Current bike project. '61 Bianchi Speciallissima, re-raked to low trail, spread to 130 mm, 650B VO Diagonales w/ Sturmey-Archer CS-RF3 and Shutter Precision PV-8, 42 mm Hetres at 35 psi, original Campagnolo Gran Sport derailleurs (since modified with toothed Shimano pulleys) and shifters, Universal Mod 61 levers and MAFAC Raid brakes, Campagnolo Record crankset 50/45, eight speed Shimano cassette 11-28, Brooks Swift Titanium on Campagnolo seat pin, etc.
Gearing is 2 x 8 x 3. Actually the 8 is 7 because the derailleur won't reach the biggest cog, so I'll do some cog swapping and add a spacer. Still experimenting with different shifters: picture shows a downtube shifter clapped to seat tube, after taking this picture, I added a S-A trigger shifter on the bars. The purpose of the IGH is to allow a low gear (trying to get 31 G.I.) with the original 151 BCD crank and elderly derailleurs, and to permit a close ratio cassette. The other advantage is I can ride around town in a cruising gear (50 x 17 etc), then click down to a lower gear at stop lights.
Going to try different shifter locations. E.g. bar ends, or moving the S-A shifter to the top tube. When the final setup is chosen, bike will get brazed for brake caliper mounts, cable stops, shifter mounts, pump peg, spare spoke holder, light wiring, bottle cage mounts, rack mounts, etc. Frame will then get rechromed and resprayed, new decals, components polished, rusty bits replaced.
P.S. Anyone happen to have hoods for Universal Mod. 61 brake levers?