Hi all.
After promising myself that I wasn't going to buy anymore and reduce the fleet by maybe selling a few off, I've gone and let myself down badly with another purchase.
This thread here -
I kept coming back to it. It was the lure of that image from the 1989 Freewheel catalogue....and the fact that I was travelling down to Essex on other business that made the decision even easier. It was fated ....I had to have another dream bike from that catalogue. Already having a Pace RC100 and Ridgeback 604SIS means that I now have the 'trinity' that was such an inspiration to 14yr old me. Just the fillet brazed Ridgeback 605SIS (in a sensible size) to go now!
So. After a fantastic transaction with Lloyd, the Kestrel was picked up yesterday.
The bike has been 20 years in storage, so there's a little surface rust on a few components, but on the whole it's a survivor in great condition.
The whole Shimano M730/732 XT groupset is complete - right down to the pedals, bottom bracket and seat post.
The wheels are really nice M732XT hubs on Mavic M6CD rims.
There's not too many parts needed to bring it back to Catalogue spec - the obvious being the tyres and saddle. A few little details such as the XT Q/R Skewers are missing the rubber grommets, but hard to find bits like the Madison Air grips are complete and intact.
The plan is to strip. Clean. Reassemble - keeping the originality of all components.
The seat post wasn't stuck which is great news!
I'll rebuild the wheels as the rim logo placement Vs hub logo messes with my OCD
Maybe source an XT seatpost which is less worn, but this is low on the priority list.
More updates to come as the project progresses. The Serotta off-road Pro-flex prototype is nearing completion too... I'll probably focus on finishing this before starting on the Kestrel.
I'll probably take it for a proper ride too before starting any strip down.
Watch this space!
Cheers all.
boy"O"boy
After promising myself that I wasn't going to buy anymore and reduce the fleet by maybe selling a few off, I've gone and let myself down badly with another purchase.
This thread here -
I kept coming back to it. It was the lure of that image from the 1989 Freewheel catalogue....and the fact that I was travelling down to Essex on other business that made the decision even easier. It was fated ....I had to have another dream bike from that catalogue. Already having a Pace RC100 and Ridgeback 604SIS means that I now have the 'trinity' that was such an inspiration to 14yr old me. Just the fillet brazed Ridgeback 605SIS (in a sensible size) to go now!
So. After a fantastic transaction with Lloyd, the Kestrel was picked up yesterday.
The bike has been 20 years in storage, so there's a little surface rust on a few components, but on the whole it's a survivor in great condition.
The whole Shimano M730/732 XT groupset is complete - right down to the pedals, bottom bracket and seat post.
The wheels are really nice M732XT hubs on Mavic M6CD rims.
There's not too many parts needed to bring it back to Catalogue spec - the obvious being the tyres and saddle. A few little details such as the XT Q/R Skewers are missing the rubber grommets, but hard to find bits like the Madison Air grips are complete and intact.
The plan is to strip. Clean. Reassemble - keeping the originality of all components.
The seat post wasn't stuck which is great news!
I'll rebuild the wheels as the rim logo placement Vs hub logo messes with my OCD
Maybe source an XT seatpost which is less worn, but this is low on the priority list.
More updates to come as the project progresses. The Serotta off-road Pro-flex prototype is nearing completion too... I'll probably focus on finishing this before starting on the Kestrel.
I'll probably take it for a proper ride too before starting any strip down.
Watch this space!
Cheers all.
boy"O"boy
