Cornelo Aero frame 600AX build, with Koga-Miyata content.

[gazza285]

I've been looking for a project for a while, mainly trying to relive my youth. I've got the Vitus 979 I always wanted, but could never afford as a young lad, so now my attention has turned to the bike I did have, a Viscount Dura Ace AX.

Rare as hen's teeth, not much chance of finding one, so...

I had picked up a complete 600AX groupset in readiness.

600ax 1 by gazza2852000, on Flickr

600ax 2 by gazza2852000, on Flickr

Today I've been to pick up a Cornelo frame, with all the correct braze-ons for the AX groupset. The Cornelo brand is a little known Belgian brand connected to one bike shop, there is some info on the web. It came with a spare 600AX headset, and some nice Columbus stickers on the tubes.

Cornelo by gazza2852000, on Flickr

Cornelo 2 by gazza2852000, on Flickr

All good so far. I stripped the forks out of the frame and removed the headset, ready for a refinish, but the steerer tube had Tange stamped in it, and a bit of metallic green overspray above the bottom race. A bit of digging on the net and it looks like I have a Koga-Miyata Gents Racer Aero...

So the question now is do I refinish it as a Cornelo, or a Koga-Miyata? It is possible that Cornelo refinished the frames and sold them as their own, and I prefer the white to the green, so that looks more likely. The Columbus decals are pure cod though, I'll put some correct Tange ones on.

Any thoughts on rims? Do I hold out for some nice MA2s, or build up some Open Pros and remove the modern decals?

 

[Barchettaman]

Looks like a fun build.

Are you going to be making some new brake pads for the AX brakes? It´s a bit of a faff but possible, with a stanley knife and some patience.

Oh, I found the AX brakes MUCH easier to set up when the tyre was off the rim.

 

[gazza285]

The pads aren't that bad yet, although they might be a bit hard after all these years, but yes, I'll be carving up some rubber at some point. Next task is find some hoods for the levers, I think it might be a case of getting something near enough and filling the gaps in with something like No-Nails.

 

[Barchettaman]

I have a pair of NOS 600AX Adamas brake levers if you´re interested. Send me a PM.

 

[dirttorpedo]

I'd restore it as a Koga-Miyata myself. Its a good brand deserving of recognition and I like the subtlety of their finishes during that period.

 

[oonaff]

Re:

yeah, im still not quite sure how the rear mech cabling is routed.
i suppose it exits under the down tube somewhere.
there was a set of dyna drive pedals on e bay recently.
i see the porous plastic hub parts as mentioned on another thread
i fancy it to be pearl white,whites alright !
and if you can find ax bars and stem 1st rounds on you !

 

[oonaff]

durace ax stem + 3t bar's ebay at the mo. to get the durace bars too would be a dream.
yeah blue selle sanmarco, shiny blue bar tape and the blue pantographing z z z z z.
sorry...your build and a blue line in the tyres

 

[gazza285]

Re:

I've got a 600AX stem to match the rest of the group, no bars though, except for some Cinelli ones I have spare. Pearl White is currently the favourite, but I'm not 100% yet. No rush for this one really, I've decided to finish my Vitus off first, before worrying about this one. If I'm not carefull I'll end up with neither of them finished for next summer...

 

[Ian Raleigh]

The 600AX cranks are only painted you know!

Yours looks a little tired, two options...

1: strip the paint off and polish.
2: Re-paint them.

Bear in mind all the rest of the 600AX is polished so I'd polish the cranks to match.

 

[gazza285]

Re:

Polishing is the plan, should pass a few hours.