Fri Apr 06, 2012- Way back to a special machines arrival, My Concorde Squadra PDM

'Hi all
Just thought I would share my new rider. Its only just landed, had a quick hand polish and assembled so I can have a ride before a strip down and proper service, polish and one or two changes.
For this I have to thank the legend that is Mel in Holland
I recieved an email saying he had spotted a Squadra in my size, a 48cm in a small shop near to him with mainly C record parts if I was interested. Certainly was Mel went, had a look, took some pics, sorted a price and got back to me. They were selling it for a third party and it was a very good price, so the next step was would they ship it. That was a bit of a sticky issue that I didnt realise at the time but eventually Mel ended up packing it to his usual high standard and shipped it. I really cant thank him enough for all he's done for me. A Dura Ace in a sea of Sora
Its sat at the shop for a while and spent most days outside so the brightwork is a bit dulled and everything needs regreased. Its been used as intended and has a few chips but has been well looked after.
I wasn't after a show bike but a rider to sit along side my treasured Merckx. Something that was nice to ride but that I could tinker with as I went along, and this fits the bill perfectly. Also being Campagnolo equiped it will compliment it nicely.
The size is perfect which is nice as so often getting a 48cm is very hard to find or like my Merckx its classed as a custom build and carries a premium over a standard sizing when bought new.
As can be seen from the specs below its mainly C record but the shifters and brake levers have been replaced with ergopowers and the rear mech is a veloce, these are 9 speed judging by the cassette and must have been an upgrade a good while back. The wheels are CXP 30 aero rims running on Dura Ace hubs with a 9 speed cassette.
In the short term I will replace the rear mech with a Campagnolo one more in keeping with the polished look. Rims will probably be changed out soon as I am swapping my open pro's on the Merckx for a new pair of blue open pro's so this will probably get the grey open pro's from the Merckx. Other than that I think it will just be a work in progress for a while as I am itching to just get out and ride it, then maybe it might head back down the full C record route.
If anyone knows what these ergo shifters are i would be grateful to know as I have only ever run Shimano and am not that up on ID'ing all the myriad Campagnolo variants.
I will add to this once I get some miles in and swap out the pics for a couple of nice road shots. These were just quickly taken this afternoon once it was unpacked.
Specs:
Frame: Columbus TSX
Fork: Columbus
Headset: C Record
Stem: Cinelli
Handlebar: ITM
Bar Tape: ?
Brake Levers/Brifters: ? Campagnolo 9 speed
Brake Calipers: C Record Cobalto
Brake Pads: Campagnolo
Brake Cables: Campagnolo
Shifters:
Front Derailleur: C Record
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo 9 speed Veloce
Derailleur Cables: ?
Cassette: Campagnolo Record
Chain:
Cranks: C Record 170mm
Chainrings: Campagnolo C Record?
Bottom Bracket: C Record
Pedals:
Rims: Mavic CXP 30
Hubs: Dura Ace
Hub Skewers: Dura Ace
Nipples:
Spokes:
Tyres: Pariba handmade pro evolution rear, Vredestien front
Tubes:
Saddle: Hoske Colnago
Seatpost: C Record
Seatpost Binder:
Bottle Cage: Tackx
Extras:
Weight: without chain 9.2kilo 


Mon Apr 16, 2012
Finally had a day to get the Concorde out for a brief ride, around 30 klm's only due to time available.
It took me a while to sort the rear derailleur out as the cable adjuster was broken, sheared off on the thread which made the cable hard to set up as the adjuster would twist.
I just wanted to get out for a ride on it and then I can start sorting out a new derailluer once I strip it to clean and service it.
Being aware that it needed a good service and lube, I told myself dont be annoyed if the gears are a bit out, or shifting is clunky etc just see how it rides. I was actually really suprised as the gears were OK and worked, need a bit of tweaking but they certainly worked fine. The ride though was really nice, only short but nice none the same. Handling was pinpiont and even on the rough singletrack farm roads it absolutely flew over it. Hopefully get a proper ride out tomorrow afternoon as this one I was more thinking of gears and gear changes than the handling.
So far seems like a worthy stablemate for the Merckx
Couple of pics, one from out on the road before my little camera died and one from out the front of the house when I got in. Nice weather too, hard to believe it was snowing yesterday.

Jamie

Sun Apr 22, 2018 - Jack Taylor Super Clubman - quick build, cobbled together

Been building up a little something myself this weekend.
Not for a final build type thing but more for a fit session to make sure the basics are right before investing in a paint restoration.
I built it up with a very eclectic parts bin mix that won't really reflect what will go on it when restored other than the Mafac Racers.
When I originally got this straight from the chicken shed storage it had been in for some years it had black guards and some Mavic M2 rims with 700 x 28 tyres. I cleaned and stripped it right away and pulled of the mix of road and mtb parts off it, most rusted or corroded beyond repair and thought I paid attention and took everything in. I have been slowly plodding away with this for quite some time trying to clean up and preserve the frame/paint or at the very least stop the corrosion and rust that was going on all over. Oxalic acid, scrubbing, touch up, waxing and while it needs proper paint to bring it back and stop completely it's not come up too bad. My issue today was the fitting of the Mafac brakes. When I got it it had no name sidepulls fitted and these were pulling from the opposite side from Shimanos finest, pulled them off a not nice but pretty corroded anyway. Now with the Mafacs they are at the deepest drop and without the mudgaurds it is such a huge clearance both front and rear that I am pretty sure this was built with 27' wheels in mind. This for me is a problem as clearance is already at the upper limit and is not an option.
It was only a short ride for about 2 miles and the only thing I needed to work was the brakes and the chain to see how it felt. It felt very very nice and so thats why the 27 thing took the shine off a bit.
Remember the builds only for a cruise round the block and I know the cables are too short and the rear derrailleur is a bit tight etc and this is because most was what either was lying about or was borrowed from the Mercian for the day. I have some really nice Nitto rando bars, stem along with a new Stronglight headset and other nice stuff for it when it gets finished. The Mafacs will stay maybe?/hopefully but the first gen Dura Ace cranks are for my BMX
Just thought I would share, especially seen as my usual ridding buddy has been building as well.

Jamie 


Some before pics:

Sun Apr 15, 2018 - Weekend at home with family + a couple of rides

A weekend at home spending time with the family but still managed to get a couple of rides in.
Saturday after lunch Caleb and I put in some miles in the sunny but quite cold wind on the Big Dummy. We managed to avoid the haar that had been hanging around most of the day just off the coast and in some of the low lying areas. T shirt weather in the sun but Helle Hanson and jacket out of it. A good couple of hours out with my wingman. 


Long straight section of road to be pushing into a headwind with 40 kilo of bike and cargo Another straight section with it starting to cool down Today after lunch and getting other things sorted, that you just have to sort I managed to get out and put a few hours in on the Trucker, just riding for the sake of riding. My Trucker never fails to put a smile on my face, really love riding it anywhere. I should have been down with Brian and another group on the Great Glen Way but unfortunately at the time Heather and I had some stuff to get done. In the end it worked out well as I got stuff sorted had a ride, met up with Heather and Caleb mid ride for a coffee and scone out at John O'Groats and still got back around 5.30 which left enough time to put Calebs trampoline back up after winter and sort a few bike parts for sale. My ride out took me along an inland sort of zigzagging route with some gravel tracks thrown in and one of these was about a mile of straight section in the middle just like a few of these tar ones near me that have miles of straights on them. No imagination Was speaking to a couple of guys at Groats that had just ended their Lands End - John O'Groats ride with one them being on a Long Haul Trucker as well. After chatting for a while and complimenting each other for our clearly good taste I had to start heading home as by now the haar had come ashore and it was really thick as well as cold. Luckily I was no longer heading into the wind so had a slight tail wind for most of the run home. Must be a good weekend Hope everyone else managed to have a good weekend whether riding or not. Jamie Behind Stroma you can normally see Hoy and Orkney as they are quite close, not today. Miles of nothing but wind ...(the natural kind, not mine) Decisions, decisions, National Cycle Route 1 and North Sea Cycle route.

Tues 03 Apr 2018 - Merckx ride Sunday and Mercian Monday - Easter

I posted up the photos from Easter Saturdays ride with Caleb for the Easter egg hunt and trip to the shore but the long weekend continued with a couple of more rides.
Sunday after getting some stuff done in the morning then watching the tour of Flanders I headed out on the Merckx for a while, nice evening but again just beat the rain back. Good to be back out on the Merckx and getting a few quicker miles in.


Then on Monday around lunch I headed south to meet up with Brian and have a ride out around the Beauly Forth. Glorious sunshine when I left but about an hour or so down the road it was a solid wall of grey with it snowing to the west. the hills were getting covered the closer I got to Brians. We quickly loaded and decided to start around Redcastle area as everywhere else was whitening up and thought we would ride into Ness. We pushed on into the mother of all headwinds, and after a quick stop at a bakery to have a sandwich and a coffee we decided on a ride back the way we came but at a much faster pace due to the freezing rain coming down. Still we got a ride in, albeit a shortish one. This time I was on the Mercian and Brian was on his Bertin, so even the rain couldn't spoil a ride on these. Unfortunately it wasn't as nice on the other side of the mountains So not a bad weekend, 3 different rides out on three different machines, time spent with family and with friends, this topped off with a Quick Step win in Flanders. Roll on spring now Jamie

Sat Mar 31, 2018 - Easter Egg Hunt

This one is a couple from Show us what you did yesterday
A couple of pics from our afternoon out which was down to a friends for lunch and for all the kids to gather and have an Easter egg hunt in Calebs school. Then we went for a ride with about 7 or so of the kids down to Ham harbour. Some kids rode and with one on a tag along. Caleb was riding his bike so I took one of the kids that didn't have his bike and even rode back up the road and picked up Heather and our friend Lisa, so that was three of us on the BD. First time I ever thought the front end was light on the Dummy
Caleb decided yesterday that he would ride to our friends rather than go on the Dummy, I gave him the option a few times to hook his bike on the back and jump on but he declined. Then on the way home he wanted to ride, the big hill to the house as well. Quite proud as he stubbornly made it to the top after a long ride, 16'' wheels and singlespeed to boot. He is due for a bike upgrade to 20'' wheels and gears quite soon but I am thinking the Dummy may no longer be needed for human cargo.  

Jamie

Sun Apr 01, 2018 - Merckx out and about - Flanders Weekend

Today I ended up sitting and watching Flanders this afternoon as every time I went to go out the door something else would go off. What a great race and seeing as I am a big Quick Step fan, it was a great result all round.
Afterwards I took a couple of hours spin round the coast trying to dodge the odd shower, which for once I did manage to do. Towards the end I was up at Dunnet Head and knew that if I didn't get home quickly I would soon be wet, either with rain or snow. Crazy weather as we had snow lying last night, today was either bright sunshine or dark rain clouds dropping their contents all with the occasional and random snow flurry.
I headed out on the Merckx seen as it was Flanders weekend and in honour of Quickstep winning I rode the closest thing I have to a Quickstep jersey and that was my old Paolo Bettini fan club jersey that was made in the old Mapei style. Not seen the light of day for a good while.
A good ride as all on my Merckx are and while sunny it was only just above freezing which meant being wrapped up. Roll on summer and short sleeves only.
I must say that after spending so much time on the Big Dummy lately, the Merckx felt effortless

Jamie

Sun Mar 25, 2018 - Cargo hauling with the Big Dummy

Well after spending the last 6 weeks going between Glasgow and home twice a week and Heather being down there all this time it was nice to have a quiet family weekend at home. Weather was decent and we had given assurances to Calebs school that we would be there on Saturday morning to help with shifting several tonnes of topsoil that was being delivered to the raised garden beds at the back of the school. We also said we would bring our barrow and spades. With that the Dummy was loaded and the barrow bungied to the rails and off we went. Took it in it's stride no problem. Getting back up the hill after lunch was a bit of a drag and certainly wondered whether I should have passed on the bacon roll and carrot cake. Went to the cinema in the afternoon to see Peter Rabbit with Caleb. It was quite good and he loved it.
Today was another cargo day as Heather had said that one of her friends could borrow the fold up bed and as I was wanting to go for a ride, would I drop it off on the Dummy? No problem once again though I was heading straight down the road out the front of our house towards Dunnet head and the wind was a full on headwind from the north, straight up the road. This turned out to be lucky as on my return journey after cruising round the coast just for the sake of having a ride I looked behind and noticed the rain coming down not far away and heading my way. I appreciated the wind behind me as I tried to get home quickly. Made it with about a minute to spare.
Home in time to watch Gent Welvgem while pulling apart some Mafac Racer brakes I am cleaning up to hopefully go on the Jack Taylor. Purely cosmetic but I swapped out the black washer sleeves for some red ones I got from a gentleman in France the other week. Look great but it's not all beer and roses as I undid the second spring the wrong way round and it let loose in a very severe way and may have broken my finger. Made putting it all back together a real pain, literally.
A good quite family weekend for me and for that I am grateful.
Hope everyone else had a good one and maybe got some miles in.

Jamie

Wellies in bags, gloves, where's the shovel? 

Mafac original arrival Mafac Clean Mafac full rebuild and adjust