This is not quite a build thread, although the bike is not finished yet. There will be a few updates and maybe some pictures. one member might know what I'm building because I reached out to him for help to id the frame set. It was Paul aka Monkian, so you can probably guess that it's a Japanese bike. Here's the progress so far.
Complete bike purchased in January on eBay. The seller does house clearances, this is the second bike I've bought from him.
Collected the bike in Croydon on the next Sunday.
Stripped the bike down and cleaned everything that I was going to use on the bike the best I could. Most parts I would say were original. The parts that were not original were good quality but not quite right for the bike, so they will be replaced with decent era corrects parts.
The saddle had some paint splashes on it, so cleaned that off with some paint stripper before washing it.
Binned the nasty modern toffee coloured tyres and trick nuts the bike came with.
Cleaned and lightly polished the chrome frame, forks and bars.
Ordered decals for the frame set and bars from the main man Del. As usual Dels turnaround time was rapid. Fitted the decals then carefully stored in garage until last Thursday.
A few months ago I spotted a cheapish Takagi 44t chainring on eBay that had been sprayed green. The original black finish was showing in places so I took a chance and bought it. When it arrived it was actually a 43t but I stripped it anyway. It turned out to be in OK rider condition, perfect. It was stored with the other parts.
Around the same time I stripped down the pedals, cleaned, greased and reassembled them. They were stored with the other parts also.
On Thursday evening I partly dismantled my stalled lugged Apollo build, grabbed the frame and gave it a wipe over and sat the Apollo in its place.
Yesterday evening after dinner and shopping, I got the parts box out and had a think about what's being used.
This afternoon the headset was greased and the forks fitted. A quick rummage for a lovely stem which was greased and slipped into place. Next the bottom bracket cups were pressed into place. I gave the bearings and cages another clean as they were still a bit cruddy and sticky. Raked the bars out and fitted those. Chainring, spider and crank assembled ready for later. I don't have a bike stand so the wheels have to go on next. I'm not using the black skyways that came on the bike so I grabbed the chosen set off of the wall, rummaged for the tyres I think will work, fitted those then put them on the bike. Pre greased all bottom bracket parts and fitted the crank set. Stood back and yeah, looking good. The seat clamp was already on the frame so I tried to fit a lovely seat post perfect for the bike, no joy, it's too big, I'll have to see what size it is when my vernier gauge arrives. Gutted. So the original post was fitted but it's a lay back and has deep rings scored around it from previous use, it was used very low and slammed in the past. It's quite long so it might get cut down to hide scars and lose the lay back section. The seat was popped on and that was enough for today.
I have to decide on the brake set up and which chain to use, the original is nice but needs a bit of work.
More to follow soon.
