Pegoretti Marcelo

Legendary framebuilder to the Stars Dario Pegoretti with star Roadworks client Richard Tait at Dario's factory in Caldonazzo 2004.

For months and months I've been looking forward to building my friend Dave's custom built Pegoretti, and finally it arrived, necessitating the latest in my sporadic series of step-by-step build logs.

I've been lucky enough to have sold one and built two of these delicious machines over the years, and have long been a fan of Dario Pegoretti's aesthetic and his superlative construction, so I was rapt last year when Dave announced he was going to order one. He asked me to help order his Columbus steel Marcelo frame and if I'd like eventually build it up, and I didn't need very long at all to answer with a resounding YES.

In the end my advice was restricted to fitting advice and component spec (and building it, of course!), as he eventually ended up having to obtain it through the Australian distributor Stanmore Cycles due to the New Zealand wholesaler sadly not being able to help at this time.

When Dave brought the boxes containing the frame and components in to the shop I was almost as excited to unwrap it as I would be if it were my own. The flawless white "Thelonius" paintjob and clever understated graphics looked very cool, and even a cursory glance showed that yet again Dario has created a virtuoso performance out of some simple tubes of Columbus steel.



I clamped it very carefully into my Park stand and examined the frame carefully...



...from all angles - I love the lasercut headtube badge!



Check out the neat new dropout design. Also look at the beefy stays, a big part of the stiffness this frame will exhibit.



Before prepping the frame I gave it my customary base coat of wax, which really showed off the groovy graphics.



Dario had kindly given me the perfect location for my corporate branding.



I brought out my dwindling supply of Campagnolo grease for the seatpost sleeve - nothing but the best on a job like this!



I then installed the Selcof seatpost and Fizik Arione saddle to the correct height.



Before ogling (and waxing) the top tube...



Once I was satisfied the frame was clean, waxed and as well protected from the ravages of my greasy mitts as possible, I set to work proper. I ran my facing tool through the bottom bracket threads only to find it was totally unnecessary - Stanmore Cycles had done a good job of chasing (cleaning the threads) and facing (creating perfectly parallel surfaces) the b/b, and facing and reaming (ensuring the inside surface is perfectly round) the headtube. They had also taken the time to rust protect the insides of the tubes. Good stuff, and essential details that are often missed by supposedly reputable bike shops.



However, I was able to feel a slight amount of unnecessarily smug satisfaction by discovering I still needed to run my taps through the derailleur hanger...



...the bottle cage mounts...



...and the down-tube cable-stop mounts, to clean excess paint from the threads.



Now the fun really begins! Installing brand new Campagnolo parts to a new fully-prepped Italian steel frame is an almost orgasmic experience if you're a sad old bike porn addict like me.

First I fitted the b/b cups.



Then the headset cups. Integrated headsets are all very well but I like the look of a more traditional external bearing one - plus I do love using my veteran VAR headset press.



Then I Park Tooled the hell out of the crown race.



I faffed around with various spacers before satisfying myself I had the handlebar height numbers exactly where Dave would like them (using his Cervelo R2 as a template) plus with a good amount of wiggle room in case the different geometry necessitated a slightly different position. I then cut the steerer of his colour-coded Mizuno carbon forks to length, cheating a bit by doing it with them in the frame - not a technique for the inexperienced or inattentive!



Hmmm, maybe a tad over-conservative? Don't worry gentle readers, I'm not distracted by the Tour dvd playing but, as I always say, you can cut it down later but you can't cut it back up again! I am mindful of the bad experience years ago of being told against my advice by a client to cut the steerer of his new Colnago C40 so the stem was flush with the headset only for him to find it was in fact too low, necessitating a new pair of $900 forks!



I fitted the beautiful front and rear Chorus Skeleton brake calipers. I actually prefer the satin silver lustre of these over the top-level Record calipers in black.



Then I fitted the sexy King bottle cages - classic lines never date, nor does good taste. Nice work, Dave.



On with the alliteratively cool Chorus carbon cranks.



And the new 11 speed Chorus rear derailleur. It's much chunkier than the previous 10 speed version, and I am honestly not sure I like the look of it as much, but the 11 speed kit certainly shifts better than the the flexier predecessor gruppo.



The rear wheel slotted precisely into the dropouts as you'd expect. I built the wheels for Dave well before Christmas so it is nice to see them finally on their intended mount. The training tyres will be swapped out in short order as soon as his proper Michelin Pro3 Race ones arrive from the UK.



I had missed fitting the bottom bracket cable guide earlier, so did so now.



I clamped the Deda Zero100 handlebars into the ITM Millennium carbon/aluminium stem. Most likely Dave will be going to a different and slightly shorter stem but establishing the perfect fit takes time and actual on-the-road experience to determine, so this will suffice initially. The white bars look great and will definitely be staying!



Next I set up the Chorus Ergolevers. The dramatic new shape of Campag's brake/shift levers lends itself to better positioning on the hoods and drops and are more comfortable than the old models - the superb function of the lever blade and excellent thumb-shifter has only been enhanced...



Time now to sort out the lengths of the various brake cable housings, double-check them then cut and fit them.



Once the cables are wired up I make the the pads are carefully aligned to the rim braking surface before snugging everything up tight.



We were waiting for an errant front derailleur mounting band to turn up - thanks to the guys at Capital Cycles (check out their blog too) for sorting us out there. Once Dave dropped it off to me I was able to fit the front derailleur and proceed with the rest of the drivetrain.



I sussed the gear cable housing lengths and wired up the rear mech.



Then taped the housings to the bars.



Under Dave's scrutinising gaze I carefully cut down and installed the 11 speed chain, using my precious Campagnolo UT-CN300 11 speed chain tool.



I then set the limits on and wired up the front derailleur, then gave the front and rear gears a run-through before giving them the final tune and check. My God, the 11 speed stuff shifts well - to my mind only Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting is better, and not by very much...



I fitted Dave's pedals then it was time to tape the 'bars...



One last check over of the whole bike, another swipe of wax where I'd handled it, and I am done. Much to Dave's dismay I insisted it would have to be me who test-rode the bike first so, as he sobbed inconsolably on the couch, I took it out for a quick sprint up and down the street outside before taking a couple of the usual shots for posterity.



Obviously it's too small for me and I was wearing sneakers, but man it still feels damn good on first impressions. Hopefully I'll get Dave to write up a wee review now he's ridden it for a few weeks, as I'd be very interested to hear his thoughts on the ride characteristics of this incredible machine. I'm not often jealous of other guy's bikes but I sure am with this one!



Here's Dave's thread on Roadbike Review.com - read on - and some close up photos that he took...one day I'll get me a camera that can take close-ups! Cheers very much to Dave firstly for the job, and also for the link and the pics.

Welds at the seat cluster.



Another shot of the dropouts/stays.



The bottom bracket.



The Chorus chainset in all it's glory.



The front end of the Marcelo.



And an arty shot of the head badge to finish off with...



Until the next time, thanks for reading. Cheers, Oli

Kiwi Brevet

Just a quick post to pay tribute to the brave and slightly barmy competitors of the Simon Kennet-created Kiwi Brevet. Follow the blog, and the live SPOT tracking that gives you the virtually real time ability to see exactly what part of the upper South Island the various competitors are riding through...

Good luck to all, and I look forward to hearing all about it later this week from John Randal (Sifter), Bill Brierley and of course the Revolution Bicycles chaps.



I'll be back later in the week with the Pegoretti build. Cheers, Oli

Winding Down To The End Of The Road

I want to begin this post by saying how humbled and awed Jacq and I are by the amazing outpouring of support and affirmation for our future plans that so very many of you have kindly taken time to relate - it means a lot to Jacq and I that this crazy swerve in the road we've taken is being perceived as a positive change of direction by the people we care about, so thanks so much and cheers to you all...


Thanks to Bridie for the lovely Guatemalan pirate rum and glasses!

But Gol-DANG, announcing my "retirement" wasn't exactly the way to lessen the pressure. It's been pretty full on here as I finish off the last few weeks of work at Roadworks and I've been pulling down more than a few long days trying to fit everything in. I won't bore you by relating every job I've done, but here are a few of the tasks that have filled the time since last I wrote.

As always, there are wheels to build. I love building wheels - it's very satisfying work turning the separate components into a coherent whole that will carry someone safely and reliably through many rides and adventures for many years over many roads and trails.

Selwyn wanted a new wheel for his 29er so he chose a Mavic TM719 Disc rim on an XT hub with DT stainless butted spokes.



I built a pair of rear wheels for Tor's two bikes; Tor is a big, powerful rider so for his Surly singlespeed we built up a 36 hole White Industries ENO hub with a Salsa Delgado Cross rim.



And for Tor's new geared bike he wanted a bombproof wheel, so with the idea and help of Jonty from Revolution Bicycles Tor specced a Hope Trials hub on another TM719 rim to create a super strong dishless wheel that will end up running a 6 speed "cassette".



Mark's Specialized Allez needed a jolly good going over - aluminium bikes are prone to various creaks and groans over time so I basically stripped and rebuilt it, as well as replacing the cables and tuning everything...



My good buddy Mike's bike needed similar treatment after many months of hard use. I also had to set the race wheels up so that swapping from his training wheels wouldn't affect the gears - in the end this was easily done with the aid of a simple 1mm spacer behind the cassette of the race wheels.



Dave from Bike Fixation also needed his well-used Litespeed Siena's cables replaced. I also pulled out the b/b and serviced the hubs and headset - obviously Dave likes riding in the rain!





Dan needed his cranks removed and I couldn't resist snapping a pic of his very cool BMC SLC01 while it was up in the stand - the pic doesn't do justice to the funky green trim.



Tim Wilding is readying himself for the upcoming Coppermine Epic MTB race and while he'll race his carbon Blur much of his training is done on his play bike, an Ibis Mojo. This needed a fork service, a DU bushing replaced in his rear shock, a broken spoke replaced, new cables, brake pads, headset bearings, chain, cassette, etc., etc...it's purring now after a major cash and time injection.



This upcoming weekend sees the awesome new Simon Kennett created Kiwi Brevet event begin in Blenheim. I've been helping John Randal with preparing his Giant 69er, so it was great to hear late yesterday afternoon that John and Simon had conquered the Akatarawa Attack 8 hour orienteering event for a third time in what was their most dominating performance over the years - this bodes well for their form for the Brevet, so the very best of luck to them both.

As well as my pre-Brevet work with John I've been lucky enough to be a part of Bill Brierley's assault on this gruelling challenge. Here is Bill's Brevet Bike after it's final check over. Note the cleverly Bill-crafted carbon rear bag fairing and framebag...



And his equally clever carbon reinforced hydration solution. Best of luck to Bill also in the Brevet.



As anyone who has lived in Wellington will be aware, the summer of 09/10 has been the worst in living memory, and I've lived for quite some time! After my shortlived affair with a carbon wench I rekindled my love affair with my steel baby on a few rides, most of which were less than pleasant slogs in foul windy grey days. One of the four or five genuinely fine days we have had though was one of the best that this beknighted climate ever offer us, with 25 degree warmth, almost zero wind and the pleasing sights of golden beaches covered in bikini-clad bathing beauties - just the stuff to wash away the cares of the world.



As I have mentioned before, on my meandering way home I often love to partake of the calm oasis in a sea of manic traffic that is the Basin Reserve - the sound of leather on willow is almost soporifically soothing and it isn't hard to imagine the dulcet tones of the commentators...

"The batsman's Holding, the bowler's Willey!"

I cycled happily home through Newtown feeling relaxed and happy, whereupon my sweet Celeste leaned languidly by the door of my workshop in a sensual promise of the summer rides still to come...



January is a big month in the Brooke-White household with Bodhi's 7th birthday (an awesome Jacq designed secret agents party)...



...and Kester's 16th birthday too.



With all the focus on them it behooved me to take time out to spend some quality time with my poor deprived middle son, so Harry and I went urban for a cool ride one arvo.



After a manic Friday readying the last jobs for the weekend I skived off early (3pm) to meet my good friend Alex for a ride on the third of what would prove to be the only four consecutive days of true summer so far - as we loaded up the Sex Wagon and headed up to Karori the skies were clear and still and the temperature was edging close to 30 degrees. We parked up and headed up Parkvale Road and onto the steep and winding warm-up climb that leads onto Skyline where we took a well-earned drinks break.



The heat was intense - it felt utterly unlike riding in Wellington and more like I'd imagine the Hawke's Bay might feel, having sadly never actually ridden my MTB there. The views were fantastic and the sky much clearer than my sad phone camera would suggest!



One of the very cool things about Skyline that differs from the bulk of Wellitrack is that much of it we could ride side by side chatting. This was very convivial and thoroughly enjoyable as a change of pace, but just once I had to anti-socially scoot ahead to stage a shot.



We rode along Skyline as far as the 4wd road that leads back down to Chartwell Drive, but not before spending lots more time marvelling at the wonderful views.



Hard to see in these grainy images but every evening of this un-Wellington like heat wave a sea mist would roll slowly through the Cook Strait and into the harbour - here it is creeping around the coastline of the South Island heading for the Marlborough Sounds.



We finished with a fun road blast down through Crofton Downs and along Wilton Road before heading back up to Karori and the car. We were both exhausted from the privations of what had turned out to be a surprisingly tough and hilly ride for two unfit blokes, especially in the unaccustomed heat. We both had a ball but at the end of it Alex would get to put his feet up, relax and recover - I still had business to take care of!

After dropping Alex back home, I showered and changed then headed up to Revolution Bicycles to drop off Tor's wheel, quaff an ale and catch up with the goss before meeting my good friends Paul and Bridie for a vino or two at Scopa while John Randal dropped my car off at home for me - I'm very grateful for the valet service! Bridie is in the country to attend a wedding and do a race or two (2nd in the prestigious Takapuna GP) and Paul brought her down to Wellington to train and catch up with friends. Fantastic to see them both...

Bridie racing in Takapuna behind eventual GP winner Emma Petersen



After such a lovely Friday evening Saturday was great fun too, even though I spent most of it inside the cool of the shop instead of basking in the heat of the stunning continuation of the five days of summer - I spent the day building a bike I've been looking forward to building more than any bicycle in recent memory, my friend Dave's custom Pegoretti Marcelo. I want to dedicate an entire blog to this stunning machine but for now I'll just give you a quick taster...



After that was done and Dave had picked up his new charge I headed back home to get my bogan on - Kester and I were lucky enough to have been given free tickets to the second of AC/DC's two Wellington concerts. Harry had also scored one but was heading off with his own friends, so Ket and I headed into town together. We rendezvoused with some other family friends on the Terrace to drink bourbon and coke (obviously Ket wasn't drinking it!) in the sweltering evening heat before we piled into a variety of vehicles and headed off to the Stadium for what was an awesome night of mullets and black t-shirts. Shihad were a good loud start to the night and AC/DC might be getting on in years but it didn't seem to stop the rock one bit. Crunching rock'n'roll and a fantastic night was had by all...



While we threw the goats around and the rock rolled a southerly arrived in town, which overnight turned to rain and dropped the temperature from the high 20s to the low teens - this meant that by Sunday afternoon the weather was bad enough for the Trust House Cycle Classic (formerly the Tour of Wellington) final criterium to be relegated to being an exhibition race instead of the final GC decider. I met up with Bridie and Paul to watch despite the inclement conditions.

Tim and Dave also turned up though admittedly somewhat disgruntled by the less than savoury climate.



I always enjoy being around the bike racing milieu, especially when I get to catch up with old mates like legendary pro race mechanic Benny Devcich, here contemplating the exhorbitant price of getting his nails manicured...



Even though the racing was just for the benefit of the keeners that had braved the wet and was being performed by a depleted field it was no less fast and furious for all that.



New National Champion Jack Bauer decided the best way to avoid crashing on the slippery city streets was to use his prodigious power and well-honed Belgian kermesse skills to clear out and solo to victory.



Despite a torrid and determined chase from Bici Vida's Mike Northey...



...Jack was on a mission, using the kerbs as berms and using every inch of the slick roads.



And slowly the desperately chasing bunch lost ground...



...shelling one rider after another.


Photo courtesy of Colin Bain

Until he ultimately caught the bunch on the last lap and crossed the line victorious.


Photo courtesy of Colin Bain

Great effort by Jack, but also mention must be made of the nice work by Michael Torckler and his John Lee managed Cardno team for winning the Tour proper. Having worked with John before it was no surprise to see his tactical nous pay off so handsomely, and it was great to see one of the unsung riders of NZ be able to show his class on such a big stage.

I was a little bummed to have missed out on working the Tour - I did have some cool offers from various Teams, but I sadly had to turn them down due to work and family commitments. However, I am lucky enough to have been asked to be the spannerman for the BikeNZ Team in the NZCT Women's Tour of New Zealand, and was this time able to accept the job. The Team will be super strong this year and I look forward to proudly assisting them on their attempt to collect the yellow jersey. Hopefully I'll see some of you around the course of this superb International UCI Tour - don't forget to check out the women's iteration of the Wellington crit on the 28th!



Until the upcoming Pegoretti build blog, thanks for reading. Cheers, Oli