GasPipeWarrior
Retro Guru
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My first retro bike - at least as old as I am. 
In September I came into possession of a Competitor seduced in part by the Bianchi colour and the chance to own a CB (even though it's from the Holdsworth era). I was unsure which model it was when I went to view it, and was fairly happy to find it equipped with Campagnolo hubs (the first set I've ever owned - oooer!!) and Weinmann 999 brakes. Transaction completed I pootled off homeward and discovered via nkilgariff's splendid Claud Butler archive that my Competitor model was released in 1968. And the wheels and brakes may well be original equipment.
It's definitely not in pristine condition but hardly a complete rust bucker either. The wheels still roll smoothly and the brakes (after adjustment) provide sufficient stopping power. And even though it's only got five gears it's a pleasure to ride and reminds me of my first road bike (a BSA Tour de France) but much nicer.
What restoration I do undertake will be a gradual process and, I hope, appropriate for a bike which was not a top of the range model (so no turd polishing with a full Campag group set ). The headset feels stiff and sticky (no notchiness detected so far) and the rear wheel seems to have had spacers fitted to run in 126mm dropouts making its removal and refitting in the frame's 120mm rear end a pain. The stem is too short for me so I'll be looking for something longer, and I'd like to see about replacing the Stronglight crankset with an appropriate double crankset (plus shifters and front derailleur). And the saddle (ugly thing that it is) will do one eventually.
In a Money-No-Object situation I'd send the frame and forks to Mercian, but in the meantime I'll have to clean it up as it is and enjoy riding on good weather days.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/109614825@ ... 981553725/
SPEC SHEET
Frame: 531 plain guage, Prugnat lugs, plain drop-outs, rear spacing 120mm, seat tube 22”, top tube 22”
Fork: 531?
Headset: Unknown
Stem: GB alloy 100mm
Handlebar: Unknown alloy 39cm c-c
Bar Tape: Generic black vinyl/plastic
Brake Levers/Brifters: Weinmann unknown
Brake Calipers: Weinmann 999 front & rear
Brake Pads: Fibrax
Brake Cables: Unknown
Shifters: Raleigh friction
Front Derailleur: n/a
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Titlist
Derailleur Cables: Unknown
Cassette: Shimano 5-speed freewheel
Chain: Unknown 3/32
Cranks: Stronglight
Chainrings: Unknown 46 tooth
Bottom Bracket: Unknown
Pedals: Generic
Rims: 27” no label – possibly Fiamme?
Hubs: Campagnolo – possibly Nuvo Tipo?
Hub Skewers: Campagnolo
Nipples: Unknown
Spokes: Unknown steel
Tyres: DSI 27x1 ¼ tanwall
Tubes: Unknown
Saddle: Italia Touring
Seatpost: ITM 26.4mm
Seatpost Binder: Generic
Bottle Cage: N/A
Extras: Frame number hanger
Weight: TBC
In September I came into possession of a Competitor seduced in part by the Bianchi colour and the chance to own a CB (even though it's from the Holdsworth era). I was unsure which model it was when I went to view it, and was fairly happy to find it equipped with Campagnolo hubs (the first set I've ever owned - oooer!!) and Weinmann 999 brakes. Transaction completed I pootled off homeward and discovered via nkilgariff's splendid Claud Butler archive that my Competitor model was released in 1968. And the wheels and brakes may well be original equipment.
It's definitely not in pristine condition but hardly a complete rust bucker either. The wheels still roll smoothly and the brakes (after adjustment) provide sufficient stopping power. And even though it's only got five gears it's a pleasure to ride and reminds me of my first road bike (a BSA Tour de France) but much nicer.
What restoration I do undertake will be a gradual process and, I hope, appropriate for a bike which was not a top of the range model (so no turd polishing with a full Campag group set
). The headset feels stiff and sticky (no notchiness detected so far) and the rear wheel seems to have had spacers fitted to run in 126mm dropouts making its removal and refitting in the frame's 120mm rear end a pain. The stem is too short for me so I'll be looking for something longer, and I'd like to see about replacing the Stronglight crankset with an appropriate double crankset (plus shifters and front derailleur). And the saddle (ugly thing that it is) will do one eventually.In a Money-No-Object situation I'd send the frame and forks to Mercian, but in the meantime I'll have to clean it up as it is and enjoy riding on good weather days.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/109614825@ ... 981553725/
SPEC SHEET
Frame: 531 plain guage, Prugnat lugs, plain drop-outs, rear spacing 120mm, seat tube 22”, top tube 22”
Fork: 531?
Headset: Unknown
Stem: GB alloy 100mm
Handlebar: Unknown alloy 39cm c-c
Bar Tape: Generic black vinyl/plastic
Brake Levers/Brifters: Weinmann unknown
Brake Calipers: Weinmann 999 front & rear
Brake Pads: Fibrax
Brake Cables: Unknown
Shifters: Raleigh friction
Front Derailleur: n/a
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Titlist
Derailleur Cables: Unknown
Cassette: Shimano 5-speed freewheel
Chain: Unknown 3/32
Cranks: Stronglight
Chainrings: Unknown 46 tooth
Bottom Bracket: Unknown
Pedals: Generic
Rims: 27” no label – possibly Fiamme?
Hubs: Campagnolo – possibly Nuvo Tipo?
Hub Skewers: Campagnolo
Nipples: Unknown
Spokes: Unknown steel
Tyres: DSI 27x1 ¼ tanwall
Tubes: Unknown
Saddle: Italia Touring
Seatpost: ITM 26.4mm
Seatpost Binder: Generic
Bottle Cage: N/A
Extras: Frame number hanger
Weight: TBC
