Just had an email to say that Geoffrey Butler Cycles in Croydon is closed...as of today.
https://www.gbcycles.co.uk/pg/107/Opening-Times
Anybody know what happened?
I started out by transferring hubs and spokes from one rim to another (tape 2 identical rims together).
I then bought Roger Mussons book https://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php and a cheap truing stand. Thats was about 10 years ago and I've built dozens of wheelsets since then. If...
Re:
A good rule of thumb for the steel ones is if its lugged its probably Dolan era and if its welded, probably Donohue. There are exceptions though.
The aluminium frames are a bit different in that the earlier, Dolan era ones were generally Italian imports made from Oria 7020. The later...
If its a Cougar, its not a Terry Dolan build. It'll be from the tail end of the Paul Donohue era, around 2000.
There are examples of this frame with Graham Weigh decals on here, again suggesting Donohue.
viewtopic.php?f=47&t=253934
1989 Cougar in fluted Columbus tubing. Late noughties shifters and derailleurs with c.2015 chainset and brakes. Climbs 16%ers like good 'un
I love a retromod.
Nice bike.
The tubing is aluminium, probably Oria 7020.
Its unlikely to be a Liverpool built frame as Cougar pretty much stuck to steel in-house at least in the days when Terry owned the brand.
Don't let that put you off though. The imported aluminium frames came from a very good Italian...
I did wonder about that being the case.
So many things about this bike are/were clearly down to it being a high end custom build.
I'd have to laugh if they cut the drops to save weight... this ain't the worlds lightest frameset!
So... first ride.
Just a 30 mile shakedown, but really fun. Hard going into a strong headwind on the way out and then absolutely flew back. Need to tweak the setup a little to be comfortable on longer rides... but she's definitely a keeper!
The Cinelli Giro d'Italia bars that she was fitted...
Thought about this...and did a u-turn on the 11 speed groupset.
Stayed modern, but went 10 speed centaur. Front wheel is borrowed from another bike as I still need to build the matching 32-spoker
Having got a new job last year, I've not been on the forum much for a while, but it looks particularly quiet at the moment.
Hopefully all is well with you and yours and there will be some epic rideouts in the planning for when its not forbidden!
Lets hear how everyone is doing.
Ken