Old Skool Weight Weenie

[Midlife]

Tel............... because I always wanted one and couldn't afford one as a teenager.

Saw some nice one's in 1977/78.......cut out head tubes with translucent x-ray film behind etc. Probably one of the lightest around at the time save for the very early alloy jobbies

Shaun

 

[doctor-bond]

Where can you get a dural block for £30 ??

Okay, close to home they're a bit more pricey, but why not pick up a French threaded one? You'll then have to track down French threaded hubs, but given that Mavic 501s are French and the best hubs ever conceived, and that a French-threaded wheelset will be even cheaper ... well it's all gravy.


Shh!

http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280765014404&clk_rvr_id=281076914009

 

[chipper]

In the early 80t's, when I was young and had some disposable income ( pre ladies and beer). I build a super light road racing bike, around 16 3/4 pounds. Long time a go ,but it drew a lot of attention at the time, can't remember the exact spec,but something like this;
frame and fork Vitus 979,early one (It was the display one on Ron Kit stand at the Harogate show, I remember picking it up, it was so light it felt like it was made of balsa wood!) alloy steerer and French threaded.
Headset Stronglight A9
B/BKT and hubs Omas Ti
RimsMavic Arc en ciel ( I think) 28 hole tied and soldered spokes,Zeus Ti block
Tubs Vitoria CX seta silk
Bar & stem Cinelli
Saddle Concor Superlight




Everything else was Campag Super Record.
All the bolts were replaced with ether alloy or Ti,including Ti brake spindles.The cranks,gear and brake levers were also lightened.
After a season of racing the only thing that broke was the saddle with its rather stupid alloy frame,mind you I probably only weight 10 stone at the time [/u]

 

[Midlife]

Just had a look in the garage while throwing some blankets over the car windscreens........no sign of any titanium bolts but found my old Shimano dura-ace rear mech from the 70's LOL

Not sure which one ?

http://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Shi ... story.html

Arc en Ciel rims (Superchamp) were similar to Mavic Medale D'or

Been a long time since I rode on silk tubs LOL

Shaun

 

[daccordimark]

For a light frame a cheaper alternative to 753 would be 531SL. Nice and light but not that common though.

Mark.

 

[Nob]

Weinmann 500 brakes/levers - these can be drilled & filed further
Huret Jubilee gears
OMAS or FAG BB

 

[David B]

Older weenie builds rock. For some reason, as soon as a bike gets to 20lb or below it turns into a flyer and its rider becomes a hero .

On a recent build I started with a 5lb frame and got to the magic 20lb mark, so would say a 531 frame would be dandy and let the components do the work. You can improve as you go, and as things turn up. Top areas for retro budget dieting are:
Rear gears: go for a screw on freewheel hub. You can still buy Maillard dural freewheels for under 30 clams and they weigh nowt saving loads of weight.
To go with your Maillard go for an old tubular wheelset: the fetch less money than clinchers especially if built round screw on freewheels.
Next: BB. Shell out on a ti bb and you'll win lots of grams; or plump for a hollow axle like the Axix Light from TA.
Bolts: Cheapo quill stem with an alloy wedge, ti long bolt and clamp bolt will shock you at how light it is. Also works on the seatpost clamp: cheapo Gipiemme & SR posts polish up a treat or go for Kalloy; add a Ti bolt.
Mechs: Suntour.
Chainsets seem to be much of a muchness at around 600g but drillium is supercool. Gipiemme are pretty light but have ISO tapers. How about a home made compact set up? A 110 BCD MTB set running only two rings. Old SR ones are 500g. (Watch your chainline though.)
Gear shifters: simple friction: 600ex, gipiemme etc
Head set: Stronglight: under a 100g and about £20. Utterly awesome build quality.
Brakes: suntour or 600.
Saddle: Tart up an old flight TI, or look out for a Rolls titanio that's badly listed (they have silver trim not gold).
Pedals: suntour superbe revived with new bearings, or cheapo new ones from VP or Wellgo are ~ 250g. Look Keo if you're new school.
Bars - 3ttt Super Competitzione can be had for under a tenner. Ambrosio too.

+1 on the Stronglight headset (I'm assuming you had the A9 in mind) - brilliant piece of kit and damn good value for money.

Good quality alloy chainring bolts will shave a few grams off here and there without costing the earth, if installed correctly they shouldn't seize or snap.

It won't look as old-school as an alloy quill stem, but the ITM Eclypse in TIG-welded Nivacrom steel is worth a punt if you can get one NOS or 2nd hand at a good price. Nice and light and the silver version has a super-shiny finish!

There's a chap in Birmingham who makes and sells Hope-pattern QR skewers in alloy & stainless via eBay. I've bought a couple of pairs; not wholly retro-looking but very light, extremely well made and only about 12 quid a set.

Couple of edits: Looking out for bits on eBay with typos etc. in the listing is a good "top tip". Bargains to be had down that route. I'd also second the idea of running an old MTB chainset as a double; I've done just that with my road (110BCD Sugino/Ritchey) and CX (94BCD Middleburn) bikes. The older straight-arm Middleburns with milled-out backs and L&M "Stardrive" cranks with similar looking arms are worth looking out for. Watch out for dodgy bolts/threads on the arm/spider interface though. I had a really nice high-polish pair of L&Ms die on me as a result.


One last thing: if you go for Look clipless, try to track down a pair of the plastic-bodied low-end pedals such as the PP206 (or equivalents branded as Vitus etc.). You might lose the adjustable tension function, but the bearings are just as good as the ones in their metal-bodied cousins and there's a definite weight saving. Plus the paint/powdercoat doesn't flake off like it often does on the alloy ones.

David

 

[Midlife]

Hi tel

Just unwrapped the Campag brakes.......blimey they look like they just left the factory (apart from the cut down centre bolt and someone who liked to use the front brake LOL )

How did you get them so clean ? Is there a secret as I have to do the same for some of my bits from 30 years ago

Well pleased ........class


Shaun

 

[Tel]

Very pleased you're happy with them Shaun. As for cleaning personally WD40, finest wire wool (if need be) and autosol generally does the trick...oh and tootpicks really come in handy too...

This lightweight project must happen, I keep thinking of ways to shed a little. Missed out on a couple of items that would have been perfect for it, perhaps I should stop looking until I actually have some money for it!

Loads of great suggestions on here, thanks everyone.

 

[Midlife]

Must order more WD40

I used to weigh chains back in my day and Wipperman were quite light LOL

Shaun