The Eagle has landed ........

[MichaelB]

Well, the frame will be ready to pick up tomorrow, and I now have the seatpost sorted.

I scooped an SR Alloy post from Belgium of all places, and managed to get a set of 105 Calipers and Aero levers from teh same buyer at a lower price than I paied of the local Aero levers alone

Anyway, as a matter of interest, I weighed the crankset that came with the bike, and the Sachs crankset that I will be using.

They are both double chainrings with the same no. of teeth.

The "Custom" set that came with the bike weigh 881 grams, and the Sachs weigh 717 grams.

WOW !!! I'm saving over 163 grams

[MichaelB]

The frame is finally ready and was picked up from the powder coaters today.

Mother of Pearl with a clear coat as well. For $85, I'm happy. If you were a bike nut, it could be better, but it will look nice when back together (this weekends job).

I have a setapost on the away from Belgium (SR Alloy unit), just have to get the brake cable set (on the way home tonight) & some bar tape (also on way home tonight) and I'll start the fun job of getting it back together.

The big shortfall at the moment is the wheelset.

Richard, who has been looking after his interests only, has scooped the pool, but done nothing for me

I'll get him back ....

Some pics will be snapped over the weekend and posted next week.

[europa]

Hah, I haven't shopped anywhere I haven't already suggested

Actually, I've been surprised at how easy the wheels have been to find, yet when I started looking for the Europa's wheels, I was having the same trouble that Michael's having. Maybe you need to ride a fixie for a while to develop that glint of madness in the eyes that convinces people you're serious

Richard

[MichaelB]

Hah, I haven't shopped anywhere I haven't already suggested

Actually, I've been surprised at how easy the wheels have been to find, yet when I started looking for the Europa's wheels, I was having the same trouble that Michael's having. Maybe you need to ride a fixie for a while to develop that glint of madness in the eyes that convinces people you're serious

Richard

Yeah, but some people have to work for a living ......

Don't have time to get to most of the shops

[europa]

I've done most of my shopping on the weekends, but I don't do any gardening either

I know what you mean though. I still reckon it comes down to having a particular 'glint' in your eye because I've got my wheels from places that 'didn't have any' on other occasions. I'm certainly a lot more positive in how I ask nowadays, but that's only because I've done enough of it to know exactly what I'm asking and how to ask for it. I shudder when I think of some of my early 'requests' where I used to give too many options.

There there is the good luck fairy, and I've never had much luck with her. It's different with this fixed gear business though - maybe she rides fixed too.

Richard

[MichaelB]

Before



After



There is some Kuwahara stickers on the way from USA, and awaiting some wheel pics/data from vee_dub.

Standby to Standby

[McPete]

Hate to say it mate, but the "after" photo is just a link to the imageshack homepage.

[MichaelB]

Hate to say it mate, but the "after" photo is just a link to the imageshack homepage.

Meh ? I see both pics ?

[europa]

Meh ? I see both pics ?

Good, so you'll be aware they're too big and need resizing

Richard
in grumpy admin mode

[europa]

She looks nice Michael. Have you weighed the frame? Might be interesting later on.

Richard

[McPete]

Those 80s Tange frames are hard to beat... It's going be be one pretty machine when it's all together!
I'm thinking about stripping down the Apollo and doing much similar. I'll call on your experience, if I can, when it happens.

[MichaelB]

Meh ? I see both pics ?

Good, so you'll be aware they're too big and need resizing

Richard
in grumpy admin mode

Did my best using Photo bucket.

And yes, I did weigh it and told you ...

The frame was 2.556kg, and the Forks 0.724kg (from memory which is a tad better than Richards..)

[MountGower]

Error. This post can no longer be displayed.

[MichaelB]

I thought the decal would go on before the clear coat. Is it getting another clear coat?

Decals were an afterthought. No more paint coats.

Might not even use them, not 100% sure - will wait till they come and see how the bike looks built up.

[europa]

That was part of the thinking with the stickers on the downtube of the lad's track bike - it looked pretty bland without them.

Richard

[MichaelB]

Oh woe is me .....

Actually, some things are going well. I got the new brake cables that I ordered, and the Seat Post & 105 Aero Levers/105 Calipers that I scored from Belgium (of all places) cam with cables and are in great nick.
I also got the stickers in the mail today, so all that is left now is them bloody wheels

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH

After much ringing around and either getting the "Nah, can't help", to "Yep, can do this great set of xxxx for $500+", to the other extreme of "No, you can't do that, the Frame/brakes/idea/seat etc is not going to work"

Vee_dub has promised some pics of his, or there is a set of new Mavic CXP22 rims, 32 spoke & formula hubs going for $250/$300 in the local area, but then they need tyres as well

It is all starting to add up, but will be worth it in the end. I hope ....

Standby to standby

[Minority]

I'll be interested to see the stickers, are they like transfers or a self adhesive vinyl?

It should all look very nice when you get it all together.

[Birdman]

As long as you have a bike to sit on now, does it really matter how long it takes.

Well yes it does but as Richard always says it is an emotional thing, and if you aren't in love with the wheels dont buy em.

Mitch.

[daacha]

You guys, especially Europa, MichaelB & crog, have a lot to answer for. All this talk about 80's roadies & steel is real and fixed gear bikes has tickled my interest over the last few weeks. I've found myself combing ebay for suitable options and have just bought myself something i hope is going to be suitable.
With a MTB and roadie already living in my bedroom i don't know where the next one is going to live.

daacha

[europa]

Good onya mate. Piccies please. Start a new thread and talk us through it, the journey is all part of the experience.

Richard

[daacha]

Thanks Richard,

Picking her up on Sunday.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... :IT&ih=007[/url]

[MichaelB]

As long as you have a bike to sit on now, does it really matter how long it takes.
Mitch.

It does - I wanna ride the damn thing.

The stickers are self adhesive viynl and were from this ebay bloke in HK

Kuwahara stickers

Won't use them all, but at least some of them. Will look good on the white/pearl frame

[MichaelB]

Thanks Richard,

Picking her up on Sunday.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... :IT&ih=007[/url]

Looks good.

I love the Question about whether it's a man's bike !!!!!

[daacha]

Thanks Richard,

Picking her up on Sunday.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... :IT&ih=007[/url]

Looks good.

I love the Question about whether it's a man's bike !!!!!

Yes but not from me though.

[Minority]

Your right michael, they should go really nicely with your white pearl finish.

Waiting for the next pics!