Frame back from painting

[B19GRR]

I'm slowly building up a new/old bike at the moment. I scored the frame on Ebay for a decent price as the original paint job was gopping. It's a Trek 5500 OCLV frame, probably late '90s era, good enough for old Lance!

So, before...




To be honest, looking at those pics I don't know why I wanted to change it now

During...



Vastly better already! Sam (the painter) sent these through and said he wasn't happy with how the frame was looking after flatting back the primer so he shot a second primer coat to get it perfect.

After...






Photos naturally don't do it justice, it's a very fine flake that looks fantastic in the flesh. I had thought about just going plain gloss black but Sam brought some colour samples around and I just loved the metallic.

Hardware will be Campag Veloce 10sp, Campag Vento wheels, ITM Volo carbon fibre bars. I've got an ali stem, not sure if it's worth getting a CF one, I'll live with the ali for a while unless it's dramatically the wrong length. I won't use the original fork, I got hold of a Time Millenium Stiffy+ (ooerr) which is full carbon, weighs nowt! Tricky to find as it's a 1" steerer. I'm hoping the built bike will be in the 15-16lb range, my current steel is 30lb all in so this seems like a great way for me to lose weight

Here's a couple of shots of my old 531 ball breaker:


I had that made to measure back in '96. Got a range of Campag 8sp components on it from Mirage to Record. Originally it was a triple but I converted to double last year with a lovely period Record chainset. I stuck the new Vento front wheel on just to try it out, seems to go round quite nicely.

I came across Sam after googling refinishing carbon frames, found a few posts by him on lfgss, not that I'm in anyway a single speed masochist!
http://www.lfgss.com/thread5287.html
His shop is based in Harlow which is handy as I work there but luckily don't live there Cost was £160 inc. collection and delivery to my offices, turn around just over a week due to the second primer coat. I'm extremely happy with the job and highly recommend Sam if anyone's looking for a respray.

Cheers,
Rob

edit to change img to pic so they're clickable

Edited by B19GRR on Monday 2nd August 19:30

[B19GRR]

swerni said:

what does it cost to get a frame sprayed?

cough

B19GRR said:

£160

Cheers,
Rob

[Rolls]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

lol!!

[b2hbm]

B19GRR said:

swerni said:

what does it cost to get a frame sprayed?

cough

B19GRR said:

£160

Cheers,
Rob

I think that's a pretty good price Rob. Although there doesn't look much to a bike frame, they are really fiddly to strip off the old paint and being a carbon frame there's even more care needed. And it looks a great job.

I'm sure you'll like the frame once you're riding it, although you might struggle to tip the scales at 15lbs. Trek frames from that era weren't as lightweight as some of the modern CF ones and I think mine tips in around the 16-17lb mark. That's a 2002 vintage frame, looks similar to yours, so this is what yours probably used to look like.....

[mrandy]

lovely job as mentioned aboth the stripping of the old paint is the pia part ,top coating is easy and a nice to do.Im refinishing a few carbon frames at the moment

[B19GRR]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Har. Har. If they hadn't scrawled the crab claws on then I would've left it as the gradient was nicely done but the "details" were shocking!

Cheers,
Rob

[b2hbm]

B19GRR said:

Your bike looks great, if whoever had left it in it's original livery then I wouldn't have had a problem. I'll also be glad at 16-17lb, that be such a difference to what I'm used to anyway that the odd pound just won't matter. How do you find it to ride? I've never ridden carbon before, lots of comments about it feeling dead, really I'm just hoping to lose some road buzz as I have knackered shoulders.

Cheers,
Rob

Ride quality is a personal thing and I reckon the saddle/wheel choice makes just as much contribution as the frame itself.

But having said that, I'm a carbon convert not so much for the weight reduction but the ride quality. I've ridden steel frames, a full Al frame/forks, an Al frame with carbon stays/forks and the Trek is head and shoulders above them. It doesn't seem to lose anything when you're out of the saddle yet seems much more comfortable on long rides. In the same year I went from being beggared (as in numb nuts/hands) after 50 miles on the Al frame to doing over 100 on the Trek and still feeling fine.

No offence towards your current bike, but you'll never ride it again. Start writing the Ebay add now.....

[B19GRR]

Oh, I could never sell the Atom, it was made to measure for a start and has slightly odd geometry, but also I'd get bugger all for it

Good to hear your thoughts on ride quality, I agree on the saddle wheel front. I'm still suffering with saddle choice now I'm getting back in to it. The old Selle razor blade I had on the Atom instantly didn't suit my current wider back end so I'm giving the TRK thing a go, not 100% convinced but it doesn't kill the nether regions quite as quickly, don't think I've got it angled quite right though. I might have to dig out my old Rolls and see how that feels.

Cheers,
Rob

[angusc43]

That looks stunning in black.

I want to get mine done now!

[markcp]

To the OP, can you remember what code/name of the colour you used?

My uncle has got a very similar frame and was going to have it resprayed but after seeing yours, wants it exactly the same.

Ta.

[B19GRR]

Hi Mark,

Is you Uncle also Cambs based? Just thinking if he's anywhere between Ramsey and Harlow I could take the frame around on my way back from work one evening so he could check it out.

I'll drop Sam an email for the paint code.

markcp said:

To the OP, can you remember what code/name of the colour you used?

My uncle has got a very similar frame and was going to have it resprayed but after seeing yours, wants it exactly the same.

Ta.

Cheers,
Rob

[Zippee]

Looks very nice. I used to ride the OCLV MTB's back in the early 90s - loved them but they were very fragile at the time, went through 4 in the space of a year (cracked chainstays mostly) before changing to a GT.

How much did you pay for the frame on E-bay?

[Hard-Drive]

[quote=b2hbmAlthough there doesn't look much to a bike frame, they are really fiddly to strip off the old paint and being a carbon frame there's even more care needed.
[/quote]

Nah, plenty nitromors and use 60 grit on the stubborn bits...

[B19GRR]

Zippee said:

How much did you pay for the frame on E-bay?

Hi Zippee, I paid £250, given the extra for the paint job and the extra fancy full carbon forks, I know I could've just bought a new frame but since when did logic and Ebay ever work together I do at least now have a unique to me bike!

Mark, sorry not heard back from Sam yet, I'll let you know when I do though.

I've started putting it all together now so it's beginning to look like a bike.


Need to get hold of some loctite for the BB shells.

I've got one query regarding the front caliper retaining nut, this style:


when in the fork, the end flange doesn't fit flush in to the hole like it does on the rear:

Is this normal or should I file off the flange to get a nice fit in the fork?

Cheers,
Rob

[mrandy]

The nuts are usually smaller dia than your photo and fit in a counterbore hole in the forks.Just make sure the nut is not putting any pressure on the carbon where it shouldnt be otherwise it may crack the material.

[B19GRR]

Hi Mark,

I've heard back from Sam, he's not got a paint code but the paint is Ford 'Panther Black' and should be available from any paint supplier.

markcp said:

To the OP, can you remember what code/name of the colour you used?

My uncle has got a very similar frame and was going to have it resprayed but after seeing yours, wants it exactly the same.

Ta.

Cheers,
Rob

[markcp]

Rob,

Thanks for the assistance, but he's now contacted Alex direct and he'll be doing the job for him

Cheers.