What to spec this Overburys with and help with various bits.

[JoeSheffer]

I've FINALLY prized this 1985 Overburys Pioneer frame/bike from my father who was holding onto it in his shed, gradually letting it rust away despite the fact it was in no fit running order. This is my first proper restoration and I'm already obsessing over it. I've no idea why i'm so keen to return this bike to new condition; but I'm determined.

So far I've rebuilt the MN72 hubs onto the HX32 rims which with a little bit of elbow grease have come up really nicely (the original spokes were all rusty). I have the original deerhead front mech, cranks, headset and BB all which are in nice condition and the brilliant original bar/stem combo. I have spent some Autosol time and everything is looking pretty new now. Sorry for the lack of pictures...i'll add some as the build goes along.

1. The paint is in a very very sorry state as are some of the fixtures on the frame. It's going to go to argos cycles for a new coat of paint...

I've tried quite hard to find someone who will replicate the original bristol/overburys headbadge, but to no avail and even the graphic designer at work had trouble replicating the originals. I rabbited on about it on here a couple of years ago, but have had no success in tracking any down.

I've got a hi-res copy of the bristol coat of arms and am thinking about just replacing the headbadge with this? What do people think? I want to make this look as original as possible. I did try to replicate the headbadge using photoshop (see my attempt below), but i just don't think it's going to work for high detail printing.

I'll use this for a headbadge unless you guys have any brighter ideas:

I also wanted to include the overbury's decals on the down tube, but again am struggling to find the right font/size examples to replicate from; maybe i'm being a little lazy. This seems to be the most difficult part of the restoration. The wiki page on retro bike says it's a "serif" font; but that could mean anything; shall i just any serif font i like the look of or leave things blank? Decisions!

On the rear drive side chainstay is a braze on guide with what looks like a part of an aluminium ferrule in it, which has corroded and bonded inside it. Do you think Argos will sort this out for me, or do I need to do something before it arrived there. How should it look?

The rear wheel tensioners are also damaged. Shall I buy in advance or just ask argos if they have some new ones and can replace them?

The reynolds 531/501 sticker is also missing. I wonder if it should be 501 or 531? Which is the correct sticker?

2. The bike has no saddle. What would be an appropriate seat post for a bike of this age. I have a nice sr laprade seatpost to go with it.

3. What tires would a bike of this age have been specced with originally do you guys think?

4. I remember this bike being originally specced with a 6 speed freeweheel. Is there any way of getting a nice NOS old freewheel; the new ones at my LBS look really crap. I remember the original item lasting for years and being nice and chunky; same goes for the chain. Can I get a NOS original 6 speed chain/freewheel for this anywhere? Which is the choice ratio/brand. There is currently no freewheel fitted; i've no idea what my mad old dad did with it.

5. Lastly i'm going to be looking for a deer head set of shifters, set of cantis, rear mech. Does anyone have any for sale and if not where is the best place to look? I've already set ebay alerts.

 

[Coleman]

Cool project, Argos will sort all the frame bits for you.

Keep an eye on here for all the Deer Head parts - they come up occasionally - failing that try bike jumbles - they are great for things like freewheels etc.

I am sure thetre is another on eof these on here - try legrandefromages' 531 lugged thread - that may answer the tubing question - I think these are 531.

2. The bike has no saddle. What would be an appropriate seat post for a bike of this age. I have a nice sr laprade seatpost to go with it.

I have this Brooks saddle for sale that would go well on this:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=202027

 

[legrandefromage]

Great bike and restoration start. I did my similar frame with M700 deer head but also search for older suntour and sugino parts. Suntour also made some of the most robust freewheels but they can take time to find.

My next slow build has shimano 600 touring parts. They still pop up here and there.

 

[Coleman]

try contacting Gil_m on here for the decals - he should be able to do you a head badge from the info you have and will probably have Overburys fonts etc on file.

 

[sinnerman]

Are you confident this is a Pioneer model, it lends itself more the the classic range...,

 

[sinnerman]

Also agree with Gil for exceptional decals, if however you are looking for a one stop shop which includes a full strip and total refinish of the frame,

I would highly recommend Graphic shack, also in Bristol. Exceptional level of quality, there are several members here now that im sure would agree, top class and very resonable prices too.

Also have a word with the John the Guvernor, i believe he has a similar example.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... rs&start=0

 

[JoeSheffer]

Gil and the usual decal lot on here had nothing on file for the overburys which is a little bit of a shame.

Looks like John's one here

 

[sinnerman]

Gil and the usual decal lot on here had nothing on file for the overburys which is a little bit of a shame.

Looks like John's one here

Thats the Badger.

 

[legrandefromage]

Thats the Badger.

Dont remember a 'Badger' model, was that the kids version?

 

[danson67]

Hi Joe,

Great to see another Overbury's out of the shadows..

I think Sinnerman's right on the model being one of the Classic range.
Yours is most likely a Cross Fell or Pathfinder, depending on the tubing and kit fitted. Here's my Cross Fell:

I have one of the first few Pioneers, they are fillet brazed (except BB shell) with a sloping top tube.
Here it is in Llanwrtyd Well Easter 1986 (middle of 3):

I've got a similar problem with transfers for my Pioneer, but can get you dimensions off the Cross Fell tomorrow for the OVERBURY'S logo. I'd be happy to collaborate and share any costs in getting some decals made. Ideally the'd be thin waterslides to go under the top lacquer. Apparently the problem is in printing the white...

On the specifics:
-The font is called Cheltenham. I've got the Font file somewhere here...

-I dug up that same coat of arms, best I could find too.
-The cable stop's not a problem, just an ols 70's roadbike remnant from Andy Powell's parts box. It should be easy enough to drill out the alu stub. You'll need a step-down ferrule to fit. Both Jagwire and QBP make them, easy enough to get hold of:

-Tubing? Certainly Reynolds, my '85 531 CrossFell has a 26.8 seatpin, the '86 531 Pioneer has 27.2mm, so the size isn't a great guide. Smaller than 26.8, it's going to be 501.
-Argos will be able to remove and replace the adjusters...do they turn OK?
-Saddle? Overbury's did have their own saddles, made by San Marco IIRC...nothing special padded black leather numbers. I'd have thought a Brooks B17 or sprung Conquest (see Cross Fell above) would be the way to go. Racier types used Assos or Selle Italia Turbo saddles.
-Tyres would probably have been amberwall Panaracer Ibex, but they were pretty terrible on anything wetter than damp gravel, so they were generally switched to Specialized Tri-Cross, Ground Controls or Crossroads pretty quickly. Go for something amberwall between 1.5 and 1.95" and you won't go far wrong.
-Each Cross Fell was custom made, so the kit was a combination of parts specified by the customer, and whatever Andy had in the shop. Generally people would have Shimano XT, some Sugino/SR bits, Nitto Bullmoose bars, or Suntour XC stems, Dia Compe or Shimano Cantis etc.

Should be able to help out with some of the parts...shifters, mech and cantis at least...I'll look in the shed.

All the best,