Ralph_the_Rohan
Retro Guru
Here's the next in my line up of '70's/80s Time Trial Bikes.
After my previous two Emperor Sports (http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... p;t=301287 and http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... p;t=263892) this time it is an MKM Ultimate. At this moment in time I am unaware of the exact age as it does not have a frame number stamped anywhere on the frame or forks. David at http://www.mkm-cycles.co.uk is currently investigating and as he is in contact with Steve Elsworth, who built all the MKM Ultimates, hopefully I will have an answer soon.
Eagle eyed viewers may recognise this bike as it previously belonged to a friend of mine and has been displayed on Retrobike before in a couple of different guises.
After stripping the frame down from it’s last set-up my friend began building up a collection of lightweight period correct parts ready for a final build up. As is normally the case, a lack of time and space meant that this project sat on the back burners for a couple of years until, finally, in February this year my friend gave the frame and the collected parts to me as a 60th Birthday present.
I decided to combine what he gave me with my own collection of lightweight parts to build up what would hopefully be a very light bike.
As most people know, the fashion throughout the 70s was to reduce the overall weight of TT bikes by drilling holes in parts such as brake calipers, brake levers, seat posts and chainrings, etc. This process became known as “Drillium” and although eventually superseded by the introduction of aerodynamics, it reached its zenith when employed by top TT riders such as the “King”, Alf Engers.
I already had a few Drillium parts including a pair of Weinmann Brake Levers and a radically drilled Campagnolo Seat Post that interestingly I obtained from Graham Crabtree, who is the son of Ian Crabtree, one of a line of different owners of the MKM Company. Ian actually used the Seat Post in one of his own MKMs back in the day.
I really wanted some drilled Weinmann 500 calipers, but had never been able to obtain any, so I decided to have a go at drilling a pair myself. Despite only having a Dremel multi-tool set-up in a small Dremel drill press, which did not allow for brilliant accuracy, I was quite pleased with the results.
After completing the build-up I was very pleased to find that the complete bike weighs in at 17.19lbs or 7.8kg as I was aiming at something around 18lbs. It currently has a pair of tatty old Continental Champion GP Tubs fitted, perhaps if I change to some silk Clements I may be able to drop under 17lbs. Anyone have some they want to get rid of?
Here’s the spec sheet followed by a few pages of pics…
Frame: MKM Ultimate – Reynolds 531
Fork: MKM – Reynolds 531
Headset: OMAS “Big Sliding”
Stem: Cinelli 1A – 125mm
Handlebar: Cinelli 66 - 40
Bar Tape: Cotton
Brake Levers/Brifters: Weinmann - Drilled
Brake Calipers: Weinmann 500 - Drilled
Brake Pads: Weinmann
Brake Cables: Unknown Brand
Shifters: Campagnolo Record - Drilled
Front Derailleur: None, it’s a Time Trial Bike!
Rear Derailleur: Huret Jubilee
Derailleur Cables: Huret
Freewheel: Maillard Course - Dural – 6 Speed – 13 through 18
Chain: Regina Extra SL Superleggera – Hollow Pins
Cranks: Campagnolo Record - 170mm 144 BCD – Lugs for Inner Chainring milled off – Chainring Arms milled out
Chainrings: Unknown Brand – 54 Teeth - Drilled
Bottom Bracket: OMAS “Big Sliding” – Titanium Axle
Pedals: Vittoria Superlight – Fides Lightweight Aluminium Toeclips – Milremo Competizione Straps
Rims: 28 Hole Super Champion Medaille D'or – Gold Factory Anodised
Hubs: Campagnolo Record – Large Flange
Hub Skewers: Campagnolo Record
Nipples: Unknown
Spokes: Unknown
Tyres: Continental Champion GP Tubs
Tubes: N/A
Saddle: SABA Premier Record
Seatpost: 27.2 Campagnolo Record – 2 Bolt
Seatpost Binder: MKM
Bottle Cage: N/A
Extras: N/A
Weight: 17.19lbs – 7.8Kgs
Enjoy the pics!
Steve.
After my previous two Emperor Sports (http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... p;t=301287 and http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... p;t=263892) this time it is an MKM Ultimate. At this moment in time I am unaware of the exact age as it does not have a frame number stamped anywhere on the frame or forks. David at http://www.mkm-cycles.co.uk is currently investigating and as he is in contact with Steve Elsworth, who built all the MKM Ultimates, hopefully I will have an answer soon.
Eagle eyed viewers may recognise this bike as it previously belonged to a friend of mine and has been displayed on Retrobike before in a couple of different guises.
After stripping the frame down from it’s last set-up my friend began building up a collection of lightweight period correct parts ready for a final build up. As is normally the case, a lack of time and space meant that this project sat on the back burners for a couple of years until, finally, in February this year my friend gave the frame and the collected parts to me as a 60th Birthday present.
I decided to combine what he gave me with my own collection of lightweight parts to build up what would hopefully be a very light bike.
As most people know, the fashion throughout the 70s was to reduce the overall weight of TT bikes by drilling holes in parts such as brake calipers, brake levers, seat posts and chainrings, etc. This process became known as “Drillium” and although eventually superseded by the introduction of aerodynamics, it reached its zenith when employed by top TT riders such as the “King”, Alf Engers.
I already had a few Drillium parts including a pair of Weinmann Brake Levers and a radically drilled Campagnolo Seat Post that interestingly I obtained from Graham Crabtree, who is the son of Ian Crabtree, one of a line of different owners of the MKM Company. Ian actually used the Seat Post in one of his own MKMs back in the day.
I really wanted some drilled Weinmann 500 calipers, but had never been able to obtain any, so I decided to have a go at drilling a pair myself. Despite only having a Dremel multi-tool set-up in a small Dremel drill press, which did not allow for brilliant accuracy, I was quite pleased with the results.
After completing the build-up I was very pleased to find that the complete bike weighs in at 17.19lbs or 7.8kg as I was aiming at something around 18lbs. It currently has a pair of tatty old Continental Champion GP Tubs fitted, perhaps if I change to some silk Clements I may be able to drop under 17lbs. Anyone have some they want to get rid of?
Here’s the spec sheet followed by a few pages of pics…
Frame: MKM Ultimate – Reynolds 531
Fork: MKM – Reynolds 531
Headset: OMAS “Big Sliding”
Stem: Cinelli 1A – 125mm
Handlebar: Cinelli 66 - 40
Bar Tape: Cotton
Brake Levers/Brifters: Weinmann - Drilled
Brake Calipers: Weinmann 500 - Drilled
Brake Pads: Weinmann
Brake Cables: Unknown Brand
Shifters: Campagnolo Record - Drilled
Front Derailleur: None, it’s a Time Trial Bike!
Rear Derailleur: Huret Jubilee
Derailleur Cables: Huret
Freewheel: Maillard Course - Dural – 6 Speed – 13 through 18
Chain: Regina Extra SL Superleggera – Hollow Pins
Cranks: Campagnolo Record - 170mm 144 BCD – Lugs for Inner Chainring milled off – Chainring Arms milled out
Chainrings: Unknown Brand – 54 Teeth - Drilled
Bottom Bracket: OMAS “Big Sliding” – Titanium Axle
Pedals: Vittoria Superlight – Fides Lightweight Aluminium Toeclips – Milremo Competizione Straps
Rims: 28 Hole Super Champion Medaille D'or – Gold Factory Anodised
Hubs: Campagnolo Record – Large Flange
Hub Skewers: Campagnolo Record
Nipples: Unknown
Spokes: Unknown
Tyres: Continental Champion GP Tubs
Tubes: N/A
Saddle: SABA Premier Record
Seatpost: 27.2 Campagnolo Record – 2 Bolt
Seatpost Binder: MKM
Bottle Cage: N/A
Extras: N/A
Weight: 17.19lbs – 7.8Kgs
Enjoy the pics!
Steve.
