The refit of my Rhygin Metax is finally done and it’s looking very slick as a go fast brevet bike.
Terraferma fork, Campagnolo Record hubs and Record 10 speed drivetrain with 2009 Centaur brifters, Campagnolo Euclid/HP wide profile canti brakes, 3ttt stem and handlebar (Merckx bend), Synergy rims with Challenge Parigi-Roubaix tires. My old Silca pump and Brooks Pro saddle (refurbished with a SA cut-out by Selle-Anatomica), Cut down VO seatpost and rack (customized by Dirk).
Cinelli orange cork tape shellaced with garnet flake shellac, ties are sinew and black waxed thread. Stronglight Delta headset, VO bell and bell spacer and stainless steel Berthaud fenders.
Very pretty Campagnolo NOS canti brakes. No clearance for the rear fender so it was cut and attached it to the seat tube.
I still need to attach the fender to the front rack eyelet. Front rack mod looks great.
Looking at these pics it looks like the rack may need to move back a bit but that can wait. I’m done fiddling and want to get riding. I just finished shellacing the bars. Once it’s dry I’ll hit the shellac with some 3000 grit emery paper to kill the super gloss shine.
A stripped and polished Wetzikon chainring guard sits on the outside ring position of an NOS Record triple crank. An old Record OR front ATB derailleur was used as it’s designed for a small outside ring.
Trail with the old Time Equipe carbon fork (45 offset) and 23c tires was about 56. New Terraferma fork has an offset of 56 giving me a trail of about 46 with 28c tires. Have only had a once around the block on the bike and that felt very good. Once the shellac dries I’m off to do some real riding.
Thanks to Mike Terraferma and Dirk Smeets for their invaluable input and know how.
Did you give any thought to a 650B conversion? That’d give you lots of rear fender clearance!
Yes I did and my wife’s bike I did convert to 650B (see the Waterford in an earlier post). But on mine I decided to go 700x28c. Mainly because of the Challenge tires.
wow nice bike. chuckle to myself when I saw another Dirk, not many of us around.
Very nice bike, didn’t you consider mounting a rear rack? It would be easier than the front one.
Geometry of the bike is geared for a front load. A rear rack would adversely affect handling. Had I stuck with the old geometry I would have used a big saddlebag. But I like a front bag better so I went for lower trail.
This is a very impressive build! You’ve got parts I didn’t even know existed, and put them all together in a way that makes sense. Campy cantilevers! But modern with the shifting and all…just a perfect blend of old (NOS) and new.
Lovely, but what’s up with the frayed and too-short-anyway straddle-wire on the rear brake? But really, a very stylish bike in every other respect.
David, The straddle wire was replaced shortly after the photo.
looking to sell a Rhygin…It has never been ridden,
Cyclocross, 55cm I think…any thoughts…exemplary job on yours—
mike
Not a well known maker -so prices are not likely to be high. Recently saw a Rhygin Metax frame go for $500. on ebay.
rue,
your bike is spectacular.
@mike, I’d be interested in your 55cm bike. I can be reached at ttx1 at att dot net.
thanks!
This is a stunning example of a Rhygin. Very tastefully done. I have a 1994 Rhygin Ra and also just picked an NOS 1997 Rhygin Metax Cyclocross bike (which is posted above in the entry from Mike).
Beautiful bike. I have a question about one of your comments. You said the geometry of this bike was geared for front loading. I keep seeing comments like this, but I have yet to find a resource that explains what makes a bike front or rear loading. How do I tell what kind of touring bike I have?
Thanks