Merckx MX Leader Pista (finished)

Your absolutely right on both counts. There is a plan for a wheel build already being hatched using some nice suntour hubs on Ambrosio silver rims for a proper period look.

Update time.
The 28mm Conti's have been swapped for some 23mm GP4000's I hung up a few years back when another bike was decommissioned. Plenty of clearance now wherever the rear wheel sits in the drop outs.
I also turned my attention to the rear sprocket(s) and opted for a couple of these Miche ones that are reasonably priced and sit on carriers so they can be slid off following removal of the locking (I think)...

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Anyway what to do about a front brake? I was going yo put a 105 front brake on which (a) I have so no additional expense and (b) would be perfectly functional. However, i have a mate who rides probsbly the only other fixue on the island who goads me with his Campag delta. Yes yes I know it wouldn't stop shit but it looks the nuts. Anyway there us no way I could (a) copy him (b) afford to copy him and i needed a non campag alternative.
As a result the last couple of months i've been keeping my eye out for a reasonably priced front Shimano AX brake. These were Shimano's attempt at aero braking. I love their futuristic styling. Anyway @MissyMoo is having a big clear out and buried within the list was one of these being a NOS AX600... (not this one)

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So the track sprockets and brake will arrive in due course. The only thing i'm short of now is a brake lever. I've thought about getting a Paul e lever in sliver (see picture) as they are nice and discreet albeit s bit pricey but more than willing to listen to alternative suggestions, what do you think?

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Well they arrived eventually...the Miche track sprockets order on the 8th April rocked up on the 2nd May...no not Tredz! I like the carrier idea and at £7.99 each with carriers I thought they were good value. I've opted for 16 and 17 teeth to give me 70 (ish) inches on gearing. I've no experience of fixed road riding so it's all experimentation going forward.
Still got to get a brake lever. The Paul e lever remains the favourite although i'm still open to suggestions.
Oh and i've got to sort out the chain line. Any suggestions for hub spacers other than velosolo? No one else seems to do them.

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perhaps something like an odyssey monolever which the clamp is hinged so you could remove and fit the front brake without removing bar tape (and it's cheaper)

edit: not 100% sure the clamp size will fit risers or road bars so maybe check that first...

I've found the Dia Compe Dirt Harry lever to work well.

Thanks for the suggestions @SideshowBob and @fredtc i'll take a look at those.

Ok so long time no speaky. A lack of cash at the arse end of this project has meant that a bike that could have easily been completed hasn't been. Sort of like puting a book down with a half dozen pages to go. Even my opening sentence is an excuse...
Anyway I had a word with myself and did some ordering last night. I bought a couple of Miche lockrings for less than £4 from Winstanleys and some sprocket spacers from Velosolo. More importantly following a suggestion from @SideshowBobi looked at dia compe brake levers and opted for one of these, a dia compe Gran compe...

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A chain was also needed so i did a bit if research and opted for a KMC x101 in gold. I thought a bit of bling was needed...

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Hopefully these will all arrive over the next week or so which leaves me with the pedals quandary. I really am open to suggestions here. SPD's would be a cop out option. I'd prefer something more stylish which doesn't require cleats. Any thoughts?

Dura Ace 7400 pedals are lovely or MKS Rx1 are also nice

Thanks for the suggestions Bob. 7400 DA may be too much dorrah, even if I could find some!

Bump my old wanted search on here -
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/292037/
They are around ,I have bought some on here for around £50 and they are selling for that on ebay at the moment

Some stuff arrived in the post yesterday and today so i had a little fiddle with the bike. First thing was to check the length of the seat post to make sure there was plenty beyond the additional seat tubing weldedon by Merckx. As you can see reasurringly it's a whopper...

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In total circa 375mm so way past the additional seat tubing...

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The really nice surprise in the post was the dia compe brake lever. It was £30 from Winstanleys snd it looks a treat. It seems really well made and came with a couple of bar shims. The hand type engraving on yhe top is a really nice touch...

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More disappointing was the l ockring acquisition from Cyclestore. I ordered a couple of Miche as I thought they would marry up no problem with the Miche sprockets and carriers I already had and knew fitted. They sent me one lock ring and one carrier. Even worse the l ockring won't screw on. I've tried it right and left handed without luck. As it is i've screwed on the spare carrier as a temporary fix. Any clues where i'm going wrong? Just shows how little I know about track bikes!

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Wheel wise the planet x gipiemme look functional but as mentioned earlier in the thread don't do the bike justice...they are time limited!

A quick pic of "Maggy" with "Big Ted" my Corsa Extra

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What hubs are you using? Miche lockrings use a different threading to most hubs - 1.32 x 24tpi if memory serves.

The hubs are Gipiemme and the Miche sprocket carrier screws straight on but the Miche lockring doesn't. I'll check the thread sizes. It's a steep learning curve for me!

Dibs 👍

I'm currently juggling a couple of wheel options. However, regardless of those I ordered these today...

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Rims TBC