I’ve spent a lot of time of late looking at ‘vintage’ road bikes on the interwebs. It all started when thinking about what my ‘dream bike’ would be, and invariably the frame material of choice was steel. Beautiful modern-day frames from the likes of Baum, Speedvagen and Italian classics Colnago and De Rosa were high on the list, and high on price, something that kept the ‘dream’ in dream bike. Then I struck on the solution; surely people are selling off the old ‘ten-speed’ from under the house, not knowing that the old girl that had been handed on by Grandpa, who was a bit of a cyclist in his day, was worth a little bit more than the pocket money that they were asking just to save them the hassle of taking it to the dump.
Trawling the pages of TradeMe (the Kiwi EBay) started taking up my evenings, interspersed with endless forums that showed some of the most beautiful restored bikes I’ve ever seen. And like the awesome bikes my father has painstakingly rejuvenated (and which we chronicled on this very site) they invoke the beauty and simplicity of the time. Beautiful to look at, but I wanted something I could ride as my one and only road bike. The plan was hatched.
So I found this old girl, a Columbus SL-tubed, locally made machine, and watched the auction with intent. When the time to bid came, cold feet got the better of me, and I passed, as did the cut-off with no bids put in. The next day, a slew of emails to guru of all things Euro, steel and cool, Oli, gave me the impetus to get the ball rolling. A buy-now offer was taken up, and for the princely sum of $220 NZ (about 50 bucks US) I had the Bosomworth secured. The next step didn’t come so cheaply though, but with a sale from the NZ distributor happening, the necessary group was ordered; Chorus 11 speed will be gracing the old girl, and some Shamal Ultras are being watched closely too, or I may just plump for some new Nuetron Ultras to complete the build. I’ve just bought a sweet Italmanubri quill stem for peanuts, and a post and headset are the next targets. (Wheel and component suggestions welcome.)
It may not quite be the dream bike, but it’s going to be fun to convert it into something close. So out with the carbon and in with the steel, out with the Japanese and in with the Italian. Even if the frame ends up not floating my boat, there are some back up plans in place.
I’m excited.
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It seems there is a strong Kiwi contingent lurking around here!
I scored this little beauty from TradeMe today:
Richard and I got talking about old bikes and stuff and Velominati came up. He is a regular reader, hopefully now commenter and community member. Cheers for the sweet stem mate!
About an hour after Richard dropped off the stem, I was selling a pair of shoes to a guy, whose wife and new twins were in tow. We got talking about how they nearly named the young uns Frank and Andy, then about the Vuelta, and the VSP came up. "Is that you?!" he asked. Another long time lurker, apparently his wife found The Rules on a non-cycling site and turned him onto our community. He even referred to his new S Works shoes as 'White Ladies'. Welcome Gianluca and Zoe (and little Frank n Andy!)
@Brett
I'm with @Russell; box-rims all the way. I would say even go with tubs (that's what I'm doing with the Steel when I switch it to Campy). Awesome stem, and awesome story! Richard, Gianluca, Zoe, and Frandy - welcome!
@frank
Tubs, nah, not for everyday riding. Maybe some Open Pros, or Ambrosios if I could find any, on Campy hubs.
@Russell
@wedger
Welcome to you guys as well!
Brett, I ride a set of 2006 record hubs laced to open pros and alternate them with a set of 1994 shamals retro fitted with a 10speed freehub on my Merckx Max.
They are sick wheels but you will pay plenty if you are trying to get a nos 32hole set of the silver record hubs. Mine came from ebay italy and cost more than you would pay for a small child on the Romanian black market.
Good luck with the project - those Bosomworths like really nice.
Stu
@Kiwicyclist
Cheers mate. I've spotted a set of wheels on TradeMe, they are silver Chorus hubs laced to blue Open Pros. One of the rims is damaged, but they are only asking $40 reserve! Watching that closely I tell ya! I really want Ambrosio rims though, there have been a few on there, but only one at a time, a red clincher, a black tubular... But if I score thos wheels cheap even just for the hubs, I can get some OPs laced up easily. Would love the ceramic OPs, but they seem rare in these parts too.
And this nice little package turned up today...
Fools sent me 10 speed shifters though.
Brett, don't take it the wrong way, but I think you should have used a polished aluminum Campy crank, in order to fit with the thematic feel of the bike.
Gotta love Chorus & up though~
@wvcycling
I hear ya, but if I was doing a 'vintage' build, true to the era, then I would've seeked out those parts. As it is, I'm going for a 'nuevo-retro' build, as if I was to buy a new Colnago Master or such, which would come with modern parts. I'm mixing it up a bit. Eventually, it could end up with a carbon fork and threadless headset/stem. Or I could end up with another carbon frame, so a polished old school crank would've looked even more out of place. I think Oli's bike is a great example of what I'm going for.
@wvcycling
I'm with you here. Much prefer the polished aluminium. It's a real shame that modern cranks are so ugly. Surely someone can make the carbon look good. Particularly disappointed with Campagnolo for releasing something ugly.
I'd read a few years back an interview about electronic gruppos with a guy at Campagnolo who said they'd mastered the technology, but couldn't release it since it wasn't beautiful enough. I guess he was on holiday when they designed the cranks.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? Or did I miss the memo? I love the look of the pre-84 Super Record cranks with their stunning satin finish and the aluminium Record cranks also, but I like the look of the carbon ones too...
I've noticed a lot of people seem pretty adamant that they are the arbiters of style, but to me they just look closed-minded.