BMC_Kid 

I swear, this will be my last restoration. This one is incoming from the painter this next week just in time for my annual spring home coming.

I’ve always lusted after a Picchio since the time I was a 16 year old kid “settling” on a bright blue and gold 1983 Pro Miyata. I can still remember metallic purple and red Specials tantalizingly hanging from the shops rafters, mocking me as I selected the Pro. Ha, just kidding, I loved my Pro and still have her to this day

While in Bahrain, I found the frame on eBay, located surprisingly on the other side of my hometown, go figure. I’m not brave enough for purple so I decided on red for this one. Anyway, after a few weeks at the spa in Colorado, the frame now has shiny new paint in Mazda Crystal Soul Red Metallic. I’ve assembled another 11-speed Campagnolo group for this beauty. My go-to group of late, silver Athena components will grace the frame, complemented by carbon Super Record levers and rear derailleur. Wheels are being built up as I write, a NOS 10-speed anodized Campy Chorus hub set with polished H Plus Son Archetype rims.





I had a spare chromed fork and couldn’t decide which fork would work best so as had them both painted.



I’ll post additional photos of the build and final bike. I can’t wait to get this out on the road and see it in the sun.

repechage

That should be a terrific red in the sunlight.
be interesting to see how it appears on bicycle tubes vs Mazda body panels.

just referenced the 2020 Toyota Supra nitro yellow… turns out the same color as my 1972 Colnago. A $400. Up charge when the car was new… touch up paint will not be cheap.

found the match while at a traffic signal and I was riding my Colnago, the young las driver was surprised the color was the same and the bike so OLD!

BMC_Kid 

I’ve seen that Yellow and thought it looked very close to a buddy’s Colnago.

Lamont Cobb

It's a beautiful frame. I first read your post as "Pinocchio Special," and I thought, "What???"

unworthy1

very sharp!
Who was your painter?

merziac

"I had a spare fork"

Looks fantastic.

The painter and the extra $500 stopped me from having this on the Strawberry, glad I didn't, not quite dark enough.

This was way darker than I wanted but has really grown on me gets compliments where ever it goes.

repechage

Color “mass” really can effect the completed look. And of course classic bikes are almost all of tubes, highlight, core, then in shadow.

BMC_Kid 

I entrusted the last two frames to Spectrum Powder Coating in Colorado Springs for powder coating. However, I later discovered that Spectrum had changed hands and relocated to Boulder. Unfortunately, the new owners remained unresponsive to my email inquiries. Undeterred, I began my search for alternative painters and stumbled upon Dark Matter Finishing, also based in Colorado Springs.

I reached out to Ollie, the owner and skilled artisan behind Dark Matter Finishing, and shared my vision for the frames. Ollie recommended a wet paint finish to achieve the desired effect. Specifically, the finish I sought was a candy finish - a lustrous, translucent layer that exudes depth and richness. While powder coating could approximate the candy finish, it wouldn’t quite match the exquisite depth achievable with wet paint.

Interestingly, as Ollie and I communicated, we realized that he had previously worked at Spectrum during its original ownership in Colorado Springs. In fact, he had personally painted both my Zullo and Tesch frames back then. When Spectrum changed hands and relocated, Ollie seized the opportunity to establish his own workshop, where he continues to create stunning finishes for discerning cyclists.

Chombi1 

Soul Red Crystal.Metallic. My 2019 MX-5 RF GT-S is that color. It's the best color that Nazda has come up with in years. I had to pay something like 500 bucks extra for this special paint as it was offered as an option for the car. It's supposed to be a 3 stage paint that's needs a skilled painter to put on correctly so it has that deep red look thst changes with the light.
People like it so much that some owners of exotic cars like Lambos repaint their cars with this Mazda piont color.
I was hoping my MX-5's color matched the paint on my Davidson Signature (Pictured with the car.), but the Davidson's Imron paint is a darker red. I call it Oxblood Red.....

BMC_Kid 

Beautiful bike, gorgeous car, and yes, it is a multi-stage paint, basically a candy paint. My painter assured me that he could replicate this stunning finish, so it will be interesting to see how close it is to the real thing. From the photos he sent me, it's looking like he got it very close but I'll have to do something like you did and stand it next to a similarly painted Mazda.

RustyJames 

I think the upcharge for Soul Red on Mazdas is a bargain considering the quality. A stunning finish on a production car for a few hundred bucks? Big win to me!

I have my eye on a specific automotive paint for a bike restoration that will be happening this year. I’ll need to see if the painter agrees with my choice.

The Picchio looks fantastic!

BMC_Kid 

Well, I got the frame today and it is spectacular. I will need to get some photos of it tomorrow in the sunlight.

I bought this frame off eBay and the photos and description were pretty unremarkable. I was just looking for a basic Picchio of my adolescent memories in my size. Not an easy feat. So, when I bought the frame I had it shipped directly to my painter and today is first time I’ve had it in hand and come to find out, it’s made with Columbus Air aero tubing. What a nice little surprise. I thought I had the correct Record headset in my stash of parts but I didn’t and so I have one coming in early next week.

BMC_Kid 

Finished wrapping the handlebars, installed the headset, BB cups and crankset this morning.

This is a first for me, tan handlebar wrap as all my other bikes have either black or white. Going for a classic look on this build and the Leh (I cannot recommend them enough.) leather wrap in Acorn was the closest match to my saddle. Another first for me is the black 3TTT stem and handlebar set that I’ve had for almost 20 years waiting for the right build.





This build will be a combination of 11-speed Athena and Super Record.


Spent the rest of the day with my wife and dad and plan to finish the build tomorrow morning. I think I’ll go ahead and get the wheels ready tonight, Campy hub set, H Plus Sons Archetype polished rims, and 25mm Continental 5000 tires.

I forgot to mention, I installed paint protection film on the down-tube, headtube, and double layers on the chainstay.

BMC_Kid 

All done! Here’s the build specs:
11-speed Super Record controllers and rear derailleur
11-speed Athena crankset and front derailleur
10-speed Athena brake set
Super Record fluted seatpost
Repente Artax GL saddle
Record headset
3-ttt stem and handlebars with Leh leather wrap, Campy bartend plugs
10-speed Chorus 32 hole hubset
H Plus Sons Archetype rims
Continental GP 5000 25mm
11-speed Wippermann chain
Elite Ciussi stainless steel water bottle cage

Crappy weather here so I’ll grab some photos outside in the sunlight once I take it on it’s inaugural ride hopefully tomorrow or Sunday.






Cool aero tubing, top tube, down tube, seat tube, and seat stays.

BMC_Kid 

Took the Picchio out for a back to back ride against my Zullo SLX bike. Ended up swapping out the wheel set, with the Picchio getting the Record Titanium hubbed wheel set and 28mm Continental GP 5000s from the Zullo. This move smoothed out the ride a bit. I think the shaped aero tubing imparted a harshness that was detectable in my back to back rides. It’s cool to look at but I don’t think it added anything to ride but then again, I am not exactly sure what tubing was used other than it’s Columbus.



It sure is a pretty frame in the daylight. Unfortunately, the whole time I had the bike built up and able to take it out it’s been very cloudy and overcast or raining. The above photo was taken in a brief beak in the clouds which lasted about 10 minutes then back to overcast and shortly thereafter thunderstorms.




All in all, it was a fun build and another memorable one from my adolescence crossed off the list for my stable.