Before the Etape I'd been riding a steel bike but the frame had developed signs of corrosion and had to be scrapped. While looking around for a replacement I'd become interested in getting a titanium frame. Not only is titanium more or less indestructible, it also provides a better balance of lightness, strength and damping than any other material used to make bike frames. I'd read an enthusiastic review of the Etape and followed this up with a phone call to the Enigma HQ for a discussion about bikes. I took a bit of a chance buying an unseen bike on the strength of a review, a phone call and an on-line fitting but I was reassured by the attitude and knowledge of the guys at Enigma. The Etape wasn't cheap, especially with a Campagnolo Chorus groupset, but I planned on riding it for several years and considered the cost worthwhile.
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| The Enigma Etape crossing the Cevennes |
For the first couple of years it was used for all my road riding until I decided that it was too good for commuting; winter salt and grime was destroying the drive train components. The Etape became my weekend bike, for rolling around the hills and lanes of North Yorkshire, with occasional tours and sportives to add variety and distance. In 2010, with the Cycle Touring Club, I even rode it all the way through France to the Mediterranean.
Over the years the original Campagnolo Chorus groupset had been gradually replaced by cheaper kit and by 2015 the bike was slowly fading into obscurity. I'd bought a hybrid for commuting and wasn't using the Etape very often. Then I made my best decision for many years and joined a cycling club. Once I started riding more seriously the Etape was pressed back into action but a couple of months ago I realised that it probably needed a complete overhaul.
With 'Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance' as my guide, I stripped the frame, removed the forks and dismantled the integrated headset. Cleaning and greasing the bearings was easier than I'd expected and after resetting the carbon forks I started rebuilding the bike with shiny new components. After years of riding with Campagnolo, I'd decided to switch to Shimano and bought a half-price Ultegra 6800 groupset from an online bike store. I chose a compact 50/34 chainring with a 12/32 cassette to give myself a reasonable chance of getting up the notoriously steep hills of North Yorkshire without having to get off and walk. The old Campag hubs weren't compatible with the Ultegra cassette so I either needed to fit new Shimano hubs to the old wheels or upgrade to something better. After several years of riding around on stock wheels it was a no-brainer to replace them with a pair of Mavic Kysrium Elites from my local bike shop. The wheels are fitted with Mavic 25mm tyres, which appears to be the new standard for road bikes.
I kept the handlebars, stem, seatpost and saddle, the latter being a classic Brooks Swallow in black leather and titanium, and finished the rebuild with some black bar tape and my old Shimano pedals. Right now the bike has mudguards and lights for winter riding but once spring comes I'll take them off and have the Etape looking its best on the Sunday club runs. The refurbished bike is not just beautiful, it looks the business. The Ultegra gears change sweetly, the chain spins around with a satisfying hum and the new wheels make the bike feel more responsive and sprightly. I hope to spend many happy days riding the Etape around the beautiful roads of North Yorkshire. At least until I decide I need a new bike.
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