Pasteys semi retro Cougar project.

pastey_boy

Came across this bike and fell in love. It is a mix of retro and modern, done as tastefully as I could. Changed quite a few parts as it was running some non compatible bits. Would love to know what year the frame was manufactured, I have a feeling it was built by Dolan so will make some enquiries . It is a mix of Campag Record parts ranging from 2001 to 2006/7 with the exception of the Royce ti bottom bracket, it all works together beautifully. Will post some pics tomorrow.

Frame: Cougar 531
Forks: Cougar
Bars: Cinelli Campione Du Monde
Stem: 3T Pro Titanium
Headset: Campagnolo Record 1 inch Threaded
Bar Tape: Selle Monte Grappa Leather
Bar end plugs: Gilles Berthoud Leather

Front Brake Lever:Campagnolo Record
Front Caliper: Campagnolo Record
Rear Brake Lever: Campagnolo Record
Rear Caliper: Campagnolo Record

Shifters: Campagnolo Record 10 spd
Cables: Campagnolo
Front Mech: Campagnolo Record 10 spd
Rear Mech: Campagnolo Record 9/10 spd

Seat: San Marco Rolls Ti
Seat Post: Campagnolo Record titanium 27.2MM

Cranks: Campagnolo Record CT 172.5mm
Chainring(s): Campagnolo Record 10 spd compact 50/34
Chain:Campagnolo Record 10 spd
Cassette: Campagnolo Record titanium 10spd 11/25
Pedals: Token track inc stainless toe clips, leather straps
Bottom Bracket: Royce Titanium

Front Wheel:
Rim: H Plus Son Archetype 28H
Spokes: Sapim Race
Hub: Miche Primato Sintesi
Tire: Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Classic skinwall 23

Back Wheel:
Rim: H Plus Son Archetype 32H
Spokes: Sapim Race
Hub: Miche Primato Sintesi
Tire: Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Classic skinwall 23

Accessories: Campagnolo Record carbon bottle cage, Velo Orange leather chainstay protector.

Weight: 20.2lbs as pictured.

pastey_boy

Pics now added although the gloomy conditions do not show off the paint work. Will take better pics when brighter.

ugo.santalucia

Nice and great groupset, probably the best ever...

But the black spokes... :roll:

pastey_boy

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Nice and great groupset, probably the best ever...

But the black spokes... :roll:

To be honest I was a bit lazy with the wheels, was going to build a set of polished rims, silver spokes and polished Campag hubs but then ran into a few unseen problems with my chosen components, at the same time I saw the above new wheels for sale at an utterly bargainous price so I purchased them instead. May still build the other wheels up if I get the hubs sorted.

ugo.santalucia

I also wonder if a Primato 32 hub can be built radial... can't remember...

I love the frame... there is something about red bikes...

pastey_boy

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I also wonder if a Primato 32 hub can be built radial... can't remember...

I love the frame... there is something about red bikes...

The front is 28h. Going to ride the bike to Dolan to try and get some info on the frame, pretty sure they built it but would like to know when.

imposter2.0

pastey_boy wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I also wonder if a Primato 32 hub can be built radial... can't remember...

I love the frame... there is something about red bikes...

The front is 28h. Going to ride the bike to Dolan to try and get some info on the frame, pretty sure they built it but would like to know when.

Terry Dolan used to build his frames under the 'Cougar' name, but I believe the name may have been sold on afterwards, so it may not actually be a 'Dolan' Cougar at all.

pastey_boy

I have read up on as much history as I can find on the brand although there is not a lot of info on the net. From what I gather, Dolan used this colour ona lot of frames they built although as you say I could be totally wrong. Nothing wrong with asking though.

imposter2.0

Definitely worth asking - might be one of his. Presume the number will give it away..

Garry H

pastey_boy wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Nice and great groupset, probably the best ever...

But the black spokes... :roll:

To be honest I was a bit lazy with the wheels, was going to build a set of polished rims, silver spokes and polished Campag hubs but then ran into a few unseen problems with my chosen components, at the same time I saw the above new wheels for sale at an utterly bargainous price so I purchased them instead. May still build the other wheels up if I get the hubs sorted.

Ha!was just about to say how much better it woild look with the polished h plus son rims.

Lovely nonetheless
You have an eye for the good stuff anyway.

jezzasnr

That's lovely. Good job sir.
And I like the wheels as they are.

pastey_boy

jezzasnr wrote:

That's lovely. Good job sir.
And I like the wheels as they are.

I love the fitted wheels and the black rims really show off the sidewalls, only problem I have with them is that I am terrified of marking the braking surface. The bike is only going to see very occasional use as I would rather look at it than ride it, so maybe it wont be an issue. Having said that ,I have two more sets of rims I purchased for the project, 2 pairs of Rigida Chrina rims. One pair is mirror polished and one pair, black with a silver braking surface. The black pair are new but quite old and are much lighter than the modern polished rims (410gr Vs 495gr) back when the Chrina was a quality rim as opposed to the budget version available today. I will probably build both pairs up onto silver Ambrosio Zenith hubs so I can use the bike without fear of marking the Archetypes. A bit sad but the bike is in such good condition, I want to preserve it.

ugo.santalucia

I would say it's a bit sad that you don't want to ride the bike to avoid the rims wearing... it's a bike FFS and certainly not one that would flog for thousands at auction :roll:

pastey_boy

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I would say it's a bit sad that you don't want to ride the bike to avoid the rims wearing... it's a bike FFS and certainly not one that would flog for thousands at auction :roll:

it will get used, but only sparingly as I want to maintain its present condition. I didn't buy the bike to ride as such, I got it because in my opinion it is a beautiful piece of kit. when the previous owner first showed me the bike, I offered him much more than it was actually worth as I loved the look of it. As luck would have it the owner was after a mountain bike so I swapped him for a bike that stood me at not a lot of money. I did have to spend around £500 to get it into its current state. I know its not worth lots of money but I dont care, I just enjoy the fact that I own it.

imposter2.0

I tend to agree with Ugo - I wouldn't get too hung up on the 'quality' of the bike. Bikes like that were absolutely commonplace in road race bunches in the 90s - and 531 (is it even 531c ?) was a basic spec back then. I've got a very similar frame hanging up in my garage, a handbuilt 653.

It's a good-looking machine though - but paint and anodising can all be re-applied if necessary...

ugo.santalucia

I've had this in the family since 1986, when my dad got it second hand, it's a 1980, made by an artisan in Turin, who is currently still active making custom carbon frames for Corratec. Columbus SL, Super Record group set, the lot. I have only rebuilt the wheels because I like to ride it and I want good wheels, the rims are late 80s, so slightly off period. I don't ride it in the wet or in winter, but it does get used. It would make me sad to have it hanging on the wall as a trophy... bikes are to be used, otherwise they are not bikes, they are ornaments. I have seen collectors with 20-100 bicycles, but pity overtook envy as a feeling by a long way.
You can keep a bike in very good conditions for a very long time... maintenance is the key. This one has been resprayed and I managed to get some identical decals.

pastey_boy

Imposter wrote:

I tend to agree with Ugo - I wouldn't get too hung up on the 'quality' of the bike. Bikes like that were absolutely commonplace in road race bunches in the 90s - and 531 (is it even 531c ?) was a basic spec back then. I've got a very similar frame hanging up in my garage, a handbuilt 653.

It's a good-looking machine though - but paint and anodising can all be re-applied if necessary...

I am not even slightly hung up, I know what the bike is , I am not under the impression that I am sat on a valuble cycling relic, I know where 531 sits in the tubing hierarchy, the point is , I got the bike because I love the way it looks. I did not get it to ride, I just wanted it. maybe it will be seen by many as a great shame that the bike will not see much road time . who knows, maybe when I have had a chance to ride the bike I may see it differently and may end up using it more than I had intended.

jezzasnr

your bike, do with it as you will. Stick it on the wall, polish it to death, ride it 'til its dust, something in between.
no need to justify it, whatever it is .

ovi

here is a bit of info that I found on Cougar been used by Dolan and Paul Donohue http://www.lfgss.com/thread115357.html

Supergoose

Love it.

Cut those outer way too short though. Pet hate of mine, I like to see a bit of overlap there>.:D

housemunkey

Really nice build that, I personally like a bit of modern mixed in there. Not everyone has to produce a true to period replica; and while I agree it'd be a shame not to ride it, it's the OP's bike to with as her wishes.

I rebuilt my dads old carlton and it is absolutely nothing special in terms of being top of the range. But I spent my time and money sorting it out and it means something to me. I ride it every now and then but never in anything but perfect weather, so I can totally see where Pastey is coming from.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/49118696@ ... otostream/

bikes`n`guns

House munkey

After seeing the "before" pics, why on earth did you restore that Carlton ?? it looked mint in it`s original paint and decals ???

Meirionatron

I had one of those as my first road bike years ago, rode great, wish I never sold it now. Here is mine as it was just before selling it:



I also had an alloy cougar with carbon rear stays in baby blue (which I crashed after 2 weeks use), not as good as the 531 but still a great bike:

housemunkey

Bikes`n`guns wrote:

House munkey

After seeing the "before" pics, why on earth did you restore that Carlton ?? it looked mint in it`s original paint and decals ???

Not sure which photos you were looking at but it was a bloody mess after sitting in the shed for god knows how many years....... :?: :?:

pastey_boy

Finally built some different wheels for the Cougar. Nice as they are, the H Plus Son rims are a bit too modern so I have managed to build something a bit more retro looking. Rims are a pair of NOS 32h Rigida Chrina, these are not the budget 500 gram rims available today, they weigh in at 410 grams each. Hubs are FRM, again NOS and very light at 270 grams for the pair. Spokes are silver Sapim CX-ray and nipples are Dt Swiss alloy. The hubs are Shimano spline so I have to use an Ambrosio conversion cassette to run it with the Campag groupset, the previously fitted titanium Record cassette was slipping on the smallest two sprockets with a new chain so it needed to be changed. Also found some nice tan wall tyres to complete the look, a pair of Clement Strada LLG 25mm. The wheels weigh in at 1447 grams which should put a spring in the Cougars step. Will post pics of wheels on the bike when my cassette and tyres turn up

ugo.santalucia

nice!

PhilPub

Wheels look very nice, and great choice on the Clement Strada!

pastey_boy

Thanks for the comments. Got the new wheels on now, I apologise for the piss poor pics but my phone is away for repair so I had to use my tablet. Looks much better in my opinion, and much lighter too, the bike weighs in at bang on 9kg with pedals and bottle cage as pictured. First bit of dry sunny weather I will take her for a nice long ride. Also managed to dig out a lovely pair of Campy skewers I had lurking in the bottom of a big carrier bag full of odds and sods.

PhilPub

Lovely! Given the resurgence in popularity of gumwalls I'm surprised silver spokes and hubs haven't made more of a come-back as well. So much nicer than black!

pastey_boy

PhilPub wrote:

Lovely! Given the resurgence in popularity of gumwalls I'm surprised silver spokes and hubs haven't made more of a come-back as well. So much nicer than black!

The silver spokes have a nice sparkle to them in sunshine. Been busy today lengthening all the cables as I needed to raise the stem and when I originally put the bike together I had no Campag cables knocking around so had to make do with the existing cables which were bordering on the short side, all sorted now with plenty length. Given the bike a thorough going over, the Ambrosio cassette works fine though not quite as smooth as a Record it replaced. The bike feels much better now I have raised the stem. I found a nice aluminium bottle which compliments the bike along with a frame fitting carbon Blackburn pump which also looks the part. I have mounted a Garmin mount on the stem on top of the bar clamp which works well. Hoping to get out on it tomorrow, will possibly be riding to Southport so I will try and get some nice pics in the expected sunshine.