de Gribaldy 1984 Vitus 979 Sean Kelly rebuild

[RichardDean]

Here is my winter project. A de Gribaldy Vitus 979 - 1984 Sean Kelly, Paris Roubaix winning cobble classic replica.
I bought the frame in a Sheffield cycle jumble back in October last year. It was an impulse buy. I wanted a winter project and something to ride Eroica 2017. After my Sid Mottram I fancied something more modern. It has cost a fortune and fought me all the way. And it would have been far cheaper to go the Campagnolo route. But Mavic it had to be. I have learnt that NOS means - new stock that was faulty or put back in the wrong box to be sold 30 years later for 4X the original price. Usually bent, stripped or French thread.
I was going down the KAS route but changed to what Kelly rode in 1984 (No 185) - a De Gribaldy - very-rare badged Vitus. I wonder what happened to his original? At his home probably. The inspiration was my Eroica friend Darren and listen to Sean commentate on the Giro as I sanded away! Its is French but made by a lad in Yorkshire. Enjoy...

 

[RichardDean]

More de Gribaldy 1984 Vitus 9797 pictures

Here are more of the de Gribaldy Vitus 979 pictures

 

[cloonaghpat]

Re:

great work, beautiful bike

The mavic brake levers look great as do the decals


It speaks Paris Nice to me!

Pat

 

[Nob]

That's nice & liking the wheels

 

[jonnyboy666]

Re:

was just working on a De Gribaldy!


viewtopic.php?f=12&t=368061

 

[mdvineng]

Real sweet bike you've built and I love the Mavic stuff. Over the years you can pick Mavic parts up for more sensible prices, sometimes. I managed to find a set of 430 brakes fitted with all Titanium centre pivots and bolts/nuts etc and some rear mechs and hubs with SSC TEAM ISSUE and with the year of issue printed on them for very sensible money. The most I paid for near new 645 pedals was £65 last year but regularly see them offered at 220! Someone was trying to sell the little rear mech tab washer for £75 last month. Chainrings appear to made from precious metals when seeing the prices asked.

 

[RichardDean]

THanks for the kind words. I have had to ditch the original 80s chain sadly it ran like a truck! HAd to buy a narrow 7 speed Shimano chain ... Not happy. IT runs like a dream now... .Anyone recommend a narrow speeds chains from the 80s? LOving the original de Gribaldy. any a more out there?

 

[mdvineng]

Sachs sedis if you can find one, I use sram pc 870/890 now, as sram bought out Sachs, it pretty close to the original and over the last 18yrs no problems.