non-fixie 

Tubes are metric. My guess is this machine's birthdate is much closer to 1980 - or even beyond - than I originally thought.

non-fixie 

Thanks! It's a horses for courses thing, really. I do a lot of my riding together with mrs non-fixie in the form of day trips. Many hours in the saddle, at a moderate pace, and just a small bag with a rain jacket, tools and maybe lunch. Here in Holland, but preferably in the hills of southern France or Italy.

For that, bikes like this are perfect. They occupy the middle ground between the true racing machines - which I often find a tad too twitchy for those rides - and the real touring rigs - which tend to ride like empty trucks when not loaded.

juvela

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Thank you!

This brings up question regarding threading statement.

You write it is BSC but headset could not be BSC if if steerer metric so is threading mixed or is steerer BSC?

Wondering about the giant clearance on the front. Even if made for export to anglophone market where 27" wheels might be expected that would only make a difference of four mm. Looks like there be more than eno' real estate there to run 27's, 38c's, mudguards and yet have space left over to rent out lodgings.

Any guesses as to designer thinking?

Thanks so much for sharing yet another fine build! [well maybe except for the brifters]


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non-fixie 

I believe I used a new BSC headset I had, which mounted without any problems. Which is somewhat surprising in hindsight, as the head tube does indeed have the French 32mm outside diameter. I don't recall what exactly happened when pressing in the cups, but if they had been loose I think I would have noticed.

The tires the bicycle is currently wearing measure 700 x 28C. I could probably go to 32mm or maybe even 35mm, but that would be really tight between the chain stays, and I may have also cut the fender stays too short for that. Anyway, I like the 28mm folding Paselas for the kind of riding I do. While wider tires at a lower pressure increase comfort, they also take away some steering feel, which I wouldn't want, especially with such a long wheelbase.

Ah, yes, the brifters. I like brifting.

When I realized that the frame I'd bought had more of a touring geometry, I decided to make it part of my never ending quest for the perfect touring machine: a bicycle that provides maximum touring pleasure. For that it needs to look nice as well as be comfortable. For me that means finding the right mix of parts and colors so that all work together nicely: ergonomically, technically and visually.

This is how it looks today. The Brooks Swift has given way to an Idéale 90:

juvela

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curious regarding product of pachyderm's milliner

appears a very specific design as though something associated with a particular form of work or pastime

does anyone recognise it?


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non-fixie 

The cap looks like a working man's cap of the period, and my best guess is that the black and yellow stripes refer to Robust's corporate colors. Most Robusts I have found on the net have the Robust name in black and yellow ...

The cap does does rather zhuzh said pachyderm's ensemble.

rustystrings61 

Wait - is that an Abyssinian? Those guys are SO much fun! I miss Hector, the Red Abyssinian that owned me for a while ...

non-fixie 

That's Fritz. Half Abyssinian, half Siamese. It doesn't get more annoying than that.

But we're great friends.

AdventureManCO 

Lovely build, sir. Quite a robust build, I would say.

juvela

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...and an accomplished alpinist to boot!

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non-fixie 

He is getting older and fatter. I'm afraid his days as a Gipfelstürmer are pretty much over.