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Small update

I have now rebuilt the bike and installed new brake and shifter cables (my GOD are Shimano ones expensive) as well as handlebar tape and KMC chain. I don't have wire cutters so it's going back in to Pinarello today and will hopefully (pray for me) be ready for the weekend.

I will post photos, eventually.

One question - anyone restored Shimano levers with sandpaper or polish? These have had a hard life and the finish is, well, shit.

I will go for those hubs, mainly because they are so similar to the Shimano ones they replace, but also because they are cheap. I've sent an email to enquire but hopefully they can ship them to Italy relatively quickly.

I wanted to keep the original Mutant stem, even though it is really ugly. I think the Scapin branding makes it a little unusual. Just out of curiosity, what would you replace it with?

Oh I'm not bothered about it saying Shimano on them (or in fact anywhere on the bike). I think the Novatecs might be a good solution. An old boy round the corner had a look this morning and has managed to improve the existing ones quite a bit, but I don't really want to build the bike back up knowing the cones on the rear are shot.

Question is: silver Novatec hubs, or black?

I would love to but I don't think I can justify it on this bike - I've tried to recycle as many parts as I can and really just want something to use now the summer is on its way.

With that in mind, is it an option to replace the Ultegra 6500 rear hub?

OK I lied; no photos because the damned bike isn't fully built up. I've hit another snag. The rear hub cones (Shimano Ultegra 6500) are borked. The poor bastard in the Pinarello garage has stripped the hubs and despite the bearings being OK, the cones are most certainly not. He's been through everything they have in stock and there are no suitable replacements.

So: does anyone know what on earth I can do about this? Sack off the rear hub and get a new one that's compatible with 9 speed Shimano? Is that even possible? This is proving very frustrating now.

Frame and forks are currently with Matteo at the Pinarello workshop having the Cane Creek 40 headset fitted. I've spent the last week stripping everything down, cleaning and re-greasing until the apartment stinks and my hands are shredded. Waiting on some Autosol but hope to have the majority of bits built up this by weekend. Buying any kind of polish/tools/cleaner/equipment in Italy is absolutely horrendous; I ended up buffing the frame with hair conditioner. Photos to follow.

@andyp thanks, I would have ordered the wrong one. Like a muppet.

@Carabo cheers, it has a 1" steerer tube. I have finally dismantled everything so the clean-up and replacement begins now. I used a fucking wooden spoon to hammer the crown race off, if that gives an indication as to the level of professionalism being shown.

OK, apologies for my ignorance but which of these headsets do I want?

I had a look online, I prefer the look of the Cane Creek (plus I can get it for ~€40).

In other news, the guy in the Pinarello store took pity on me and gave me a load of tools, so I started stripping the bike earlier. I'm convinced the headset is the original one so will replace it. The cables, brake pads, chain and a few other bits will have to go as well. The wheels are so heavy compared to the Campagnolo ones on my other bike; I don't think the Ultegra hubs help.

I didn't realise these even existed! Thanks - I spent hours reading about the various 1 inch threadless headsets and I was looking for an alternative to Richey, but couldn't find anything. Cheers for the heads up, I'll see if I can track one down in (or at least available in) Italy.

Cheers Breso, yes Montebelluna is very close but I've yet to visit. Working 6 days a week so no time yet to venture out much. Hopefully at the end of the month with the innumerable national holidays I'll get a chance.

As I'm stripping this down, is it worth replacing the headset? The 1 inch threadless options are more than limited; it seems Ritchey have the only reasonably priced ones available (either a new Scuzzy Logic or a Ritchey WCS Logic). I'd like a Chris King but that isn't going to happen.

Well I've managed to get the pedals on and I gave it a clean in a local car wash, but it's still absolutely caked in old grime. I'm going to strip it down.

FYI buying tools in Italy is difficult

Right. A tiny bit of progress. It's bizarre how difficult it is finding track pedals in Italy, considering how many Miche/Gipiemme/Campagnolo ones I see for sale in the UK. It's been a nightmare. In the end, I bought exactly the same ones that I have on my bike in the UK.

I also chucked some Sram bar tape in to get free shipping.

All my tools are in the UK so this is clearly going to take ages. Anyone have any ideas on some suitable rims to replace these godawful red Ambrosio ones?

I didn't realise they were as local as that! An old bike repair chap came out of his shop as I wheeled past, he was interested to look over it. He actually adjusted the brakes for me as he felt the pads were a little far from the rim. Lovely guy.

Caveat - I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing

So, I have moved to the land of Pinarello (Treviso) but my budget can't even stretch to one of their jerseys, let alone a bike. So, owning a Scapin already (which is still in the UK) - similar to the image below - I thought I'd have a look on Subito (the Italian equivalent to Gumtree) to see what came up.

Lo and behold, I found one of these:

Like my other bike it's also Columbus Genius, so very light. After a relatively painless train journey, I now have it in my apartment. I will probably just strip it, clean it, grease it and rebuild it but I figured I could maybe replace some of the parts whilst I'm at it, if they are glaringly out of place. I have a feeling they will be. Examples: Ritchey Scuzzy Logic headset; woman's saddle (Selle Aspide glamour); Look pedals (I prefer track pedals); Ambrosio red rims. The drivetrain is a mix of Shimano (what I think is 6500 Ultegra) and Dura Ace. In an ideal world I'd replace all the Shimano with Campagnolo but I can't afford to do that and it's a ballache. I'm pleased it has the Scapin branded carbon fibre fork, plus a 3T Mutant stem, also with Scapin branding. I quite fancy putting slighter fatter tyres on, because the roads here are a mix of smooth concrete and crumbling cobbles.

Any suggestions? Better photos to follow once I've given it a clean (it was apparently hanging in the owner's house for 5 years).

A combination of illustration and a bike frame = dream post.
Reminds me a little of Keith Haring. Can't wait to see this built up.

This thread epitomises everything I love about the Current Projects section. Hope your mum gets well soon. If my brother saw the amount of space you have to work in, he would vomit with jealously.

I'm jealous of his jersey, let alone the bike.

Hi mate, I went over to check out the fork at my brother's (finally found it). It's not in as good condition as I'd remembered and would almost certainly need the paint stripping off back to the chrome beneath. It's probably a load of hassle so you might be better off with that Coppi (which appears to have lovely paint, which also matches). Sorry it took so long!

Hi mate, I can't seem to get my brother to walk the few metres from his house to his garage so cannot confirm the dimensions of the fork. I might try and pop over there on the weekend so I'll dig them out if I can.

OK, I'll ask him to have a look for them tomorrow and get the dimensions. They look like these, albeit painted blue (http://bit.ly/2fyZtlf).

I've got a Columbus Genius fork which is a spare for my Scapin but a) I think it's in my brother's garage and b) I don't have the dimensions. I can ask him to check if you like? It's chrome beneath the paint (I stripped the original as per this old photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/7SaLDoSjAf)

You had me at "90s Columbus Genius".

I wish I hadn't Googled 'fizzy root James May'.

With the chrome forks, chain stays and seat stays, I'd be inclined to stick with silver wheels. You could probably get away with neon pink tape too.

Saying that..

That's exactly it. I'm sure it would function perfectly, I just wouldn't have the same warm feeling as you describe. A bit like going for sushi and having a Heineken with it.