Hi forum,
Space constraints and the arrival of a new frame mean that my Dave Russell has to go. I love this frame - it was my first 'real' bike, and it was the catalyst for my appreciation of older machines. Anyway, the decision has been made.
Good points:
A great example of early 1970's framebuilding - look at that seat cluster and really well done lug lining
Excellent TA BB that will run and run
There's no tubing sticker but it's 531DB. Sometimes you just know.
Cinelli-style sloping crown fork and Campag dropouts
Bad points:
Lots of scrapes to the paint
There are two small dents - on the seat tube and the top tube
Some of the braze-ons are a little bent but they all work
Headset is a shite Lightrace design with only one nut
It's not a Dave Russell - it was resprayed by him at some point, as the headbadge shows. Serial number and other bits of the bike are reminiscent of Mercian, but I can't guarantee this.
Because its already been resprayed once, you don't have to feel guilty if you do it again - the puppy was slain some time in the 1980's.
I bought it in early 2011 on eBay for around £100, and I'm willing to let it go for £60 collected in London (frame, fork, headset and BB). This is not a bargain price, but I really don't want to let this go easily. I'm loath to post, especially for lowball offers.
Technical
Size - IIRC it's 58x57 but I will check (it could be larger)
120mm rear spacing
Old style nutted caliper mountings
27.2 seatpost
Little knob for downtube shifters
Tunnel over BB for RD cable, DT stop for FD
Stop guides on the TT and right chainstay
Gear hanger aligned and present, threads good.
This is how it's currently living - save it from being a fixed conversion!
Hi forum,
Space constraints and the arrival of a new frame mean that my Dave Russell has to go. I love this frame - it was my first 'real' bike, and it was the catalyst for my appreciation of older machines. Anyway, the decision has been made.
Good points:
A great example of early 1970's framebuilding - look at that seat cluster and really well done lug lining
Excellent TA BB that will run and run
There's no tubing sticker but it's 531DB. Sometimes you just know.
Cinelli-style sloping crown fork and Campag dropouts
Bad points:
Lots of scrapes to the paint
There are two small dents - on the seat tube and the top tube
Some of the braze-ons are a little bent but they all work
Headset is a shite Lightrace design with only one nut
It's not a Dave Russell - it was resprayed by him at some point, as the headbadge shows. Serial number and other bits of the bike are reminiscent of Mercian, but I can't guarantee this.
Because its already been resprayed once, you don't have to feel guilty if you do it again - the puppy was slain some time in the 1980's.
I bought it in early 2011 on eBay for around £100, and I'm willing to let it go for £60 collected in London (frame, fork, headset and BB). This is not a bargain price, but I really don't want to let this go easily. I'm loath to post, especially for lowball offers.
Technical
Size - IIRC it's 58x57 but I will check (it could be larger)
120mm rear spacing
Old style nutted caliper mountings
27.2 seatpost
Little knob for downtube shifters
Tunnel over BB for RD cable, DT stop for FD
Stop guides on the TT and right chainstay
Gear hanger aligned and present, threads good.
This is how it's currently living - save it from being a fixed conversion!
Cheers all,
NCJL