Can’t stop progress

The Pacemaker II is coming along nicely and has been a lot of fun - mainly on account of my major efforts to remain patient. I’ve found that once you want to have it now, it loses its charm.

Today I built the rear wheel (low-flange hub laced to silver Velocity razor rim using double-butted DT spokes) and put a coat of primer on the frame.

pacemaker bike in progress

pacemaker bike in progress

Earlier in the week I stripped the frame, using paint-stripper and a circular wire brush on a drill. I was pleasantly surprised to find the markings SL 10 80, which means Columbus SL October 1980. This is a pretty good frame, after all.

Next up is the front wheel and paint job.

Click here for a full gallery

17 Responses to “Can’t stop progress”

  1. paris says:

    Cool!

  2. Dunc says:

    Nice. Yeah you can’t tell the side walls are machined at all.

    And yes you will need to re-do the brake hole =(

  3. Tim from BB says:

    Suntour drops as well?
    So what colour will she be (sorry if I am presumptuous of the gender :) )

  4. lock says:

    It’s amazing what’s lurking under ugly paint jobs on old frames the world over… pure gold.

  5. tom says:

    Yeah, here’s the stamp.

    Tim, it’ll be rich cream and ruby red.

  6. Dunc says:

    Makes me wanna strip the Euro just to see her naked steel.

  7. tom says:

    Light some candles and listen to this while you’re at it…

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=kV1SVBQaoCM

  8. YLD says:

    What paint are you using Tom?

  9. Benwah says:

    Good work stucking to your cream dream Thomason, cream and ruby will be all time, only thing missing is the saddle, what are you going to put on it?

  10. tom says:

    Brooks Swallow in honey, with matching bartape, what else?

  11. Benwah says:

    Leather bartape? that would be sweet.

  12. tom says:

    Yeah, here it is.

  13. lock says:

    Luckily you and zo have had your operations now so you can really afford to shower that frame in cash. I still can’t believe you are going to paint over that beautiful raw steel though.

  14. tom says:

    It does look really good up close, but in mediocre light it just looks grey and boring. It needs some nice new clothes!

    primed frame

  15. Benwah says:

    Cork bar ends.. P1MP1NG L0L1111Z!!!

  16. Dunc says:

    Go the spokes for the front rim yet?

  17. tom says:

    not yet…

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