Airborne 2000 Lucky Strike DB Rebuild

[WD Pro]

As some of you are probably aware I purchased Awkward Kid’s Airborne Lucky Strike frameset after getting a bit of Ti addiction

It all started with me picking up some Ti bar ends followed by a Ti stem and then some Ti bars … I then got this niggling thought about boxing up the Proflex and all its spares (keeping for a later date ;-)) and moving all the XTR M970 bits I had collected over to a Ti frame… I wasn’t actively looking for a frame but when the Airborne popped up for sale I liked some of the frames features and the Ti bug bit hard

Awkward Kid’s build thread : http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... cky+strike

Once a deal was struck I soon received the package and upon opening I was quite surprised by some of the frames features that aren’t easily picked out with the camera, even when you know where to look :-(

Anyhow, this is how it arrived :

Dropout’s / v boss’s / pipe clip’s / chain catcher etc that might help date it (as I am still unsure of its age) :

This probably shows the welds and profile of the top tube best - it almost feels triangular (and potentially painful ) :

This is the forming on the rear stays :

The down tube is ovalised at the head tube, round in the middle and then very ovalised at the bb shell (across the width). You can 'just' see this on the side view of the frame pictured above.

The vernier says :

Top tube (constant triangle) : 28.9 x 36.0
Down tube (front) : 43.5 x 37.8
Down tube (middle) : 40.2 x 40.2
Down tube (back) : 45.5 x 35
Seat stays (constant round) : 22.2
Chain stays (constant round other than tyre clearance) : 22.2

The angle gauge says a one degree difference between head and seat angle. EDIT : I will check confirm this with something more accurate than the iPhone (I have a digi camber gauge I will use )

The serial number is SER02608

Is it ‘retro’ ? I am not quite sure … :? But it will be having V’s and a nice selection of retro goodies thrown in for good measure ;-)

I have quite a few more pictures / updates to add but I only get 30mins for dinner and my only net access at home is the iPhone !

WD

EDITED : To update the title to the correct year and comment on the angles

 

[WD Pro]

Well here is the Ti stuff that started the bug (you can see I have already dressed this up ready for blasting). Titec bars and stem with Titus bar ends :

As some of you may have seen on another thread and on the BV rebuild, I was worried about crimping the Ti bars. After a few enquires, 2 sets of BERTS turned up courtesy of ekiborter

As it turns out the BERTS are for the Titec / Bontrager 118g butted bars where I have the 150g plain gauge bars – therefore the diameter was a little bit big and they needed turning down to suit.

I found (what I thought at first to be useful) information on the bikepro site about the diameters wall thickness etc but the sums / measurements / components didn’t match up :? :-(

Taking an average ID of the bars and a average wall thickness based on 22.2mm OD my bars measured came out with a ID of 20.35mm

I turned the BERTS down to 20.32mm which allowed me to push them about half way in by hand before they got really tight. This seemed like it was going to work well so I covered them in Loctite and whacked them in

Standard BERTS and one modified BERT at the point where they got ‘tight’ :

I know 271 isn’t really supposed to be a ‘retainer’ but A) it’s the best I had at home and B) I don’t think they will move, even without any Loctite on at all

WD

 

[WD Pro]

Loads of pics of the bits I have collected to date :

Rear with Ti bolt kit :

Front with Ti bolt kit :

Ti stuff for the above (more to come ;-)) :

Also got some M8’s versions of these for the forks :

WD

 

[Awkward Kid]

You arent messing about Its gonna look sweet bud! Keep the pics coming, oh and get her built and ridden!

 

[WD Pro]

Didn't think it would take you long to find it ;-) I am not the quickest of builders though ...

This is the seat I will be using, the quote (and seat ) has been pinched off the ProFlex build :
 

I also picked up a great condition Flite Transalp (thanks Archangel   ) :
 

 

 
But everything can be improved a little …    Spent a bit of time with the ‘wet n dry’ and good old kiwi :
 

 

 

 

 
WD

 
I also have the forks, XTR chain, Ti seat clamp, grips and frame protection. Ti headset spacers and a USE Ti post should be on their way to me now – more pictures soon i.e. when I have taken them
 
I have yet to source :
 
  Cables - Thinking of Goodridge, any comments on these ?
  Headset – Probably King
  Wheels – Not sure which way to go yet – crossmax’s / Spinergy’s (with spokes !) / custom etc:?
  USE post shim
  USE replacement clamp
 
And I need to finish the wide stem shim I am making to suit the Titec ‘Fat Head’ stem.
 
I am trying to build the bike quite light but without going ‘weenie’ or compromising its strength / performance. If anyone is interested in any of the component weights I have listed everything I have to date in the weight weenie forum
 
I have been sad enough to do myself a build spreadsheet to catalogue weight (and cost :-( ) It has surprised me on both counts With weight ‘guesstimates’ for the stuff I don’t have yet it should come in at just under 22lb. The cost ? let’s just say I have had some 'very' good deals on the new stuff … ;-)
 
WD

 

[Awkward Kid]

Def a king. I bought two and never fit them. I'd also plump for the Crossmax, they are superlight and look very cool. I'd expect you to get closer to 20lbs. You'll be surprised how light it feels and how it handles! Nice work on the Flite

Edit... Pic with Crossmax!

 

[Lenni]

that frame looks great! super components too(but must admit,I dont like the STI shifters).

Good to know i am not the only one to get addicted to TI

 

[WD Pro]

I'd also plump for the Crossmax, they are superlight and look very cool. I'd expect you to get closer to 20lbs. You'll be surprised how light it feels and how it handles!

Yeah, I really like the look of the modern crossmax but the jury is still out on their toughness :? I just missed out on some really nice ones off here and was beaten by GT Steve he's not used them yet though and I keep mithering him for them (ARE YOU READING THIS STEVE ? ;-) )

The 22 ish quoted is a 'real' weight ;-) I think the spreadsheet I have done is pretty comprehensive and the only guesses are on the few bits I haven't got yet. Everything else has been on the calibrated scales a work i.e. The finished weight should be pretty damn close Most questions I normally see about weight on here are normally doubting how 'light' something is, not that it should be lighter ;-)

that frame looks great! super components too(but must admit,I dont like the STI shifters).

Thanks the shifters are a new thing for me but at just less than £70 (brand new), they were (I suspect) a 'wrongly' priced bargain I just couldn't resist

The frame is dressed up now and ready for blasting - the decals are gone :-( but so are all the sharp edges on the pipe clips and cnc’d dropouts etc
 
I found that one of the rear frame bosses had at some point in the past, had a standard (rather than fine) pitch canti boss partially screwed in :? :
 

 
An eBay tap of the correct pitch came to the rescue :
 

 
It didn’t actually cut anything out, just a bit of resistance so I can only presume it just re-formed the de-formed threads ? Anyhow, the result was really good :
 

 

 
WD

 

[wadsy]

Loverly jubbly

I think I need to try and find more Ti bits for my King kahuna Anyone got a stem, seatpost etc etc :roll:

ps, where did you get the ti kit for the xtr V's?

 

[jimihendrix]

very nice , very interested to see the progress on this one