I wish I’d kept it…

I was just reading wjputt’s forum topic on building his new bike, and it got me thinking. When I was 17 (late 1993) I saved up to build my new bike.

Faggin frame and forks in Reynolds 653 that were a sold-as-seen job at Harry Hall in Manchester. I had to take it to Frank Herety in Stockport to get the bottom bracket reamed because the build wasn’t even finished.

To that I added 1994 Campag Athena 8 speed – it was the first year that Ergopower had trickled down to Athena, and looked the business.

Mavic Open 4CD SUP rims on Athena hubs and DT swiss spokes. San Marco Rolls saddle, Time pedals, Cinelli bars and stem with yellow bar tape to match the yellow ‘Faggin’ name on the black frame, and Continental Grand Prix tyres; the wire bead ones that went up to 150psi!

However, I joined the RAF, discovered girls etc etc and it sat in the garage with criminally little mileage – don’t think I’d even worn the anodised layer off the brake track. :\”> I lost interest and sold it years later.

I wish I could ride it now! =((

With hindsight, it was a bit big for me, there was toe overlap with the front wheel, the rear triangle seemed to flex (I did wonder whether it was indeed a 653 or just a 531) and the 53-39 chainset was, shall we say, a little ambitious. But still, I imagine I’d have fun swapping it all over to another nice steel frame and giving it a blast.

Slightly off-topic, I bought the bits, got the wheels built and the special-tool-stuff done at Neil Walton Cycles in Didsbury, which was a cool little place until the local scallies discovered that they could walk in and stroll off with serious amounts of mountain bike and there wasn’t a lot anyone could do about it. Repeatedly. They ended up not being able to get insurance and had to shut up shop.

So, anything you wish you hadn’t got rid of or still had access to?