Current Projects chat and miscellany

Fair enough. I really hate stems with drop at the top of a spacer stack aesthetically, but it's your bike, and it will look loads better with a spacer on top anyway. Have you tried the flipped stem, just once, to make sure it's really that bad though?

Yeah. The old stem, as well as being too long (110 vs this 90), was 'only' 6 degree drop and I really didn't like the look. I think when I shift the spacer up onto this one it'll look fine.

Witcomb is very nice. love nervex lugs. look forward to seeing its progress.

I wouldn't want a rat witcomb, it feels wrong...

U mad bro?

The more beautifully made the bike, the greater the rat pleasure surely.....
Get it running, have some fun on it and do the resto later.

(I haz Chas Roberts, Cliff Shrubb and Bob Jackson Rats waiting for period correct parts, time and cash for porn-builds! meanwhile I get guilt-free enjoyment from beautifully built bikes that I can ride anywhere in any weather, lock without concern for scratches - much better than having it floating about the place waiting for a rainy day).

Obviously if you're not a lazy bugger like me and are likely to get it done quickly feel free to ignore me.

Rik, your old red rat frame is still sitting on top of the wardrobe while I build my reasonably priced road bike - the parts from the Ammaco are going onto a Raleigh 531 frame - just waiting for the stem then I can build it up. In idle moments I think about what to put on your frame. I got front and rear Arabesque mechs and a pair of matching band on shifters, which I would quite like to put on. On the other hand, I am quite tempted to do a nice single speed CX. And then there is the bars - just don't know what to do there...

I don't desagree with you actually. I would normally to keep the bike intact, and only give it the minimum attention for the rust not to aggravate / generate structural problems, etc... but in this case, I don't believe this is the original paintjob... I have no idea what stages this bike went thru, if it was home-repainted or what. You can see on some pictures that some red paint has been applied to cover the rust, only the head decal remains, so there is not enough of it's original details to justify keeping it as it is...

Anyhow, further inspection tomorow will hopefully lead me in the right direction...

U mad bro?
The more beautifully made the bike, the greater the rat pleasure surely.....
Get it running, have some fun on it and do the resto later.
(I haz Chas Roberts, Cliff Shrubb and Bob Jackson Rats waiting for period correct parts, time and cash for porn-builds! meanwhile I get guilt-free enjoyment from beautifully built bikes that I can ride anywhere in any weather, lock without concern for scratches - much better than having it floating about the place waiting for a rainy day).
Obviously if you're not a lazy bugger like me and are likely to get it done quickly feel free to ignore me.

Project MTB is going good, 2 problems have arisen though. Firstly Couldn't mount the front disc as the forks have a different mount so I've ordered an adaptor.... Secondly, while examining my forks I found that if I shake them, something inside rattles. Pretty annoyed, I've had them for maybe 4 or 5 years, but have ridden them very little, externally they are in mint nick. Well out of warranty, shame as I had great opinion of Marzocchi before. They still work, just damping isn't too great. Will ride them for now and if I get alot of use out of the bike will replace them.

This where I'm up to, just to mount front brake and change the semi slicks for knobblies. Think I'm going to keep the Ritchey finishing kit for now as it's very nice in the flesh.

I was only joking, do what you want with it, it's a lovely frame the Nervex lugs and seat-stay caps are very similar to my Bob Jackson - I wish you well with it.

Is that the one I was going to swap with you? Forgot about that...

Yep, I guess your busy on the 'nago - do you still have the raleigh?

VeLLo, whats the serial number on your witcomb? think I may have just bought a 77 track frame.

VeLLo, whats the serial number on your witcomb? think I may have just bought a 77 track frame.

I don't have the frame yet, picking it up tomorow in principle. Will be able to tell you then.

I saw your query on the Witcomb thread, and I will need as well to try to find out from Barry himself, providing I can contact him thru colourtech...

I may have a chance to have a word with Jo tomorow too.

L

I was only joking, do what you want with it, it's a lovely frame the Nervex lugs and seat-stay caps are very similar to my Bob Jackson - I wish you well with it.

Pegoretti paint job?

I saw your query on the Witcomb thread, and I will need as well to try to find out from Barry himself, providing I can contact him thru colourtech...

I may have a chance to have a word with Jo tomorow too.

L

I just text Jo, he's probably pretty creeped out that I still have his number having bought some stuff off him previously, so not heard anything back yet. nudge him my way if you see him, you going down to union works?

If you do get through before me then PM me and Il try and hijack your query!

I've Gone Dutch.

Love it!

Project MTB is going good, 2 problems have arisen though. Firstly Couldn't mount the front disc as the forks have a different mount so I've ordered an adaptor.... Secondly, while examining my forks I found that if I shake them, something inside rattles. Pretty annoyed, I've had them for maybe 4 or 5 years, but have ridden them very little, externally they are in mint nick. Well out of warranty, shame as I had great opinion of Marzocchi before. They still work, just damping isn't too great. Will ride them for now and if I get alot of use out of the bike will replace them.

This where I'm up to, just to mount front brake and change the semi slicks for knobblies. Think I'm going to keep the Ritchey finishing kit for now as it's very nice in the flesh.

what frame is this?

new frame arrived just now. obviously nothing could be as easy as I'd thought, both axles are too big, so will have to file into my beautiful campag track axles!

feels wrong, but bikes is for riding.

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thats seems a crazy thing to do! why not buy a wheelset that fits the dropouts? prob takes 27" wheels anyway?

nah takes 700c, pretty tight. basically I love the wheels, and once I've done the respray they'll look amazing on the frame, so its worth it I reckon, wont affect the integrity of the wheels, just means I may have a little more difficulty selling them on if I ever do..

I would recommend you stripping the frame just to verify if the steel is still sound, the paintbrush job doesnt do it too many favors in terms of reflecting the rust level

having said that, the lugs are a piece of beauty

the paint has been stripped in a few places, it seems fine, will have it sandblasted obviously, so will get our Vaz to have a look when its properly stripped.

If Hilary Stone sold it to me as fine when its not there will be hell to pay!

will have to file into my beautiful campag track axles!

I'd file the dropouts/track ends. Presumably they need enlarging from 5/16" (7.9mm) to 9mm and 3/8" (9.5mm) to 10mm. That will make the frame compatible with all your modern wheels. Of course, if it were a really nice vintage frame, I'd be putting period correct hubs in it with old imperial sized axles, but as you say it's for riding.

It is a really nice frame......Do what thy will............ but will you have issues with un-screwing the cones for re-greasing?

the frame is probably from 77, so I figure a cobbled together campag pista group would be nice, perhaps not exactly right, but I love the parts and I love the frame = my perfect bike..

I thought about filing the dropouts, maybe that would be best?

It is a really nice frame......Do what thy will............ but will you have issues with un-screwing the cones for re-greasing?

dont think so, will only be filing away a little notch of thread on the axles, so wont touch the the cones..