Child of the 90s
01-27-22, 09:37 AM
#1
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,900
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
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Child of the 90s
Last month, I bought my own Christmas present - a 1995 Litespeed Ultimate! It came to me as, shall we say, a well used bike....
Campagnolo Chorus, mostly, with a Racing T triple crank. But the Ergo hoods were torn, and the NDS crank was cracked (seller made sure this was known), plus the seatpost, stem and bars needed replacing. I stripped it down, used acetone to remove the decals, and buffed it all up with strips of red Scotchbrite.
Then I applied new decals, obtained from Litespeed, and started building it up with a Racing T crankset in 175, plus a Sachs New Success Ergos and RD, which I'd taken off another bike last year.
I started out with a Centaur seatpost, and 120mm 3T Chrome Corsa stem, but when I measured it for fit, I couldn't get the saddle far enough forward, and the bars were just a bit far, so I substituted a Thomson zero setback post, and a 110mm Nitto Dynamic. Here's the bike after I completed the build, on its shakedown cruise....
Between the shakedown and the second ride, I spent time carefully tweaking the shifting, so that I had everything working just right. BUT, I decided the triple wasn't what I wanted. So I stripped it down AGAIN, and ordered a couple bits I needed for a 7410 Dura Ace build - which would make it the bike I lusted over, back in 1995...
Here it is, all built up, after its shakedown cruise....
That's much more what I wanted! That beautiful 7410 crank, the flawless shifting of the first generation STIs with the 7403 RD and 7410 FD, and those lovely first gen. dual pivot calipers. I even had a pair of PD-7401 pedals for it - the ones Look made for Shimano, which take the Delta cleats.
Campagnolo Chorus, mostly, with a Racing T triple crank. But the Ergo hoods were torn, and the NDS crank was cracked (seller made sure this was known), plus the seatpost, stem and bars needed replacing. I stripped it down, used acetone to remove the decals, and buffed it all up with strips of red Scotchbrite.
Then I applied new decals, obtained from Litespeed, and started building it up with a Racing T crankset in 175, plus a Sachs New Success Ergos and RD, which I'd taken off another bike last year.
I started out with a Centaur seatpost, and 120mm 3T Chrome Corsa stem, but when I measured it for fit, I couldn't get the saddle far enough forward, and the bars were just a bit far, so I substituted a Thomson zero setback post, and a 110mm Nitto Dynamic. Here's the bike after I completed the build, on its shakedown cruise....
Between the shakedown and the second ride, I spent time carefully tweaking the shifting, so that I had everything working just right. BUT, I decided the triple wasn't what I wanted. So I stripped it down AGAIN, and ordered a couple bits I needed for a 7410 Dura Ace build - which would make it the bike I lusted over, back in 1995...
Here it is, all built up, after its shakedown cruise....
That's much more what I wanted! That beautiful 7410 crank, the flawless shifting of the first generation STIs with the 7403 RD and 7410 FD, and those lovely first gen. dual pivot calipers. I even had a pair of PD-7401 pedals for it - the ones Look made for Shimano, which take the Delta cleats.
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"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
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01-27-22, 09:56 PM
#2
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I think the sachs is the nicer build but either is a true classic. I had one of these in pearl white with a record build and it is one of the few bikes I truly wish I could have back, the ride is just sweet.
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01-28-22, 03:38 PM
#3
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Careful, that bike is so sharp-looking, you might cut yourself.
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01-28-22, 04:35 PM
#4
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
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Location: SF Bay Area
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Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
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I did, in fact. Several times during the build. It's got my blood in it, so I guess that makes it REALLY mine!
Then again, this is true of all my bikes - old man, thin skin, clumsy.....
Then again, this is true of all my bikes - old man, thin skin, clumsy.....
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
12-12-22, 12:13 AM
#5
Steel is real
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Bikes: 1992Giant Tourer,1992MeridaAlbon,1996Scapin,1998KonaKilaueua,1993Peugeot Prestige,1991RaleighTeamZ(to be upgraded),1998 Jamis Dragon,1992CTWallis(to be built),1998VettaTeam(to be built),1995Coppi(to be built),1993Grandis(to be built)
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the duraaace fits the bike better and very nice bike btw
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