Jonny / Snowy's Old GT ZR Frame

A couple of weeks back I bought this old LFGSS beater from Jonny for £50 thinking I'd keep the stem and flick the rest on. A couple of guys then told these frames were OK and some old review checking said the same.

I so over pimped what was going to be my winter trainer that it now lives in the study! Tonight I stripped this old girl down and she is straight and sound. I drilled her out for some down tube shifters (because I have them in the box but no brifters - I'm trying to do this in a week for zero spend!). I was going to paint it a stealthy dark metallic grey but she actually cleaned up well enough.

The ali forks look like they are sound but I have a better pair - except that they are red - so I've rubbed those down and primed them.

Hopefully more progress tomorrow when I get back from picking up a new old Rossin frame in town.

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h393/Cassbay/GTZR4000%20Refit%20and%20build%20for%20winter/GTZR1.jpg?t=1380823118

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h393/Cassbay/GTZR4000%20Refit%20and%20build%20for%20winter/e1c567ac-a9b8-4590-9ee5-ba594277f746.jpg?t=1380823216

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h393/Cassbay/GTZR4000%20Refit%20and%20build%20for%20winter/GTZR3.jpg

Straight in there with the practical stuff! Drilling out the DT for shifter mounts - no mean feat for most 'on here'.

Nice workshop, too. What else is planned for the frame?

workshop envy

No clear plan other than to spend no money! It's a winter trainer. I've got a few old wheels and a slightly used 12 28 rear cassette. I've got lots of old DA octolink chain sets so prob use a 53 39 front. I've already got rid of the square taper BB and chased and faced the bottom bracket not that there was much wrong with it.

I've got a box full of brakes - should be able to get something useable without robbing the Campag hoarde. A bit worried I've only got some red tape for the 3T bars - might have to break the no spend rule there.

Workshop is a disgrace - I've been trying to tidy up for weeks but jobs just get in the way.

A couple of guys then told these frames were OK and some old review checking said the same.

A bit more work on it today when I got home. Have repainted the forks a couple of times. In the end I decided that white looks best.

Also fitted down tube levers and stripped, cleaned and reassembled a couple of Shimano 600 brake calipers and a Titec seat post. I think I'll use the R500 rear wheel but the only thing I know about the front is it won't be the Campag Vento that is in the photo! The bars in the mock up are a set of old 3T and I'll probably use them and the brake levers that are on there.

Might get it finished tomorrow - first job will be to cut the steerer down.

I built up a zr2000 last winter from spare parts and highly rate the frame, stiff as anything at the back and i really like the way it looks. Slightly too long for me, so troubled whether to move it on..

http://www.pedalroom.com/p/gt-zr2000-9201_2.jpg

Nice. I don't really know much about GT stuff and owning this frame was an accident but there are clearly a few cool examples about.

Hoping to have a ride soon - off to cot my steerer in a minute.

I knew nothing about it either, but have always liked the triple triangle design. You are bold to drill holes in it..!

I built up a zr2000 last winter from spare parts and highly rate the frame, stiff as anything at the back and i really like the way it looks. Slightly too long for me, so troubled whether to move it on..

http://www.pedalroom.com/p/gt-zr2000-9201_2.jpg

and off to porn that image goes....

Well a few things got in the way of my parts bin winter training special over the last week but I have now finished it and been for a short test ride to get the saddle spot on etc. First bike I have owned with guards and riding through lots of water has converted me!

I had hoped to spend nothing having bought the frame but I ended up buying some black tape for the bars (white might have been better but on a winter training hack would not have stayed white for long) and the mudguards. Still it was all done for £100.

There is a bit of toe over lap oarticularly with the mudguards on so I used the Tiagra cranks which are 170 rather than the Octalink DA set i had planned to use which are 175. The DT shifters work very smoothly and of course there is no indexing, just set the H / L stops on the deraileurs and trim as necessary on the go.

On my short test it seemed stiff and smooth. A lot less harsh than my CAD2 Dale although that is in part probably due to the 700 - 23 Scwalbe Duranos at 130psi that are on it.

I'm very happy with this. Now I can get on with cleaning and polishing Campag parts for the Sancineto and Rossin frames

45 miles through wind and rain on this mornings club run and she was perfect -no rattles or creaks, secure handling and fun to ride.

Cheers Jonny.

The downtube shifter is really far down the downtube rather than near the headtube, did it not cause an sisue?

Nope. Easy to find without having to look down and sweet and smooth action all the way through the cassette.

Fair enough, it look a very long way from the bar to the shifter when they're usually a lots higher up.

Don't worry about toe overlap, it's not a problem, especially on a freewheel bicycle.

Yes I see what you mean.

You are right about the overlap - never noticed it at all today

That bike has never been so clean. Or given that much attention. I can barely recognise it!

You might have let it get dirty but no sign of abuse or neglect. Its a great old school ride.