Archive for the 'FRM' Category

New bikes pt. 2

Published on October 1, 2010 in caad4, Cannondale, dura ace, FRM, Mavic and ultegra. Closed Tags: , , , , , , .

Judy’s bike is also coming together nicely.  I’m trying to install components which have a colour similar to those on the frame.  Stem, seat post, handle bars all in silver etc.  You get the picture.  Dr. Cannondale in Germany came up trumps with some minor frame spare parts such as the BB cable guide and I’ve raided my treasure trove of parts to add some serious bling/retro bling to the bike.  I’m using an old 7400 series 8 speed Dura-ace rear derailleur for the retro bling and a set of ultra light FRM brake calipers.  The wheels were a bitch to get simply because of the incompetence of the people I ordered them from, but they’re really nice Ultegra 6700 hubs laced to Mavic Open Pro’s with 32 spokes front and rear.  But I’m most proud about the tyres.  Getting a set of white 700C tyres isn’t a problem.  Try tracking down a set of 650C tyres in white.  I’m pretty sure that the only ones available are these Gran Compe Japanese market only tyres from Dia Compe.  Managed to track down one in the US of A, the supplier’s last, and then a second one subsequently, also from the same supplier, at a later date, once he got one more into stock.  Lastly there’s a women’s specific saddle, a Selle Italia Diva, because I care.

Anyway here’s some photos.

Bike Porn #2 1999 Basso Loto

Published on April 8, 2009 in Basso, Basso Loto, campagnolo, Carbon, centaur, FRM, Ksyrium, Loto and Mavic. Closed

I’m really excited about this Basso. The frame is a 1999 model, bought NOS about a year and a half ago from a chap in the UK which I heard about on a bike forum. I also got my ’89 Bottecchia frame from him as well. This’s a lugged frame (except the seat stays, which are fillet brazed to the seat tube), made out of custom Dedacciai 18MCDV6 H.T. steel tubes, specially drawn for Basso. 18MCDV6 H.T. is somewhat similar to Reynolds 853 and is now marketed as Dedacciai EOM 16.5 or SAT 14.5, not really sure which. http://www.bringheli.com/dedacciaisteel.html. Course I’ll probably get read the riot act by some bike nerd who’ll tell me that it’s nothing like Reynolds 853….
It’s not a light frame by modern standards, however the Loto model was designed by Basso for the slightly porkier rider, i.e. Me, so is a beefy frame. As such, I want to get the finished weight as low as possible, within financial reason.
Anyway, frame & forks as purchased, came still wrapped in the Basso factory wrapping:

I picked up a carbon Dedacciai fork with the correct 1″ steerer to replace the original and very heavy Basso steel forks:

Mounted with a Deda stem and Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels (taken from my Trek 1000, only about 200km on them):

FSA Wing bars mounted, along with a fantastic NOS 1″ Campagnolo Record Threadless headset and 2009 Campagnolo Centaur Ultrashift brake/gear levers:

FRM CL2 billet aluminium calipers – a work of art and a whopping 100g lighter than Campagnolo Centaur calipers. Wheels currently have Conti Ultra Gator Duraskin tyres which I’ll swap out for a set of folding tyres of the same model, saving another 160g weight:

Detail shot of rear of the calipers, showing the milled out sections to lighten the calipers:

Campag Centaur carbon rear derailleur, medium cage:

I bought the medium cage version as I’ll be fitting compact cranks. I’ve picked up a carbon FSA SL-K crankset, which I’ve had a spot of bother fitting. I dropped the frame into my LBS to get the BB shell prepped, but when I assembled the crankset in to it, the cranks didn’t turn smoothly at all. Back to the LBS to rectify, tapping and facing the BB shell again. However when he re-assembled the crankset to the frame he made complete shit of the self extracting crank bold and the spindle o-ring seal for the bearings. That was a couple of weeks ago, and I’m still waiting for him to source a replacement o-ring seal, before I can re-assemble myself.
That’s all the progress for now, more as I make it. Next up is seat post (been through two already which won’t fit, seems like a real odd ball size), fit the crankset, fit all the cables and it’ll be nearly finished!