Wester Ross
 

Found this over weekend and just picked it up this evening so I had a chance to gather a little information about Wester Ross. I'm getting directed to BikeBrothers but haven't been able to navigate the site. Serial #020 JSC. The seller says his wife gave this to him as a gift about 30 years ago and he put it in the attic and just pulled it out last weekend. She bought it from an east coast bike shop. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...05dcc14841.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2424d16825.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0d6032dfe9.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d4acedb625.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8a30b7f72d.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6bf3180553.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...be8e244b88.jpg

With the final season of Game of Thrones just beginning (see Westeros), that bike is likely a hot commodity. Fabulous!

-----

Wonderful find, congratulations! ;)

Shall look forward to following.

"Just look at THOSE BLADES ladies and gentlemens."

Seatstay plugs/caps are solid steel about nine cm in length.

Lug pattern is NERVEX Nr. 45/161.

Thinking perhaps 1974-ish for a birthday.

Appears it may have been built up from a frameset by retail shop.

Is front hub Weyless?

---

Here is a forum post from an enthusiast who has #023 -

https://www.cyclingforums.com/thread...-cycles.18768/

Replacement transfers availlable here if desired -

https://bicycledecals.net/westerrosstransfers.htm

John Connell here beginning at 10:50 mark -


https://www.flickr.com/photos/smallwheelsociety/7250338160

-----

That's a fine machine.

I assumed it was originally all Campy........currently a Maillard rear hub the front I don't recognize so perhaps Weyless, Superbe brake set. Rims 27"

Wow, Wester Ross is one of the English (and earlier, Scottish!) frames I admire most (and thus 'frames', as an Anglovelophile), from afar. Probably that and Tony Oliver (I have neither). Famous for their attention to detail, engineering design, etc.

I'd also suggest the transfers from H. Lloyd Cycles as top quality (they're also the 'official' Reynolds maker for older transfers).

Incredible find, congrats!

-----

Thanks for the response.

Here is a Weyless hub advert of MCMLXXV -

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cc62e98ebb.jpg

Shall look forward to your updates as you have an opportunity to get into things... ;)

-----

I stripped all of the Japanese stuff off last night and did an initial wipe down of the frame. I'm thinking Nuovo Record as I have collected most everything but the brake set......and I have never had a Campy equipped bike.

[MENTION=333224]juvela[/MENTION] wondering why you believe this was built up in the US? Is it the Japanese parts and the cheesy chainstay protector.

-----

The mix of fittings made me think it might have been assembled at the retail level. Just an idea - not an assertion.

Did not write anything about the U.S.

Do we know that the "east coast shop" which sold it to the previous owner sold it new?
-----

I think it was purchased used and then stored in the attic as purchased. The seller had no interest in the bike just wanted it gone

-----

wrt investigating the kitting -

fittings have date codes which can be checked to see how close to each other they may be

it may have come new all or mostly Campag NR

chainset likely a replacement to accommodate rider's gear requirements

possible that fitter of chainset reused existing Campag bb cups

regarding Superbe brakeset -

it was quite common at this time for new Campag NR kitted machines to come through with something other than Campag brakes - the cost differential between Universal/Weinmann/MAFAC and Campag was LARGE

sometimes owners of such machines wanted to upgrade brakes but balked at cost of Campag and would fit Superbe or DuraAce as a more affordable alternative

-----

I had a set of Weyless hubs laced to Mavic tubulars c.1978 that I loved, loved, loved. They were trouble free, and they went with my old Puch Royal X when I foolishly sold it in 1987. My memory is they were the lightest hubs on the market at the time and were considered a deal compared to Phil Wood's sealed bearing hubs. It's a nice bit o' kit.

This bike is hot and it's your size; nice, nice find.

Bottom bracket is 1.37x24T Sugino, I have a Campy 1.37x24T replacement.

Headset is indexed, I think I have a suitable replacement for that as well.

Frame is 57cm center to top/57 center to center, which is a bit larger than I would prefer.

Making some progress on the Wester Ross. A couple of observations......the Rally RD has the reinforced mounting bolt which would make it post '75. The RD cable stop appears to be reamed out nuts rather tastefully done.

I did a basic frame cleaning and then a couple of treatments of Mother's carnuba wax. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e1319c6b99.jpghttps://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c486319206.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...558b0cad62.jpg

A bit late with this!

Its a beautiful bike. The East Coast bike shop was East Hartford Bike Shop
135, Tolland Street
East Hartford
Connecticut

A lot of Wester Ross frames were sent to Connecticut for some reason.

Please...Scotland is not England...Altbea is a Scottish as it comes. Wester Ross, get it?

-----

:thumb:

Seems like for decades and decades the English announcers of international sporting competitions would exclaim when a Scots competitor did well "Another victory for Britain!"

But if a Scots competitor were to experience misfortune it would be "Oh another calamity for Scotland!"


-----

Welcome. Sorry it had to be that little kerfuffle that drew you in.

Sorry if I was a bit curmudgeonly...still...

I own Wester Ross #065 . It is a lovely bike. Interestingly, out of a shop in CT...off ebay about 8 years ago.

I would love to find a mixte for my wife.

Very beautiful bike. I'll be following this thread to see how you fix it up.

Can't find the original source but I seem to remember that despite the Scottish name, these were not produced in Scotland. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I have not worked on this since April or May. Still hoping to come up with a suitable wheelset to complete the parts list.