sparkybhp
Senior Retro Guru
As promised here’s a build thread for this frameset which I picked up last night following a last split-second eBay bid!
Quick pic last night after I collected it. I wasn’t sure what to bid really as the pics weren’t 100% clear as to full spec and condition. I upped my bid in the dying seconds and won this for £98. Upon reflection I’m so glad I did, the seller was clearing several bikes for a club member who had sadly passed away, and was a really nice chap. I got a first dig through some odds and ends which weren’t listed and walked away with a few bits including some vintage Campagnolo cone spanners and a minty 600 arabesque crankset amongst other bits.
I’m undecided but might move a few bits on to help subsidise the build, anyway..
I’ve stripped it down this morning (day off) and overall I’m happy - nothing was horribly mangled or seized and there’s some good bits here.
Campagnolo record strada 170 cranks in nice condition, bb is also campagnolo as is the 27.2mm seatpost.
Mafac racer brakes are cool looking and the GB stem is also very pretty. Sadly the gorgeous Brooks B17 saddle has a nasty scuff near the nose, I’ve gently sanded this back and given it a dose of Proofide which has greatly helped the appearance. Perhaps more attention needed, we’ll see - I’m not too gutted. Like the whole bike, it’s had a life and I’m not intending to make this look brand new, a sympathetic refresh is my normal approach with bikes like this.
Serial on the steerer matches the bb shell. I make it ‘6’ and then ‘21976’ - does the 76 refer to 1976? The frame style and components suggest that sort of age to me.
The frame seems very sound overall with only this dink in the top tube letting the side down! It’s partly obscured by the ‘S’ sticker and looks like a storage dent rather than crash damage to me - not too much to worry about.
I’ll keep the thread updated as I go, please jump in with any comments and info - I’m a relative newbie to the vintage road scene but enjoying learning as I go..
Couple of badge shots:
Forgot to add but the frame is a 57cm size (perfect for me) and I think if my research is right a Mercian built frame, there’s what remains of a Reynolds 531 sticker at the top of the seat tube.
Thanks folks.
Quick pic last night after I collected it. I wasn’t sure what to bid really as the pics weren’t 100% clear as to full spec and condition. I upped my bid in the dying seconds and won this for £98. Upon reflection I’m so glad I did, the seller was clearing several bikes for a club member who had sadly passed away, and was a really nice chap. I got a first dig through some odds and ends which weren’t listed and walked away with a few bits including some vintage Campagnolo cone spanners and a minty 600 arabesque crankset amongst other bits.
I’m undecided but might move a few bits on to help subsidise the build, anyway..
I’ve stripped it down this morning (day off) and overall I’m happy - nothing was horribly mangled or seized and there’s some good bits here.
Campagnolo record strada 170 cranks in nice condition, bb is also campagnolo as is the 27.2mm seatpost.
Mafac racer brakes are cool looking and the GB stem is also very pretty. Sadly the gorgeous Brooks B17 saddle has a nasty scuff near the nose, I’ve gently sanded this back and given it a dose of Proofide which has greatly helped the appearance. Perhaps more attention needed, we’ll see - I’m not too gutted. Like the whole bike, it’s had a life and I’m not intending to make this look brand new, a sympathetic refresh is my normal approach with bikes like this.
Serial on the steerer matches the bb shell. I make it ‘6’ and then ‘21976’ - does the 76 refer to 1976? The frame style and components suggest that sort of age to me.
The frame seems very sound overall with only this dink in the top tube letting the side down! It’s partly obscured by the ‘S’ sticker and looks like a storage dent rather than crash damage to me - not too much to worry about.
I’ll keep the thread updated as I go, please jump in with any comments and info - I’m a relative newbie to the vintage road scene but enjoying learning as I go..
Couple of badge shots:
Forgot to add but the frame is a 57cm size (perfect for me) and I think if my research is right a Mercian built frame, there’s what remains of a Reynolds 531 sticker at the top of the seat tube.
Thanks folks.
Last edited:
. Sorry to slightly take a tangent from your build thread!
How's the Claud? I think I commented you needed another 
