ca 1980 Austro Daimler

[531SL]

I have just rebuilt my 1980 A-D. It's probably an ultima, but I am not certain- I purchased it used in 1985 (at the time I was in uni in the US) and it had been in a wreck and fixed/resprayed. I have used it fairly steadily for almost 30 years. It was getting a bit haggard, then the seatpost got stuck, and in a moment of abject stupidity (it was a crazy hot day last summer) involving a reciprocating saw I managed to cut right into the seat tube. (Just thankful I didn't hit my own seat tube.) I sent it to Bob Jackson along with the rather extensive set of decals from the specialists in Australia and they made the frame all lovely again ('grigio' paint). I have rebuilt it with some parts I had and some I have purchased. I have not been a slave to period (no 'eroica' for me), but I found some nice NOS super champion gentleman rims from blacktopdisciple on here (and used those with some Campy hubs I had in storage). Brakes are Campag victory (almost new condition) and levers are chorus aero. Shimano barcon shifters. The most innovative thing is that I installed the on-one retro touring compact chainset which was going for £50 and looks a bit like an old campy one. I change the small ring to 36 so I have 36-48 which goes with 7 speed 13-25 freewheel on the back to give what I hope will be good ratios for the medium hills around here. I tend to keep a high cadence. I know I will spin out some times, but I am pretty lazy on downhills these days. This combo is super smooth shifting with a Nuovo Record rear (and those are practically free at the moment, not sure why as I think it is the most beautiful bicycle part ever made!).

 

[FINNEY1973]

Really like what you've done with that, great colour and some very nice detailing. First time i've seen the on-one cranks actually on a bike, seen them on the web, couldn't quite work out whether I liked them or not, but when on a bike they look pretty fine!

 

[Blacktopdisciple]

Thats a lovely build. Like the mix of old and new. Glad the rims were useful.

 

[531SL]

Today they were already ardently at work catching potholes. Excellent rims! Thanks.

 

[bduc61]

I am not a retro maniac and love the build but I frankly believe your frame deserve a real campy chainset especially if it is an ultima :idea: the puch "rolls royce of the time"

the campagnolo would allow you a 39 smaller ring , I believe and with a 26 or 28 max behind, you would probably be getting pretty close ratios

amusing to see the bar con shifters
I sourced the same ones because I wish to find a vent noir from Puch for a build with a dura ace black 1st generation groupset

just need the black front hub but tricky to find at a reasonnable price :roll:

 

[531SL]

Period chainset would be record strada with 42-52 and it does not go to 39. 39's only came in I believe in the late 1980s. With 42 front I would need a 29 minumum rear large cog to safely get up the hills near where I ride (down to the Scottish Borders on occasion). Actually I use a 39/28 combo on my modern bike, and need all of it on occasion, so 29 rear would even be a bit hard with 42. In August I can ride a harder gear but this is a winter bike and also carrying mudguards and my christmas pudding.

NR rear cog max is really only 26, officially, and stretching it to go up to 28. 29 is definitely out. Also if you go to 28 then you have large gaps and then the NR does not shift so smoothly. It works well with a reasonably tight cluster. I tested this setup yesterday and it was very sweet shifting everywhere on the route. I look at the compact as the key to allowing my retro bike to work for me in the modern era. of course I could use the 42-52 chainset with a wide range freewheel if I changed the derailleur to a long cage model, but as I said in the posting I think the NR rear derailleur is the crowning achievement of bicycle poetry, so that's that.

 

[bduc61]

Period chainset would be record strada with 42-52 and it does not go to 39. 39's only came in I believe in the late 1980s. With 42 front I would need a 29 minumum rear large cog to safely get up the hills near where I ride (down to the Scottish Borders on occasion). Actually I use a 39/28 combo on my modern bike, and need all of it on occasion, so 29 rear would even be a bit hard with 42. In August I can ride a harder gear but this is a winter bike and also carrying mudguards and my christmas pudding.

NR rear cog max is really only 26, officially, and stretching it to go up to 28. 29 is definitely out. Also if you go to 28 then you have large gaps and then the NR does not shift so smoothly. It works well with a reasonably tight cluster. I tested this setup yesterday and it was very sweet shifting everywhere on the route. I look at the compact as the key to allowing my retro bike to work for me in the modern era. of course I could use the 42-52 chainset with a wide range freewheel if I changed the derailleur to a long cage model, but as I said in the posting I think the NR rear derailleur is the crowning achievement of bicycle poetry, so that's that.

True I was being misled by the shimano ones which can take a 39 with a 130 mm size rather than the 144 campagnolo one :idea:
can understand the choice - the bike is to be used and enjoyed - not a display of nice parts - that's a bonus only :mrgreen: