7.9 Kg Roy Thame Campionissimo TT

The Roy Thame Campionissimo TT is finally finished.

As I explained here, I have been collecting period aftermarket 

O.M.A.S. and Cobra performance and lightening parts for this 

super light TT project bike for several years.

 I didn't actually have the right bike frame to attach the parts to

when I started the project, but when a 1979 Roy Thame TT 
frame set came along, 
I knew it was the one I had been looking for.

Thame as Holdsworth Team manager 1974

Roy Thame is mostly remembered today for being the driving

force behind the iconic British Holdsworth Professional team 

from it's inception in 1962  in sponsoring Bob Addy 
through to it's disbandment in 1978.

However Roy was also I very good TT man himself during

the 1950's and was Hemel Hempstead Cycling Club 

champion in 1952.

In 1976 the Holdsworth shops at Putney, Penge and Welling

started selling frames bearing the Roy Thame name.

Apparently many of the custom made frames where 

built by master frame builder Reg Collard at the Putney shop.

I brought my Roy Thame from it's original owner,

(unfortunately I have lost his name), he ordered the frame from

Roy at the Putney shop in 1979, it is a Campionissimo model

made in Reynolds DB 531 specifically for TT work.

I am extremely pleased with the build, sometimes you get it just

right, and I think this is one of those times.

The Blue is pretty similar to the original colour.

I couldn't find any decals that I thought where right, 

so I made my own set, which I am also very happy with.

The lugs where hand cut, filed and drilled to the club pattern

by Holdsworth employee Bob Donington, himself a top

25 mile time trailer.

Bob Donington in action on a Holdsworth.

Classic 1960's English TT style

This build really is about the sum of the parts 

being brought together to make something unique.

Cinelli bars and stem both have full O.M.A.S.

alloy kits.

CLB professional brakes, my only deviation from modified

components on this build, I did have a full OMAS lightening kit

for Campagnolo brake calipers, but the CLB are so pretty...

...although I have used alloy retaining bolts.

CLB  professional drawing by Rebour, above OMAS brake kit I didn't use.

  Huret (CLB) Sulky levers, a bit lighter than the original

CLB Pro levers, helped along with a bit of extra work 

on the factory drillings

OMAS 28 hole hubs with titanium axles and alloy ends.,

laced to Mavic Monthlery Legere rims.

 Decals I made for the build, came out quite nice I thought.

Swiss Assos saddle, actually made by Soffatti in Spain.

(but don't tell anyone) still my favorite saddle after

the Brooks Professional.

Campagnolo Pista crank set, Super Record pedals

Fides extra light toe clips.

Cobra alloy chain wheel bolts, Cobra alloy B/B nuts.

OMAS Alloy/Titanium B/B

Regin Extra SL Superleggera hollow pin chain.

Campagnolo Nuvo Record modified with full OMAS kit.

Regina Alloy freewheel.

Campagnolo chromed dropouts, drilled. 

 All up 7.9 Kg ready to ride, I was hoping to get under 8kg's

so am very pleased.

 Could I get under 7kg's?, I think I can, I have decided to slowly

keep on working on this bike to see if it is possible for me to

trim weight where ever I can over time, and achieve the

impossible dream, not quite in the Martin Luther King

league of dreams for the future...

...but a dream none the less

What it is all about for me, recreating as close as

I can those amazing TT bikes from what I consider the last 

classic period of English hand built lightweights.