Leo: The 1960s Bottecchia...randonneur?
#76
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Beautiful job so far! Not to jump too far ahead but I’m eagerly awaiting your fender selection. You’ve got acres of clearance up front but from here it looks like it may be a little tight around the seat tube. Any idea yet what you’ll use?
Last edited by Pcampeau; 12-27-19 at 01:10 AM.
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Excellent thread and an interesting build plan. Looking forward to the rest of the story.
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The paint came out great.
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#79
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(Pic via @THREADLESS1430 at: https://flic.kr/p/mWtGae)
Someone's making this fender set with a 10 hexagon row, which I prefer a lot more over the VO (yech!) or Honjo (overdone) variety, but the article on this Meerglass rando doesn't list the model:
I'm also open to suggestions within these particular styles, but I'm really seeking someting more distinct than the average Honjo H-47 set.
-Kurt
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More farting around, this time with the handlebars.
The bars that I ordered from AliExpress more than two months ago finally showed up (even after the dispute and lack of tracking), while a pair of VO Porteurs happened to show up the day before for another project.
The Porteur bar looks quite small when installed (and yes, I have them purposefully upside-down, so the bars rise up like North Roads). Not to mention that just looking at them tells me all I need to know: Stretching out to grab these bars would be living hell.
Enter the China bars, which are inexplicably marked "Frank" at the ends. Slang for "Francs?" Who knows - if anything, this bike is turning into the pit of obscure names.
At any rate, the Frank is - as I feared - wider than I prefer. They look more like old American balloon tire handlebars combined with flat French rise. However, that flatter rise means these bars have the unique side profile I'm after. Plus, they feel quite good in the hands while straddling the frame - the extra sweep back is absolutely necessary with the 100mm stem and the insanely long top tube. The lack of fenders also make the package look visually top-heavy, so maybe it'll improve once that's sorted.
I think we can agree that no matter what it looks like from other angles, this angle makes up for all the rest. This is the the streamlined era standing up in the crowd and demanding the recognition it rightfully deserves.
-Kurt
The bars that I ordered from AliExpress more than two months ago finally showed up (even after the dispute and lack of tracking), while a pair of VO Porteurs happened to show up the day before for another project.
The Porteur bar looks quite small when installed (and yes, I have them purposefully upside-down, so the bars rise up like North Roads). Not to mention that just looking at them tells me all I need to know: Stretching out to grab these bars would be living hell.
Enter the China bars, which are inexplicably marked "Frank" at the ends. Slang for "Francs?" Who knows - if anything, this bike is turning into the pit of obscure names.
At any rate, the Frank is - as I feared - wider than I prefer. They look more like old American balloon tire handlebars combined with flat French rise. However, that flatter rise means these bars have the unique side profile I'm after. Plus, they feel quite good in the hands while straddling the frame - the extra sweep back is absolutely necessary with the 100mm stem and the insanely long top tube. The lack of fenders also make the package look visually top-heavy, so maybe it'll improve once that's sorted.
I think we can agree that no matter what it looks like from other angles, this angle makes up for all the rest. This is the the streamlined era standing up in the crowd and demanding the recognition it rightfully deserves.
-Kurt
Last edited by cudak888; 01-15-20 at 10:24 PM.
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Looks good. Probably not a lot of people around who would spurn a Honjo fender but put some Ali Express bars on their bike
Regarding fenders, the frame is ornate enough. I feel a pair of smooth (no pattern) Honjos would look best.
Regarding fenders, the frame is ornate enough. I feel a pair of smooth (no pattern) Honjos would look best.
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-Kurt
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And the model trains as a background!
#84
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Temporarily borrowed a 26.6 seatpost and seat pin from one of the Velo Yellows for a quick mock up. Saddle is probably too low, and the bars are about an inch too high to look proportional.
The biggest thing in my eyes is that it still looks like a Klunker that dropped its bottom bracket to the ground and went to finishing school. The fenders can't come soon enough.
-Kurt
The biggest thing in my eyes is that it still looks like a Klunker that dropped its bottom bracket to the ground and went to finishing school. The fenders can't come soon enough.
-Kurt
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Good news - ordered some Nitto shims for the handlebar (it's a 25.4 in a 26.0) and they'll arrive soon. Also snagged a 26.6mm Nuovo Record seatpost on eBay for a very agreeable price.
The one thing I could use help with is to find a seatpost binder bolt with knurling on one side (like Campagnolo), rather than the Sugino type available through Problem Solvers right now. Found this pic on Flickr with the differences:
Campagnolo + Sugino seatpost binder bolts by Stronglight, on Flickr
Usually I'd just stick my finger into my spares box, but I don't have any spares like this.
FYI, Campagnolo binders are not an option, unless it's a hybrid with a generic bolt one one side and the Campag binder half used on the knurled side. Have had too many experiences of the Campy ones relentlessly snapping every second time.
-Kurt
The one thing I could use help with is to find a seatpost binder bolt with knurling on one side (like Campagnolo), rather than the Sugino type available through Problem Solvers right now. Found this pic on Flickr with the differences:
Campagnolo + Sugino seatpost binder bolts by Stronglight, on Flickr
Usually I'd just stick my finger into my spares box, but I don't have any spares like this.
FYI, Campagnolo binders are not an option, unless it's a hybrid with a generic bolt one one side and the Campag binder half used on the knurled side. Have had too many experiences of the Campy ones relentlessly snapping every second time.
-Kurt
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Fairly certain I have several Simplex binders I picked up in bulk on eBay several years back at a negligible price that are ribbed like that vs. keyed. If not, I've got a bin full of little bits.
Are there any specific measurements I can take on it to help you figure out if it'd work for you? If it'll work, I'll drop it in the mail this week.
Edit: This style here is exactly what I have, I just worry the ears may be too small on one side: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Simplex-sea...S/312618377192
Are there any specific measurements I can take on it to help you figure out if it'd work for you? If it'll work, I'll drop it in the mail this week.
Edit: This style here is exactly what I have, I just worry the ears may be too small on one side: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Simplex-sea...S/312618377192
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Fairly certain I have several Simplex binders I picked up in bulk on eBay several years back at a negligible price that are ribbed like that vs. keyed. If not, I've got a bin full of little bits.
Are there any specific measurements I can take on it to help you figure out if it'd work for you? If it'll work, I'll drop it in the mail this week.
Edit: This style here is exactly what I have, I just worry the ears may be too small on one side: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Simplex-sea...S/312618377192
Are there any specific measurements I can take on it to help you figure out if it'd work for you? If it'll work, I'll drop it in the mail this week.
Edit: This style here is exactly what I have, I just worry the ears may be too small on one side: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Simplex-sea...S/312618377192
-Kurt
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My main concern would be the fixed end with the flats. Not sure why they did that. But otherwise, pics say it all. I've got three of these left. One is earmarked for a project. One is yours if can use it.
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No pics yet, but I wanted to thank francophile once again for the Simplex binder bolt. It has since arrived, fits perfectly, and I have the Brooks permanently installed along with the 26.6 Nuovo post now.
Now to deal with that headset and the elusive crankset.
Also - and my apologies if I've mentioned this before - does anyone have one of these oddball (and really nice looking) Shimano ST-7S60 Nexus 7-speed shifters?
-Kurt
Now to deal with that headset and the elusive crankset.
Also - and my apologies if I've mentioned this before - does anyone have one of these oddball (and really nice looking) Shimano ST-7S60 Nexus 7-speed shifters?
-Kurt
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No pics yet, but I wanted to thank francophile once again for the Simplex binder bolt. It has since arrived, fits perfectly, and I have the Brooks permanently installed along with the 26.6 Nuovo post now.
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#92
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And here it is, wearing the new seatpost and seatpin. The B.17 is probably a lot higher than it'll ultimately be set at, but I don't want to scratch the post unnecessarily.
The only French bit on this French-esque build . Also, no worries about the crack - that's in the paint, not the frame.
Still really unsure of those bars. It's going to take the fenders and crank to bring it together. Almost tempted to make a fender dimpling tool to turn a set of smooth fenders into what I want.
No worries at all. I've got so much on my mind ATM that my only concern is whether I'll ever return to normalcy.
-Kurt
The only French bit on this French-esque build . Also, no worries about the crack - that's in the paint, not the frame.
Still really unsure of those bars. It's going to take the fenders and crank to bring it together. Almost tempted to make a fender dimpling tool to turn a set of smooth fenders into what I want.
-Kurt
Last edited by cudak888; 02-11-20 at 07:56 PM.
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#95
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I thought seatpin and seatposts are synonyms. What are you talking about?
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New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
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Looking good. I remember reading this thread waiting for my van to have some work done to it in the winter. It is coming together nicely.
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The chainguard off that Polycarbonex frame might look really nice too, but it'll have to be cut down in length if I do use it. I also won't be able to use the bottom bracket mounting plate.
-Kurt
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The fenders I ordered from France didn't work out, but nlerner solved that problem.
Leo is back, baby!
It's just a mockup for now; have to clean up some of the edges and fit them to the frame, not just suspend them by the stays. Still, this is the look I wanted from the start.
Definitely reinvigorated on this one. Nothing like French Fender Friday (yes, I know it's a Thursday, but who's counting?)
-Kurt
Leo is back, baby!
It's just a mockup for now; have to clean up some of the edges and fit them to the frame, not just suspend them by the stays. Still, this is the look I wanted from the start.
Definitely reinvigorated on this one. Nothing like French Fender Friday (yes, I know it's a Thursday, but who's counting?)
-Kurt
Last edited by cudak888; 11-10-22 at 07:20 PM.