2x builds, including a classic Australian frame

I'm just starting to build up these two frames.

• I found that the blue 'Avocet' frame was made in Australia, not something we see very often in the UK I don't think! - Claremont (a suburb of Perth, Western Australia) shop owned/operated by John Sampson. One person told me that a guy called Stan Lang may have built for the shop, but no proof. I got it from a guy who was an amateur racer in the 80's. He got it from a friend and did a couple of TT's on it and told me some stories. He said it was Columbus tubing, but Avocet also used Ishiwata 019 and reynolds 753... so this could be anything I suppose.
  Anyway, it's really nicely made and deserves to be built. I'm going the classic 'restomod' route and adding newer components that I'm taking off another bike that I'm bored with.
  The frame is not associated with the 'Avocet' bike computer brand it seems.

• The other frame is the first one I build myself, partly TIG, partly brazed from 653. I love old TT frames, so I mostly copied this geometry of a Rondinella 80's TT frame I had, but slightly shortened the top tube. I only added one downtube boss so I could run a 1x6 drivetrain - again, copied of the Rondinella 80's TT bike I had. I sprayed it a bright colour, used it for 2 weeks and stuck it on the wall... until now.
  This is maybe a bit more unusual (?), to add classic parts to a new frame, but it's something I've always wanted to do. I slowly acquire 3 sets of tubular wheels with GP4 rims and record hubs, so I've got to use them for something!

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Here are some pictures of the Avocet frame, and the Rondinella TT bike that I had some Centaur 10sp groupset fitted to (back in 2008!) - this has since been onto a couple of bikes and will now go on the Avocet!

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And some pictures of the first frame I built, along with the Rondinella TT bike as I originally got it - these classic TT bits will be going on the Flying Fish.
As you can see, it's a tale of 3 bikes really. The Rondinella left a big impression and I fortunately kept most of the nice bits all these years.

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Here are some of the parts I'll put on the Flying Fish.
Unfortunately a bike shop mechanic broke the super record RD. I tried welding the piece back on but it doesn't seem to be aluminium... not one that welds well anyway! It may have some magnesium in the mix, I'm not sure. It joined up, but looks terrible and could break at any moment.
I have a replacement part, but I'd have to drill the pivoting pins and fit new one, while punching them to expand... or whatever it seems to need.
Has anyone replaced that part on a Super record RD before? Any pointers would be apprecited.

I'm also not sure what 1 1/8 stem to fit alongside the classic parts... I was thinking about one with a 26mm clamp and some classic bars.

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I repaired the super record rear derailleur. I drilled out the pins and replaced the front plate with one I bought years ago. The plate has some brass tubes to pivot on from the factory which is nice.
I used some countersunk stainless M4 bolts that I turned down. I should have made some custom pins to do the job properly because pivoting on threads isn't very cool, but I'm tight on time at the moment. It's made with lovely tolerances and all metric by the looks of it.
I just need a neat nut solution underneath and maybe counterbore the body so the heads sit lower.... Without weakening the supports too much.
I was thinking of using a spring washer and half-nuts. Or maybe custom dome nuts with threadlock... Not sure yet.
I'm just glad to be able to use it again! There's no play and it's nice and smooth.

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Nice! The jig looks really clever. Your own design?

Cheers.
Kind of, it's all Siegmund welding fixtures. I looked at the cost of a pro frame jig and though £4k was a bit much! For that amount you can buy this table with a tool steel surface and all the fixtures and fittings.... And use it for loads more than just bike frames! I use it constantly every day at work, so it pays for itself eventually.
It's not a perfect set up yet and could do with a bit more work for bracing the rear axle, but it's very versatile and accurate and rigid. The big advantage is that running a Centreline for a frame is very easy, clamping tubes etc.
You just have to careful not to trap Swarf and things under the towers, otherwise they'll be wonky.
I suppose it would be worth a dedicated frame jig if making a frame per week - just for ease of set up. But this would only take an extra 30mins I reckon.

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That flying fish frame is cool

Thanks. It's the first one I made so it's not made very well really, I should have done some practice tubes! The welding was a bit hot/slow, and I had to file a tiny bit of one of the drop outs to align the rear wheel. Ha.

Cool projects 👌

Thanks

I'm an idiot. I found 4 pivot pins in the bag with the derailleur face plate... So I could have kept it original, but nevermind.
The Avocet frame is slowly coming together. I destickered the 13 year old fulcrum racing5 wheels and they're much nicer. These have been amazing wheels and are as straight today as they were in 2008 and have lived on a few different bikes.
I'm going to keep the classic cinelli bars with 10 speed ergo levers. I know it's not the ideal shape for modern shifters but I find it ok and I'm not going to be touring.
I've got a nicer Turbo saddle that I'll put on eventually, that one is terrible.

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Only know Avocet from the bike computers but there was definitely an AvocetCycles in Perth. How did you ID the frame? I guess someone out there still has some of them.

http://ctawa.asn.au/ctawa_files/newsletter/087-1989-april-may.pdf

https://philipganderton.com/personal-pages/bicycles/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steele_Bishop

In the world championships in Zurich in 1983 Bishop reached his zenith, retiring shortly after while at the peak of his career: riding in the 5000 metre Individual pursuit on a specially built pursuit bicycle made in Switzerland by Leo Estermann in 1981. The bicycle was badged Malvern Star by sponsor General Accessories, and later rebadged Steele Bishop. The Estermann stamp on the head tube remains.

A crack in the unusual stem was rectified by Avocet Cycles, owned and operated by John Sampson in Claremont Western Australia (no longer in business). The bicycle was relatively small framed against the powerfully built Bishop and featured aerodynamic tubing to reduce wind resistance. The bicycle, now part of the collection of the Western Australian Museum, is on display at the WA Museum Boola Bardip site in the Perth Cultural Centre.

Ah great find! I'd seen the bottom two bits from searching around, but not that PDF! How did you find that?
Yeah, that's where I started when looking, the bike computers, but the logo's where different. I put it on 'mystery bike frames on Facebook' and somebody knew the Avocet story in Perth, parts of it anyway. And pictures of another frame.
I assume a rider from Aus bought it over.. must be. I got it with a few other 70-80's road bikes from an amateur racer. He bought it from a member of his club and told me it was from Australia. It's seems a lovely bike... although I don't know what tubing it is. The old racer told me it was columbus... I guess one way it to look for the type of fluting on the inside of the steerer tube? Straight/spiral or something? Somebody with encyclopaedic knowledge will be able to tell hopefully! :)

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Yes Sam! The Fulcrums and Veloflex suit the frame perfectly, looking forward to seeing the flying fish built up again. Do you still have the Rodinella I don't think I've seen that one before?

That's a bit nice. I get some Gios vibes and forks crown is just my cuppa

Looks like they did make frames

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Cheers! Yeah, I can't wait to try this Avocet frame. I haven't ridden a skinny classic steel frame for a few years now.
I sold the Rondinella, it was just fractionally too big for me... I kept it for a while but it was just never quite right.

Ah great find! Was that in that pdf??
I may see if I can find the guy on Facebook or something.

@Hulsroy I wonder how much stiffer those plates running the inside will add to the crown and upper leg... Or if just decoration... Guess a bit of both?

How did you find that?

l33t 4@xx0rz innit

There's probably some dudes in Perth that will remember the details. Tracking them down could be a fun side project.

Little steps. I'm trying to keep to a budget (although I blew it all on the veloflex tyres), so everything is coming in dribs and drabs. I had most of the bits in drawers but it always costs more than you think doesn't it.
The Avocet just needs cables, wrap, and set up (and saddle sorting). I bought the MKS esprit pedals, but I'm not so sure of them, quite boxy aren't they, but at least double sided! I don't know what that campagnolo chainset is... I guess an old veloce... It's painted not anodised or polished. The chainrings are also a bit random from the drawer.
Not very light at the moment 9.1kg before pedals and cables but I hope it will be a nice bike to ride.
The Flying Fish frame has bars and levers, just waiting for some cheap black calipers..... I was temped to get classic 80's calipers but I find them so weak, so I'm looking for black dual pivot 90's-00's ones, if possible. Then cables and waiting on a basic Shimano Un300 BB.
I got a cheapish Deda 26mm at for now and some Ritchey classic bars I had around.
.

Happy new year all.

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The old tubular wheelset cleaned up so well and the old tubs (must be from the late 80's) hold 100psi for a few days (one Vitoria Corsa CX, one Wolber) so I'm going to stick with them, I won't be going too far on them. The GP4 rims look barely used and the record hubs are so smooth still. Nobody wants this kind of wheelset at the moment do they, so it's nice to put them to use.

nice project, love the untouched gp4s.. too bad the sidewall will get silver, they look soo good as they are rn

Cheers!
Yeah, I need to get some cork brake pads. Haha.
They look crap when the anodising is half worn off don't they.
I'm still annoyed that I missed some Mavic open pro ceramic grey rims on tune hubs go on eBay for £88 a couple of weeks ago.

I've got two other projects on the go too, which Ive had for a year or two, both with mint anodised rims that I don't want to ruin by using them :) only half joking.
To some people these are old rubbish, but I love the stories tied to bikes like this.

The Vitus was used as a TT bike and has suntour cyclone II derailiurs because the rider thought they were more aero, likewise the reason for those calipers. The aero levers also had the cables running into drilled bars. This has clinchers. This definitely has that springy ride they are known for, but in a nice way I think.
The ALAN was his race road bike and has some lovely bits. This isn't as springy as people think, it feels great and is only just over 8.5kg with pedals, bottle cage as pictured. It feels pretty solid to me.
The both feel quick! But I don't know how much is due to 110psi 23c tyres these days....

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