meds' Cougar SLX road bike project

Alright guys,

Decided to build a bike for my girlfriend and reckon it could turn out quite nice so thought I'd document it's progress.

First stop: 1988 Cougar (please don't say a word) Columbus SLX frame. 53cm top/seat tube for her 5ft6 self - I hope it's going to fit her! Frame is a bit rusty in places, particularly the BB shell, so I'm thinking a fresh powdercoat.

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I'm thinking about a yellow colour for it, possibly lemon

or zinc

The frame is already giving me some hassles. The plastic bottom bracket cup on the driveside is being a complete arse and seems to be well stuck. Adding to that, there seems to be something rattling around in the top tube - which I'm not sure how this is possible considering that the tube is sealed at both ends!!!

Wheels will be Campag Zondas

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In my head the wheels and planned colour should tie in nicely with the brown Brooks saddle and tape that I already have in my parts box. Gruppo will be Campag Chorus/C record, just deciding now whether to trade the C record levers/shifters for some 8 speed Chorus ergo shifters to make it more practical for her. I'll post pictures of the group and saddle and maybe a casual built later but for now would really appreciate any advice on how to remove this bottom bracket - the notches in the cups are screwed!

Have you got her to stand over the bike with wheels on?

My girlfriend is 5" 7 and would have a hope in hell of fitting that frame :s

looking great already though if it fits!

Should be alright J. Got her stood over the tt with some room to spare. The reach concerns me a bit but I do have a small stem for it. Will probably let her have a test ride before getting it coated though!

why paint it? Aside from the BB the paint looks in decent nick...

Yeah some of it is in okay condition, but I'm not keen on ze german decals, want to add some personal touches and have been inspired by seeing a few lovely yellow vintage bikes recently. Plus I've got a local guy who will strip and coat it for £40..seems to know what he's doing too so will give it a try if it fits her.

Still having issues with the bb. Managed to get non DS cup out, can I just smack the bb out from the DS now? Don't want to screw the frame, but need to be able to collape this stuck DS cup somehow.

Bit of progress with the project. Frame back from the powdercoaters before Christmas. Decided to go for Rape (seed) yellow RAL1021. Really happy with the finish. Picture is shite, much brighter in the real. The helpful chaps stripped the old paint off, covered all the threads etc and coated it for £40. Finish is a tiny bit thick, so the details in cinelli BB and the Cougar panto on the stays aren't as sharp, but the paint seems very solid.

Decals to be applied..

Chorus group ready to go.

Drive choices...chorus crank to match the group or 2nd gen C-Record because they are awesomeness..??

Cockpit choices too (need to downsize my parts bin!) Cinelli drops for longer distances or the Cinelli popes for cruising around town.

Popes in the parts bin.....

Brooks or Iscaselle saddle.

Can't get rid of the popes really, can I? B'jammin may have them back at some point but am interested to see how they look on the build.

You could just give them to me. I would give them a good home.

I'd run the popes and the iscaselle .

Don't think Ben would forgive me, he has eternal dibs! In all honesty though, tempted to just get some cheaper porteur bars if she likes the town set up. Iscaselle would work for the nips around. Lovely looking but not all that comfy.

Really do need some better pictures.

Forgot it was for your Mrs, in that case, just built this for mine...

All about the porteur bars and the brooks, save the popes and iscaselle for yourself!

She looks happy with it, dude! Nice rise on those bars, what are they?

She's on about getting a paddy wagon or something like that for nipping around, in which case I may just set it up with the drops so we can go out for longer nice day jaunts.

They are some velo orange bars, almost identical to the nitto's on her other bike. Great shape, if a bit high.

I think they suit longer rides well too, I think (in our case at least) comfort was more important than having drops.

Bars look nice. Will give it a trial run and see what set up she prefers.

Saddle is low there, how big is that frame/tall your mrs? Still a bit concerned about it being big but reckon a low saddle will just about do it.

Yeah frame is a little on the tall side, Mrs is 5'8" and frame is 56 CTT... Fits ok though, saddle could come up another cm... Got a bargain on it that was too good to pass up.

Nice 531 Woodrup at a good price sounds good. 53cm may just be okay then if the saddle is lowish. One can only hope, or do it properly and fit before buying the frame!

I don't think its such a faux pas for a girl's bike having minimal seatpost showing... Helped a friend buy a bike in the past, and what would've for her male height equivalent fine she finds too long, so now having to rebuild her bike with a different frame.. As long as it is comfortable I think its a win.

Ha we will see! Will post up pics when I've got the decals on and built it up, then will feed back post trial run.

..nothing is good enough for your girl i see with nice campy bits and even considering popes..
when i once built a bike for mine nice was preserved to my own stable,so logically, the relationship ended before i ever finished it..
will look good no doubt, looking forward to the finished article and pictures with chuffed gf.. (perv!) ;)