AlanW
Guru
- Location
- Not to sure?
After years of faithful service and many, many happy miles, its looks like my trusty custom made Rourkie Reynolds 853 frame is heading for the scrap yard.
A few years ago, and just before the start of a 200km audax, the bike was leaning up against a tree while I got ready and a sudden gust of wind blew the bike over onto the edge of a kerb resulting in a small dent in the top tube. Which is just what you want before the start of a long ride!!!!
😢
But as well as getting the top tube repaired I also really need to get some other important work done at the same time.
Back in the day, the cables that run under the bottom bracket shell used to run inside a couple of brazed on, short curved tubes. A few years ago, I replaced the Dura Ace triple group set for a 11sp Ultegra group set and the cable for the front mech ran so much tighter (rubbed on it in fact) against the bottom bracket shell as it exited the little brazed on tube than it used to before. Consequently, very slowly the front mech cable was cutting into the bottom bracket, so these two tubes need to be removed and replaced with a drilled and tapped plastic cable guide.
Plus, while its in state of repair, it would make sense to update the two cable adjuster bosses on the down tube, and also update all of the brake and rear mech cable ferrules (2 x on the top tube and 1 x by the rear mech) for the much better and larger split type. Then just to be greedy add a further threaded boss on the rear triangles so the mudguard and rack have their own mounting bosses.
Total cost for all the above work including the respray is likely to be in the region of £400 on a frame that is circa 20 years old. By comparison a brand new made to measure frame in the same material is just over a grand.
A week ago, I was sure that I was going to have it all done regardless of cost, after all its cheaper than a new frame? But after pondering over it for a week, I really don’t think it makes sense now. I should also add, I already have to many bikes and in absolute truth I have no idea when this bike would ever get ridden!!
A few years ago, and just before the start of a 200km audax, the bike was leaning up against a tree while I got ready and a sudden gust of wind blew the bike over onto the edge of a kerb resulting in a small dent in the top tube. Which is just what you want before the start of a long ride!!!!
😢But as well as getting the top tube repaired I also really need to get some other important work done at the same time.
Back in the day, the cables that run under the bottom bracket shell used to run inside a couple of brazed on, short curved tubes. A few years ago, I replaced the Dura Ace triple group set for a 11sp Ultegra group set and the cable for the front mech ran so much tighter (rubbed on it in fact) against the bottom bracket shell as it exited the little brazed on tube than it used to before. Consequently, very slowly the front mech cable was cutting into the bottom bracket, so these two tubes need to be removed and replaced with a drilled and tapped plastic cable guide.
Plus, while its in state of repair, it would make sense to update the two cable adjuster bosses on the down tube, and also update all of the brake and rear mech cable ferrules (2 x on the top tube and 1 x by the rear mech) for the much better and larger split type. Then just to be greedy add a further threaded boss on the rear triangles so the mudguard and rack have their own mounting bosses.
Total cost for all the above work including the respray is likely to be in the region of £400 on a frame that is circa 20 years old. By comparison a brand new made to measure frame in the same material is just over a grand.
A week ago, I was sure that I was going to have it all done regardless of cost, after all its cheaper than a new frame? But after pondering over it for a week, I really don’t think it makes sense now. I should also add, I already have to many bikes and in absolute truth I have no idea when this bike would ever get ridden!!
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