Cecil Behringer finished!
 

Hopefully Cecil would approve, I did my best! The component list is nothing to write home about. For the most part I went function over form, because I'm intending to use the bike as a day-tripper and I want to be comfortable and trouble-free for long hours in the saddle. The ride is amazing, much racier than I expected from looking at the frame. Steering is via telekinesis. It reminds me, joyfully, of the Gitane Supercorsa I once owned, but more lively. The frame itself is amazingly light. The total bike came in at 21.6 lb, and I can't believe I wasn't punished more for the less than featherweight pieces I chose for the build.

The cockpit is a little bit of an "old-man" set-up, but my 40 year old back is thanking me for it. I find myself riding the drops much more than I ever have, and the shifters are exactly where I expect them to be when I reach for them. The other thing I like is that my knees don't bang into the shifters (Dia Compe Silvers) when climbing out of the saddle, which is a problem I've had with bar-ends when the bars where lower.

Here it is, without further ado. I am open to suggestions for improvements!

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0861.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0863.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0854.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0860.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0855.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...IMG_0853_1.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0859.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...IMG_0850_1.jpg

Good work! Now get out and ride. :thumb:

Improvements? Get those bugs away from that beautiful bike!

Nice! Cool lamp too, we've got one of those in our nursery.

devinfan, the bike looks great. You're in great company with your orange bike. It's one even DD would be happy to get his grubby mitts on. :)

Thanks all! I've wanted an orange bike for a long time, but it never happened till now. I love this particular orange, but unfortunately it's not too easy to capture on film. The brake set up is nothing fancy (Milremo branded Universals and Dia Compe G's) but the combination has led to unbelievable braking power - thanks mostly to the Kool Stop salmons I'm sure. Those pads can make any brake work!

21.6 with a Brooks?? I've never been able to get under 24 with one of those installed, hehe. 22.15 on my Fuji Ace made me proud, it was hard fought to get that low with tubulars, etc. Congrats on the build! Looks amazing!,,,,BD

The saddle's actually an Ideale 80, but I think the rails are made of some lighter steel, because in addition to being un-chromed, I was amazed when I bought another Ideale 80 and it felt much heavier in the hand than this one. The post is pretty light too - it's an American Classic. The first gen Dura Ace cranks with Zeus pedals also turned out to be lighter than pretty much every other option I tried. The wheelset, too was surprisingly light, I love Rigida AL1320 rims. The Suntour VGT Luxe is NOT, however, a lightweight. I put it on because for whatever reason it is shifting better than the Superbe Pro I was initially going with.

Interesting article on Cecil B's framebuilding techniques here, if anyone's interested: http://books.google.ca/books?id=R9kD...page&q&f=false

Very nice indeed!

I changed up the drivetrain a bit. Turns out it was the chain that was causing issues with the Superbe Pro RD. The SRAM chain I put on works like a charm, even though it doesn't look as cool as the old NOS uniglide I had on before. Here it is now:

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0895.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0894.jpg

What do you think?

Sorry the Suntour superbe didn't work, very nice bike!

Well, how much cooler is your bike than you? ;)

Thanks elguicho, the rear is actually working great now with the new chain. As for the front, I think I am doing something wrong. The "endless band" will close so that you can mount the body of the derailleur on it when it is NOT around the seat-tube, but once I try to put it on the seat-tube no amount of pressing or pleading will get the little hook thing to stay on. Maybe I am doing it wrong?

Quite a bit!

I'm really of no help here as I got those off a bike, cleaned and sold them. I never installed or used them, sorry.

Thank you! I was originally looking for some Pino Moroni parts to go with it, but they are (as you know) rarer than hen's teeth.

Beautiful Bicycle...excellent job of rebuilding!!!!

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0854.jpg

Orange! :love:

(You did very well Devinfan. Lovely bike.)

Are those the original graphics? Only ask because I've never seen one...

Thanks Auchencrow! I love the colour too. I'm still not sure I made the right decision with the brown saddle and bar tape, I'm open to different suggestions.

They are. It's actually a 90's repaint by Keith Anderson (his decal is also on the seat-tube) but the decals are from Behringer. You can see them on Dale Brown's (of Classic Rendevous) behringer here: http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA...nger_cecil.htm I'm not usually too into repaints, but the orange makes up for it, and Keith did a nice job with it.

Orange you Glad you finished that...