[filegiant]

I finally got my Klein Pinnacle back from D&D Cycles. These are the guys that have done most of Ritchey's paint jobs since the beginning. Took about a year (!!), but Rick does very nice work and the cost was reasonable ($430). I had him match the original flare red color, file out some chainstay gouges and top-tube dent and re-create all the original decals. I also had him spray a clearcoat over the decals which Klein did not originally do, but I think it's a nice upgrade.

On the forks I had him remove the original chrome, remove the cantilever bosses, weld on rollercam bosses and paint it to match the fork. I also threw in a Control Tech stem for a color match as well.

This is going to be a build that spans several generations and will not be a period piece. It will be the rigid bike I would have built at that time had the parts all been available. So far I know I'll be using WTB Speedmasters, a DT 240 hubset, the Klein Stratum bars (pictured), Ritchey Logic WCS brake levers, thumbshifters (haven't decided between my NOS XT's or Suntour XC Pro--does anyone know if the latter will work with an 8-speed Shimano cogset?) and XTR seatpost. Derailleurs will probably end up being first-gen XTR if I can find an NOS or near-NOS set.

The cable hanger issue is going to be interesting since a WTB will be pretty hard to find. I have a Campy Euclid which looks as stiff as you can get as fits over the headset locknut and upper-half of the headset with a pinch-bolt.

Also, if anyone has a lead on a set of the stiff Klein internal cable sleeves, let me know ([email protected]).

Here's some initial pics:

 

[Rumpfy]

Niiiice!

Gotta love those journey restorations. Looks like you're on your way to one fine vintage rig!


Rick is the best. Super nice guy, sometimes takes a bit longer, but he works hard and turns out beautiful work.

He's done several frame reso's for me.

Congrats FG!

 

[filegiant]

Niiiice!

Gotta love those journey restorations. Looks like you're on your way to one fine vintage rig!

Rick is the best. Super nice guy, sometimes takes a bit longer, but he works hard and turns out beautiful work.

He's done several frame reso's for me.

Congrats FG!

I'm fairly patient, but a year? He told me several times over the phone "should be ready next week", the first being late December. I know most (all?) of my customers would not be so patient. I love the work and he did everything I asked so I'd like to continue using him, but I don't know if waiting that long on each restoration is worth it. What's been your average turn-around time from Rick?

 

[Rumpfy]

I'm fairly patient, but a year? He told me several times over the phone "should be ready next week", the first being late December. I know most (all?) of my customers would not be so patient. I love the work and he did everything I asked so I'd like to continue using him, but I don't know if waiting that long on each restoration is worth it. What's been your average turn-around time from Rick?

A year!? Sh!t...I missed that part.

I think 3 months was about average for me.

His shop is only 45 minutes north of me, so I get to talk to him in person, which I think helps.

I also know that he's the only guy there....one man operation. He's booked solid every time I visit.

A year is a bit lengthy though...

 

[filegiant]

A year!? Sh!t...I missed that part.

I think 3 months was about average for me.

His shop is only 45 minutes north of me, so I get to talk to him in person, which I think helps.

I also know that he's the only guy there....one man operation. He's booked solid every time I visit.

A year is a bit lengthy though...

Yeah, it was pretty easy to track since I had my father, who lives in Pleasanton, drop it off several weeks before my daughter was born. She's now 11 1/2 months and I just got the frame.

I can certainly handle 3 months (especially after this wait) if that is his average turn-around time. Thanks for the info...

 

[pinguwin]

Also, if anyone has a lead on a set of the stiff Klein internal cable sleeves, let me know ([email protected])

I'm not sure what you mean by 'stiff', I'm assuming you mean the standard internal cable guides. These are availble from Trek/Klein for about $5 each. Any dealer can order them for you.

Turns out they are simply standard 1/8" nylon tubing available in a large roll for about $20 from an industrial supply house (i.e. Graingers). When you buy it from Klein all it is is a 30" straight cutoff of this tubing. You have to buy three tubes, so it might be worth it to buy a roll.

You need to flare the end so that it looks like a bell for the end of the tubing that will be at the front end of the bike. This way the cable sleeve can't slip into the frame. Carsten might have the best way to flare the tubing, don't know, have to do this one of these days myself for one of my frames.

Not a bad deal for $430 with new brake bosses but a year to get it completed?
However, that's all behind you. You've got a cool bike, looks good.

'Guin

 

[filegiant]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'stiff', I'm assuming you mean the standard internal cable guides. These are availble from Trek/Klein for about $5 each. Any dealer can order them for you.

Turns out they are simply standard 1/8" nylon tubing available in a large roll for about $20 from an industrial supply house (i.e. Graingers). When you buy it from Klein all it is is a 30" straight cutoff of this tubing. You have to buy three tubes, so it might be worth it to buy a roll.

You need to flare the end so that it looks like a bell for the end of the tubing that will be at the front end of the bike. This way the cable sleeve can't slip into the frame. Carsten might have the best way to flare the tubing, don't know, have to do this one of these days myself for one of my frames.

Not a bad deal for $430 with new brake bosses but a year to get it completed?
However, that's all behind you. You've got a cool bike, looks good.

'Guin

I guess I was hoping they'd come from Klein pre-flared with the housing caps already installed. If not, I'll probably just get a roll as you suggested. I've got a couple of ideas with flaring the tubing, but maybe I'll contact Carsten and see what method he uses.

 

[pinguwin]

I guess I was hoping they'd come from Klein pre-flared

Trickier is getting the housing threaded. Sometimes it's a hassle. Carsten probably has some ideas for this too.

Carsten! Carsten where are you!? Put on your cape and paste that giant 'C' to your chest and rescue the commoners.

'Guin

 

[joeadnan]

So far I know I'll be using WTB Speedmasters, a DT 240 hubset, the Klein Stratum bars (pictured), Ritchey Logic WCS brake levers, thumbshifters (haven't decided between my NOS XT's or Suntour XC Pro--does anyone know if the latter will work with an 8-speed Shimano cogset?)

It should work fine. I've used XC-Pro shifters with 8 speed Shimano without a problem, though I would recommend a Shimano derailleur as the floating upper pulley can make up for the slight spacing difference between the Suntour and Shimano 8 speed systems.

 

[filegiant]

It should work fine. I've used XC-Pro shifters with 8 speed Shimano without a problem, though I would recommend a Shimano derailleur as the floating upper pulley can make up for the slight spacing difference between the Suntour and Shimano 8 speed systems.

Thanks. I was never a fan of Suntour indexed derailleurs so I'll certainly be using a Shimano mech.

 

[filegiant]

Trickier is getting the housing threaded. Sometimes it's a hassle. Carsten probably has some ideas for this too.

Carsten! Carsten where are you!? Put on your cape and paste that giant 'C' to your chest and rescue the commoners.

'Guin

I've routed plenty of Kleins back in the day and, with a little patience, never had a problem. I usually run a shift cable (with head removed) down the downtube and out the jet port, then slide the sleeving down the cable from the top.

 

[datawhacker]

the best painter in Portland (Acme) has had a frame of mine for a year also. Here is my pinnacle with paint from 1987

 

[filegiant]

the best painter in Portland (Acme) has had a frame of mine for a year also. Here is my pinnacle with paint from 1987

Nice. If you ever need more of the hard-to-find flexible shifting cable for your IRD brake, let me know--I think I still have a few rolls.