Chombi1 

Wow!, didn't know that Follis actually imported the Teledyne Titan.

repechage

The theft happened at a restaurant not too far from the Encino Velodrome. Roof bike rack, a number of riders went, usually parked the cars in view when seated for post race eats. Who knows.

crank_addict

Wow! Nice score and build.

Perhaps tag RobbieTunes here and hopefully make the Coppi event Autumn 2019.

crank_addict

Smoke and mirrors. Probably to divert the Russians whom supplied the tubing, thinking was exclusive to be used in bicycle production.

RobbieTunes

I'm confused. Why would someone import something already made here?

RobbieTunes

If someone told me there would be any rideable Titans at Coppi, much less two, much less a possible three, I'd have laughed.

crank_addict

Nemosengineer 

Hi crank addict.
Thanks for posting all of this really great stuff. This add for Follis is my favorite out of the bunch.
: Mike

Nemosengineer 

Preview of coming attractions, 3ttt Record stem, 3ttt Superleggero Gimondi bars, Modolo Pro levers, cork bar end plugs.



Total weight 697 grams, I'm looking for the plastic body levers from the Modolo Flash so I can loose another 50 grams off the assembled weight.



: Mike

steelbikeguy

Nice looking! For some reason, I really like the Record stem... I've got one in the parts box with the stickers/decals in fine shape.

That bar must be for going fast... hardly any flat section on top! Very close to being a track bar??

Steve in Peoria

crank_addict

Great stuff but a bit of caution using any stem having conical lock with the Titan fork. Have seen a few -online- with bulge damage or split from overnighting.

For that reason alone, I decided to go with a very light unknown French (possibly Phillipe, CTA - Atax??) having a wedge lock. The only negative was a heavy cast steel wedge so I made a lightweight replacement. I put a thread insert into a piece of aluminum round stock and turned to diameter, angle cut to match the stem. Its also longer than other typical stem wedge to evenly distribute forces. Also using an aluminum draw bolt. I've yet to replace the bar pinch bolt, likely will be Ti.

I suppose to many this is all silliness but to me its tinkering fun. An hour here, an hour there...

Nemosengineer 

Hi crank_addict
Agreed that steer tube is a problem, I"m thinking my solution is a thin wall, close fitting steel sleeve with a dab of Loctite on the exterior of steer tube in the expander zone to spread out the forces. Your idea is a good one I will take a look around the bay and see if I can find a nice French stem.
I look at this the same way, Its a pleasant way to spend a few hours and it's nice to be here among like minded people.
: Mike

crank_addict

I think to be at the max with the Alpine Special gearing. ;")



Super wide range Teledyne 'Alpine Special'

crank_addict

The wall climber now has 175mm length cranks to lower the saddle height, CG and possibly increase leverage. (It will never see crit racing.. please now..) Decided not go with the Avocet pedals but rather some stealthy light quill type in the works.

On the punch list: custom stitch bar wrap, glue tubulars, pedals, trim skewers and custom Ti rack.



Non drive side teaser

Nemosengineer 

Brakes...
Weinmann Carrera's, this brakeset showed up and fits like a champ, has a nice finish and is good looking, but... Amazing heavy for a brakeset sold as top end parts, so for reference here are the numbers. Reach 45 to 58 mm, and weight just under 400 grams for the set.



Without tire guides and cable adjusters, better but still heavy, steel fittings/bolts everywhere, 339 grams



No big loss, the next attempt at a brakeset is first generation Mafac LS coming from France in nice condition, whenever it shows up. The numbers look like this, reach 44 to 56 mm, weight around 340 grams with tire guides and steel bolts. Better and French . With a healthy dose of titanium bits and deletion of the tire guides these calipers should go under 300 grams for the set. More news as it happens.



: Mike

Chombi1 

Actually, the lightest stem I own is a Cinelli 1R, with an aluminum wedge, Ti shaft wedge bolt and Ti bar wedge bolt.
Much lighter than all the French stems I had owned so far.
I don't think the 1R came standard with a Ti shaft wedge bolt, but was surprised when the used 1R stem arrived and it had it. Should still be very light with the standard steel bolt too.

crank_addict

These are something I wouldn't mind trying on my Peugeot PSV to replace the stock Weinmann 605.
Nothing really bad about them but just want racey French.

The CLB Pro's are beauties but way beyond my budget.

Funny thinking about brakes for these Teledyne Titan's with stock forks. All one needs are speed reducers and nothing over powered. Flexy as the Modolo Pros are and with Kool Stop pads, its most scary looking down at the 'automatic variable wheelbase'...lol.

Nemosengineer 

Your titan looks amazing!!! I like where your going with this, I really like the "Alpine Special" naming. This is a preview of the (secret weapon) pedals, MKS Custom Nuevo with titanium spindles, NJS straps, and Ale alloy clips (correct length screws are in the mail).



: Mike

Nemosengineer 

Your gearing range is really impressive. Your low low and high high are very close to the gearing of my Bob Jackson, and and a really good selection of ratios. you have made some excellent choices. I like your choice in rims.

: Mike

crank_addict

^Thank you and I humbly admit though, jealous of yours and others builds here!

That bailout will rarely be used but the tall range will be fun in the pack. The Shimano barends are silky action -most pleased how it all works with these crude, non profiled cogs.

Easy to get caught up in the weight weenie thing but its NOT easy to do as yours, being period correct. I'm cheating.

My goal is finding that sweet spot of vintage yet take advantage of some later bits. Less focused on weight though a criteria of sub 18 lbs..

The scale shows it exactly at 18.2 completely built, less bar wrap but with a temporary set of test pedals. A rack will bump it but my planned pedal set expected at 220 gram total (clips + straps incl.). Other components are not the lightest though I've been trimming them with ally and Ti hardware. The bb is a killa Omni Racer. Ti bolts.

Drillium won't look right for this one, and now thinking of milling the two larger chainrings, (rid of the drilled).

Work in progress....

repechage

Some came standard with an aluminum quill bolt... ( silver anno ) lighter than Titanium...
The weight weenie special Super Record rear mechanism was the one year they came with aluminum, not titanium pivot bolts...
but I digress...

RobbieTunes

Super stuff. Love the custom decals on the Alpine Special.
I'm envious that I'm done, and can't keep tinkering.
You guys sure are getting the hours worth of fun.

I just noticed one of my brake levers is bent.
Maybe I'll go Suntour.

Also got in an endless band Superbe Pro FD
Shifters to match, would go on the band already there.
This constant thought of change is, well, constant.

crank_addict

1975 weight weenie dream build by Eugene Sloane

RobbieTunes

Pretty cool. I feel better, as I beat his price, but not by much. I may get my cracked frame repaired and "go for it." ( No rules other than cheap and light.)

steelbikeguy

that's a fun article! Was this a magazine article? It almost has the look of a newspaper column.

Any idea what the "Composite Sports" frame was? It mentions that it was built of aluminum tubes wrapped with carbon fiber.
Poking around my archives, I notice that an article on the Graftek frame mentions a few other makers of carbon fiber (-ish) frames....
Composite Development, Composite Sports, and O.F. Mossberg

It also mentions that Raleigh had prototyped a similar frame in 1968, but never went to production.

The page from the article is below.

Steve in windy Peoria