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I think it might be me! I had a sip of tea and my brain kicked in again. Plural of -us can be either -i or -us, I think. And, plural of -um is -a.

Possibly!

Hmmmm, I've gone into brain-stall!! It's a got to be 35 years since I last used my Latin.....

Unless they are neither masculine nor feminine, in which case it would be Pria...

Yup...

Alex, I can confirm that, even with standard suspension, they are not designed for long journeys - drove my mum's from King's Lynn (Norfolk) to Newcastle and could barely stand let alone walk when I got there!

That's hilarious!

(I may have bucked that particular trend / am the exception that proves the rule: I had a Mini, but am only 5'10"....)

OK, so I had first this morning. The first time I have been called a sausage as an insult!

It all started quite normally: idiot in some sort of SUV pulls onto a roundabout into my path, brake checks me three times after I give him the "thanks for that, pal" wave. Then, when he inevitably had to stop up the road and I explained that he'd pulled out in front of me, among the usual rubbish, he goes and calls me a sausage.

On the plus side, it put a smile on my face...

Anyone else have any amusing insults to share?

Hi James,

Thanks very much for this news. Very interesting. The bike seems to have partaken in its very own Tour of Britain!

Did the seller have any information on the origins of this frame? My research has been less than fruitful. I think I've bothered most of the active frame builders so far...

Thanks again for the news and putting this frame into circulation.

Hi,

For sale is my just recently completed Reynolds 531c-framed bike. Despite some reasonably extensive research, I have been unable to track down who the frame builder was. I have built this up myself using, what I hope, are components of the same period as the frame. But, since I don't actually know whose frame this is, it's been a bit of a guess!

It is a lugless frame with internal routing for the back brake. The frame number is 5027/97. The fork number is 5207/11. It's green. But, I think it was blue in a previous life. The frame has a 21" seat tube and 21.5" top tube. It has a chromed chain stay and chrome forks. There is internal routing for the rear brake.

The complete bike tips the scales at 10.3 kg.

I have built it up with Shimano 600 components, with some Tricolore bits (brakes, front and rear mechs and shifters). I've fitted a 7-speed cassette. Although, either I've run out of talent, or the set up just won't take the 7 speeds. It currently only selects 5 of the 7. The downtube shifters can be selected for friction or index. And, the chainset is Shimano 600 Biopace - that's the one with slightly ovalled chainrings (and is a bit of a b***h to set up! But, it's set up now).

It has Cinelli Giro D'Italia bars, Cinelli stem and faux leather tape. The brake calipers could do with being slightly longer drop.

Wheels are hand-built: Shimano 105 hubs (FH-1055 and HB-1055) laced to Ambrosio Elite rims with DT Swiss Revolution spokes and fitted with Bontrager Race Lite tyres.

The saddle is a Selle Italia Turbo World Champion on a Campag post.

I think that about covers it. If you have any questions, just ask.

The bike is also listed on eBay.

Price is now £315
collected from Surbiton (KT6)

OK. So, life got in the way a bit!

I finally got the build finished. Bit late for some summer fun. But, hey.

So, it now has a Selle Italia Turbo saddle, wheels built up (Ambrosio Elite rims on Shimano 105 hubs) and bars all wrapped up in faux leather. Strictly, it could do with some slightly longer drop brakes and the gears setting up better. I've struggled to find anything suitable on the brake front.

I've (hopefully) posted a photo of the finished article. I still have no idea who's the frame builder. But, never mind, it's a good looking thing. And, quite light, I think. It tips the scale at 10.3 kg.

The bad news is that I'm going to have to sell it. It's a lovely thing, but the tax man needs paying and the bank account is full of moths!

Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It has been a whole month since my last confession!

Not too much happening at the moment. A recent trip to Iceland (the country, not the purveyors of prawn rings!) swallowed vast quantities of cash!

However, I've managed to wrestle the Dia Compe brake levers off the bars - and in one piece! Also, been cleaning up a few bits and pieces, ready for putting it all together at some point.

Ah yes, on the subject of hubs, I have found myself a Shimano 105SC rear hub (FH-1055) that fits and will take my 7-speed hyperglide cassette - yay! So, I splashed out on a matching front hub (HB-1055) - unnecessary expense, but you've just got to have matching. So, I've disassembled the wheels. I'll put the Ambrosio Elite rims on with new spokes. I'll probably plump for fairly run of the mill DT Swiss double butted silver spokes. I liked the look of the plain gauge spokes - nice and meaty. But, I could do with keeping weight down without going too spendy.

I'm waiting on the seat post, now. A Campag aero post of unknown vintage. Should go nicely with the bike. I wanted Shimano to go with the rest of the kit. But, this one came up at the right time. Once I'm into the world of getting it all to fit me, I might see about something else.

So, all that's needed now is:
Chain
Spokes
Cables
Seat post binder bolt
Bar tape
Possibly a saddle - my stripped down SLR is super lightweight but unkind to your unmentionables!
Oh, and time!

I'm still no wiser as to the frame builder. My research hasn't turned up anything so far. Latest possibles are Roberts or Philbrook, as they have been known to build lugless frames and/or add in special features from years back. Any help on this will be most gratefully received. I think I have asked this on another thread. I'll look that up and give it a bump (with this extra info).

I'm still hoping I'll get this finished and on the road for some summer fun....

(I'll pop some more photos (of non-progress) up when I get a moment)

Thanks, Shipwright. I might investigate that with my LBS, if my current plan falls apart - they're usually pretty helpful.

Yes, absolutely. I only have to type "s" and up comes Sheldon! I've had a quick read through his stuff on Shimano freehubs/wheels and it's very useful. It appears there are a few ways to skin this particular cat...
Thank you

Absolutely agree with salmonchild, report him. My experience is that the police will follow it up. They might not (be able to) do anything when they do. But, they will have your statement on file and, if that person has history or does anything else, they are more likely to act.

I always tell myself not to swear - it only inflames the situation. Unfortunately, I usually only get that message to my mouth after the event! Mind you, even if you don't swear, people still assume you have and threaten / assault you!

OK, I'm obviously a little late with useful info, then! D'oh!
Let us know how you get on with the Kinlins.

Hi TTM,

I'm not sure about the R460s (not used them), but I had a pair of R450s built up on OnOne hubs on a commute-y Langster and had no problems whatsoever. They kept true and strong. They weren't the cheapest. But, IMHO, they were worth the outlay.

I can't remember what spokes I built them up with (it was a few years back). I think they were DTSwiss and black. I can be more vague, if really pushed!

When you're changing your tyres and tubes, check the rim tape (if you don't know, you'll see it once you've taken off the inner tube). It covers the heads of the spoke nipples to stop them stabbing your inner tube. In my experience, this has been a cause of much frustration with multiple punctures until I gave in and replaced it!

Hi Matisse,

Thanks very much. Yes, I fancied a bit of retro Shimano. No idea what the frame would have been built up with originally. But, you're right the 600 stuff looks really nice. Although, I'm torn between the grey 600 brakes and the shiny silver Dia Compes that are on the bike at the moment. I reckon I'll plump with the 600s, as there's an outside chance they'll actually work....!

And, thanks for the tip on the frame. I have used a hub to persuade the stays out on another frame. It worked with that one. I'm going to give the cassette bodge a go first - research if nothing else :-p

Cheers

Thanks very much to @cybernck for all your help and putting up with my persistent questions and dithering! Very honest about condition of the parts and really tried to send me what I needed for my build.
Thanks and look forward to more business in the future :-)

Update:
New things have arrived – yay!
Frame checked for straightness. It seems to be within 0.5 mm, as measured with my Wickes steel rule!
BB checked and British. So, that should make things simple.
Seatpost definitely 27.2 mm. Got a black(ish) Kalloy for the moment. May be upgraded when I know what I want and what will go with the bike.
Handlebars de-taped and cleaned up. Having a bit of trouble removing one of the brake levers, though. I managed to create three lovely, twisty allen keys! OK, they were the cheap kind from an Ikea box. But, still. So, looks like I need to invest in a proper allen key and get medieval on its ass!
Having a bit of a re-think on bar tape and saddle (I was always going to have to re-think the saddle!). Possibly may head toward some sort of tan tape and saddle - go for the MGB look. Anyway, that's for some time in the future - time and money are not my friend!
I’m cogitating over the rear hub and gears. I’m getting hold of a 122 mm rear hub (Shimano 105 with freehub). I’ll see whether some jiggery pokery with spacers can save the day. Otherwise, I might have to re-think the 7-speed idea and go even further back in time.
Other than that, all I need to do is fettle, clean, polish, etc., bolt bits to bike, add some cables, bar tape, chain and pop some air in the tyres and I’ll be on my way.
Seems so simple………

Yes, it's an odd one. I would have thought the frame would set, or would have been set, to 120 mm, if any previous owner went the "track" route. But, hey, I'm stumbling around in the dark here.

I briefly flirted with the idea of an interim fixie build. But, I decided to go straight for the gearie build.

Thanks very much for the tips.

I also seem to remember reading somewhere that, with the aid of different sized spacers, it's possible to "upgrade" to 7-speed on a 6-speed hub (supposedly works with 7 up to 8, etc.). Requires more research....

Hi, gitabitan. Sorry about that! I went a touch over budget. But, not much. It's an occupational hazard!

I'm led to believe that 122 mm would be typical of a 5-speed set up. But, I have to admit that I am scratching about a bit. This is my first real dip into the retro pool and I'm learning quite a lot, with all the much appreciated help from this community. :-)

Oh, and yes, I checked the fork steerer a few days ago. It has a matching frame number, which is encouraging.

Cheers

Ha Ha. Yes, exactly!

Thanks, smac. I'll rummage around their site and see if anything looks familiar.

I've so far contacted MKM and Condor with no luck and response awaited, respectively.

Cheers

Well, I've pinged them an email. So, I'll sit back and wait...

H Lloyd, indeed. I've discovered that site. A very comprehensive range of decals. I shall probably send some business their way, if only I can confirm who built this frame.

Thanks for the tip on Retrobike. I shall have a delve.

Cheers