Liberati Professional Restoration finished

Eighteen months after starting this full 

restoration project...

The Liberati as found, more here.

...I am finally ready to take the Liberati

on it's maiden voyage.

 During this project I had to acknowledge to myself

that I really have become the rivet counter that I 

once used to scoff at..as you about to plainly see

First I had to have new cable guides brazed

onto the top tube.

Jeff Anderson of Jefferson Bikes kindly 

provided this service and also found me some period guides,

which I am really grateful for, as period authenticity

was the main driver on this project.

Jeff doing the business on the cable guides.

Then the frame set was sent to Kustom Chrome

in Gisborne for a LOT of work.  

While the frame was away, I slowly stripped and

rebuild the components.

I decided to also modify several of the original

components with period O.M.A.S. and Cobra 

special after market lightening parts. 

Above you can see the OMAS pin/clamps and bolts for

lightening the Campagnolo seat pin.

The original parts 152 grams

OMAS parts 84 grams 

Full OMAS seat pin kit installed ready for saddle.

 Cobra alloy bottom bracket bolts.

Original 28 grams

Cobra 10 grams.

I replaced the original Universal 68 brake calipers with

this set of Campagnolo calipers which have the full

OMAS lighting set, which consists of titanium centre 

bolt, alloy retaining bolts and washers.

I also fitted a set of very cool Scott Mathauser

Super brake finned brake shoes.

Apparently these brake shoes cost as much as

a whole set of middle range road bike calipers

would have set you back at the time. 

Original Campagnolo brake calipers 180 grams

OMAS/Scott Mathauser 164 grams.

Putting it all together

 The frame duly arrived from Kustom Chrome, and
as usual they had done a beautiful job.
I had contacted Liberati in Rome to see if they had
any original decals left, they did not, but they were very
interested in seeing the bike when I had finished.

 The original Liberati ship Rome 1950's.

 After painting the bike, I left it to sit for a month, 
as I find the two pack base coat clear coat system
benefits from a little hardening time.
Then it was time for the assembly....

...which resulted in this.

I had also tracked down a couple of original Cicli Liberai
jerseys over the last 18 months.

Some nice pantographing and quality work from 
Kustom Chrome, NOS set of Campagnolo shifters.

 The very pretty seat cluster that originally made me take
on this project.

Campagnolo brake with OMAS and Mathauser
 No over heating brakes here.

San Marco saddle with alloy rails, 314 grams.

 I thought the Steel Campagnolo head set set looked just right
 with the chrome lugs, so no light alloy head set used.

Regina America Superleggera hollw pin chain 

 Beutiful Galli chainset with Campagnolo 52/42
pantographed chain rings.
 Serious Italian 1970's bike bling.

You gotta love it.

 Super Record running on NOS Everest Nova

14-26 freewheel.
Campagnolo         derailleur doesn't really seem to appreciate the

26 tooth cog...but I do.

32 hole Nisi Countach Mercurio d'Oro 1977 rims with

some serious sticker action

laced to l/f Campagnolo hubs (of course). 

Nice bottom bracket treatment.
OMAS Titanium B/B set.

 3ttt bar tape, I have been sitting on this packet for quite

a while, waiting for the right bike.

Finished weight 9.4 kgs ready to ride...not bad.
  

So there you have it, a 1970's Italian Super bike rescued

from a dank and dark basement, in the first stages of

becoming an unsavable wreck, now once again ready to bring

pleasure (and pain) to some willing legs.

 Primo Liberati provided these jerseys to sponsored

amateurs. Primo's son Fabrizio still runs Cicli Liberati
in Rome.

 Primo Liberati

Cicli Liberati today.

A beautiful jersey to go with a beautiful bike.

Tommy Simpson Carlton Track Bike Tribute

Here is my tribute to the great Tom Simpson.

If you don't know about, or not much about

Simpson go here to read and see all about him.

I came up with the idea to make this tribute

track bike when I saw a photo of Simpson

holding a all chrome Carlton track bike.

After doing a little more research, I found

out that he rode Carlton track bike's right

through his later amateur years and even

into his early professional years, at least

he did when he was riding track back in the UK

 It so happened that I had been after a Carlton

track bike for quite a while, a well used one that

had a awful bright yellow paint job on it.

When I finally got it back to the workshop 

after negotiating it's purchase, I started to

gently scrape the paint back, and was surprised

and very please to find chrome under the paint.

I assumed that the chrome would be buggered,

but was again surprised to find it was in really

good condition, so I was off to a good start.

 After much buffing and polishing, I painted the
red,white and blue strips on the head tube and down tube.

I also picked out the drilled out rear Campagnolo

drop outs in the same colour combination..

quite a sexy touch I thought.

Tommy Simpson was a real star in Europe, but it was back 

in the UK where I think he made his biggest impact,

he really helped change the perception and aspirations

of the local racers growing up reading, watching 

and following his career abroad.

Kelly, Wiggins, Froome etc probably all owe Simpson

 at least a small debt of gratitude, I know Brian Robinson

and Shay Elliot were there first, but somehow it 

was Simpson who captured the imagination. 

 Not quite finished, but you get the idea.

A very serious looking track machine.

Beautiful workmanship is on display everywhere

you cast your gaze on this frame. 

 I had a lot of fun restoring this frame set and building

it up as a tribute to Mr Simpson.

 

Vern Hanaray portait

Here is a portrait of the great local rider

Vern Hanaray, as some of you may know

I have his 753 Team Raleigh which I did

a post on here.

I did this portrait for the Hastings Council

as a part of a series of art work they have

commissioned me to do, some of it can be 

found here if you might be interested.

Harry watson portrait

Here is the second portrait for my upcoming museum/display

This is the great Harry Watson in his Ravat-Dunlop team jersey

during the 1928 Tour de France.

I have Watsons last Jones Special team bike which I will 

have on display, and will also do a post on 

this blog shortly.

 

 

Phil O'Shea and Speedy museum exibit.

I have been working (slowly)on a little 

museum/display in the mezzanine floor over my workshop.
  Well maybe a homage to New Zealand cycle racers

and frame builders might be a better description.
I have curated exhibits of my collection in
several museums over the last 10 years, but just
could not continue that commitment in time and money.
So hence the permanent display, which I hope many of 
the riders I have meet and interviewed over the past
decade may come and visit.

 I intend to do several portraits of iconic New Zealand

wheel men to add a little interest to the displays.

Here is my first portrait for the display, it is of  
Phil O'Shea circa 1913.

Read all about Phil O'Shea in The Kennett Bros

book 'Wizard on Wheels' , it's a great read.

I have also been working on a pre war Speedy Cycle

road bike for the exhibit, similar to the machines that O'Shea

used when he was a Speedy team rider.

Here is the Speedy almost as I purchased it.

I was tempted to leave it as is, but it was obviously

not in original condition, so I have stripped it (thanks Neil)

and am restoring it to as close to period as possible. 

 Frame ready for a bit of attention.

Very plain head lugs, many Speedy's have a front window

cut into both head lugs.

 Accles & Pollock logo on fork head tube.

The next portrait will be of Harry Watson, 
New Zealand's first Tour De France Rider (1928).

Harry Watson, on right, in Hubert Oppermans 1928
Ravat-Dunlop Tour De France team.