Search results for:

Congrats, that's dream bike material, bloody love a Look. What are your build plans?

Cheers for the heads up!

Doing butterfly stroke, poor thing

ProBikeKit having a sale, heaps of stuff included but unlikely to arrive given the thread below:

https://www.probikekit.co.uk/sale.list?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=criteo&utm_campaign=DynamicRemarketingCriteo&affil=thgppc

I picked up a Prologo Nack M5 for £65 (£120+ RRP) from them previously, often seem to have bargain/incorrect pricing on the go so worth a browse!

Your bike's story and pictures are excellent, thanks for sharing!

https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/online-shop/campagnolo-seat-pin-headset/sp-re002/

Is this it? Mercian carry all sorts of vintage Campagnolo spares

Productive update after a period of sulking/psyching up to repair. I got the Kona rear mech hanger straightened and the paint blown over by Argos who painted it originally. In my haste to build it back up (theme of rushing building here), I cross threaded the rear mech, enough that the jockey wheels sat out of line. Noted the rear mech and noted the carbon cage was cracked (bought from ebay). I bought Ultegra 6800 replacement inner/outer from SJS and installed to the body of the mech while still on the bike to check it wasn't a bent cage. Was not, so mech off and Park Tool M10 tap and cutting oil ordered.

Undertook tapping the hanger with a friend watching and helping to ensure it was run straight - definitely do this as it is easy to run out of line. Frame clamped firm in a stand, plenty of time set aside. Cleaned out the threads with a toothpick then cracked on. As soon as the tap bit I backed off half a turn and blasted with cutting oil. Took my time with it and fortunately had a good outcome. Refitted the mech carefully and it was square - phew!

Cabled up and took it for a tentative first ride - no shifting snafus thankfully! Bike rides really nicely, fast/light/responsive. No idea what type of bike it is now however, bastardised tourer with princess paint and road wheelset.

Observations/musings:

• Paint job is very high quality but slightly terrifying to use the bike ad it chips easily. In reality, wish I had just buffed back the rusty bits and touched up to prevent it spreading so the bike could be more useable!
  
• Top tube graphic is a touch big, downtube a touch small. Bit of a gamble having my own made, but still really chuffed with how it looks.
  
• Genesis Equilibrium fork is a bit fat for the frame. I still have the P2, so maybe one day I'll get that sprayed to match. Also it's for an integrated headset so has a gross flat bit at the top. Was £50 new however, and significantly lighter.
  
• 7900 downtube shifters are snappy! Shifting at the back is instant, and smooth friction shifting at the front. Glad I kept the original novelty of this bike by stick with downtube shifters.
  
• Always always clean threads up to the nth degree before installing parts and chase with a tap if you can. Gives you peace of mind!
  
• BDHU, and probably swap the -17 stem for -6 to match the top tube.
  

This was front page of the Merlin website, the downtube shape looks to be recoiling in horror at its own reflection

I toured across a small section of Turkey as part of a bigger trip in 2009 with three others, entering at Edirne and finishing in Istanbul. No overlap of your route (which looks really interesting) I'm afraid, but here is my limited advice:

We flew back from Istanbul and asked for bike boxes from a local shop. Got told to follow one of the bike shop guys who marched off to their lock up which was about 20 mins away - bit unnerving while we were trying to keep up with the guy through back roads but ultimately fine! Istanbul seemed a common end point for cyclists so I wouldn't worry about getting hold of a box - just be prepared to barter if the initial price is daft. Goes for the rest of your trip too - we once sat down to eat without seeing a menu and whilst hospitality was great, the price was definitely plus tourist tax. Which is fair enough, just better to know before hand!

I naively didn't appreciate that Turkey was a predominantly Muslim country until we entered and promptly discovered it was Ramadan (still cringe thinking back to ordering lunch outside a restaurant while the majority of people were observing a fast). As a group we felt a bit self aware as we didn't want to be inadvertently disrespectful having no appreciation of the local culture/customs. Fortunately we met a local guy who had spent a few years in London and could tour guide us - he confirmed that Turkish social conventions were no different to any other. Enjoy the culture, architecture and ornate mosques if they are open to visit!

This dredged up a memory from the WizzAir in flight magazine:

https://www.stringbike.com/stringbike_bike_eline.html

No idea how or why though, and couldn't find an animation or video of it in action!

Perhaps worth searching TZ Forum for marque specific servicing, found it helpful in the past for finding the right person for servicing

Nice 54cm Colnago with Thron tubing, seems a good price

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195258391754?hash=item2d764e9cca:g:SvEAAOSwxJtiZ9Ks

Yeah this much is true. The red 90s Kapu on here is perfect

I was about to post this, mad!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195255985485?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=pneGR79ZSWi&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=6ZuJFPOCTo2&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Kona Kapu, first one I've seen for sale in months. Pricing is KEEN but offers are on

As soon as I read your post I thought of this build:

https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=144812

Ambrosio Nemesis rims would be cracking, there are some NOS on ebay, 32 hole. Could also go for shallow carbon rims? I have some 25mm Light Bikes on Bitex hubs from Arkane and they really fit the bill, light and no chance of wearing the brake track to a shiny finish.

Built this Moser up using parts robbed from a Merckx I bought last year and upgraded. Frame was a lowball ebay offer that the seller unexpectedly went for. Its a bit rough so perfect for a commuter, and the colour/graphics are cooler than I first thought. Couldn't get the square taper BB out so that stayed. Murex stem. and Speciale bars rattle canned black to match. Rides really nicely!

Dibs on the Specialized Comp if it has the top cap with the slotted hole to go with it? Cheers

The big decals make it - cracking bike

Flaccid springs to mind when I saw that, doesn't even look comfy!

https://www.merlincycles.com/veloflex-protour-tubular-tyre-700c-235751.html

I must've got in while the going was good for a black pair, but 25mm tanwalls here. I tend to have a nose between Merlin, CycleClinic, Chain Reaction and Sigma every so often and buy tyres when the prices dip.

Merlin had stock of Veloflex and Vittoria tubs in 25mm but they got snapped up quickly, seem to be hoarded/produced in less numbers.

Not sure what you use to glue your tubs, but Vittoria Mastik One is out of stock and has been for a long time. Conti cement about, and Tufo tape which I plumped for. Good luck, I'm sure if you rotate round the online stores you'll find them

Been announced he's out the race, what a shame and how bizarre!

Halfords do a pair of Pro Lite wheels. Friend of mine runs them on his 90s GT Tequesta and is happy with them, £130 pair

That is absolutely barmy