Fudd":1l40fa44 said:
Nice work on the frame and much respect for doing it all by hand
I may be wrong here but I think it's the nickel plating you have removed. I think I read on here that these frames had to be chromed first to enable them to be nickel plated and no lacquer was used. If this is true then it looks to me like you've rubbed it back to the chrome. A mate of mine has owned a 95 P7 from new and I remember it didn't take long for the plating to start to flake. Looked stunning when it was new though. A bit like polished ti but with a brownish tint to it
I'd also consider a different fork; The RC35's are from 94 but if the frame is 97 then I'd be fitting RC36's. It's your choice but I'd go for coil/oil over elastomers every time.
And please don't fit M739 cranks. I think M737's are maybe the nicest cranks ever made and they'd be perfect on this build.
Hi Fudd, I'm sure just the top coating of lacquer has been removed: I was quite careful in removing it and the nickel plating appears fully intact, save for a couple of chips underneath the top tube. I'll be keeping a close eye on it anyway and the bike will only be used as a 'summer' road bike. It'll also be regularly polished/waxed so if any problems occur them it'll be nipped in the bud (I hope!)
Nickel plating is tougher than people think though and protects the steel well, but if in the future it gets tatty then I've got the default option of powdercoating black
As for the forks, I would have preferred the original F7 ones but haven't come across any yet. The other option for me is to put them on my 'Prestige' to replace the Manitou 2's currently fitted (but no elastomers inside so they're rigid at the moment...
)
Pace RC-35s would look great on the 'Prestige' as well of course but as nothings been built up as such, plans are open to change.. I'll also be 'passing off' my P7 as a 1995 one with the decals I've chosen so a '94 fork may not stand out as much, no?
Anyone got any views?
M-737 cranks? Not got a set yet so will be keeping my eye open there (in fact, got a lead on these already...)
Cheers,
Matty
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EDIT - Seen a couple of P7's (and Orange bikes in general) with Project 2 forks fitted, for example like this one -
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=135467
- anyone think that would be a good idea? Make the P7 rigid (and a touch lighter) as it's for road use only, put the refurb'd RC-35s on the 'Prestige' and wave "goodbye" to the Manitou 2's? :?
Say, powdercoat a set of P2's black to contrast the frame?
*Looks for some paracetemol*
Oh, and just arrived this morning: ODI Attacks and Series 8 seat tube decals courtesy of Roly - cheers, mate
Also, SRAM PC-870 chain:
Flite Ti (off adastra, thanks Matt):
Shimano Deore XT M-739 V-brakes (off oldskoolbabe, thanks Chris):
PD-M520 pedals, taken off my ex-Alu 'O':
Shimano Deore XT FC-M737 chainset with Pace inner ring (off brocklanders, thanks Edd):
Finally landed some
Orange F7 forks - albeit in a dodgy respayed 'midnight blue' colour (off eBay in the end) so they'll need a bit of work to get them back to the original nickel (maybe powder coat black?) but it also means I've got a couple of options as well now...
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EDIT - couple more bits:
Shimano Deore XT M-739 STI shifters (off Kingswood, thanks Kev)
Hope seat clamp & QR's (swiped from my now-departed Alu 'O': skewers are a little bit scratched but will do the job for now, may get a new set in the future seeing as everything else is in minty condition...!)
Decided to have the forks resprayed black in the end, so slight change of plan in that the finishing kit will now be black rather than blue. Completely ano free!