Lynskey Racer Refurb

[FrequentFaller]

I had the wonderful luck of getting picking up a Lynskey R240 Custom racer built up with a pretty cool mix of Campagnolo 10 speed components.

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/LynskeyBefore1-768x1024.jpg

 

Having run her pretty much as-bought for the better part of two years, something started itching when the shifters were commandeered to do duty on my Mercer CX-tourer (build here).

 

I changed a couple of small items: Adding leather bar tape (complete with champagne corks as plugs) and a Brooks Swallow saddle.

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/LynskeyBefore2-768x1024.jpg

 

While I loved the colour (candy apply red), I wasn't too fond of the decals (like the "Lynskey Custom" you can see here). Also, I managed to chip the paint on the top tube through sheer carelessness (yep, leaning her against a street light on a gradient, sob, sob). I've also discovered that painted Titanium is pretty chip prone in general: several smalls spots around the BB area, as well as the cable guides on the down tube losing some paint.

 

This all pointed to a new paint job to fix the chips, change the decals and get a more classic look. A re-occurring theme I hope to never cure of...

 

I stripped the frame and fork of all components and dispatched same to a frame painter rumoured to be the best in the country...One Anton of Bogus Designs (check his Instagram handle here).

 

On cleaning up the parts, I discovered the headset cups were pitted pretty badly:

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/BearingCups-768x1024.jpg

 

Ah well, Chris King to the rescue...

 

Also, the current bar, stem and seat post aren't matching and likely not quite suitable to where I want to go with this bad boy. Some time to ponder this direction...

 

[gummibear]

Nice bike

 

What colours are you going with?Did you consider just polishing the Ti?

[gummibear]

http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Sage-Cycles-skyline-titanium-road-bike01.jpg

[FrequentFaller]

I do like the look of polished (or matte) Ti and have that on my Merlin MTB, however for this one I'm sticking with the red...

 

Will be adding a white band with classic script decals on the down tube.

[J∆kk∆ls]

That is really stunning.

[FrequentFaller]

Like this...

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_2152.jpg

 

But in red...

[FrequentFaller]

Polished Ti...get out of my head!

[Guest notmyname]

Dude. Get away with your projects. Demmit!

[FrequentFaller]

Dude. Get away with your projects. Demmit!

 

Last one for this season, I promise...

[Guest notmyname]

Last one for this season, I promise...

Beautiful collection your amounting.

[gummibear]

Like this...

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_2152.jpg

 

But in red...

Damn..that looks great

[FrequentFaller]

ChainReactionCycles to the rescue...Chris King 1-1/8 headset ordered and delivered in 5 days, including a public holiday.

 

 

 

I'll be honest (on a completely irrelevant sidenote), I battle seeing the long term viability of SAPO if this is how good the private sector is.

 

 

[FrequentFaller]

While other things were consuming my attention ( ) , I've been hounding local bike shops to settle on handlebar/stem/seatpost combinations.

 

I was pretty happy with the matte/wet-black/stealth-logo design of the Fizik R1 set, however, the bars only come in 40 (or even smaller?) and 44. I need a 42 c-t-c.

 

http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2014-Fizik-stem02.jpg

 

Next up for consideration was Ritchey. The good thing with this was that I already had a stem, thus potentially reducing the cost by R2500. I could unfortunately not find a combination I liked. The bars weren't available in my size (how weird IS a 42???), not locally and not online.

 

It came down to 3T vs. Deda...with the latter winning on price and the available combinations. CRC to the rescue once more - hoping to get the goodies this week sometime.