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I'VE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH LONG COVID, FORTUNATELY NOT THE SEVERE SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND CHEST PAINS THAT SOME HAVE .... BUT STILL A P.I.T.A. ! [ ooops - caps lock off now ]
Slows everything down and has left me with fatigue, tiredness and "brain fog" ..... and I thought it was just senility. However, need to get my finger out and push on with the two main projects.
Looks like I'm finally going to get the basic frame tacked up by the end of the month, then I can get it stripped down and have the fame fully welded.
I've been doing a few odd accessory jobs to keep my interest up.
The "tank" is now surface finished ready for final primer and the Celeste Blue paint. The fuel cell is also in final primer now, but unsure whether to paint it Celeste or Light Ivory [ same as wheels / bars/ NOS bottle ].
Work in progress - the brass syringe is the crank breather collector and will be attached via some period rubber hose. Still not sure about the tank decals. The hand gearchange mechanism will go on the other side. I wanted to have it nickel plated ......... but for £50 !!!!! No thanks, it will be powder coated the same light ivory as the wheel rims and handlebars [ and Nitrous bottle tee, hee, hee. ]
The welder is definitely coming at the end of the month so I decided to move the whole project onto my hydraulic ramp to make sure everything is properly aligned.
That meant the Glemseck bike had to come off first !
I got the ramp back to my garage this morning and moved the whole thing lock stock and barrel off the wooden bench and onto the ramp. Been at it all day - 6 hours - but well worth the effort as everything is now 100% aligned and bolted down solidly.
Had a few new ideas [ as you do ] and incorporated them into the reassembly.
I can now get round both sides of the project and it will make life simpler for my pal when he comes round to do the welding and easier for me !!
I was just about to bite the bullet on the £65 [ including carriage ] white Bianchi grips pictured above together with some decent heavy brass levers [ £58 ] when I spotted these from Enfield India. £54 delivered.
Pity about the mirror stem bosses, but I'm sure they can be disguised, and positioned underneath.
Weld day getting closer !!! Can't wait to fnally see the frame tacked up and supported by itself and I can take some of the jig fixings off.
Very heath Robinson - but effective, since I bolted the "jig" down to my bike ramp it's absolutely solid and I'm happy that everything is aligned [ laser checked ] and good to go.
There's not much I can work on until that's done, but I did work out a POC for the hand / foot gear change and I've sorted out all the various cranks and rods I need - all from my old stash of parts.
I had a real disaster with the fork legs .... I decided to paint them "correctly" - zinc base coat before the primer filler. Despite assurances on the canto the contrary - the Primer reacted and crazed. I tried barcoat - nope that didn't barcoat anything and it crazed again as soon as the primer was sprayed over the barcoat !!!
Nothing for it, had to remove about 7 layers of paint down to bre metal. This time I've sprayed as I normally do - good clean of the bare metal with panel wipe andf straight in with the primer. Perfect. Decisions now made ........ wheels / hubs / brake plates, hndlebars and NOS bottle powder coated Light Ivory all the resr Celeste Blue [ Edoardo Bianchi corporate colour ].
Undecided about the "tank" and Valor fuel cell - either Light Ivory - or Blue with Ivory panels.
Maritime - yes, when I went in the garage yesterday I was feeling really positive that I can get the bike completed this year and get back to the Glemseck Sixties Cafe Racer.
Spurred me on to put a coat of Light Ivory on the "tank" as I'd finished all the prep work.
Well pleased with my colour choice to go with the Celeste Blue [ Bianchi corporate colour ]. See the first pic for the splodge of Celeste Blue against the Light Ivory.
I also put a first coat on the Valor can [ fuel cell ] and again pleased with that choice. I have decided to leave the Bianchi plaques off now - as it really was a step too far !
I quite like the "Valor" imprint .... a nod to those brave riders of the Murderdrome period.
These pix don't really show the true Ivory colour - I'll take some in daylight to see if that's an improvement.
Everything lines up OK, waiting for the 14mm set scews so I can attach the rose joints then I can start working out the various cranks and levers to get it all working.
The hand gearchange cross shaft is all firmly bolted down now and I was able to do a 3 dimensional jig saw to see if all the linkages will work !!
I couldn't resist bolting the brass syringe on the tank to see what it looks like ..... and I think it's maybe a bit too big enough. However I do have a smaller one, I'll try them both and try to decide.
I have the rear frame tubes coming back on Tuesday and once they are mocked up in place the frame is ready to be tacked up.
Once they are tacked in place I can also check out the position and mounting for the Bianchi pedal footrests and the foot gearchange.
I thank you for following my very amateur attempts at creating a Boardtracker homage.
I hope that my postings can encourage others like myself who no longer have the resources, premises or specialised skills to turn a "whatif" into reality.
Here in the UK we do not have the rich heritage of Boardtrackers - but we have something very close - the Brooklands style of race bikes, which could vave been brothers from different Mothers.
To those WITH the skills, etc. ........... please put up with me !!
Well the end of the month has come and gone ................. unfortunately the "rely on me I'll be there" welder hasn't.
The blue masking tape is now holding the rear frame temporarily in place so I can get on with making the cross frame braces and positioning the footrests, gear and brake linkages etc. VERY frustrating.
I had hoped that the frame would at least have been tacked up by now which would have allowed me to progress the other parts.
Just can't get the staff ............................
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