I originally picked up this frame in the 96 or 97 from the original owner, built it up with a grab bag collection of parts. Rode and raced it for a few years, then it hung in the garage, then it was left in storage, and now I've finally retrieved it from the states for a bit of resto mod.
It's a hand built TIG welded Columbus EL frame, 63cm c-t, from a frame builder in Seattle, with Kinesis aluminium fork. 8sp Sachs Ergo Shifters & Rear Derailleur, 7 speed 105 + open4cd wheels. Shimano 600 cranks, Front Derailleur, and Headset. Aero Grand Comp front brake, RX100 rear, both modded to koolstop pads. Profile stem and handlebars, Campy Aero Record seatpost, Selle Italia Turbomatic2 seat.
It needs some work:
I don't trust the fork anymore. It's 25 yr old bonded aluminium which might be ok, but I didn't really _like_ the ride quality at the time. I just couldn't afford a carbon fork then. Now though, I think I'm going to get a steel one made.
There's a little bit of surface rust, but that seems to have cleaned up ok. Couple spots around the bottom bracket and the cable stops but they came off with a little emery paper.
The bottom bracket is stuck in. It still spins well enough, it's a Shimano sealed unit, but the cups are solidly in place. I'd like to get it out, if for no other reason than to be able to inspect the inside of the frame down there for rust. I'm pondering penetrating oil + a long wrench, but I'm also a little leery of using too much force on it. So I'm undecided how much effort is too much before I just say "good enough for now".
The shifting was bad before it was put away, looks like the rear shift cable was frayed at the shifter, so that one is simple. New cables and housing all around. The tires are scary too, so they'll be replaced. I'm hoping to fit 28's on there, but 25 might be the max. The rear has a 23 on it now. I don't think my body could take the thought of 23's anymore.
There's at least one eyelet pulling through on the rear rim, so I think a wheelset is probably in order. I might replace the rim, but it's probably not worth building up on those hubs. I'd like to go to an 8sp rear, ideally with 1.8/1.6 spokes and dura-ace hubs. I can be patient on that though, as I've got enough non-period-correct 8-11sp wheels around here to get the rest of it done.
It's a hand built TIG welded Columbus EL frame, 63cm c-t, from a frame builder in Seattle, with Kinesis aluminium fork. 8sp Sachs Ergo Shifters & Rear Derailleur, 7 speed 105 + open4cd wheels. Shimano 600 cranks, Front Derailleur, and Headset. Aero Grand Comp front brake, RX100 rear, both modded to koolstop pads. Profile stem and handlebars, Campy Aero Record seatpost, Selle Italia Turbomatic2 seat.
It needs some work:
I don't trust the fork anymore. It's 25 yr old bonded aluminium which might be ok, but I didn't really _like_ the ride quality at the time. I just couldn't afford a carbon fork then. Now though, I think I'm going to get a steel one made.
There's a little bit of surface rust, but that seems to have cleaned up ok. Couple spots around the bottom bracket and the cable stops but they came off with a little emery paper.
The bottom bracket is stuck in. It still spins well enough, it's a Shimano sealed unit, but the cups are solidly in place. I'd like to get it out, if for no other reason than to be able to inspect the inside of the frame down there for rust. I'm pondering penetrating oil + a long wrench, but I'm also a little leery of using too much force on it. So I'm undecided how much effort is too much before I just say "good enough for now".
The shifting was bad before it was put away, looks like the rear shift cable was frayed at the shifter, so that one is simple. New cables and housing all around. The tires are scary too, so they'll be replaced. I'm hoping to fit 28's on there, but 25 might be the max. The rear has a 23 on it now. I don't think my body could take the thought of 23's anymore.
There's at least one eyelet pulling through on the rear rim, so I think a wheelset is probably in order. I might replace the rim, but it's probably not worth building up on those hubs. I'd like to go to an 8sp rear, ideally with 1.8/1.6 spokes and dura-ace hubs. I can be patient on that though, as I've got enough non-period-correct 8-11sp wheels around here to get the rest of it done.
First because you rarely see TIG Welded EL Columbus frames, most of them were brazed with lugs or filet brazed and with an unicrown or brazed fork.You must check tire clearance before installing larger tyres.Secondly, the Sachs new success was very rarely encountered among professional teams in the 90's
