Conversion in Argentina

You guys are getting pretty butt hurt... It's a generic enough steel frame. Not like its eddy Merckxs hour record bike or some 1985 commerative de rosa. Who cares, there are more important things in life then getting angry at some guy in Argentina because he is building a bike...

^ Are you new here?

There are just no new frames available here! This build was planned before I bought this bike, I wanted a decent steel frame, a disc brake and internally geared hub. The best way I could think of to get a decent steel frame for a good price was to buy a complete bike, strip it and then sell the parts I didn't want. Just about the only other option would have been a custom frame, which i would have loved to do, but just don't have the money. I never wanted a nice, classic road bike, just the frame. As it turned out some of the parts will also work with the build I have planned. I really don't think I am going to "ruin" anything, but I guess we will see...

There are track bikes here and I already have one, it is original from the 80s and has an Argentinian frame, hubs, headset, bottom bracket. It is a fine example of what was produced here when they had a good local industry. But for this build I want to be able to run 28c tyres with the option of 32c, this is not going to happen with any track frame that I have come across.

sounds sensible enough to me.

I like the orange track bike!

I have stripped the paint which uncovered a name stamped on the headtube, totally different from the name it was sold under. Not sure what the story behind the name is but I assume it is the builder. Also I have got my hands on a suitable riser and some Campy downtube, friction shifters. I have left on the drive side, shifter braze-on, as I plan to use a friction shifter for the Sturmey Archer. Also I have had the rear triangle re-chromed.

Does it have anything to do with Ciocc the framebuilders?

You're definitely a fucktard, eh.

Does it have anything to do with Ciocc the framebuilders?

there is somewhat of a disparity between the tone of the two comments you have made in this thread, but, I will cautiously answer your question...

No it has nothing to do with Giocc. Argentina had lots of local frame builders many of whom either came from Italy, or had parents that came from Italy. Ciccolini is an Italian name and this frame is almost certainly the work of a local, unknown builder working with something a bit better than gas piping. The use of Campagnolo dropouts, internal cable routing and the name stamped onto the frame give me an impression of at least a competent and proud builder.

I fitted the new front hub into the forks and confirmed what I had suspected. The 160mm rotor just scrapes the fork leg. I will put a washer between the locknut and cone on the disc side and all will be well. Having confimed this I went ahead with stripping the hub. It had a bath in caustic soda to remove the anodizing and then had a light sand and a polish. It is now rebuilt with the washer.

This looks like its going to be a beauty....

http://argentinafixedgear.com.ar/foro/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5678&hilit=ciccolini

there you go. what i don't get is argentine's love for mtb handlebars on any kind of bicycle..

lachy: me gusta el trabajo que le hiciste/mandaste hacer. quedo prolijo, pero quedo bastante rara la maquina..

Me gusta, el color esta perfecto!

thanks HMA, but nothing a quick edit on flickr couldn't fix :)

Me gusta, el color esta perfecto!

glad you like the colour, me too, I think it is a big improvement on the purple.

For everyone else, the frame has been painted in a light metallic blue and I added the details in an off-white.

A brave project. I does look like the toptube isn't straight?

I like the headtube insignia, it's similar to some Simoncini lettering.

A brave project. I does look like the toptube isn't straight?

It's not going to be to everyone's taste :)

The top tube isn't straight, don't have any idea what happened, but it has more of a kink that a bend. it's like the top tube was sawn in half and then rejoined a tiny bit out of alignment. Apart from that, the frame seems to be pretty well straight, but I did have to do a little cold setting of the rear dropouts, I will post a photo of the "tool" I used.

The top tube isn't straight, don't have any idea what happened, but it has more of a kink that a bend. it's like the top tube was sawn in half and then rejoined a tiny bit out of alignment.

It seems like a lot of work on a knackered frame. Good luck with it though.

Looks like a nice build.. No track ends? I mean since you have a frame builder lined up?

Why bother? I'd say a new tt would be preferable.

It seems like a lot of work on a frame** with character**. Good luck with it though.

Looks like a nice build.. No track ends? I mean since you have a frame builder lined up?

Why bother?

^this

A fine & interesting comeback from what initially appeared to be just another puppy killing thread :-)

I agree with miro_o that it seems a lot of work for that frame, but it doesn't sound like you have a huge amount of choice out there. Besides, you've put some care into it. It's not like you just rattle canned it & threw on a spok.

Complete and utter madness! but I like it. I am over the initial shock now.............................carry on*. [tiny bit worried by the disc brake thing]

^Yeah... I hope the frame builder knows what he's doing with that disc mount.

^Yeah... I hope the frame builder knows what he's doing with that disc mount.

I know it is a little strange but I have always wanted a disc brake on a "classic" looking bike, I also prefer the look of curved fork blades, which rules out most modern forks.

The initial plan was to take the fork to a local guy who prepares quad bikes for the Dakar, he would have tig welded on an ISO mount and would no doubt have done a fine job, although it probably would have ended up very chunky looking and a little over-engineered on a bicycle.

Through a local fixed gear forum I found a young, Irish( I think he's Irish) framebuilder living in Buenos Aires. I have seen photos of his work and importantly he has done before **exactly **what I am after. Fillet brazing a post mount (I think it is a cleaner look) disc support to a similar fork to mine. I liked what he did and figure second time round will only be an improvement on his already fine initial attempt.

Post mount would certainly look cleaner. Whilst I Prefer IS mounts for mtbs, they can look a bit much on curved forks.

for all the non-spanish speakers on the forum I will translate

Me gusta, el color esta perfecto!

translates to:
I like it, the colour is perfect.

lachy: me gusta el trabajo que le hiciste/mandaste hacer. quedo prolijo, pero quedo bastante rara la maquina..

sometimes hard to catch the tone but I will try, it roughly translates to:

Dear Sir,
It was with awe that I gazed upon your bicycle. Never before have I beheld such perfection of both aesthetics and machine. You have entered the pantheon of cycling greats. You are my hero.
Your most humble and admiring servant,
hma

well.. what i said is that i like the quality of the work but the build is quite strange. it is ok if you can't take criticism but there's no need to be a dick about it..

about the bars: is not against you - it's just a thought about one of argentina's national idiotisms like the mandatory use of a freewheel and front brake on training track events amongst groups of certain age..

i am an argentine and i managed to get a decent track frame for £45 and build it up with campag and cinelli components under £150 so it is not as impossible as you say it is..