Geoff,
Welcome from another newbie and lurker.
Two things prompted my response: The Holdsworth (I had a bright orange track bike as well - don't you love the orange wheel covers!) and the heart attack. I had a valve repair 7 years ago, and it also helped me get my priorities in order - and back on the bike!
Best of luck. Also in awe of the knowledge here ...
Dan Rogers Anchorage Alaska
'76 clear CA Masi (just sold) '79 "homebuilt" (Masi GC geometry)-my first attempt at framebuilding (R531) '81 "built for me" Fresci '00-'07 a growing pile of "new tech" stuff
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of grm1067@aol.com Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 12:28 PM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Introduction
Hi, I'm a new member and I'd like to introduce myself. However, I am standin g, head bowed, in awe at the depth of knowledge you all have!
My name is Geoff Margetts, English, but living in Germany for the last 27 ye ars.
I first had a bike when I was 14, (a BSA "Gold-something-or-other", 4-speed Sturmey-Archer) and learnt to love bike riding, moving up a year or two late r to a Raleigh "Record Ace", the road version of the track bikes that Reg Ha rris used (but with a 4-speed close ratio Sturmey-Archer)
Next step was a 2nd-hand "Youngs" (a South-London bike shop) - Stronglight 4 9D cranks, TA adaptor and chain rings, 10-speed Simplex gears, Mafac brakes.
This I had re-sprayed in 1963 and upgraded to 10-speed Campag "Record" front & rear mechs with handlebar control levers, Campag "Record" hubs with Weinm ann rims (27" high pressures <clinchers>)
Then, with a group of like-minded friends/fanatics, I joined the Delaune CC (www.delaunecc.org) at the beginning of 1964 (I'm 61, to save you trying to work it out)
This was a great time, mixing with riders that, until then, I'd only been re ading about in cycling magazines! Time trials, track racing, road racing - n one of it with any success, but it was great fun, although painful when I fe ll off, which I did regularly :-)
I upgraded bikes, getting a new "Youngs" frame made to measure - shorter top tube than the then standard, a shorter rear triangle, head and seat tubes a t 73° parallel, 2" fork rake and extended lugs everywhere. It was livel y, responsive and frightened me for weeks every time I hit a bump until I go t used to it. I still used my Stronglight/TA/Campag/Mafac set up but went cr azy and ordered new sprints - Fiamme rims on large, extremely large, bi gger-than-Campagnolo large-flange "Airlite Continental" hubs, topped off wit h 9 ounce Pirelli tubs <sew-ups>.
On the track I used a bright orange Holdsworth, Fiamme on Campag large flang e "Record" for wheels, and with a Cinelli "Major Taylor" adjustable stem.
I gave up in 1970, and moved on to the cars / motorbikes / marriage / childr en part of life.
I had a heart attack in 1997, which does tend to make you focus and wonder w hether you've got your priorities right.
In the rehab. they put us on stationary exercise bikes every day ... and I w as the group "champion" ..... which is a big deal after you've nearly left t he scene! The result was that I discovered biking again
Came out, bought an MTB and encountered modern bike technology. Got healthie r, certainly happier and started riding to work, building up to 80 miles a w eek, and on up to my now regular weekly minimum of 100 miles a week. Discove red Ebay at about the time I was hankering after a racing bike and started t o buy.
Now I've got my faithful (updated) MTB, a single-speed 62" fixed winter work bike, a Raleigh "Pursuit", 1980 or so, modified to 8-speed with STI for lon g winter rides, A Bianchi 905, about 1982, with the early Shimano 105 group, a Bianchi 609, totally modernized with 18-speed Shimano + STI for long Summ er rides .. but ....
I also have a Raleigh "Competition" from 1977, mostly SunTour parts, which I 'm restoring.
I haven't checked the frame number out yet, so I don't know what the origina l equipment was. It could be that a previous owner has "modified" it, but it looks good and I think I'm going to go for the spirit of the bike rather th an 100% historical accuracy.
However, this is just a practice for the master plan - to restore my old "Yo ungs" road bike to its 1970 condition.
I still have the frame and I'm slowly tracking down the parts. One day .. :- )
Geoff Margetts
Dreieich
Germany
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