Recent content by Dolan Driver

I hadn't realised this project is three years on the go. The frame has been painted and looks like it is safe to once again use on the road. Today, I dropped the frame and forks into my local bike shop to have final components fitted, along with brake and gear cables and bar tape. I hope to get...

Re: Thanks. I had settled for probably getting an Ultegra 6600 rear derailleur but was keeping an eye on a very clean 7800 front and rear derailleur set that was going for a good price on ebay. Managed to get them at 6600 RD prices last night, even if I had to stay up till 3am to secure it...

Thanks for the info. I am leaning towards an Ultegra 6600 derailleur for the rear and a 105 or Ultegra front derailleur. DD.

Re: I have managed to track down a set of Dura Ace 7800 down tube shifters at a just-about-affordable price. Next up are the derailleurs themselves. Besides the 7800 rear derailleur, what other rear derailleurs are compatible with these levers in indexed mode? Will either Ultegra RD6600 or 6700...

Re: Here are some photos of my frame that I hope to restore but a closer examination today is likely to see the project finished before it ever starts. I think the rust is surface rust and doesn't affect the integrity of the frame structure. At least that's my hope. Anything here that more...

Re: Thanks. I used downtube shifters for my racing up until I stopped in 1997 (on a Ribble 531C) and continued cycling occasionally, with DT shifters, until 2010 when I bought a new bike with 105 STI. I'd imagine the muscle memory is still there for the old gear levers! After the last ten...

Re: Thanks for the info on the 7800 levers. I wasn't aware of them. Downtube levers certainly aren't cheap but I guess investing in decent gearing components will pay off. The frame and forks are "free" given that they languished in my shed and were destined for the scrap heap until I...

Re: Thanks for the info. Might go with the downtube shifters so for a change, given my other bikes have brake/gear shifters. The old Shimano aero-brake levers look nice and neat but compared to today's much larger hoods, they feel tiny. Undecided on using them or going with the bigger Tektro...

Can anyone help with the following request for advice? I am hoping to restore a 1987 Raleigh Competition Reynolds 531C frame and forks and put it back on the road. It has been sitting in my shed for years and has plenty of what appears to be surface rust (hopefully doesn't run any deeper). The...