[ben]

Wow thatsa nice. Looks like your hard work is paying off. That last pic should be in the "Oh So Sexy!!!" thread. Especially since we have seen the before photos. I am looking forward to seeing the bike when it is finished.

[jbchybridrider]

Yep it took about two hours to polish the crank and I was totally plastered with buffing compound.
I should have taken a photo, quite funny.

[jbchybridrider]

Hi all back again with a few updates.
I have some new parts to show and all thats left to complete are cassette, chain, chain rings and seat with a bit more polishing and cleaning and I,m getting excited with the end in site.
I'm showing my prized find thats the dura ace NOS levers it was a bit sad taking them out of the packaging but it had to be done.
"O" and there's a Shimano 600 bar stem in the post so I cant fit the bar tape yet.
Also I've stuck to the Shimano theme because it seems more fitting on a Aussie bike "its a pacific region thing" but the seat post bolt is campy. I do love campy but wanted something different.
Here's some pic's but no more full bike one's till its finished.
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
That alloy seat post was anodized black, the buffing wheels took care of that though.

[jbchybridrider]

One quick pic before the finishing parts arrive, the bar taping is done and Shimano 600 stem the tires on it are just holding the rims off the ground till I get new ones.
So not long till its finished.
[IMG][/IMG]

[jbchybridrider]

G,day well its finished and I,ve been riding it for two weeks and what a nice bike to ride I,ve got a 6.8kg Pinarello and a 8.1kg Hybrid but right now I'm hooked on riding this 1020 steel gas pipe bike.
I put the 23mm race tires on just for photos but havent ridden with them because it doesnt look right with the long wheel base and long reach brakes and clearances.
The 35c Sammy Slicks are my favorite there very fast on road and track really well over cracked up bitumen and rough roads but I need them for my hybrid.
So mostly I've been riding with 27 inch wheels on Vittoria Competition Phoenix 32s, the wheels add a kilo to the bike but the tires are amazingly fast and look good, also riding this bike to work I dont see many hills so the weight is OK.
Since these pic's I've changed from 5 speed freewheel to 6 speed and put the correct length chain on.
In Australia one of the jokes about these bike is about Ricky Ricardo and his slick black hair "Doesnt exist" so owners just call there bikes Ricky.
So here's the three faces of Ricky.


Please excuse the lawn mower it broke down there when I started mowing my model plane strip.

And here's a link alll the pic's I took good and bad but cant post on here.
1983 Ricardo Varsity pictures by kdionb - Photobucket
I guess in the end if you have the time and will you dont need mega dollar bikes to enjoy cycling and there's more satisfaction in building up your own bike from trash.

[avmech]

That is nothing short of awesome!!!!! Gorgeous machine you have there

[wild]

lookin good

[ben]

That's one fine looking ride. You do nice work.

[worthlees]

You have one grand bike you've built!!!