mongol777

Couple of years ago I stumbled upon a nice Falcon frame on local CL. Bought it, was good condition structurally but cosmetically it was in rather poor shape. It went through several builds and I ended up stripping it and building it into a fixie. Sold to a lucky guy and regretted ever since (should have kept it, should have never strip and repaint, etc - what an idiot!!!).
I was looking for exact same frame ever since. Not only did I like how it rode but I also got to see the quality of the welding and beautiful craftsmanship (as I completely removed old paint for repaint).
Long story short - was checking Kijiji (classifieds site popular in Canada) yesterday (just casually as my hands are full with building Bianchi CDI) and what do you know - exact same Falcon, in my size, way better condition and from the same seller!

Picked it up in the afternoon, had all parts ready since the morning and draft build is done! Frame, fork and headset tipped the scale at right around 2600g, seller told me frame by itself was ~1900g.
Pictures don't do this frame justice - color is very rich red and just shines in the sun. Pictures below and I have one question (see my next post).
Full Reynolds 531C, original group was Campy Victory

mongol777

Complete as pictured (with Brooks B17, heavy generic pedals, generic seat post, steel chainrings, cheap SunRace freewheel and not the lightest qheelset) - tipped the scale at just under 22lbs!
Now to my questions - I never saw such RD cable stop. Regular thickness cable does not fit in it (with cap or not), thinner cable fits and goes right through. I rigged a zip tie around the chain stay, it works and shifts fine but I'd like to know what is the proper cable housing and/or cable cap should I use?

Chombi

Pictures**********?!

mongol777

My apologies - brainfart, uploaded pics but forgot to change permissions, should be OK now

The Golden Boy 

I've heard the answer is a "Step Down Ferrule."

mongol777

Looks like it! Thank you!!! Wheels MFG Step-Down Ferrules > Components > Cables and Housing | Jenson USA Online Bike Shop

himespau 

Wow, that's pricey for just a little piece of metal that came with my campy cable kit (but I wouldn't want to have to drop $50 for a new cable kit if I'd lost/bent mine, so I guess they can charge what we'll pay.

Edit: Oh whoops, didn't notice that it's $4 for 10 of those, not just one. Now I feel a little better about that price.

mongol777

Haha - sorry about misleading title. It is just my Falcon - forgave me for ruining his first incarnation (although - it was one slick fixed gear, I went all the way with the build) and came reborn, better then before!

mongol777

I may even have one in my parts bin - I think old SA 3 speed trigger shifters came with such ferrule.

3speedslow

Many a project has been stymied by "the small part". Last frame I bought, the PO thankfully included it with the frame. Such a blessing.

Great bike with a interesting history and following. Will be interested to hear the final weight when you lose the generic pieces.

mongol777

Curious myself! It does look and work nicely and as all my other bikes I built it to ride. May take me a while as I will likely replace parts as they worn out and/or if I stumble upon a nice donor bike.
For now my Bianchi Premio worked as a donor solving two problems for me - where to get all the bits for Falcon and getting me summer fixed roadie (which Premio is perfect for as it is a tiny bit small for me and I already had all the bits to built FG).

Can't wait for the first warm enough day to take it out. At this point I don't know which bike I am more excited to ride next - this Falcon or Bianchi CDI (which should be ready in a week or so)

mongol777

By the way - does anyone recognize which model from San Remo line my Falcon is?
I assume it is from late 80s - Campy Victory and rear triangle is set at 128 (I saw couple of frames like that and I think it was done during transition period from 126 to 130 rear spacing so frame can take both).
And it is different from earlier Falcons (Cinelli style sloping fork vs lugged, glue on headbadge vs older full metal)

repechage

I like the look of this one. I did not like the 70's Falcon's Ernie Clements designed bikes with really long top tubes especially in the smaller frame sizes. Way too long. This bike looks better proportioned. I am not a fan of black sidewall tires either, but on this bike they work visually.

mongol777

Thank you. Tires were the only things I had to buy yesterday - what made it easy choice was:
- I already had one :-)
- I had a gift card for the store which had same tire in stock
- Red lettering goes with the frame (I think :-)
- I really like these tires performance wise - Clement Strada LLG, I have them on at least 3 bikes in the household. They roll nice, have old school chevron side thread and very comfy. Price is very reasonable as well

Sixty Fiver

The French favoured these stops, the step down ferrule is the part you need and is one of those little parts that people often lose.

You can usually fake it with a step down ferrule from a brake lever.

mongol777

What do you know - checked Bianchi and it has same doughnut shaped cable stop! I kept the old cable and new set of housing is on the way. So may be I will be able to re-use old one and new cable set will have one as well.

mongol777

I should have several of these - thank you!

JohnDThompson 

That's the Cinelli "diver's helmet" cable stop -- very popular on race bikes of that era. You need a step-down ferrule, which your LBS should have or can order for you. Otherwise:



Bike Tools Etc. - 1000's of bicycle tools and parts for the home mechanic!

mongol777

Thank you. I am waiting on new cable/housing set for Bianchi and in the meantime I took step down ferrule/diver's helmet from it's old cable and it is now on the Falcon.

mongol777

So being very impatient (which hurts my wallet quite often :-)) - I saw bike popped up on local CL yesterday with what looks to be full Suntour Cyclone M-II group. If I were looking for the rider - I'd grab it but since I am looking for a donor bike I am not quite ready to pay the asking price. However - group looks very nice and I think it will be a good match for Falcon.
Especially cranks



What do you guys think? I don't care much for clicking, prefer friction anyway.

mongol777

Parts from Nishiki found its way to land on Falcon:
- Wheels - red label Araya with Sunshin Pro Am hubs (I love them, second set which got to my hands and it is in absolutely mint no wear whatsoever on races and cones)
- Cyclone MK-II RD and FD
- Sugino crankset and BB
- Suntour freewheel
- Saddle

Added MKS pedals, Schwalbe Lugano tires (originally got them for Bianchi CDI build), left Miche brakeset (gobs of stopping power and great feel)

Left to find and fit
- Stem with a bit more reach
- Nitto noodles in 44 or 46

This puppy flies! Tipped the scale at just under 20.5lbs (still has generic seat post, heavy bars and stem). I am not a weight weenie (most of my bikes weigh in 25-30 lbs range and carry Surly name :-) ) but I was just curios as its weight feels the same as my Nishiki Superbe FG.

So after many years (since my first bike as a kid really) of FG and SS I finally have bikes with gears (this Falcon, Bianchi CDI and Raleigh Superbe). Can't say I am in love yet bit it is certainly different way of riding :-)

mongol777

Tip for folks who have similar cranks with red detailing - if you wash them in hot soapy water red becomes pink (ask me how I know )
Red sharpie gets them back looking like new!