Recent content by Simon Daw

What a shame! Glad you weren't hurt, anyway. I remember 3TTT used to advertise the fact (I think) that they were the only manufacturer to be able to give a three-year guarantee against breakage. I'm still using a pair of 3TTT bars I bought in 1991, and which have now done 50,000km.... 🤔

Doesn't sound as though the chain length is far out, then. The mech is working a bit past its capacity, so it will be noisier than one set up optimally. It makes it all the more important to avoid using those gears which result in the chain running at a horrible angle, but from what you've...

You could be right. I agree that the capacities are often a bit on the safe side. A lot depends on the dropout when it comes to the largest sprocket, too. However, don't forget that the RD-5500 was ten years (and three sprockets!) later than the RD-6400. People using what were essentially...

26 or 28 depending on the mech, if one believes Velobase. I'm not cerain it's right, but I can't contradict it. He's using 30.

Well, actually the (old) Ultegra mechs don't have quite the same capacity. I used to use a 6400 years ago, but only ever used it with a 23 sprocket maximum. First, check which you have - RD-6400 or RD6401 (the number will be on the back of the mech). The latter has slightly greater capacity...

First, you shouldn't be using those two large sprockets when using the big ring - the chain line is horrible (look at the chain angle from above with the bike in those gears - that misalignment you can see causes vastly increased wear). You also shouldn't use the small ring with the smallest...

You may well also find that the gear changing suffers in the wheel is set too far back, in my experience.

Forget the stuff about being a Milk Race bike - that's just complete fairytale stuff! Whilst it's decent quality, it's only a modified off-the-peg bitza with some low -mid range stuff on it - how many pros used 105 headsets?! Nothing about it suggests a pro's bike, including the stickers...

Yes, they did - I bought some in the early 80s (and still have them!). ISTR that they were intended to be aerodynamic rather than ergo. Anyway, glad to hear that you got a refund. Fully deserved - I don't think I'd ride bars which have been that badly damaged.

The Stromglight chainset is a Stronglight 80. They were around for a long time; they (with the 100LX) replaced the 99 in the mid - late 80s and were still around in about 2000. The Sugino chainset is a Sugino :wink: Sorry, I can't tell you any more about it - I remember seeing some. I'd...

I'd imagine they probably made both English and French. They certainly weren't all French threaded - I sold some with English (or maybe ISO....???) threads. They were a pretty cheap hub; I built a few in the mid-80s, and didn't see many around after that. They were about the same quality as...

I've used the Model Bs - as you say, they'd probably not really look right on a retro bike. I've only done about 2000 miles or so on them, but they've been great. The freehubs are fine - I think there were some problems with early versions chewing up, but I've certainly not experienced this...

Or these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Suntour-top ... 0616510792 (someone got a pretty good bargain there)

Well, clipless had pretty thoroughly taken over by the early 90s, so the "quality" end of things was pretty much all directed that way. My shop used to sell quite a few of the MKS pedals - the GR8 platforms as well as the Sylvans. Shimano were also popular, with the PD-6400 Ultegra...

Just put perhaps three turns on each nipple as you assemble the wheel. Once it's assembled, do them all up to roughly the same tension - if the spokes are the correct length, the end of the thread will be a useful visual aid. Once at that stage, put one turn / one half turn on each nipple to...