pwebb
Retro Guru
starting a build thread for this curiosity:
I bought this frame from a forum member before xmas in Somerset - who in turn bought it from another forum member , I decided to build this one up as a restomod and went for a loud colour atypical of Overbury's bikes - its now back from being dipped and powder coated and is looking pretty neat.
I am puzzled by this one - it has v-brake style cable routing, no canti bridge and routing for top pull front mech - all of which are not your typical Pioneer build - I have 2 others and have compared closely... ...The fillet brazed parts look exactly like my other pioneers as does the BB shell and the dropouts - very puzzling, its possible this was a one off experiment but I have not seen a Pioneer later than 1992 and V brakes came on the scene in 1996.
(fwiw the fork is from another source - I just had the 2 powder coated at the same time and it looks simialr to the unicrown forks of early 90s)
back to the frame - I guess the triple cable stops could have been added later but that doesnt explain the lack of a canti bridge. Or it could be something else altogether - but the closeness to the Pioneer in so many ways is baffling - right down to the shaping of the top of the seat tube and the lugs on the BB shell, plus derailleur hanger are all standard Pioneer.
From the weight and the gauge of the tubes it appears to be a mix of reynolds and columbus - which is not unusual for a Pioneer, it also has all the other trademark Overbury's traits like 1" Head tube and seat tube is similarly thin , not at all like a mid 90s bike that would almost certainly be 1 1/8 head tube and thicker seat tube too.
I am not overly bothered it will build into something nice - I have some NOS XT hubs and rims and will add a 1x9 drivetrain - once I assemble the requisite parts. More anon
I bought this frame from a forum member before xmas in Somerset - who in turn bought it from another forum member , I decided to build this one up as a restomod and went for a loud colour atypical of Overbury's bikes - its now back from being dipped and powder coated and is looking pretty neat.
I am puzzled by this one - it has v-brake style cable routing, no canti bridge and routing for top pull front mech - all of which are not your typical Pioneer build - I have 2 others and have compared closely... ...The fillet brazed parts look exactly like my other pioneers as does the BB shell and the dropouts - very puzzling, its possible this was a one off experiment but I have not seen a Pioneer later than 1992 and V brakes came on the scene in 1996.
(fwiw the fork is from another source - I just had the 2 powder coated at the same time and it looks simialr to the unicrown forks of early 90s)
back to the frame - I guess the triple cable stops could have been added later but that doesnt explain the lack of a canti bridge. Or it could be something else altogether - but the closeness to the Pioneer in so many ways is baffling - right down to the shaping of the top of the seat tube and the lugs on the BB shell, plus derailleur hanger are all standard Pioneer.
From the weight and the gauge of the tubes it appears to be a mix of reynolds and columbus - which is not unusual for a Pioneer, it also has all the other trademark Overbury's traits like 1" Head tube and seat tube is similarly thin , not at all like a mid 90s bike that would almost certainly be 1 1/8 head tube and thicker seat tube too.
I am not overly bothered it will build into something nice - I have some NOS XT hubs and rims and will add a 1x9 drivetrain - once I assemble the requisite parts. More anon
The Microshift advent drivetrain works seamlessly with the raceface narrow/wide chainring and the 2 finger levers and advent shifter are very light touch and positive. Modern cantis are nothing like period retro items and stop the bike properly and with good moderation. It helps having the infinitely adjustable cable hangers from CX outfit Kidsracing and the rather nice adjustable Surly rear hanger. Low friction campagnolo cables and teflon coated inners make for smooth cable runs. 
