originalshinkicker
rBotM Winner
I recently acquired a beautiful dark green metallic Joe Waugh built with Reynolds 653. M Steels, the bike shop in Gosforth that built these (and which Joe Waugh still owns and runs), is just a couple of mile up the road from me, so as soon as I have time, I'll check with them for the date it was built.
At first glance it looks like a really nice bike. The paint work is lovely and has been renovated at some point in its life. However, it does have a few problems with normal wear and tear. The whole drivetrain is worn. The chain is hanging off the inner chain ring, and that's without putting any pressure on the pedals. So that means new cassette and chain together with a new chain ring. The rear mech also has Tacx wheels fitted which are too narrow. The cage in the mech is now too narrow for the chain and also means that the bolts holding the wheels in place protrude too far out of the back of the rear mech.
Most of the chromed parts and fastenings are corroded as you can see on the pivot bolt of the front brake.
The main issues are the handlebars and STI levers. It has a mis-match of levers, an RSX and 105 lever, both showing the signs of age and a hard life. They are attached to a rather bent set of Cinelli 42 bars. Unfortunately, the bars are so bent, they actually currently measure up at 40 - that's a significant bend.
So, after a little bit of looking around, I've found some nice straight bars, Cinelli 65-44; some new 105 aero brake levers, 7 speed down tube levers, a new chainset, new chain and a good cassette. New 105 calipers will also be fitted along with a good 105 rear mech.
It has a Rolls saddle, Campagnolo aero seatpin, good Mavic rims and spokes and a clean Cinelli XA stem, so some new white Ambrosio handlebar tape and new black cables will finish it nicely.
First thing to do this weekend is strip it down and give that frame a good clean.
At first glance it looks like a really nice bike. The paint work is lovely and has been renovated at some point in its life. However, it does have a few problems with normal wear and tear. The whole drivetrain is worn. The chain is hanging off the inner chain ring, and that's without putting any pressure on the pedals. So that means new cassette and chain together with a new chain ring. The rear mech also has Tacx wheels fitted which are too narrow. The cage in the mech is now too narrow for the chain and also means that the bolts holding the wheels in place protrude too far out of the back of the rear mech.
Most of the chromed parts and fastenings are corroded as you can see on the pivot bolt of the front brake.
The main issues are the handlebars and STI levers. It has a mis-match of levers, an RSX and 105 lever, both showing the signs of age and a hard life. They are attached to a rather bent set of Cinelli 42 bars. Unfortunately, the bars are so bent, they actually currently measure up at 40 - that's a significant bend.
So, after a little bit of looking around, I've found some nice straight bars, Cinelli 65-44; some new 105 aero brake levers, 7 speed down tube levers, a new chainset, new chain and a good cassette. New 105 calipers will also be fitted along with a good 105 rear mech.
It has a Rolls saddle, Campagnolo aero seatpin, good Mavic rims and spokes and a clean Cinelli XA stem, so some new white Ambrosio handlebar tape and new black cables will finish it nicely.
First thing to do this weekend is strip it down and give that frame a good clean.
