The frame & fork are back in my house from the powdercoaters at last!
Drystonepaul I salute you for your tireless efforts in tracking down our favourite powdercoaters in Cheshire - Greenspeed. I'm really happy with the results, just as nice as the Marin they did for me last summer... can't wait to get the decals and frame bolts fitted but I must be patient - there's sand in the fork that needs vacuuming out! Gil M's downtube decals have arrived, lovely '80s font in gold - you'll have to wait for a photo of them as I don't want to peel off the backing until I finish the dirty work...
There have been a few changes in the 'Conquest Parts Bin' too. I have the choice of Deore DX (least likely so not pictured), Suntour XC or NOS Shimano AT-50 levers now. I think the latter - from roc6839 in Cananda - are the favourite despite lack of return springs... the Suntour don't look like they will give me very good cable routing off the barrel adjuster...
Hamster very kindly supplied a set of chainring spacers, which allows elpedro666's 36 tooth ring (that he battered around Cannock chase with me a couple of weeks back) to be fitted to the polished M452 cranks along with the other, 46 and 36 tooth, SG rings. I say polished, but there are some chaps' efforts on here that put mine to shame, so might have to have another go. The gold Middleburn chainring bolts look very nice though...
LGF has supplied a M452 front mech to match the rear I got off him in spring - both are in superb condition, just needed a quick wipe and polish. Ok, they are 5 years 'too modern' for the frame, but I think the black face plates (is that what they're called?) will suit the frame perfectly - and I want the comparative ease and performance of 7 speed HG...
I have some c.1991 pedals from a Carrera Katmandu frame & bits that I bought recently on here, I have stripped and polished the bodies and rattlecan sprayed the cages in the process - I would've put them in with the frame but I had different ideas back in spring - fine until another shiny wallet cruncher comes my way...
I've abandoned the idea of using Mary Bars (they've gone onto my '98 Rockhopper) since Mr Kawaskai gave me the mother of all stems in the shape of this incredible catapulty Tioga beast. Cue some brand new gold 720mm Renthal drag bars as 1) they look awesome and 2) the stem clamps are 22.2mm...
Got some grips off a 1990 Raleigh Pioneer that should look the business - especially now they've been through the wash with my work clothes...
Saddles... I have a choice of the new-ish Brooks B17 narrow or a c.1976 Brooks Champion that I bought 'with free bike attached' on eBay
the latter has had about ten applications of Proofide - it's coming up nicely and is unsurprisingly more comfy than the new one. Either I need to break the new one in more, or I have an aged bum-double in South Manchester! Generic 27.2mm post (original fluted Strong post was sadly too short for me) and 8mm replica QR also pictured...
What else... DX thumbies, a new Stronglight headset, a slightly fake looking Sharkfin and a 68 x 118mm UN54 bb that I hope will work. Along with stuff like cassettes and chains, a bb is a part that I can't be arsed sourcing period correct...
Next up then - get the frame ready to build up. As before, Greenspeed have done a lovingly good job in masking off the brake bosses, fork threads, BB threads etc... so it's pretty much ready to go. I'm going to take my time with this one, the frame has been away for 3 months, so there's no rush really. No hasty decals application, cable crimping or cutting corners this time :roll: