Thanks! I am methodical with my builds.
I find the Selle SMP saddles to be quite comfortable, and very effective for avoiding numbness in the privates. I'm quite susceptible to that, and very few saddles work for me.

The one on my Merckx is my favorite thus far - the Vulkor - zero padding and a wonderful ergonomic shape that us super comfortable.
I have found that I can't handle much (if any) padding on a saddle, because it cuts off my circulation and I go numb pretty quickly.

Albeit, a little tall for me...nonetheless, nice rides. All of them... ✨

It's coming along piece by piece. I mounted the 105 shifters. I'll need the future owner for a bike fitting.

Shimano 105 and Sora components. Soon I'll have both wheels laced to black shimano hubs. I'm on hunt for the crankset.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ab63f0fdbe.jpg

Super light spokes and hub you've got there. Totally drilled out cassette, too.

A bike I recently finished for my son. It's a 1984 Serotta Nova Special. It's fitted with 6700 Ultegra drivetrain and brakes, Bontrager Race lite wheels, 7410 Dura Ace crankset and bottom bracket.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...48af6e74c0.jpg

My most recent steel frame hot rod project, 1985 Raleigh Competition:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e94b40b603.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8de0f0c297.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8ae0746355.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0a1b5a88b9.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...94e952c8dc.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fa5d4c0523.jpg

Combination of parts box and eBay pieces. RD is a 7 speed 600 tri-color, FD is a Campy Xenon that works great. Headset is my old go-to Shimano Ultegra that I have on all my threaded steerer bikes. Got the saddle for $15 on Craigslist, I was trying to find something that had a similar shape, profile, and firmness to my ancient Avocet O2 saddles. I have not taken it on any long rides yet, I'm probably going to take it out for a 37 mile group ride tomorrow morning. My initial impressions based on a couple of short jaunts around the neighborhood is that this frame is compliant but not whippy, it's pretty quiet, handling is a tad bit twitchier than my Paramount, and the bike seems noticeably heavier than the Paramount. The Tourney brifters work better than I expected, still getting used to the small inner levers after 20+ years with DA 7700 levers. I still like macro splash bar tape even though many folks think it is gauche.

Next projects are rehabilitating a friend's Fuji mountain bike and SE single speed city bike. I have a $100 budget for each. They have both been sitting outside for about 10 years, should be fun!

Got a bunch of new stuff for the Faggin recently.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d0f056556a.jpg

I like the combo with threaded carbon fork (with alu or steel steerer tube) and quill stem on a steel frame. I am trying to do a similar build (a Merckx MX Leader missing its fork) but no luck as of yet finding a fork with the right length steerer.

I am not much of a ahedset-guy. Having trouble with the aesthetics of the modern stems...

I've treated my Ron Cooper to its biggest upgrade since neo-retrification in 2012 with some 11-speed and shiny silver bits. 34 years old this Summer!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5f63402a1e.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...49e2d451b1.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1b4e9d795b.jpg

Nice, [MENTION=298903]PhilPub[/MENTION]! Is that Cannondale bar tape? It looks just like the stuff I put on my Schiwinn Premis.

Thanks! No it's Bike Ribbon Professional, what I always used BITD and glad it's still available. It's very cleanable (important in white!) and with a couple of layers of hockey tape/surgical tape underneath just enough cushioning for use without gloves. (YMMV.)

Ah, I see it now. The light angle in that last pic made it look like something else.

I have Cannondale Synapse tape on a couple bikes. Its the same stuff as Ritchey Pave tape, for what its worth. I love the stuff and between both brands I have it on my 4 most ridden bikes.

Yeah, that's the one. Agreed; it's nice tape. Found it at a LBS and gave it a shot. Glad I did.

Old frame that was powdercoated. Its a contract built road frame from '89 labeled as a Novara Trionfo.
All parts except seat post and tires were swapped over from a Schwinn Premis I'd been riding. The tires had to be changed since this frame only fits 25mm. The gp5k measure to 26 and look great.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...937228249e.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4bf421dd04.jpg

incredibly well done, sir!!! :beer:

Cheers! :beer:

As always, I check in and more hot bikes have been posted! :D

1986 Proctor Custom
Campagnolo Potenza
TRP 957 long reach brakes
HED Belgium+ laced to Record hubs
GP5000 TL 32mm tires
Pro Vibe 7S stem (de-branded)
Zipp SL-70 bars
INNICYCLE conversion headset
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4e6698ae7d.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2037ae7347.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...156f26a9bf.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3010be060a.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0c80464f18.jpg

New-ish to the forums 👋, but I wanted to share progress photos of my '85 Peugeot P8. Purchased last year with tired components, but a beautiful frame with original (rad) paint, so over the last year, I slowly gathered an Ultegra 6500 group to upgrade with. Still need to mount the FD, run the lines, fab longer tabs for the fenders to bring them closer to the tires and wrap the bars (yellow). Picked up a set of Tektro R559 long-reach calipers and swapped out the 115mm reach CTA stem for an 80mm one. Also recently picked up a 24mm JPR alloy seatpost so I can ditch the heavy steel one. Oh, and the pedals are temporary! I've got a set of Ultegra clipless pedals that will go on after tuning!

I know this isn't the lightest/best frame for a build like this, but I wanted to do something different and it's technically my first ground-up build, so I've learned a lot. I've always ridden and maintained 80's steel bikes, so this one will feel right at home for me, but with some more modern tech 🙂

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bbabb58627.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...13e1596a52.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8d3dff0f14.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...389977fa56.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ab0e4524ba.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9683aaac1e.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4349a49a84.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...59cb1510c0.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4940caffa1.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4802fde27a.jpg

Yo, what's up with the weird brake levers on those Ergos?

1st year edition of ergo-power had the little bit at the end of lever. Have a couple sets of them. The levers are solid aluminum, unlike some of the latter editions.
I’ve since changed them for a Carbon set w/o the end nub.

This frame/fork was given to me by a banned member who we can no longer speak of. I'm trying to compound the paint and make it presentable before the build goes forward. Otherwise, rattlecan, baby! The build idea started as one similar to something said former member would build. It morphed into a middle finger build towards the component companies and their planned obsolescence/backwards compatibility attitudes. I am proud to say that only 2 components are out of the same "group." I blacked out the component markings with a Sharpie. The cassette, chain, chainrings and shifters are the same speed. That's about it. Take that, Big Bicycle!
:D

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...81a1f98fd6.jpg

1984 Raleigh Prestige with (mostly) Shimano 9 speed Tiagra.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3ffe387c54.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2bb0f73222.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fa985f89f0.jpg

I don't think I've posted this one here, at least not in this version. 1990 Diamondback Centurion Interval with MicroShift 3 X 9. Crankset is a CODA triple.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a495e22429.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...017a39bfe9.jpg