Ex ANC Halfords Team Bike Restoration

3 months since the frame went to the restorers and the waiting is killing me.
Fingers crossed 2 weeks and it should be back at which point I’ll upload some pics to show before and after. Recovering of the Turbo saddle has also been delayed but should be done in a week. It’s like waiting for the birth of a child, hope its worth it??

Over the weekend I received news that the frame was ready for collection, and today it arrived, after some three months away. As a very impatient person it’s been a long wait, but upon seeing it for the first time it was worth the wait amazing. A big thanks must go to Nick at H Lloyd for the bespoke decals plus some NOS 753r, plus Paul and the guy’s as Ellis Briggs, who saved the frame from the scrap heap, bear in mind the seatpost was stuck and the bottom bracket, the corrosion was a concern but when stripped it turned out only to be minor surface. You can see in the photo’s the frame before and after, the best thing is that the pain has been matched exactly and decals installed in the exact location as the originals.

I know purists would say you should have left it as it was but it would have just rusted into a heap and it deserved a full restoration given it’s a classic bike. Now the fun begins building it up. Only thing missing is the seatpost, and as this is French diameter 753r tubing it’s not going to be a quick find.

Restored frame photos in link below, I’ll load some more up after a weekend of bolting the groupset on.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aln1974/8935105156/in/photostream/

Looks very nice

I've always had an attachment to these frames - my first road bike was one of the gaspipe versions.

decals look ace-what size/kind on seatpin you after? will keep my eyes open.

Couldn’t wait until the weekend so sacrificed last nights training to put the ANC bike together, didn’t take too long as much easier to set up the old Campag kit.

Turbo saddle still being restored but should be back in a few weeks which gives me time to find a new seat post. The bike had a Chorus (same as Adrian Timmis TDF bike) which was destroyed when getting it out 26.6 is not as common as other sizes but choice is do I source a correct Chorus from the era or go for C Record, which other team bike had fitted?

Another issue is the bar tape, the bike came with the original Benotto which was a dark yellow (same colour as they used on the ’87 TDF bikes), it’s a very hard colour to get your hands on, so do I pay a crazy price for the right colour or go for the orange, which ANC also used on there bikes?

More photo’s in the link below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aln1974/8967515223/

Just spectacular.

And those wheels/freewheel...

I always think of the orange benotto as being the ANC colour, but now you mention it, I do remember the dark yellow -
I checked photo's of Timmis' bike - which currently has the bright orange tape.

but at the time he was, as you say, sporting the yellow tape
http://www.saltedmackerel.cc/images/adrian3.jpg
Benotto were not the only makers of that sort of tape, back in the 90's I was using a non-benotto red plastic tape that had chromoplastic end plugs very similar to those in the photo of Timmis in the tour... can't remember who made it though... I wondered whether it might be that the yellowy tape is actually an own-brand peugeot product... did a google image search on Peugeot Handlebar tape, the only hit I got was for Major Taylor who were selling this

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0164/6740/products/OrangeBenotto_large.jpg?286

Personally I'd probably go with Orange, but that's mostly cos I'm not meticulous and don't like paying over the odds for stuff, but for those precise reasons I'm never going to end up with a bike like this so I guess my opinions are irrelevant!!

Cheers Rick,
I can only find Benotto to match the original colour, but you could be right it may have been something else but its as rare as chicken teeth. I've got some of the orange so may just go with that. You can see from the photo Adrian's bike is from the same era as mine and the date stamps on both confirm they where made at the same time 1987.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-BENOTTO-vintage-GOLDY-handlebar-CELLO-bar-tape-SMOOTH-/310681029862?pt=US_Brakes&hash=item4856084ce6#ht_1207wt_896

Restored Orange Turbo is back, looking as good as new, the search for a seat post continues; think I’m going to have to sell my soul or the wife’s car for one on a certain auction site for crazy money

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Also got sent this photo of what we think is my bike, can anyone figure out the race?

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Photo of a team issue turbo back in 1987 so you can see how exact the restoration is

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You tried Hilary Stone for the seatpin?

Yes but nothing to suit I'm after C Record 26.6 in mint condition or NOS, as original was a Victory but no hope of getting one of those

Campyoldy have got smaller than 26.6 in c record if you could make an elegant shim.

Campyoldy have got smaller than 26.6 in c record if you could make an elegant shim.

Cheers given the spend so far I'd rather get the right size

Or buy a 27,0 and stick it in a lathe then polish back up?

All the money but just wondering if a Chorus would be a nearer match than C-Record?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-Campagnolo-Chorus-26-6mm-seatpost-C-RECORD-ERA-26-6-/310679374925?pt=US_Seatposts&hash=item4855ef0c4d

Got lucky today NOS C Record for £110.00 from the right year of manufacture, so Wife's car is safe

I love the amount of time, thought and money that you're throwing at this.
You can be justifiably proud and it will look great when finished.
Good find with the seat post.

Oh, and what sort of pin/bolt have you got to hold your race number on the bike?
Mine is missing this bolt. Thanks

Very nice.

Oh, and what sort of pin/bolt have you got to hold your race number on the bike?
Mine is missing this bolt. Thanks

Race number is new bought it off ebay the bolt came with it. Will check the size for you but think its just a standard M6. The wing bolts off old Camapg gear levers fit if you can get your hands on one. I have one you can have its got some minor rust PM me with your address & I'll post it to you

Received a PM this week from someone claiming the bike is not an Ex-Team. As I took photos of the restoration thought I’d upload some of the phases. Pic 1 bike at my mates before he stripped it down, Pic 2 frame before it went to be refurbished, Pic 3 frame back from refurbishment, as if you’d spend so much money restoring a fake??

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lovely restoration, ln74.

if you're after that particular yellow/orange shade of tape, this might fit the bill, and it's cheap!

lovely restoration, ln74.

if you're after that particular yellow/orange shade of tape, this might fit the bill, and it's cheap!

Cheers just the job as cant find any Benotto in the right colour

Looks wicked so far, proper labour of love!