since6

Bill Stevenson has built two of our bikes, my single bike and our tandem, and last year during Covid lock down wife asked for birthday ideas and nothing really seemed to matter given the crisis of the times. But then on a lark I entered Stevenson on eBay and this came up:



A Stevenson race bike frame, made in 2000 with a carbon fiber fork and Campagnolo headset.



With chain rash and wheel rub on the frame.


A frame made with now unavailable True Temper OX Platinum tubing.
And I had found my birthday present project restoration.

since6

First up, the carbon fiber fork had to go. A hand built steel frame, deserved a hand built fork. So after I located stainless steel fork lug and drop outs Bill built a fork and in the process polished the lug and drop outs, that's not chrome that's finely polished stainless steel.

since6

Then there was stripping the frame for new paint and decals.






Yes, I know the steerer tube is long, but with this set up it matches my first Stevenson Custom and so will do no harm to knees, back, etc. and riding it what counts.

since6

One thing was changed, it arrived with a black ring that set over the top of the seat tube which when tightened pinched the seat tube to hold the seat post in place. This worked, but also guaranteed that the paint under the pinch ring would be worn off, which it was. So instead Bill installed these lovely polished stainless steel assembly to allow a bolt to pull them together with no more rubbing wear removing the paint.



Also the original owner has specified bolt holes in the drive side chain stay for a stainless steel shield to protect the paint of the chain stay from chipping due to chain slap. Odd, but interesting.



Finally lovely lugs left painted for the rear drop outs. Sorry for the blurr.

since6

The last item, were the wheels. As you could see in the original pictures of this frame, the back of the seat stay had suffered rubbing through the paint. When we mounted 700 wheels there was only room for a 23mm tire, and that was deflate to mount it tight. This was a non-starter, I wanted to ride this bike, not suffer from it. So we tried a set of 650B rims and space opened up, but you say pedal strike! Won't happen because while I ride and push hard from time to time, I do not race. Through corners, the inside pedal is always up and as I come up from the corner pedaling begins again, an up pedal means no risk of pedal strike. It also means 32mm tires front and back and such a fast/nice ride.

Happy birthday a year later dear wife.

merziac

What a fantastic project, new life for a great frame, updated, upgraded, sussed out to great effect. Well done, Bravo.

So many frames like this abandoned and or left for dead when all they need is a little or lot of vision and $$$ to often be better than ever.

merziac

Oh and great minds and all that.

I did the escalated stem, headtube, steerer, etc. by design as well, with Dave Levy's help and guidance.

since6

Thanks merziac, it's in my room of blue bikes, vintage Erba, Stevenson Custom tandem on the trainer and now this Stevenson race frame, and while similar in hue none the same color. It always perks up the morning to see them together.

since6

And before you ask, here they are:

merziac

Boy oh boy, no kidding.

I would love to see these in person.

ollo_ollo

Just lovely and a very happy birthday present indeed. Don