Thinking slightly more modern, erm, retro-mod....

[LeeDevelopment]

Haven't been on here for yonks, just fettling away in the background, nipped back whilst working on my Metalhead and mid-school street cruiser and stuck around. Noted a fair few retro-mods in the forums and started lusting after a Rocky or a Bonty.... but no, reigned myself in as I have enough frames here.

My plan; I have a gorgeous custom mid-90's 853 Arthur Caygill frame that was built by the lovely Richard Kent there back in the day. It's already quite modern, being rebuilt mid-00's. Will attach a pic in my former racing team's branding if I can find one.

Once the Metalhead and cruiser have been done I'll get on with the Caygill. It will be stripped, repainted in the Caygill livery and have a modern 12 speed groupset. Going to speak with a friend-in-the-industry about getting a modern Fox fork with a 1 1/8 steerer and 26" lowers. Then I think it will be job done.

Looking forward to this.

Current set up:

 

[Neilios]

That's cool. I've a massive soft spot for Caygills, I seem to be starting a rescue shelter for them! Would love to see some more detailed pics of this - looks to be TIG not brazed.

 

[LeeDevelopment]

It's TIG'd, it was built during the early years of the hard-core hardtails for street, dual and 4X racing... probs 1997-ish. Currently in a bike bag but will get photos before I send it up to Caygills to be repainted later in the summer, maybe July.

 

[foz]

Just a quick observation which might or might not be no longer relevant... Unless things have changed, I am pretty certain that caygills don't paint their own frames, but send them away. When I got my road frame repainted a fair few years ago, I took it straight to Bob Jackson's, who were cheaper than Caygills and would have done it anyway, even if I'd taken it straight to caygills! So, you might be paying a premium if you take it to caygills, instead of taking it to whoever actually paints them. Like I said, not sure this is still the case!

 

[LeeDevelopment]

Oooooh, thank you, I shall drop Bob Jacksons an email in a moment. You wonderful person you, thank you.

 

[LeeDevelopment]

Just a quick observation which might or might not be no longer relevant... Unless things have changed, I am pretty certain that caygills don't paint their own frames, but send them away. When I got my road frame repainted a fair few years ago, I took it straight to Bob Jackson's, who were cheaper than Caygills and would have done it anyway, even if I'd taken it straight to caygills! So, you might be paying a premium if you take it to caygills, instead of taking it to whoever actually paints them. Like I said, not sure this is still the case!

Did a wee delve; Woodrup bought out Jacksons in 2020, they're still working things out, thankfully they kept the Leeds factory. I also stumbled on this, Caygill now do their paint in-house.... https://www.arthurcaygillcycles.co.uk/news/story/caygill-respray-service, think I'll now stick to my guns as it's less faffing about.

 

[Neilios]

It was certainly the case that they used to outsource painting, but they can definitely do it in house now. Think it's powdercoat using RAL colours.

I contacted Bob Jackson about repainting my Caygill MTB back in 2018, and I have to say that whoever was on the other end of the email was pretty unprofessional to the point of being dickish about it. No way I was using them at that, Argos got the gig in the end.

 

[LeeDevelopment]

It was certainly the case that they used to outsource painting, but they can definitely do it in house now. Think it's powdercoat using RAL colours.

I contacted Bob Jackson about repainting my Caygill MTB back in 2018, and I have to say that whoever was on the other end of the email was pretty unprofessional to the point of being dickish about it. No way I was using them at that, Argos got the gig in the end.

Hmmmmm, I'd be pretty miffed paying the quoted £320 from Caygills under the premise of a wet paint job for a powdercoat. Gonna have to drop Scott another email.

 

[Neilios]

I could absolutely be wrong - it was about 6 or 7 years ago I was talking to them about it. Defo worth double checking.

 

[LeeDevelopment]

I could absolutely be wrong - it was about 6 or 7 years ago I was talking to them about it. Defo worth double checking.

It's deffo wet paint