PhillB
GT Fan
So, I've not done many builds this year, well two to be exact (1946 Hobbs Superbe, which is not quite finished, and a 1996 Indy Fab Deluxe) which considering I did 13 builds last year is a reasonable slow down! It's probably just as well.
However, I have been collecting projects in the meantime, so I have something of a backlog.Now that I have built my new shed (more space - no leaks) we can get back on track.
For no particular reason, I chose the DJR. I found this as a frame set on EBay, late one night. It was languishing in a bike recycling charity in Reading. I obviously knew a little about Dave Russell and I loved the colour and the fact that it was a CycloCross (or at least had Cantis) So I bought it and drove down the next day to pick it up. (eBay Photo)
I had to answer a mini quiz to confirm my identity, which was a bit odd, but fun while it lasted, while I waited in a commercial lock-up full of Apollos (not the good Canadian ones), Emelles, tiny Isla bikes and Frog Bikes that people's kids had obviously grown out of.
As it was a donation, they had no info really on the bike. But from the serial it was either a 1978 or a 1995 bike... Unless Dave Russell was making bikes in the late 70's with futuristic geometry, I can only assume it is 1995. From what I have read, that would put it towards the end of his time as a builder, when he moved from Slough to Twyford (?)
In my mind I saw this bike as looking good with black components to really make the frame colour pop, as wide tyres as is reasonable - not too much clearance, but should be able to get some 28's on there. and some flat bars, because I'm Old-ish.
Some of my builds I strive to make them as period correct as possible, other's... not so much - this will be one of the 'not so much' ones. A resto-mod of sorts.
My initial plan was to put a lovely Campagnolo Centaur Graphite Groupset (that I've spent about 3 years collecting) on it (I had put the down tube shifters on), but... the Cantilever brakes don't fit, they are too 'fat' - effectively preventing the brake pad from moving far enough down to contact the braking surface. Can honestly say, not encountered this before, so am a bit flummoxed for the moment...
So my back up plan is to go for an Ultra 6600 groupset... which I partially have.
For now I have mocked it up with a few bits I had lying around, to check the tyre clearance mainly. Might be able to get away with a 32, bit tight at the back.
I had a black ITM stem which was still in its original packaging and some Bontranger wheels and Seat Post from an old Trek Road bike (that my eldest son destroyed) - Ubiquitous Flite also deployed.
I might take the labels of the wheels - although that seems a shame, but I'm not really going to use them on anything else - what do you think?
Am now waiting for a few bits to arrive (Bottom Bracket amongst them)
However, I have been collecting projects in the meantime, so I have something of a backlog.Now that I have built my new shed (more space - no leaks) we can get back on track.
For no particular reason, I chose the DJR. I found this as a frame set on EBay, late one night. It was languishing in a bike recycling charity in Reading. I obviously knew a little about Dave Russell and I loved the colour and the fact that it was a CycloCross (or at least had Cantis) So I bought it and drove down the next day to pick it up. (eBay Photo)
I had to answer a mini quiz to confirm my identity, which was a bit odd, but fun while it lasted, while I waited in a commercial lock-up full of Apollos (not the good Canadian ones), Emelles, tiny Isla bikes and Frog Bikes that people's kids had obviously grown out of.
As it was a donation, they had no info really on the bike. But from the serial it was either a 1978 or a 1995 bike... Unless Dave Russell was making bikes in the late 70's with futuristic geometry, I can only assume it is 1995. From what I have read, that would put it towards the end of his time as a builder, when he moved from Slough to Twyford (?)
In my mind I saw this bike as looking good with black components to really make the frame colour pop, as wide tyres as is reasonable - not too much clearance, but should be able to get some 28's on there. and some flat bars, because I'm Old-ish.
Some of my builds I strive to make them as period correct as possible, other's... not so much - this will be one of the 'not so much' ones. A resto-mod of sorts.
My initial plan was to put a lovely Campagnolo Centaur Graphite Groupset (that I've spent about 3 years collecting) on it (I had put the down tube shifters on), but... the Cantilever brakes don't fit, they are too 'fat' - effectively preventing the brake pad from moving far enough down to contact the braking surface. Can honestly say, not encountered this before, so am a bit flummoxed for the moment...
So my back up plan is to go for an Ultra 6600 groupset... which I partially have.
For now I have mocked it up with a few bits I had lying around, to check the tyre clearance mainly. Might be able to get away with a 32, bit tight at the back.
I had a black ITM stem which was still in its original packaging and some Bontranger wheels and Seat Post from an old Trek Road bike (that my eldest son destroyed) - Ubiquitous Flite also deployed.
I might take the labels of the wheels - although that seems a shame, but I'm not really going to use them on anything else - what do you think?
Am now waiting for a few bits to arrive (Bottom Bracket amongst them)
