Re:
thanks for all the replies! dead thread then burst of life while I am out.
in my defense I've been either out (on my modern Revolution Triad 1 from Edinburgh bike coop) or doing dad duty or wrenching today.
the shimano dating guide seemed important - and perhaps front mech is only original part on the bike from original spec. Date stamp of TI puts the front mech at September 1995... so fits with what you all say.
and yes front forks are hideously long... I have a Genesis IO frame for them to go on if I can get them serviced properly.
f I don't build this up I think a result. Front wheel is Mavic rim, stainless spokes and Hope hub. Pedals DMR V8 to go on the Genesis frame. or somewhere. I already have a pair on the triad. My wife has a pair on her specialized. Great pedals if you can put up with the odd "snake bite" on the shins occasionally... and my god that hurts.
Managed to get the stuck seat post out today. I have a kids "fort" built from old pallets in the garden. Had just the right shape to wedge the seat in and twist the frame. that managed to unstick the seatpost. it also managed to unstick the stem on my wifes old Dawes Omega fastback but that is another post...
so only bottom bracket remains and then a bare frame.
then have to decide what to do with it!
Feels very light.
would it be sacrilege to build up as a "station" bike commuter?
nobody is going to nick it after all. its not shiny aluminium and carbon is it. maybe some cheapy 80mm forks on it. or fixed.
would not be hard to make this better than the bike shape object from hellfrauds I have now (£35 new off ebay is my excuse. I don't care if it gets nicked.)