Almost finished resto on this old nail. I have no idea on frame maker, apparently its 531, drilled campy ends, English bb and fork thread. BB, headset, cranks are all late 70s so my guess is thats when it dates to. No serials, just an E on the bb shell.
With no provenance I’ve just used decals from my local shop.
New powdercoat, swag of NOS parts, lots of hand polished alloy bits.
Beater wheelset in pics, Dura-Ace/MA4 wheels are waiting for spokes to build up.
Frame - unknown maker Reynolds 531, circa late 1970s, drilled campy ends, slotted BB, 52x52cm. Front fork - Double plate crown, Reynolds blades, campy dropouts (drilled) Handlebars - Nitto B123 40cm Stem - Shimano 600 hidden binder, 110mm, 30deg drop, NOS Headset - Shimano 600 Grips - Soyo long keirin grip Saddle - Selle Italia turbo, NOS Seatpost - unbrando for now, ano stripped, polished Front brake - Rear brake - Bottom Bracket- Dura-Ace EX track late 70s Cranks - Sugino Super Mighty Track 165mm late 70s, 51 tooth Sugino chainring. Chain - Izumi 1/8" Pedals - MKS Sylvan Cog/lockring - Dura-Ace 16 tooth/Dura-Ace EX Front hub - Dura-Ace 7600 track High Flange Rear hub - Dura-Ace 7520 track High Flange 1xFixed, NOS Front rim - Mavic MA4, high polish, green label, NOS Rear rim - Mavic MA4, high polish, green label, NOS Spokes - DT Champion, radial front Nipples - DT Brass Tyres - Panaracer 700x20C Tubes - Specialized Turbo Total weight - 8.2kg
Interesting! Yeah we’d been in the dark about manufacturer, as theres very little to ID it. McBains are just up the road from Appleby’s actually (not to mention our competition! haha).
Cheers, I’m pretty happy with the way its turned out, can’t wait for my front spokes to turn up so I can build the other wheels up and finish it. Then for daylight savings to return again for Friday night track down here.
I’m all for constructive criticism, what would you do different, brox?
I know the 7600 hub doesn’t really fit with the program and I’m trying to acquire a 7520 or similar early high flange one to suit. Ideally I’d like Dura-Ace cranks, headset and aero seatpost too but good God…the price!
Otherwise, I thought what I’ve built it with is reasonably era correct, if not a complete one brand, one model groupset.
-Got some 531 decals
-Snapped up an early (circa '78) 32h Dura Ace track front hub, de-anodised, polished up and laced into front wheel.
-Swapped 120mm 600EX stem for an earlier, 90mm, 600AX one, very much same item apart from engraving however.
Still chasing a pair of nice NOS 700x20C tyres, Avocet Fasgrip Timetrial particularly. Might give up and buy veloflex records, I think they look suitably vintage. But ideally I want full slick tread, not file tread or grooved. Otherwise I think only the noname post and wrong headset locknut let it down.