NOS FRM/Venturi Build

[DrDaveTampa]

I'm sure there are longer running build threads than mine ....... but maybe not with slower progress

We'll see about that

Decisions, decisions...

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Ha! Score.

The picture of the Atek you have there is from 1995. The striped stickers were from 1993 - 1994.

 

[DrDaveTampa]

The picture of the Atek you have there is from 1995. The striped stickers were from 1993 - 1994.

Interesting, thanks!

I have an XTR front hub that'll go nicely, then... may try to find another to match for the rear, and lace that New Success up to the Alfa rim for a future project. Gotta rebuild my Sachs freewheel anyway. Put the XT hubs on the mavics, the Deore hub on an X221 rim for my Shrek 930 Gatorbike build...

Guess I'm gonna be a wheel-building fool next couple of weeks. Been a while, but as I recall, it's very therapeutic

Just got a call from the powdercoater... frame and BUF* are done. Parts for the Marzocchi are on the way. Also had a couple of cans of spray.bike delivered the other day -- a day that will live in infamy, I rather suspect. Will start modestly, by restoring a Tioga stem for this build.

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*Back-Up Fork

 

[DrDaveTampa]

When I first ordered this frame, I had the idea of turning into the annoying miniature doppelganger of Mone's magnificent La Roca, starting with a lacquered bare metal frame. And if it had brass or bronze fillets I might have been more tempted; thing is, it would have rusted out eventually and while that could work on some frames, on this one, I think probably not

I went with a silver powdercoat which I feel kind of brings to mind a bare metal finish, only without the rust, and adds some depth to the muted green and red top coats without being too prissy, or at least I hope not. Tricolore but still dark and dangerous. Danger is my middle name, after all

I kinda stole this idea from Battaglin but since they kinda stole it from Ritchey I don't feel too bad about it

 

[DrDaveTampa]

The folks at FRM were kind enough to send me this beautiful headset. They were so apologetic about the fact they were out of cartridges, however cane creek 36/45 acb's fit perfectly (45 degrees top/outer, 36 bottom/inner, 38mm od, 27mm id, 6.5mm height)

Goes nicely with the "bare metal" theme.

Unfortunately I lost the anodizing on the forks, and the anodizing on the cranks died long ago. Have been in the process of polishing those parts, but I think a brushed finish might look better. Probably try that on the cranks first, kinda hard to screw those sad little things up any more than they already are lol

 

[DrDaveTampa]

May try to bring the one on the left down a bit to more of a satin-y look like the one on the right. Or vice versa, I dunno. Looks better than how they started anyway. (Except for the chainring being all bassackwards)

 

[DrDaveTampa]

That came together nicely. As opposed to the X221 rim I laced up the other day. Was tempted to hurl it into the bay, frisbee-style; and still may.

Still haven't 100% decided what to do with the Ateks. Never hurts to have an old XTR ready to go. (Rummaging through my box-o-parts I found an XTR cassette. That box is like Mary Poppins' valise)

 

[DrDaveTampa]

I was excited to try out spray.bike paint. I'm gonna go bananas on my rusty old rockhopper frame eventually but figured I would start with some small parts first.

It gives a really matte, almost powdery finish. It's quick and pretty much impossible to screw up. Definitely good for something whimsical. Good as anything for a bike packing rig, and perhaps the ideal base for hand painted acrylic graphics.

I don't really like how the fork legs came out; I think I'll finish taking those down to bare metal

Currently building up wheels. Have laced up some M900 hubs to Mavic 231 rear, 230 front with panaracer paselas for road use. Have some Sachs Quartz hubs for the Ateks, still debating what rubber will go on those. Maybe smoke/dart, but keeping my eyes open for something interesting. BikeRecyclery, where I sourced the front hub, has some WTB Velociraptors that might clean up well

Decided to build up the new success hubs into a 700c heavy touring wheelset with Mavic A319 rims and Soma Cazadero 50mm tires that wifey donated (as they are a smidge too big for her gravel grinder). Those will be up for sale, if anybody wants em

 

[DrDaveTampa]

Had to take it to bike shop to get the threads chased. There was a bit of a misadventure getting a headset in (unsuccessfully). Back to the powder coaters :/

One set of wheels done; specifically, the ones I'm not afraid to ride on

"Truing stand" courtesy of the old dude who apologetically sold me a lugged 930 for $45 the other day. "The rack alone is worth $20," he said. It's not, exactly; but felt I should agree, to spare him at least some dignity

 

[DrDaveTampa]

Marzocchi parts and a selection (not complete) of the ad-hoc and improvised tools for the job. @kraeMit hooked me all the way up -- Dr Zocchi is definitely the go-to if you want one of those beautiful forks for your build.

That there's several hours of prep for cosmetic purposes, about 20 minutes to service and rebuild the forks. The "money shot," where fork oil squirts up to the ceiling, was a scream. Climax of the whole fork project, if you ask me

Regardless. Kinda cool to take something that was *this close* to going in the landfill and make it beautiful again