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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Oli,
i quite agree with your sentiment here, but I think that the beauty one beholds can fall into several categories:
1. Timelessly classic
2. Beautiful at least partly because it's the highest performance equipment / top of the range / newest technology.
3. Beautiful because it's different and new now.
Cars and bikes often fall into categories 2 and 3, and I fear the cranks do too. Let me leave you with this:
http://bklynbikes.blogspot.com/2010/01/la-legenda-di-celeste.html
There are several machines in here, that we might have thought beautiful in the 90's....?
, @George
I disagree whole-heartedly that the Campy carbon cranks are ugly; they are stunning and, aside from being slightly larger in diameter (which is a nice look), they are nearly identical to the earlier alu versions.
I like your list; 3 is bullshit, I call 2 "form follows function and function is beautiful", and 1 is just right. The Campy stuff fills both #1 and #2 nicely.
That TT bike is actually from one of the most exciting eras in bike innovation. They were coming out with truly innovative and crazy designs...they were unhitched from conventional thinking. Sure, that's an ugly fucking bike, but that is a representation of a bygone era.
@Brett
I have a similar TSX to Oli's, and I've gone the same way (mostly) as Oli; carbon fork, seatpost, modern wheels (Ksyrium). I'm going to switch to Campy and 3x wheels as well, but the important bits need to be modern if you're going to ride it a lot. I had the old steel fork in there with a quil stem, and I just couldn't get my position to be identical to the other bikes, so I wasn't riding it. Tossed in the carbon fork (found me a Bianchi carbon) and I was good to go.
The steel will feel amazing, but the modern components have to be added to the mix to make it a true daily-use steed. That said, I'm using my old Record alu crankset on it, and doing my best to find the alu Chorus 10spd shifters...
@ George; how about beautiful because it please your eye and no other reason? And I never liked the yellow on Pantani's machines, but wouldn't presume to criticise it if someone owned a bike in that colour scheme.
My point about beauty is in the eye of the beholder should have had the added statement that if you haven't got anything nice to say, perhaps don't say anything at all. Especially when you're talking about someone else's taste in bicycles.
That's just how I roll...Cheers, Oli
@Brett
The carbone cranks are beautiful(to me) and will look great on the rebuild. I'm getting a little carbone thinking about it. And the new external bearings seem like an improvement. Who wants to install a square taper BB on any bike anymore? Not me. I have a slightly used Campy record sealed square taper BB if you ever want one, English threads. Or you Frank? eh?
Agreed, beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. People will always disagree on what bike looks good, what doesn't, which riders rule and which ones suck. And a lot of time we say things that may be not very nice. But that is why we have such a good little community here, and spirited discussion is always welcome. In the end though, no matter who we call a douche, we are inherently pretty good folk.
I've been riding a combination of steel bikes for about 2 or so years with modern running gear - managed to get a great deal on campy record 10spd with alloy cranks from totalcycling.com for two bikes and had ops laced up by shifterbikes in Melbourne. I didn't like the skeleton brakes on frames of that era and wanted the combination of a period 'look' (e.g. 32 hole box style rims, alloy cranks etc) with modern running gear and reliable performance - weight was less of an issue given these frames are 'relatively' heavy anyway. My latest is as per the attached link as posted up by Marcus previously http://torosvecchi.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/merckx-corsa-extra-columbus-max/.
I've raced these bikes and they go as good uphill or on the flat as any modern carbon bike in my view. My track bike is even older and all pretty much period 'correct' - 1983 Falcon formerly owned by Shane Sutton fully restored and raced regularly. Its good to keep these old beauties going....
You know me Brett, cranky at the best of times. ;-)
Apologies to George if I came on a bit strong - I think I was still a coffee short...
@Oli Brooke-White
It's all good, you probably had a touch of the Armstrongs there...
You'd be pissed off too if the whole internet hated you!
@Oli Brooke-White
Not just the internet. I heard there's this one kid in Texas who likes him still, but...