Current Projects chat and miscellany

I can see the argument for doing what you can to preserve the original paint if it's a bit of a special frame and you're going for a period correct restoration etc., but otherwise I reckon it's your frame and if you don't fancy the look of it, get it redone. It's not like you're painting over the Mona Lisa cos you don't like the colour of her frock.

I personally couldn't have lived with the union jack business.
I think the frame looks better now but also, obviously, very different.

If it was a 50's Gillott or a 60's Cinelli in original paint I'd feel a bit different.
As they say it can only be original once, but I suppose I don't rank a 93 Cougar's originallity as very important.

Getting a re-spray every couple of years used to be a very common thing among English cyclists- no-one worried too much.
It's just a bike...

I can see the argument for doing what you can to preserve the original paint if it's a bit of a special frame and you're going for a period correct restoration etc., but otherwise I reckon it's your frame and if you don't fancy the look of it, get it redone. It's not like you're painting over the Mona Lisa cos you don't like the colour of her frock.

sactly

don't get a respray, its practically perfect in every way as it is. A dream bike. The other paint job imo is horrid as well!

don't get a respray, its practically perfect in every way as it is. A dream bike. The other paint job imo is horrid as well!

I don't understand.

Look real good, and the cassette is tiny!

What's with the racing (look more like TT) gearing on it?

Well... cassettte is coming off as it's missing plenty of teeth, and it's too small. Front rings will be swapped for a triple in time for loaded touring.

There's plenty to do on it but as soon as i swap the cassette it'll be rideable.

so, was I right to have it re-sprayed?
There was a lot of opposition before....
http://www.lfgss.com/thread6261-567.html#post1396872

oooh... difficult one. I quite like the original paint and I wouldn't have resprayed but seeing it now makes me realise that that would have been a mistake. Looks lovely as it is. One of the first bikes I really remember loving the aesthetics of was a white cougar very similar to yours but with black decals and wishbone stay.

ha sorry I thought you were going to respray it to be union jack, but from to what it is now, thats fine! I like the new job, thats what I meant...normally I one for original too.

the cougar is now porn. end of.

I think the union jack was pretty cool, but it actually looks a lot better now. Good choice I think.

Not cool. One does not simply walk into lfgss and try and pedal your shit from gumtree

Since we are still on the Cougar, does anyone know anything about the history of the company? I've always liked the look of them but know very little about them.

C B - have you considered asking 14 to fit a pair of 165s to test their theory? If it works and gives good chain line and crank position both sides, why not stick with that. 165s are good to ride on fixed and you will have a frame unsullied by dents in the stays which must stretch the paint at least.

I had 165s I am tall wanted to try 170s.

cranks length are not important so don't worry about the length, it's all in your head.

Since we are still on the Cougar, does anyone know anything about the history of the company? I've always liked the look of them but know very little about them.

Based in Liverpool I think, run by Terry Dolan, who built the frames until he sold the company. That's about the extent of my knowledge.

I got the crimp done yesterday, Ted James (super ted) "bent over backwards" to fit me in he was booked till April. I think he did a great job barely any damage to the paint and really smooth. He had to move the BB over a long way to clear the spider but the chain line is fine. After going up and down the road everything seems to be fine no longer clipping the stay. I put some power down up a hill and still nothing so I am hoping it will is fixed now. If I ever want to run Omniums I will have to get the stay crimped for the spider too but that can wait till I next need/want a respray. THanks for everyones suggestions and help. Pics:

The Bike

The Dent

The Clearence

The Bottom Bracket

The Chainline

cranks length are not important so don't worry about the length, it's all in your head.

It does change the Gain Ratio so its not quite all in my head

cranks length are not important so don't worry about the length, it's all in your head.

Bollocks. Power might not be affected but I much prefer the feel of 170s fixed.

glad it's all worked out. Sugino 75's would look better on that frame anyway.

Too expensive new but I will consider them second hand when the time comes (many years)

The Clearence

That's just ridiculous and I thought my clearance from the ol' Bob Jackson were a little too tight;

I notice I got a small scratched on the chainstay, so keep checking every now and then.

Just put in 15 miles on the Uni commute, if I really put the power down sitting down I can jsut get it to clip. But its rideable and most of the time its fine, there isnt even a scratch where its been touching so it must be the smallest touch. I will get back in contact with Ted and get him to put a slightly bigger dent in to help it clear.

That's just ridiculous and I thought my clearance from the ol' Bob Jackson were a little too tight;

I notice I got a small scratched on the chainstay, so keep checking every now and then.

Also my spider is about that close too if I wanted to improve the chain line I would have to put a dent in at that point too

I had to file a tiny bit off the corners of the spider arms with my Stronglight Track 2000s to avoid them clipping the chainstay on my Bob Jackson. Why 144 PCD cranks should do that on a track bike... meh.

I might switch to the SRAM S300 1.1s I have in the parts bin anyway. Any guesses what'll be stiffer:

Track 2000 = 144 PCD + 1/8" ring + chunky crank arms but on BSA cartridge BB

or

S300 1.1 = 130 PCD + 3/32" ring + GXP external bearing BB

?

I thought the theory was that External Bearing was stiffer and you get to ride on a GIGA PIPE!