Gruber's Ex-Team TVM Gazelle 853-Servais Knaven

Demax the alu/ compact frame?

Steel 531 compact.

Glorious day for its maiden voyage through the local hills!

No major issues-definitely need to get used to using a quill stem again as the steering feels much more twitchy, otherwise I really like the way it handles and soaks up the many bumps on the road. Was a bit wary of the 15 year old carbon fork but seems ok so far... I think my riding position is pretty much bang on but I need to tinker a little bit with the hood position on the bars and definitely want a new saddle lest my bollocks fall off mid-ride.

Having negotiated the myriad of potholes and craters, hairy descents and dodged the UK's splendid array of considerate drivers, I proceeded to almost decapitate a fucking springer spaniel whose dozy owner just managed to yank it back before it launched itself into my front wheel. I'm pretty sure said owner then punched the dog which is a bit sad, but then I was calling him a stupid prick at the time so I'm not sure what the moral of this tale is, other than the fact that Grubaix Special could have been written off and not to tangle with dog owners in that town.

Only other thing of note is that the freehub noise from the Royce hub is fucking horrible. Really tinny and loud. Do not like-my white industries hub sounds like a swiss made clock by comparison. Annoying but what can you do?

If there's too much flex, worth replacing the quill stem with a decent one.

what can you do?

sell the bike off cheap

today i got my thomson seatpost-wanted to try the layback to see if it was more comfy as a sometimes find myself shifting back on the saddle when I'm tired so in scientific terms I wonder if i'm using my ass muscles enough... if I don't like it I'll swap it for another but in-line.

it's also a 26.8 and I think (although it's supposed to be 26.8 from the gazelle cat) previously a 27.0 has been used and I don't know if that's made it a bit baggy or the thomson is just a bit eh slippy? seems ok for the moment but definitely had to tighten it more than i would normally to stop it slipping.

next priority is a different saddle, then headset, but i need to sell some stuff first as i'm skint : /

such a nice frame. It needs one of these

Definitely, make a massive difference in stiffness.

and will look less like a limp tadger

oi! limp tadger is my look, thanks

sniff

Definitely, make a massive difference in stiffness.

I thought your penchant for stiffness just got you banned, dirty boy ; )

seriously though, i quite like the stem that's on and it's not so much the stiffness as just getting used to quill again as it definitely handles differently from ahead (plus the needlebearing headset it a bit shite which won't help)

also this image of Claus Moller who rode for TVM with name on TT visible and looks identical font so think it's legit:

What are you thinking of the current saddle you have? I have the saddle in this picture on my current commuter bike, if you are after a fully period reconstruction?

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Selle-San-Marco-Regal-Girardi-No-Slip-Saddle-New-in-Box-90s-/00/s/MTY2WDEyNw==/z/kscAAOxy9eVRWzi3/$T2eC16FHJHgE9n0yDjO9BRWzi3YSf!~~60_35.JPG

funny you should offer as i just bought a NOS selle girardi last night! I'd been looking around for selle flite Ti but I don't think I would get on with the shape and I always loved my old Girardi so thought this 90's version with the slightly tacky stitching would be perfect.

thanks for the kind offer though-maybe you can tell me if the threads on the saddle fray over time or fade?

Only other thing of note is that the freehub noise from the Royce hub is fucking horrible. Really tinny and loud. Do not like-my white industries hub sounds like a swiss made clock by comparison. Annoying but what can you do?

I had the same problem a few years ago, I just needed to regrease the hub, dirt seems to get in on the driveside and works it way through to the pawls

The hub is brand new! Doesn't sound so bad at low speed but in full flight it sounds more like a blender or something. How much quieter was it after re-greasing? Maybe if it's been lying around a while it's just dried out.

Will try putting some extra grease in maybe but normally they don't recommend having anything other than a very very light coating of oil on the pawls to incase they stick... I think it just sounds like this normally tbh.

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Selle-San-Marco-Regal-Girardi-No-Slip-Saddle-New-in-Box-90s-/00/s/MTY2WDEyNw==/z/kscAAOxy9eVRWzi3/$T2eC16FHJHgE9n0yDjO9BRWzi3YSf!~~60_35.JPG

funny you should offer as i just bought a NOS selle girardi last night! I'd been looking around for selle flite Ti but I don't think I would get on with the shape and I always loved my old Girardi so thought this 90's version with the slightly tacky stitching would be perfect.

thanks for the kind offer though-maybe you can tell me if the threads on the saddle fray over time or fade?

This is what mine looks like after about a year of usage (bought second hand from a chap on the forum, but it hasn't changed much in appearance since then)

I love the stiching though - perhaps I should move to Blackpool or something

Sweet bike! Although I personally prefer it in its original DA configuration.

still waiting on my effing saddle showing up : /

went for another 50 miler today, really liking the layback seatpost as it puts me more on the bars than the hoods-headset is still dicking me off a bit but have to live with it.

shitter was hitting a pothole on a downhill and pumping my front wheel-inevitably my wheelbuilding skills might come into question here but long story short I'm getting it rebuilt by a professional tomorrow... rear is fine though so i can't be a total prick. (can i?!)

Have you thought about getting an A-head to quill stem adapter?

Also in my humble opinion a different colour bar tape would be more pleasing as the front end just visually disappears with the black stuff. perhaps green to match the frame or white to match the secondary colour?

such a nice frame. It needs one of these

Has anyone tried one to get the logo off one of these? I have been looking at one of these but am a bit put off by the "Salsa". I read elsewhere that acetone can shift this sort of thing..

Have you thought about getting an A-head to quill stem adapter?

Also in my humble opinion a different colour bar tape would be more pleasing as the front end just visually disappears with the black stuff. perhaps green to match the frame or white to match the secondary colour?

yeah thought about an ahead converter but wanted to keep it fairly classic looking, I might relent after a few more weeks of riding though as I put one on my mercian and I really like the way it handles.

I've got a roll of purple tape I might stick on-same as on my tourer-to brighten it up a bit too and contrasts with the green.

this is such a beautiful bike.
it should be one and only, to do it justice.

sell me the olagnero.

No chance.

Grubaix is my ride into the dust bike, Ola is my sweet piece of ass I'm going to treat right and lavish attention upon.