idea.

With some Christophe toe clips and straps. Next up, brakes...

so I'll leave the big flanges to her.

juvenile laughter

Well, it's done.

Argos are evidently masters of spray gun and paint brush, but it appears they still have something to learn about masking tape. The build was going relatively smoothly until I tried feeding the cables through the tubes underneath the bottom bracket, when I discovered that the tube for the front derailleur was full of hardened paint. Unfortunately, none of my drill bits go round corners, so I ended up having to drill a hole in the tube to get it cleaned out.

It's far from a disaster, and it's not as though anyone will ever see it, but it is rather annoying. Time to go goth and buy some black nail varnish.

Anyway, here it is - teaser shots first.

Super Record shifters and headset, Record front brake with Campag drop bolt.

Phil Wood titanium bottom bracket, Super Record cranks and front derailleur.

Super Record rear derailleur and IRD 13-28 freewheel. The jockey wheels which came with the derailleur were shot, so I've fitted some Tacx sealed bearing ones. I'll fit some NOS Campag jockey wheels when I can find some for less than 50 quid.

And in all its glory:

Now time to start taking bits off to get it ready for the Pendle Witches.

Looks great.
My only comment would be redo the cinelli end wraps so the logos line up.
This guy Dobbins is a master of over the top restos.
Also a good source of period correct builds

http://www.raydobbins.com/

I'll bear it in mind when the bar tape needs replacing. I'm not quite enough of a bike tart to put it too high up my list of priorities!

I'd hoped to give the Hetchins a decent shake-down ride on Saturday, but as it was I only had time for three laps round the block. Just as well, as the first lap showed I'd forgotten to tighten the handlebars up, something I discovered when I first tried using the brakes.

I made a few changes to get the Hetchins ready for the Pendle Witches ride - fitted a bottle cage and put my repro Hetchins bottle in it, added the Carradice saddlebag (in breach of rule 29), and swapped the pedals for 105 SPDs. In a major breach of rule no. 5, I decided that given the weather forecast using a pair of SIDI Diablo winter boots with electric heated insoles would make the day go far more pleasantly, and they're not really compatible with Campag Record SL pedals.

The Pendle Witches was really enjoyable, and surprisingly challenging for a 54 mile ride. The front derailleur needs a bit of tweaking, as the chain was rubbing on bottom gear, and the brakes are appalling. Not entirely surprising, given the age of the brake blocks, but I'm hoping they'll improve slightly with use. The ride also proved that even with a 13-28 freewheel, a 42 tooth 'small' front chainring means that riding out of the saddle on most of the climbs was a necessity rather than an option.

All in all, though, it rides really well. I like it.

Lovely looking machine!

Exactly the same gearing as I have on my hetchins.....all but two L'eroica hills were do-able too.....good work!

(But black brooks tape ;0). )

Looks stunning

Very nice!

lovely build

Great stuff Danstuff, look forward to seeing it in the flesh.

Do you have any problem running the 13-28t freewheel? I didn't think the old derailleur can handle the large cog.

Added the Carradice saddlebag (in breach of rule 29).

Those rules are fucking shit and best to be ignored.

Cheers chaps. It's good to know that at least most of L'Eroica will be rideable on a 42/28 so thanks for that nugget of info stedlocks.

The 13-28t freewheel seems fine so far. According to Velobase the Super Record has a maximum sprocket size of 28t, and a max chain wrap difference of 26 teeth - with 42/53 chainrings and a 13/28t freewheel I'm right on the limit, but it's working so far.

I agree the Rules are often best ignored. Except rule no. 5. Except where rule no. 5 involves cold tootsies. Then it can be ignored too.

that is bling!