30yr old Frame Renovated - Now to build it
Discussion
Just got my old frame back from restoration. This was made for me just over 30 years ago at Ellis Briggs Cycles in Shipley. There's a lot of history between me and this bike and also my old cycling coach from the 80's, God rest him. (He put me onto Ellis Briggs quite early on)
I raced it in various parts of the world, raced on it for the RAF in the mid 80's, it was lost by an airline coming back from the US in '84 and survived many trips abroad along with the inevitable crashes when racing!
After falling into disrepair in the '90s, (Left it in the back garden for about 5 years) I dug it out of it's hole in the back of the garage last year and decided it was time to try and have it refurbed. (I'd promised I'd do this for years)
So I took it back to Ellis Briggs, only to find that the man who built it back in about 1981/82 is still working there! Even they were unsure that they could save it. I had to have one or two small alterations made to it, but on Saturday past I picked it up and brought it home.
I think they've done a great job. Nice to see the Nervex Pro lugs looking like they used to and I'm chuffed to bits. On Saturday night I kept just sitting and looking at it, amazed at it being back to how it used to be.
Now all I have to do is build it!
I raced it in various parts of the world, raced on it for the RAF in the mid 80's, it was lost by an airline coming back from the US in '84 and survived many trips abroad along with the inevitable crashes when racing!
After falling into disrepair in the '90s, (Left it in the back garden for about 5 years) I dug it out of it's hole in the back of the garage last year and decided it was time to try and have it refurbed. (I'd promised I'd do this for years)
So I took it back to Ellis Briggs, only to find that the man who built it back in about 1981/82 is still working there! Even they were unsure that they could save it. I had to have one or two small alterations made to it, but on Saturday past I picked it up and brought it home.
I think they've done a great job. Nice to see the Nervex Pro lugs looking like they used to and I'm chuffed to bits. On Saturday night I kept just sitting and looking at it, amazed at it being back to how it used to be.
Now all I have to do is build it!
TheFungle said:
Gorgeous looking bike.
Do you ever keep an eye on the RAF Cycling forum? They were on the hunt for old racers a while back of which you respectfully appear to be
TBH, I didn't even realise they had a forum. I recently got in touch with one of the guys I raced with via facebook, but I hadn't heard about this. I'll give it a look, thanks.Do you ever keep an eye on the RAF Cycling forum? They were on the hunt for old racers a while back of which you respectfully appear to be
Roman - what's a "polished Athena"?
Yes - I will be riding it - a lot! It can be cleaned. It looked like this when I raced it too.
Not sure on the weight - I'll hang it off some scales sometime, but it will be as a complete bike now as I've already put a fair few bits on it.
Here's some of the parts I've been working on/buying while it's been receiving TLC at Ellis Briggs.
Hubs. Mavic 501. Used to race on these in the 80's and managed to pick up a brand new pair on fleabay. Still in their original boxes and never been built. I thought I'd polish them anyway.
Before:
After:
This is the original chainset that I used back in the early 80's. It's Campag Super Record of the era and was in a bit of a state. Looks better now!
Before:
After:
Soop Dogg said:
TBH, I didn't even realise they had a forum. I recently got in touch with one of the guys I raced with via facebook, but I hadn't heard about this. I'll give it a look, thanks.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcycling/Well worth a look - although the Service is shrinking cycling is going from strength to strength.
Soop Dogg said:
Roman - what's a "polished Athena"?
Current Campagnolo Athena (or Veloce) in a polished finish look great if you want to fit a modern groupset on a classic frame:http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/groupset/catid_13...
Your original parts look excellent though.
I'm not familiar with 'Favori' but I did win a hillclimb on my mate's Ellis Briggs!
It used to be almost entirely Campag Super Record when I was racing it. I still have some of my original equipment (as above). Those parts that I don't still have or those that didn't make the cut as they weren't in good enough condition have been replaced with better (virtually new) 'vintage' parts.
So basically, the bike will be almost as it was over 30 years ago. Even with downtube shifters which I managed to find brand new, still in the sealed Campagnolo packaging. I've also got a Regina Extra 6-speed gold freewheel and Everest serie Oro chain like I had all those years ago.
It's all in the detail!
So basically, the bike will be almost as it was over 30 years ago. Even with downtube shifters which I managed to find brand new, still in the sealed Campagnolo packaging. I've also got a Regina Extra 6-speed gold freewheel and Everest serie Oro chain like I had all those years ago.
It's all in the detail!
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