Ron Cooper

[welkman]

Hi all.

I have just added a Classic to my stable of road bikes and am trying to find out some more info on it. It is a Ron Cooper in really nice condition Frame #009. It has the following components:

Nisi Wheels on Mavic Hubs
Shmano Exage brakes
Unknown Levers with 'Dia Comp' hoods
Cinelli Bars and BB Case
Campy Strada 2 Crankset
Dura Ace Rear Mech
Suntour Levers
Suntour Front Mech
Selle Rolls Saddle
Kalloy Seat Post
Campy Headset
Mavic Stem


I have ordered some nice Conti Gumwall Tyres and some MKS pedals, cages and straps.

I would like to know what is likely to be original to the build and what might be a modern addition. I want to get it as close to age accurate in terms of components.

The only date stamp on the whole thing I can find is a code on the suntour front mech pointing to 1977.

Any help greatly appreciated, loving the forum.

James

 

[welkman]

IMG_0145 by welkman001, on Flickr


IMG_0146 by welkman001, on Flickr

IMG_0150 by welkman001, on Flickr

IMG_0151 by welkman001, on Flickr

IMG_0152 by welkman001, on Flickr

 

[Midlife]

Nice

The pics are slow to load but from what I see the brakes look like they are allen key recessed into the frame which was rare in the 70's.

likewise the necked in sloping fork crown came a little later than the 70's also. The rear dropouts look like short campag but they might have been hanging around a while.

Looks like an 80's frame to me but the best clue will be the frame number if it's genuine ..

Anyways....looks nice

Shaun

 

[welkman]

Thanks for the input. The dropouts are indeed stamped campag. The frame numbers are difficult to match to a date, some were done in a vaguely chronological way and low '00' frame numbers were sometimes used for special projects. The bike was owned by a bike mechanic/collector before me and is in great nick this could complicate the dating of the bike if the bits have been changed over time. The frame might be older than the parts. I thought I might get a date from the Dura Ace rear mech but all I can find is 'patent pending'. Can I date the Campag headset?

Cheers

James

 

[Takingabreak]

why not ask Mr Cooper the age of the frame? He still builds frames at the Colourtech premises near Dartford

 

[Old Ned]

The Dura-ace rear mech is possibly older than the frame, one of these? Is there a date marking on it? (2 letters)

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx? ... &AbsPos=20

There could be a date marking on the inside of the crank arms in a 'lozenge' shape. As someone has said, later model brake stirrups. Hidden cables came in with those style levers mid-80's.

The bike looks like a typical 80's bike that the owner has updated as and when necessary - which we all did before the days of dedicated 'groupsets'.

Very nice whatever.

 

[shawnb]

Very nice bike indeed. My guess would be '83/'84 as those prugnat s4 head lugs are the same as my '84 Raleigh road ace. Just my opinion!
Shawn.

 

[welkman]

Took it for a ride yesterday and it is really quick it seems to have a more solid feel than my carbon bike but is still fast. Riding position is comfy on the drops but the hoods are going to take some getting used to. I have noticed the grease in the headset has separated so I am going to strip and repack all the bearings. What specialist tools will I need for the headset and the BB? I have most tools to build up a modern bike.

The Rear mech is the one pictured earlier in the thread. And the rear wheel weighs a ton!

Thanks again for the replies.

 

[Takingabreak]

You won't need any special tools to repack the bearings with fresh grease, just a spanner that fits.

Is this a recent ebay purchase? I was bidding on something very similar recently.

 

[welkman]

may well have been a recent ebay purchase. You know how easy it is when you are sat with beer in hand.....