HeartCoppi

A nice little item I picked up recently. great looking Gran-Compe levers.

drool, deltas are a beautiful thing. Why is it that people I know who have them on a bike tell me that they are actually k*k brakes?? Is this true??

jeepers were you ever!

Did you get it back???

1)Is it possible to spray only a clear coat? Duco without a primer seems like it will be a long term liability. 2) which vinyl should I be specifying that wont shrink under UV attack and crack the clear layer?tarboy2009-09-21 09:18:18

I'm afraid "naked" isn't going to cut it. This is why: 1) when they braze the seat post lug during construction it is usually wire brushed afterwards to remove excess filler. These brush marks are slightly visible. 2) I dont have a spare full chrome Bianchi fork on hand to match. 3) The chrome is nice but from 10cm away its not perfectly homogenous in texture all over. 4) the heat affected zone is a 1000th different in shade 5) a small rust problem on the front TT cable guide which hasn't vanished and I still have small pits in this area, which I know are there. Difficult to see but the before pic has all the evidence.

Edman, I'm not sure. Note that everything has this chrome appearance, including the welds. It sure as hell looks like chrome. and was a surprise to me. If that is chromed, it is SUPER thin, because I've 'thinned' it on one spot with my homemade buffing tool strapped to a battery drill and formula40. The other reason I say its SUPER thin is because this bike is very light. I want to weigh it at work tomorrow. Yup its welded, except for the seat post lug. Wide oval DT into BB shapes into vertical oval into headtube. Also large oval horizontal stays, and round to oval ST and TT. Extra features: * No stay brace at the bottom; * short rear dropouts; and * concealed brake and RD cablestarboy2009-09-20 12:27:12

I was thinking along the lines of the classic Bianchi track design, cos I've always thought it was super nice. Or is that just wrong if its not a track bike? Or is it not necessarily a track design? Or is original not negotiable. The track design example like this: tarboy2009-09-20 10:52:41

Next formula 40 rubbing compound by hand and a home made buffing tool strapped to a battery drill, finished with marine shine.... and of course:

And then the paint stripper....

Next: cutting off all decals with an art knife. Paint stripper btw does not take off decals. Here you'll now see the "burnt area" Thank heavens I got the beautiful headbadge off perfectly!tarboy2009-09-20 10:29:34

Measuring up is always a good idea, in case I decide that I' going to restore her as original. A full set of photos was created to capture the original before stripping.tarboy2009-09-20 10:25:10

Quite a nice ring to this title and very literal. Other feeble attempts at a title, tried to incorporate MJ and Lauda, but a legendary brand and mythology are clearly most compatible. I opted for a frame which 1000+ people walked past without looking twice. Maybe one other guy looked twice, but only to snigger at it with a mate? Why? Because she had been torched. I'm guessing someone had taken to some drastic measures to get out an incredibly stuck saddle post. This is not just a scratch or a chip. Pity, because this is a classic piece. I am determined to bring some glory upon her. without any sub-contractors !!! I have kicked off. I had hoped that these preparatory stages would give me the time to reach a conclusion as to how she should look. But I still have not crafted a resolute vision of the finished product. ANY IDEAS?? Progress pics will follow. PROPOSALS PLEASE tarboy2009-09-20 12:37:06

Whats EPO?

You're in luck, it was recently spotted. This guy took it!! Judging by the traffic, you've already alerted the police. But you must have given them a different picture.

This is interesting, please share details about King Custom

David, what exactly are you worried about here?

But this...I am VERY holy about this one She is lustrous and so beautiful. Simple decals which are thick chrome silver with clear duco. Awesome deep wine red color. The true color of love. I revere this piece. You may never see one like it. A true classic in every sense of the word. Just a bit small for me at 59cm. I don't take her out too often and she remains well wrapped and wedged with silica gel bags. a Magnificent Italian thoroughbred follows...

This is the one I have which is like yours in this grey-plum color. Hell, I actually don't know what to call to this color! Shes a 52 and needs some love and autosol. 600 cranks FD RD shifters Hubs, Exage levers, RSX callipers, V-omega Rims. A bit of bursting on the fork. Bought her for R1500, haven't got round to her for 6months, any take overs or reasonable offers?

I'm sure grey looks nice. If its really that bad, just ride faster. Just no butterflies please. Go see the short guy in Bellville, dont know price for fork, but whole bike is about R1500.tarboy2009-09-19 07:30:22

I'm sure thats an ALAN thats been rebranded. Looks like it, but velo you would know best you've got one (I recall and a blue one too)

and the 275 on the stay?