For Sale: Principia - Mid 1990s

£not available on here due to a flake.

As I have agreed a one in one out policy to limit my collection and to save my marriage my Principia is for sale.

I bought this last year from the estate of the original owner in Germany. I have sorted out a few issues and fitted it with DA 7400 brakes to match the crankset and mechs. It has a new 8 speed cassette and new old stock Shimano brake levers (not Dura Ace) and new brake cables - inners and outers. It is also wearing brand new Schwalbe tyres and new tubes.

It has been well looked after and has only one significant paint scrape on the NDS of the seat tube which I have highlighted in the photo - I would say it was leaned against something then slipped.

Since buying it I have found out a lot about these. It seems the company set out to make the best frame it could using alloys and tubes produced exclusively for them. They must have been losing money on every frame.

The ride is really comfortable particularly compared to my other aluminium bikes with none of the buzz or jarring of my Cannondale. Stable secure handling is really nice especially on fast descents.

Cranks (172.5 mm) mechs and chain rings (48/39)are all Dura Ace 7400.

Shifters are Dura Ace with index or friction shifting. Indexing works perfectly.

Headset is Stronglite

Cinelli 80mm stem.

Unknown bars.

Selle Italia Gel Flow saddle - I find it very comfortable but every butt suits a different saddle. Ritchey WCS post.

Frame sizes:

ST 55cm CTC, 60cm CTT
TT 53cm CTC
HT 15cm CTC
DT 62.5cm CTC

£withdrawn from LFGSS

Will post at cost (buyer to pay), Paypal purchase welcome - 50% of fee to be added to price. No Paypal gift - it is just dodgy (and against site rules)

cool stuff

Cheers Jeez - I do know what you mean. It is a lovely thing and it has taken me since last year to bring myself to advertise it. It is all sorted out and ready to ride.

333 views and only one person has pm'd me. This is the first time I have sold a bike on here. Is the price too strong? or is it just too much of an unknown? Feed back welcome on here or PM.

don't worry about the quality of the bike or the price level. this is a great bike for a good price I'd say. It's january though, there's always a smaller/slower market... come spring this will be snapped up no doubt.

Worth every penny, I have a nephew who might be interested, will ring him today.

Cheers for the feed back. I found a view unsolicited forum comments on the web:

Jynx
08-01-08, 01:47 PM
Top notch frames. I wanted to get one here in the states but it was way to much money compared to a Cannondale CAAD frame. I still really want one and probably will get one when I get the money.
freako
08-02-08, 10:43 PM
The Aluminum frames from Principia are by far the best in the aluminum frame on the market, they would make Cannondale look like cheap junk! Principia has the highest level of stress before frame failure of any other AL frame on the market. If you want the best aluminum frame Principia is the one to buy.
531Aussie
08-02-08, 11:12 PM
Yep, alu Principia frames are meant to be one of the best. I'd buy one in a second!
**Advice on a roadie (2000 Principia Rex Pro) **
They were lovely bikes (raced at a top level) sounds like a bargin to me I'd go for it if it fits you. All that nine speed stuff is still around and I doubt anything will be in bad nick nothing a strip down with new cables and clean could not fix.

Clearly they impressed some people at least. seems that they were also used by the Linda McCartney Race Team.

I have noticed that most of the ones I can find photos of have the aluminium joint welds exposed. The ex Hampshire dealer I spoke to said that the ones like mine, with the welds all blended, were usually for the German market where the industrial aesthetic of the exposed welds was not popular.

Wednesday price drop then off to Fleabay at the weekend if not sold... £345.

Didn't think to include it originally but I have had an inquiry re the standover height. Have just measured from the top edge of the top tube straight down to the floor (rounding up if anything) it's 82cm at the back and 83.5cm at the front by the head tube.

Provisionally sold - I've allowed the buyer a little time to sell his track bike.

Lovely bike- I am massive fan of these bikes! Have a bump.

So after getting half way through listing this on Ebay and then getting a plea to buy from here I agree to sell it. Then it is conditional on him selling his bike so I agree to wait until 14 February.

His bike sold last week and he confirmed he was going ahead. Heard no more so I message him to check if he is picking up or wants it sending. Today at almost 4.00pm he tells me he has got to move and can't be buying a bike. Sold his bike for more than mine was costing. Obviously does not understand the concept of a concluded agreement.

Cheers Kenya - Feel the shame bro.

This is now off to Ebay - no deals, no dicking about, my goodwill is in overdraft for now.

Seems absurd. A total steal at £345. Can't believe it's not gone.

Totally. Must just be the time of year and wet weather.
Try Retrobike?

Can't believe this didnt sell in a heart beat, excellent bike and an absolute steal. If it was in Australia it would be in my shed by now.

Good luck with the Bay sale!

Lovely!

very nice bike, haven't seen many Principia around, but the finish on that is very good.

However, what might be scaring your buyers away is the drivechain, looks like a new cassette, but the inner chainring is totally knackered, and pictures don't show the condition of the outer or chain (although a worn chain isn't exactly a problem!).

Please don't take this the wrong way, but it might be the reason no one has bitten your arm off for this already!

Perhaps but look at the price and the stuff it has got. Cassette is new because it hat heavy mismatched wheels with a uniglide cassette. I put the Xero lites on it with a new hg cassette and chain. It has new tyres and tubes new brake pads new cables new bar tape brand new brake levers. Nobody asked to split (answer would have been no). If someone wanted new chain rings I would source and fit them if they paid for them. They are readily available and reasonably priced. I did not set out to restore it to new condition I could have but then it would be £800. I do not deal in bikes. I collect them and having reached or actually exceeded my limits this one was for sale.

Sadly it was bought and then reneged on by someone who has very different values to me

I sent you a very honest and polite private message - explaining that due to unforeseen circumstances i couldn't buy the bike anymore. Why you feel the need to use phrases such as 'Feel the shame bro' and name me on the thread baffles me. I'm sorry nobody wants to buy your bike, but please try not to let your frustration manifest itself in such a petulant manner on an internet forum. You could have just replied to me and reacted in a normal fashion; Have some perspective - Selling a bike because you have one too many is on the top of your priority list. I'm having to move house because my rent has been put up. I think if anyone should be 'feeling the same' here it should certainly be you pal.

It's not that I can't sell my bike it's that you wasted 2 weeks of my time when I could have been selling it.

Just think about this though - if you took something off the market because somebody says they will buy it providing their bike sells and then when their bike sells giving them more cash than they need to pay you would you feel dicked about if they reneged. Exactly.

Ps - you appear to have a shortfall of income over expenditure.

1. The £345 you gained by selling your Dolan and failing to pay for my bike is not going to make any significant difference to that.

2. Keep away from the bikes for sale section on here if you can't control your acquisitive urges as you will just piss more people off.

Just for those of you who like to track such things - sold for £385 plus P&P and on its way to Kent.