Still on the hunt .... FINALLY DONE :-)

[Mulger bill]

Yummy. This is gonna look amazing once built.

Shaun

[MichaelB]

I think you made the right decision.

For the cost, me thinks you are right

[MichaelB]

Well, according to the Italian Post tracking system, it has left Milano, and is now at the International Departure Hub in Italy, waiting to wing it's way Downunder

Now for the fun stuff

[MichaelB]

OOOOOOOOO

It's now landed in Germany

It's going backwards .....

Sigh. At least it's moving

[rustychisel]

patience, grasshopper

[MichaelB]

RILASCIATO DALLA DOGANA

Bugger me, it's in Oz, and going by babelfish, it's cleared customs somewhere in Oz.



Standing by to Standby

Whilst I've never seen the movie, here is another quote from master Kan

"When you can walk the rice paper without tearing it, then your steps will not be heard."

Never a chnace of that with me

[MichaelB]

ARRIVO DESTINAZIONE

Maybe even today .....

[MichaelB]

Quick update.

Tried to get delivered on Friday, buit no-one at home..

Not bad. Paid for on 17th Feb (Wed), posted am 19th Feb (Fri - with tracking), and 1st delivery on Friday 25th - not bad for a bike frame from Italy with only a USD $99 charge for delivery. Much better than some of those US 'quotes' you get.

Anyway, delivery re-arranged for today.

Had all sorts of thoughts re which bike to get rid of from the shed, as the n+1 argument didn't work, and it must remain capped at n=3. Therefore 1 has to go.

Initial thoughts were to swap the DA bits over from the Argon to the Cinelli, and then sell that frame, but then thoughts over the weekend turned to move the DA bits to the Cinelli and sell the Fixed/SS bike to fund a lower level g/set on the Argon and use that as the main training bike.

More dilemma's ....

Pics will be posted soon

[MichaelB]

She is here, and it looks even better in the flesh than in the pics

The package....


Which smart person can work out what the motorbike is .....

All unwrapped


1,742g for a XL steel frame


Columbus Mega Tusk Fork


Weighs 7g less than advertised

Beautiful seat stay detail (crappy pic though)


Now to populate it with goodies and ride

[gauchoracer]

OoooH, Ooooh.. Its a BMW....
Do I win a prize....
Congrats on the new delivery...
Have lots of fun building up your new toy...
Max...

[MichaelB]

OoooH, Ooooh.. Its a BMW....

Which model though ?????

Do I win a prize....

No.

Actually, it's the old mans, and I'm gradually getting in the process of restoring it to it's former glory.

[familyguy]

Now to populate it with goodies and ride

Italian goodies? Or doesnt it matter?

Jim

[MichaelB]

Italian goodies? Or doesnt it matter?

Jim

Probably Japanese goodies. Already have a wheelset with Shimano, and used to it, so likely to be the same.

That said, saddle will be english leathery goodness, but will stick with Italian stem, bars and saetpost (deda).

[MichaelB]

Well, the order for the new 105 Compact groupset, headset, 36T chainrings and sticky frame protector stuff went in at Ribble last night.

With the strong aussie peso, managed to get the fuull 105 groupset for $568 (inlcuding the 5% discount)

The DA gear from the Argon18 will go to the Cinelli (after a minor spruce) and the 105 will go onto the Argon18, as it's now the training bike !!!

Just need to sort the stem, bars, seatpost and new cable set, and it will be assembly time.

First though, gotta go on a 3 1/2 week family holiday to Hong Kong & China

[Rockford]

How much do you want for the motorbike?

[MichaelB]

How much do you want for the motorbike?

Not for sale. It's the old man's still....

One of the few things from his collection that I'll keep.

[ve safari]

Well, the order for the new 105 Compact groupset, headset, 36T chainrings and sticky frame protector stuff went in at Ribble last night.

With the strong aussie peso, managed to get the fuull 105 groupset for $568 (inlcuding the 5% discount)

The DA gear from the Argon18 will go to the Cinelli (after a minor spruce) and the 105 will go onto the Argon18, as it's now the training bike !!!

Just need to sort the stem, bars, seatpost and new cable set, and it will be assembly time.

First though, gotta go on a 3 1/2 week family holiday to Hong Kong & China

New 105, or 5600 Series? Either way it will look great.

Edit - just reread your post. DA on Cinelli - that's more like it!

Enjoy your holiday.

[MichaelB]

New 105, or 5600 Series? Either way it will look great.

Edit - just reread your post. DA on Cinelli - that's more like it!

Enjoy your holiday.

5650 actually (cos of the compact crank. By getting the new groupset, I can get the Italian BB I need for the Cinelli (already have a spare Eng BB (as well as the one on the Argon is pretty new), so works out well.

Interestingly, the 5600 shifters are $312 by themselves !!! Only another $250 for the rest

[MountGower]

Well, it would seem that I now need a new road bike. Something in blue, perhaps - to stop me drooling over yours, Michael, who still hasn't publicly stated the origin of this beauty.

To condition myself I made my first carbon fibre purchase recently. Of all things, a fork for my MTB. So this is probably the last time I'll be heard of again. Nice knowin' me - no doubt.

So where did this frame and fork come from?

[MichaelB]

Well, it would seem that I now need a new road bike. Something in blue, perhaps - to stop me drooling over yours, Michael, who still hasn't publicly stated the origin of this beauty.

To condition myself I made my first carbon fibre purchase recently. Of all things, a fork for my MTB. So this is probably the last time I'll be heard of again. Nice knowin' me - no doubt.

So where did this frame and fork come from?

It came from a bike shop in Como, Italy, called Cicli Ferca Tell Roberto, Michael from Australia sent you. Great to deal with

First found hime through ebay with this 56cm sq Cinelli Nautilus, and it went from there.

[MichaelB]

Well, back now from the overseas holiday in Hong Kong & China, and the buying spree is almost complete. Already have the frame , wheelset and saddle.

Have sourced and now received :
5600 Series Groupset (to go onto Argon18, and DA7800 to go onto Cinelli)
Tacx Tao Ultralight Bottle Cages
Alpina Star headset
Stronglight 36T inner chainring

Just placed the following order :
Deda Zero 100 Classic Bend bars
Deda Newton 31 Stem
Deda Black Stick seatpost
Brooks leather bar tape (eBay UK)
DA Cable set (shift & brake) (eBay US)

Just need to double check spoke tensions on Open Pro wheelset that I built before, make them tubeless, strip the Argon and refot the new 105 groupset, thoroughly clean all the DA stuff and them mount it onto the Cinelli frame, wait for a good day and ride !!!!

Oh, and take some pics of course ......

[munga]

bugger. i'd have waited for a regular super corsa

[MichaelB]

Checked and trued the Open Pro rims, so tonights job will be to do the work to make them tubeless (using tape and some tubeless valves).

Then, mount the tyres and hope for the best .....

The weather this week is ideal for taking it in the hills for a ride, but sadly need some parts still.

However, closer than ever ..... stay tuned

[MichaelB]

Firts stage of the transformation is now complete.

The Argon18 was stripped of it's DA gear, cleaned (bugger me if it wasn't super filthy.... ), and rebuilt with the new 5600 105 series components.

The rebuild went smoothly, except taking time to tune the gears right, and putting the front brake cable on the wrong side (lucky still had one operational bike in the shed to check ).

Took it for a shakedown ride last night, and the 43.3km went like a treat.

Task for later this week is to take frame to get the BB shell thread chased (to make sure it's clean as a whistle, and the lower headset bearing fitted, and try and start some of the build this weekend.

The bars, stem & seatpost have finally been packed (it took Ribble 6 working days to pack it ) and dispatched, but wont get here till next week

Standby to standby

[MichaelB]

Managed to track down the full geometry chart for the Cinelli, so did a comparison between the Argon18 and the Nuovo SuperCorsa

ST and HT angles are diff, but everything else is pretty close