Current Projects chat and miscellany

Cinelli Alter, Cinelli Frog, One of the 3TTT Mutants

I'll give you the Alter and Mutant, although I think the Frog is verging on cute - would make a good theme with a Nitto frog seat post. If you hate the Grammo, you'll probably hate the ITM Krstal (Ti) and Eclypse (CroMo), and your dislike for the Mutant implies an equal dislike for the Deda Murex and probably the Modolo X-Tenos too.

Where you just trying to prove you knew more names?
'cos you didn't need to go through this polava, we both know you do. I'm learning more and more, but I've only been doing this a little while :)

Where you just trying to prove you knew more names?

Just trying to help you to get your plethora together.

Everyone knows it's all about 1 1/8th OS stems anyway. Your knowledge be old. ;)

Ahead FTW...

Alter = Awesome, well at least on my bike, they look shit on most builds.

Your knowledge be old. ;)

I be old ;)

Cinelli Alter is only good for one thing

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hi, built this up a while back and didn't think to post it, would be quite interested in feedback, and especially in trying to find anything out about the frame. it's a winora amigo road frame. have not much more info on it, couldn't understand the german website to find any other info out so if anyone knows anything about it i'm all ears. frame was from my godfather who traded it for a painting in germany in the mid 80s, i then got it powdercoated and painted (by a place near york who stripped, powder coated and painted 2 colours for £35, called "powder and paint", think they are in east cottingwith, amazing job, amazing price). I then got wheels (tiagra + mavic cxp33s) on internet a few parts off my lbs and some off other bikes. i then attached a rack and rode (ditch + garden camping) to paris on it. sorry for the post length, and the strange saddle position is personal preference. forgive mistakes and lack of period co-ordination, when did the build i was poor and did not know anything about bikes.

I really like this bike. You've done a good job of tidying it up and getting running nicely (this I can only presume by photos and words, but it seems so!) The only thing I would suggest is a slightly shorter stem. If you're having to run the saddle so far forward due to the bike feeling too long then you would benefit from a shorted stem more as it would put you back in a more central position on your bike and sharpen the steering a little. Other than that I really like it.

@Crane: Aren't you meant to be working when you're at "work"?! Did you just use sandpaper to rub down the frame or did you use a paintstripper of some sort? I'm planning on taking the paint off my lugs and just clear coating them, but I'm sensibly waiting until I buy some clear coat before I take the paint off!

This was my first fixed build from about 2 years ago.

It was built on a tight budget but I loved it and it got me hooked on fixed. So despite it not being the best build ever, it still has a place in my heart!

My second attempt was this.

I've been really slow at finishing it. I've had it over a year but never had the money to get the parts I really wanted. I was due to get some bits for it this month but I've just bought another frame and am building that up now. This probably won't get finished until after summer but I'll still use it as it is. Ideally I want some campag cranks, new bars, stem and headset for it.

Oh and I know a brake seems to be controversial on here but I don't understand how you can commute in London without one. Skidding and skip stops are fine but for me a brake just seems safer.

@Crane: Aren't you meant to be working when you're at "work"?! Did you just use sandpaper to rub down the frame or did you use a paintstripper of some sort? I'm planning on taking the paint off my lugs and just clear coating them, but I'm sensibly waiting until I buy some clear coat before I take the paint off!

the down tube and headtube i did with just sand paper! and it took fucking ages, and i used paintstriper on the rest, but ran out before i could finish it

nice roberts!

dude i loved that Roberts when we met, not too keen on the brake lever or tyres though!

Crane, have you tried a heat gun paint stripper thingamywosit to take the paint off? I want to strip a frame and was wondering if it would work or if it would melt the brazing? Not sure how hot those things get.

i've just got a clean little tektro crosstop on mine, if i wanted to splash cash then the paul ones look good (but a bit pricey). Just something about the big clamp and the shim, with the large lever - not quite right in my book on drops (I have those brakes on another bike, but on risers).

Gumwall tyres would look the shit on there, or something understated/classic.
What the new build?

1+ on stem, if you find that you need to move the saddle too forward, a shorter stem (like 90-100mm) is a better bet, with the saddle too forward, your body weight end up going on the stem more than the saddle, and thus may get sore hand when riding for a long period of time.

Kam, how you doing? I have to admit I wish it had black tyres now. As for the brake, I agree it's not great. I'd like something neater, maybe a cross top but I've heard they don't stop too well. Any ideas for me???

Crane, Glad you like it. It's a great frame but the build isn't doing it justice. I need a small lottery win to help speed things along! All my wages are going on bike stuff at the moment. It's becoming a problem :(

i've just got a clean little tektro crosstop on mine, if i wanted to splash cash then the paul ones look good (but a bit pricey). Just something about the big clamp and the shim, with the large lever - not quite right in my book on drops (I have those brakes on another bike, but on risers).

Gumwall tyres would look the shit on there, or something understated/classic.
What the new build?

My internet is playing up, I keeping making double posts and then when I delete one both of them disappear!!! Annoying!

Anyway, New build is a grey track frame with silver open pros on DA 7600's. Also DA cranks and seatpost with probably nitto bars and stem. black aliante saddle and definitely black tyres. No brake as it will be for the track!

The Roberts needs a plain saddle too. I may go for a black brooks at some point

Yeah i'm good mate, you? Are you still working in the bar? Always meant to drop in.

crosstops are perfect, combined with leg power ;-) Seriously, never had any major issues over the last few years. I have some cheap black contis going spare if you want? Can't remember which type just now, but they are nice and would suit the build. Also have an ok condition black turbo. Drop me a pm, sure i could help you out with a few bits on the cheap - (only dm as he's sound and bought off me before!)

right, bed...laters.

Kam, how you doing? I have to admit I wish it had black tyres now. As for the brake, I agree it's not great. I'd like something neater, maybe a cross top but I've heard they don't stop too well. Any ideas for me???

That Roberts is beautiful. Why are you saying it isn't finished? To me finished is when a bike has all the parts required to make a bike ridable, and that's usually when buying parts stops for me!

Alter = Awesome, well at least on my bike, they look shit on most builds.

beside the colour of the stem, I think it look great because of how it curve perfectly with the drop.

awesome bike though, how come you sold it? I forget why.

That Roberts is beautiful. Why are you saying it isn't finished? To me finished is when a bike has all the parts required to make a bike ridable, and that's usually when buying parts stops for me!

Thanks BD! It's built but not to my liking. Changes that are likely to be made are as follows:
Cranks - currently Origin 8 but I want Campy.
Stem - currently Nitto but I want Cinelli.
Saddle - in pic Kashimax but have just changed to a Fizik Aliante with blue detail as my arse can't survive with no padding. will change again to something older (possibly a turbo, eh Kam?)
Tyres - currently all blue CST's loved these when I got them but now want something less bold. Probably black for now and maybe gum wall later. Tempted by a Brooks saddle and I think gum walls would look hot with that vintage look.
Brake lever - currentl a Dirt Harry but as Kam said, it's too chunky. I need to find a something smaller, maybe a cross top?

Come to think of it, by the time all that is done, I'll probably have changed my mind and want to start over again! In my eyes, I'll probably never finish building anything! I'm too fickle!

The new "touring" pompino is taking shape and the nelson has been retired to fair weather duty. Hoping to start getting some miles in, in preparation for the summer lejog. Rack, gaurds and paniers probably within the next two weeks.

After about 9 months of the frame and various components lying around I've finished the Rychtarski. This one means a lot to me at the moment as Fiddy was always asking me about it when I saw him, and advising me on Miche wheels haha. Fun to ride so far, I had brakless for about 10 minutes then decided I liked my teeth and face the way they are.