Uncle Monty
Retrobike Rider
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I suppose I had better start this with a picture....
My recent purchase has arrived, which I slowly unpacked, (put it together in 1/2 hour and rode it round the car park).
I really love this bike. I hope to do it justice by gradually bringing it closer to its original spec, but ultimatley it has to be fun to ride as I intend to use it regularly.
This evening was the first time I have got back in daylight and had a few minutes to play. So on went some tyres and a quick spin up the lane. The stem is too long at 130mm and low for me - makes the steering feel slow and I have a lot of weight on the bars. I slipped the stem off to take a look at what is there and found a threadless steerer 1 inch in diameter. On top of the cable hanger and spacer is a shim taking the diameter up to 1 1/8 which enables the Ritchey ahead stem to fit. This I don't understand as I thought a quill type stem was fitted when new? I assume a threaded head set would have been used but I don't see how with this steerer.
The non drive side of the frame has no Lightning XTR decal with no sign of it ever being there. Other decals are the Bs on the forks and seat tube, the Breezer name on the down tube, the remains of the Bi-conical decals on the seat stays and a little warning sticker on one rear chain stay. Drop outs are Ritchey not the later Breeze ins, and the frame is stamped H1 so probably manufactured late 2001 for 2002 model year. I think is would be a shame to respray it and hope to get the seat stay damage touched in with new decals. So over time an original stem (you have to have that little B looking up at you as you ride) and some Ritchey Vantage comp rims. A sympathetic clean and touch up of the frame and polish the rest of the components where needed. In the mean time I will get out and ride it!
If anyone can tell me more about these bikes or has photos, please let me know as I have only picked a few things up off this forum and the net over the last couple of weeks.
My recent purchase has arrived, which I slowly unpacked, (put it together in 1/2 hour and rode it round the car park).
I really love this bike. I hope to do it justice by gradually bringing it closer to its original spec, but ultimatley it has to be fun to ride as I intend to use it regularly.
This evening was the first time I have got back in daylight and had a few minutes to play. So on went some tyres and a quick spin up the lane. The stem is too long at 130mm and low for me - makes the steering feel slow and I have a lot of weight on the bars. I slipped the stem off to take a look at what is there and found a threadless steerer 1 inch in diameter. On top of the cable hanger and spacer is a shim taking the diameter up to 1 1/8 which enables the Ritchey ahead stem to fit. This I don't understand as I thought a quill type stem was fitted when new? I assume a threaded head set would have been used but I don't see how with this steerer.
The non drive side of the frame has no Lightning XTR decal with no sign of it ever being there. Other decals are the Bs on the forks and seat tube, the Breezer name on the down tube, the remains of the Bi-conical decals on the seat stays and a little warning sticker on one rear chain stay. Drop outs are Ritchey not the later Breeze ins, and the frame is stamped H1 so probably manufactured late 2001 for 2002 model year. I think is would be a shame to respray it and hope to get the seat stay damage touched in with new decals. So over time an original stem (you have to have that little B looking up at you as you ride) and some Ritchey Vantage comp rims. A sympathetic clean and touch up of the frame and polish the rest of the components where needed. In the mean time I will get out and ride it!
If anyone can tell me more about these bikes or has photos, please let me know as I have only picked a few things up off this forum and the net over the last couple of weeks.
