Some lovely steel on show since I was last here folks, lovely stuff. Continuing my fettish for old blue steel frames with modern(ish) kit, I finally cobbled together enough bits to go on the Simoncini I got along with my Rourke from a few pages ago, tho not as porn-worthy but a very nice bike all the same. Again I can't afford any nice spangly shiny silver wheels, so this is sharing the wheels with the Rourke. If Mrs Abramovich feels like dishing out some chrimbo cheer 2 sets of the old style deep rimmed mirror shamals for these two would look lovely, this is art yo!...so hoping they qualify for an Arts Council grant if Mrs A doesnt come thro
I think I was quite restrained in the end, at one stage I was going to go full bore anti-porn with it and give it red tyres and chainring bolts and coloured cables, I think this bike could pull it off, kind of flirting with anti-porn
, but in the end I do plan on living with this long term and I could'nt bring myself to do it.
Full Campag 20 speed ultrashift so compatible with my Denti and the Rourke, Columbus SLX frame. I've never ridden an SLX before and was looking forward to comparing it to the Denti's SL tubing. I absolutely love the Denti but I'm quite a big unit and though the flex adds to the comfort of the ride I've kind of treated it as fragile.
Really confidence inspiring ride from the off, i think I did a hard left corner, a right, an emergency stop, a trackstand and was totally happy with it immediately and was hammering along like I'd been riding it for years. Noticeably less flexy than the SL when given the beans, but more forgiving than the Brian, and the aheadset is defo more confidence inspiring in the corners than a quill so its really sure footed. And comfortable. I still dont get why plastic bikes are the norm nowadays, #charliequick
With the hairy palmed 53 tooth dinner plate chainring and close ratio cassette anyone that looks on this bike as old and slow is in for a shock. Definately will be rivalling the Denti as my go to long distance bike.
I did'nt get it finished before dark so excuse the crappy inside photos. Gotta love the Simoncini headbadge
All done apart from stem, I need a longer one, probs 120mm but maybe 110 will do. I did'nt realise until i started the build this weekend that the forks are actually 1 inch not 1 and 1 /8, despite the rear spacing being 130mm. So the stem thats on it at present has a shim. I'd rather not have a shim, but the specs I'm after for a stem are:
-it must be pretty (much harder for an ahead stem than a quill I think)
-it must be italian
-it must be black, maybe have a silver faceplate to go with the combo black/carbon and silveryness of the bike
-it must have a -17 rise for that vanity horizontal aesthetic
-it must fit the old school bars that are on it, so whats that, standard 26m diameter?
I'm guessing a 1 inch aheadset that meets the above is as rare as rocking horse do-do, or muchos spendy. So I need a shimmed one that meets the above criteria. I'm financially embarrassed at the moment so I've not looked to be honest, but I was thinking 3T but dont know if they still do stems for old style bars, and I dont know if many of the old style stems did the -17 degree rise, so don't know if this is going to be easy or a ballache. If anyone has any suggestions on what stem would look good on this I'd love to hear them.
Anyway I'm super pleased with it, another keeper. Wish it was'nt winter though
or an ambrosio lite I,no shim required,available from 
