On Saturday, O’Dirty completed a rebuild of my Carrera Virago road bike, replacing its 2001 9-speed Shimano 105 groupset with 2009 11-speed Campagnolo Record, and its bar and stem with a Deda Newton combination. The Virago (see below) emerged 700g lighter; it (given the “Virago” name, perhaps I should write “she”) now weighs 7.7kg with pedals and bottle cages.

Carrera Virago with 2009 Record

The frame and forks are the last remaining original parts. They weigh 2kg: not light by today’s standards, and heavier than I’d guessed. The carbon forks, with an aluminium steerer, account for more than 500g. O’Dirty was kind enough to break the news to me gently after he’d stripped the parts from the frame.

The 54cm frame, made from magnesium alloy shotgun tubing, was manufactured in Taiwan by Merida. I kept the frame and forks, despite their weight, for several reasons: I like the green paint job; I like to think the magnesium lends the frame a certain cachet (yeah, I know: in my mind); and I could not bring myself to spend thousands of dollars on a lighter frame, or even just a few hundred on lighter forks, when I could lose a few kilos just by eating less and riding more.

However, the 105 groupset’s days have been numbered since 2008, when TechnoBoy shamed me into upgrading to Eurus wheels by referring to the originals as “soft pretzels”. Keeping the 105 forced me to use a heavy steel freehub body that Campagnolo manufactures to allow its wheels to fit 8- or 9-speed Shimano cassettes. This freehub body is 70g heavier (O’Dirty weighs everything!) than the equivalent body for Campagnolo cassettes (or, to be fair, newer Shimano cassettes). The knowledge that I could save at least 70g just by upgrading the groupset rankled me. I am surprised it took me this long.

A magazine review of the Virago praised the frame, saying it deserved better wheels and a better groupset. With Campagnolo Eurus wheels and now a Record groupset, I think the frame finally has the components it deserves, and I think the result is a good-looking bike. I’m not a fan of anodised aluminium (I prefer polished), but I do like the contrast between the black parts and the green frame. The Record components, from the skeleton brakes to the carbon fibre cranks, are beautiful. And I am glad to be rid of the unsightly gear cables poking out of the old 105 shifters.

After stripping the frame, O’Dirty took it to Rider’s Choice to get the bottom bracket faced and chased. They baulked at facing the strange-looking inserts in the BB, which were painted, but they did a nice job of chasing the threads. (Perhaps those inserts have something to do with the frame being magnesium? Perhaps they’re aluminium? The mechanic at Rider’s Choice had not seen them before. Whatever their reason for being, they posed no problem to the build.)

The exemplary quality of the build is a testament to O’Dirty’s experience, care and attention to detail. The Virago is my ninth bicycle in adult life (I have kept three): this second incarnation with Record is easily the highest quality build of them all. In the relaxed surroundings of his Subi apartment, and over a bottle of traditional German farm-produced cider that he provided for the occasion, I had the privilege of witnessing O’Dirty deftly fettle new life into my old bike. No kludges, no fudges, no glitches, no kinks. Everything fit perfectly. The result is a functional work of art; an experience that no bike shop can match, and no amount of money can buy.

One minor issue, but worth noting if you’re contemplating a similar build: the Record cable set did not include two ferrules that my frame requires for the rear brake cable, which runs bare (without housing) between braze-on stops at each end of the top tube. I might have been able to get away without these ferrules, but I would have been risking damage to the cable housing. O’Dirty salvaged two from my old parts.

You might question the upward angle of the stem. I too prefer the look of a lower, more aerodynamic riding position. However, for this build I deliberately chose comfort over looks and aerodynamics, and went for a more upright (”sportive”) riding position. I might change my mind later and flip the stem. Similarly, I’m experimenting with the set back of the saddle.

This Record groupset has a compact crankset (50/34) with a 12-25 cassette.

On Sunday morning, I took the bike for a test ride to Gino’s. I found myself at the top of Majestic Parade in the big ring wondering how I got there so quickly, and wearing a smile instead of the usual pained grimace. The bike felt lighter, yet far more “solid”: more direct, more precise. No more coaxing worn Shimano shifters; front derailleur shifts were particularly quick and easy.

Very, very happy. Thank you O’Dirty!