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This basic aluminium workhorse has built up some sentimental appreciation by faithfully serving me for I guess over 30,000km of riding by now and even somehow managing to bag a cyclocross podium despite being a roadbike with 400mm wide bars. Really it has performed suprisingly well, the only issue I had was the BB faces were out of true by about 0.3mm before I faced them.
I am therefore contemplating rewarding it with some nice new paintwork. Some of the existing paint is starting to bubble up (picture below) and it'd be nice to have a bright/reflective livery for commuting conspicuity. However, I guess there is a strong chance that I'd make the paintwork worse not better unless I take some care with how I prepare/undertake the work. Are there rattlecan solutions that get reasonable results undercoating/painting aluminium - plasticote perhaps? Any tips or advice for painting aluminium bikes appreciated.
Something else I'd aim to do if I paint is get some helicopter tape to put on the areas that get abrasions or impacts.
Another issue I have with the bike is the rear brake clearance - it has limited clearance around a cyclocross tyre and it tends to get clogged. I have mini-V brakes but cannot find an off the shelf adaptor that would let me mount them, or is there a high clearance caliper that I could try?
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The bike
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The paint
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The rear caliper
Not much you can do for brake clearance as far as I know.
For paint I'd be tempted to do a local repair rather than full repaint. Touch up paint or mask and spray if you can find a match.
I'm admiring that wall bracket
It looks like you are at the max for the callipers.
Long drop shimanos or tektros might give you more space. You get a 35c in them possibly more.
Infact i might have a set. But am away until Friday now.
I'd touch up using aluminium primer.
No idea re v boss adaptor
Don't see how deep drop calipers would help
Get it powder coated. It's not that expensive and is a tough enough coating for commuting and cyclo-cross. I'm sure someone could recommend a decent powder coater in your area if you post your location.
Go raw, never have to worry about it then.
A2Z DM-UNI adaptor and go disc...
https://krzywekolo.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/a2z-dm-uni/
Excuse my barbaric language, but pictures should be pretty descriptive.
Cheers!
I.
Yes a patch up or powder coatinh would be sensible. I am in West London so should be somewhere suitable nearby?
Disk convertor looks great, however I am trying to resist going disk on any of my road bikes for now, all my wheels are rim brake only.