I happened to stumble upon this on Ebay a month ago & the seller was local to me, took it back home with me after seeing it in the flesh & it looks almost new, lucky find indeed - just couldn't resist it!
This is very much an impulse buy even though I've always fancied a "real steel" bike, I think this should be a good example to try it out
Anyway, this is obviously NOT the old Arabesque frames that where made briftly for a few years back in the 80's, these are made with "old" new found lugs & as far as I know with Deda tubes instead of the original Columbus tubings, just like the current Masters.
This is a traditional geometry size 53cm, so it should fit me just fine, be it with a "few" spacers as the head-tube is tiny at 108mm
The chap I bought it from hardly rode it & the condition reflects that, he said it was "too nice" to ride it & he mostly ride MTB anyway
As I said, it was an un-expected purchase, so funds are limited for the build & cannot justify splashing out on expensive parts.
I could have gone the easy route & went for a full Potenza or Athena silver grouppo to run the chrome theme. But I thought this could be a fun winter project to search ebay for some older (less chunky) Campag parts to compliment the frame's thin tube aesthetics.
So, I thought parts from late 1990's & early 2000's 10-speed would be my aim, didn't want downtube shifters which probably would look appropriate. But I intend to ride this bike properly even though it does have that poser/cafe bike look about it
So, I have been busy on eBay & the internet, manged to get some decent used stuff, nearly new & NOS. Couldn't manage a full matching grouppo, but items are a selection of:
Daytona - 10s Shifters
10s Rear Mech
Chorus - 1" threadless headset (this one is lovely from Italy
)Brake-set front dual, rear mono
Aero Seat-post
Square Taper Bottom Bracket
Record - 10s Standard Chain-set 53/39T
10s chain
Cassette will be 10s Veloce 13-29T as it's cheap & massive
The control will be Japanese I'm afraid (because of the polish chrome finish & -17 to work with the traditional frame geometry), Nitto NJ-89 -17 degree stem with M174 Bars in Traditional bend.
I'm still short of a Front Mech, so still looking.
As for saddle, I want to try a Brooks Cambium C13 with ideally some stainless steel cages, probably Chris Kings or some Condor branded ones.
My plan is to see how this all goes before I think about the wheels, I do have a few sets of alloy clinchers & tubs that should work but you always want something new, eh
Depending on my final wheel choice, I would be very, very happy if my Arabesque comes under 8kg, sorry no WeightWeenie I'm afraid
(the steel fork alone is 730g
)Here's a few photos just to get started:
Hope you like it & I'll update as it progresses!
Cheers
✔
