What is an occupational hazard of browsing sites like eBay and Craigslist? Distraction. That is to say—especially with algorithms and AI making suggestions—it’s so easy to fall into to a “rabbit hole” and find yourself looking at things that may be only peripherally, if at all, related to what brought you to the site in the first place.
Looking at bicycle-related items, which is the reason for much of my browsing, is especially hazardous: I can spend hours gazing at bikes, parts and accessories, especially if they are old or unused.
Today this beauty caught my eye:
It might have been a custom build. In any case, it looks like a quality machine: the frame’s workmanship and construction chrome finish look nice and the parts seem to be high- or medium-high class for their time.
The person (I assume it wasn’t AI) who wrote the description said “a friend” raced the bike in “the early 1960’s.” That seems plausible to me, given what I know about bikes from that period. But it’s not just the bike or some of its rarely-seen-today parts, like the Altenburger derailleurs (the front is a dead-ringer for the Campagnolo Valentino “matchbox” design) that linger in my mind.
Six decades have passed since the early 1960’s. The world is a different place today. Where has that bike been during those years? Has anyone besides the “friend” ridden it? Even more to the point (call me morbid) I wonder whether that “friend” is still alive and what he (I’m guessing he, like most racers of the time, was male) did after racing on that bike. Did he continue racing, or riding at all, on another bike? Or did he “hang it up” after getting a 9-to-5 job and starting a family? Perhaps he turned his attentions to another sport because, at least in the US, there was even less support for cycling than there is now.
That bike definitely has a story!
I don't know what it is but something seems off to
ReplyDeleteme. First, it doesn't look like the original parts. Most
people who had campy would try to keep everything
campy. Also, that looks like a stronglight 93 crankset
which didn't come out until the late 60s.
What is the frame made of? Anyone who redid a frame
would also save the decals.
Am I being too picky?
You’re right about the Stronglight cranks. Also, the Weinmann brakes are from a later date: They have red foil appliqués, whereas Weinmann Vainqueurs had engraved lettering until 1964. But the other parts look period- correct: Although Campagnolo had developed a parallelogram rear derailleur, derailleurs like the ones on that bike were still in wide use. And, as best as I can tell, the only parts that might be Campagnolo are the hubs, as Campy still made pressed-together (as opposed to the modern one-piece) shells. The Weinmann tubular rims look like the ones in use at the time, though the tires are certainly replacements, as one would expect. Oh, and the “suicide” stem looks like it could’ve been ridden in a six-day race.
ReplyDeleteAs for the decals: If the original finish was stripped away, it’s unlikely that the decals could’ve been saved. And it’s possible the head badge wasn’t reattached because a.) it was riveted and whoever refinished the frame didn’t have a riveting tool, or, b:) it was screwed on and the screws were lost or couldn’t be salvaged and replacements weren’t available. These days, it’s easier to find replacements for them and reproduction decals because of technology.
Whatever the bike’s provenance, I was intrigued by the possible story of the friend who rode it.
I think this is the rear derailleur: https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/altenburger_champion_derailleur.html
ReplyDelete