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Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 10:55 am
by GaryF
Uncle Just wrote:Very nice Gary. Lovely red colour too. :) I've always liked chromed or polished lugs and also done on the dropout faces too. (The only thing you may need to upgrade is a better seat post bolt :wink: )
Impressive Uncle Just. It was the only seat cluster nut and bolt I had that fitted the frame. The bolt is too long but it was in as new condition so I used it. Saronni used a nut and bolt on his seat cluster of his famous bike - so - I had to use one too.

The chrome work is (or was) flawless but taken beyond what you would find on a Colnago Mexico or Super of that era. Just on that, if you were ordering a Frame from the Colnago factory, you could order it with chrome in a few places, i.e. the stays, forks, lugs, etc. or it could be ordered just painted.

Again - very well spotted.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 1:34 pm
by GaryF
Another one - but this time it's such a great riding bike. A '89/'90 Colnago Master Piu frame with '95 8 speed campy Record gruppo:

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This would have to be one of my most enjoyable bikes to ride. Perfect manners from both the frame and groupset - I love it.

I got the frame from a really nice guy in Geelong. It had been re-finished in a paint scheme reminiscent of the Ariostea team colours of the late 80's /early 90's. I remember drooling all over the Colnago frames with this colour scheme in DeGrandi bike shop at the time. Oh how I wanted one. Then to be offered this frame, and a Master Piu frame at that, how could I resist??? Impossible! I know the groupset is a little later on for the frame but I so lusted after a '95 Campy 8 speed, Ti, Record groupset, it wasn't funny! No, it was sad. I even had to have a later model Campy Ti Record seatpost to really set this bike off. This story just gets sadder and sadder.

I am nervous of the Campy fluted seatposts of the era as I snapped one while out on a ride. VERY CLOSE TO A MEDICAL DISASTER!

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Also, a Flite Ti saddle and my favourite ITM bars and stem. I liken this bike to a classic Ferrari car - it is wonderful to ride and the Campagnolo Record group set just 'works'. I'm very happy with the combination of frame and group set.

I hope you like this bike?

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 1:55 pm
by Uncle Just
Ok I'll bite. WE ALL LOVE YOUR BIKES!! Keep posting and your (faux :lol: ) modesty only adds to the charm of each story.

My first full Campy gruppo was 8 speed 94 Chorus on a Kerry Hopkins frame iirc. Took a looong time to bed in and sometimes the left lever would lock just as you went to change on a hill to the inner ring leaving you stuck. :o Quite agricultural gears but I was used to such quirks having had Moto Guzzis some time previously with their at times less than slick gear changes. :wink:

Btw love that combo of the Flite and the Ti pillar. An iconic combo imo.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:03 pm
by 10speedsemiracer
Nothing sad in any of that, and I think most here will relate.

I'll happily admit to buying a frame just to suit a groupset I have stashed away in a shoebox.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:05 pm
by 10speedsemiracer
So far, the Vern Smith would be the one I lusted after most, followed by the Rossin. They are both extremely impressive, although the Colnago Master with the 95 group is truly beautiful. Your insurance broker must absolutely love you.

It's all a bit depressing actually, all this exotica. Closest I get to exotica is being passed by some kid on a Bianchi while I'm out on the 90s Japanese steelie.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:11 pm
by GaryF
Uncle Just wrote:Ok I'll bite. WE ALL LOVE YOUR BIKES!! Keep posting and your (faux :lol: ) modesty only adds to the charm of each story.

My first full Campy gruppo was 8 speed 94 Chorus on a Kerry Hopkins frame iirc. Took a looong time to bed in and sometimes the left lever would lock just as you went to change on a hill to the inner ring leaving you stuck. :o Quite agricultural gears but I was used to such quirks having had Moto Guzzis some time previously with their at times less than slick gear changes. :wink:

Btw love that combo of the Flite and the Ti pillar. An iconic combo imo.
A Kerry Hopkins with Chorus would have been some bike!! Top shelf stuff even though the gears let you down occasionally.

It must have been wonderful to own a Moto Guzzi(s) with that iconic vee engine. Do you have a couple of photos?

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:17 pm
by GaryF
10speedsemiracer wrote:So far, the Vern Smith would be the one I lusted after most, followed by the Rossin. They are both extremely impressive, although the Colnago Master with the 95 group is truly beautiful. Your insurance broker must absolutely love you.

It's all a bit depressing actually, all this exotica. Closest I get to exotica is being passed by some kid on a Bianchi while I'm out on the 90s Japanese steelie.
I can't blame you re the Vern Smith - Columbus MAX. What a frame! unfortunately with a crease in the top tube. I don't have a photo of the crease.

I've never been into Japanese bikes but at least I know they are extremely well built and have a huge following. And. those Japanese groupsets are just so classy and work so well. I must admit that I like the old Suntour Superbe Pro stuff very much, just like you. I wonder if the Bianchi that passed you was a Japanese built Bianchi?

By the way, I won't forget your interest in the Vern Smith. I wish I still lived in Melbourne.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:23 pm
by 10speedsemiracer
GaryF wrote:....

I wonder if Vern still operates this great old bike shop?
I went past a while back (maybe 10mths ago?) on my way to a job, looked somewhat bleak and deserted.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:26 pm
by GaryF
10speedsemiracer wrote:
GaryF wrote:....

I wonder if Vern still operates this great old bike shop?
I went past a while back (maybe 10mths ago?) on my way to a job, looked somewhat bleak and deserted.
Oh, thats a shame. I suppose everyone gets old and retires. I bet Vern still remembers this bike though.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:32 pm
by 10speedsemiracer
Re the SunTour, you've hit the nail on the head, Superbe Pro is what flicks my switch. My first real bike had a SunTour group and that was it, I was hooked.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:36 pm
by GaryF
I can't blame you. I suppose I'm lucky with one bike with this stuff on it. The slant parallelogram rear derailleur was a revelation

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:54 pm
by familyguy
GaryF wrote:1983 ALAN Sprint

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Something in me has always wanted a set of Helium's. They fit in nicely on this bike.

Jim

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:44 pm
by GaryF
Thanks Jim, I just stumbled over the Helium's and didn't have anywhere to stick them. Then, bingo! Why not the ALAN to match the bar tape? The rest is history...

I felt a bit ridiculous taking off a set of perfectly matched Record hubbed wheels but I just couldn't stop myself.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 4:13 pm
by GaryF
More????

Remember - if you've had enough just get out of this indulgent thread.

How about something a little different?

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 4:31 pm
by GaryF
I have always loved old Hillman track bikes and have often commuted on one of them. I know Hillman's are not everyone's 'cup of tea' but who's thread is it anyway? Hehehe.

I got this one from that nice guy in Geelong and it has seen a fair bit of commuting. It came with no decals so I painted 'Hillman' on the downtube and sourced the other decals from Hillman's. It was made in 1984 from Reynolds 531 by Gordon Hill for 'Emmanuel' (I think) 61.5 x 61.5 c to c. I like the 'H' milled into the fork crown. The components are a mix of economical (Sugino/SR/Sunshine) but great quality bits and pieces. About a year ago I changed the stem to this Nitto dropped stem as it has 'the' look.

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No air in the tyres:

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An old plastic Cinelli Unicanitor saddle - just right for a track bike:

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There was just something I admired about Gordon Hill's approach to frame building. The feeling I got was that it was a bike frame; a tool to help get the job done. These lugs will do the job; that tubeset is strong and light. Set the frame up straight; cut the mitres properly; make sure the brazing fills the lugs. You need a set of pedals - there's a good set of pedals in that Campy 50th anniversary set over there - we'll use those.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:00 pm
by Uncle Just
Apologies for a thread derailment but they share two wheels. :wink:
It must have been wonderful to own a Moto Guzzi(s) with that iconic vee engine. Do you have a couple of photos?
The Le Mans Mark 2 I had was a wonderful grand touring bike if a little flimsy in the front end. The fork stanchions were smaller in diameter than many current downhill mountain bikes! Changing down a gear or two into a corner could see the back end step out a foot or so with the torque reaction of the shaft drive if you didn't get it right! :oops:

Many Guzzistas though prefer the Mark 1. Had to sell mine because of a mortgage and kids. I can't find any old photos of it but here's one from the web. I fell in love with Guzzis way back when I saw an S3 in the late 70s. Absolutely gorgeous, they don't make them like that anymore just like the wonderful steel bikes you have. I believe there is a certain shared aesthetic of Italian motor bikes of the 70s to mid 80s with many 60s to early 90s steel framed racing bicycles. :D

Le Mans Mark 2 circa '78

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And the incomparable S3 circa '75

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Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:22 pm
by GaryF
Thanks Uncle Just. i love your insight into the ride qualities of these bikes. I worked with a guy that had one back in the 80's and he absolutely lived for his bike. I can appreciate that certain 'Italian' aesthetic that is so mesmerising. You could just look at them for hours.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:48 pm
by Uncle Just
I missed this....
There was just something I admired about Gordon Hill's approach to frame building. The feeling I got was that it was a bike frame; a tool to help get the job done. These lugs will do the job; that tube set is strong and light. Set the frame up straight; cut the mitres properly; make sure the brazing fills the lugs.
Very true. I had Gordon make me a 531 Competition frame in '91 when he was running a shop in Ringwood. Probably my best value custom frame for the money I've ever had. I wanted a frame made based on Greg Lemond's ideas, low BB, slacker seat angle stretched out with a longish wheel base. Gordon was very pleasant to deal with and happy with my suggestions and did a great job. Painted red of course! :wink: It was a delight to ride and handled brilliantly on descents. An all day bike. Sadly I sold it to a mate to buy an EL OS Ken Evans frame which was crap. The down tube rusted out in < 12 months.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:06 pm
by GaryF
Uncle Just wrote:I missed this....
There was just something I admired about Gordon Hill's approach to frame building. The feeling I got was that it was a bike frame; a tool to help get the job done. These lugs will do the job; that tube set is strong and light. Set the frame up straight; cut the mitres properly; make sure the brazing fills the lugs.
Very true. I had Gordon make me a 531 Competition frame in '91 when he was running a shop in Ringwood. Probably my best value custom frame for the money I've ever had. I wanted a frame made based on Greg Lemond's ideas, low BB, slacker seat angle stretched out with a longish wheel base. Gordon was very pleasant to deal with and happy with my suggestions and did a great job. Painted red of course! :wink: It was a delight to ride and handled brilliantly on descents. An all day bike. Sadly I sold it to a mate to buy an EL OS Ken Evans frame which was crap. The down tube rusted out in < 12 months.
That must have been some bike. Greg Lemond really seemed to be the complete package. I once had a Merckx that had very similar geometry features like you describe with your Hillman. It too was an all day bike.

Thanks for your insight into your dealings with Gordon and it is great to read about the bike's ride qualities. I can appreciate why you sold it to get the Kenevans but I bet you're not the only one to come 'unstuck' in similar circumstances. Some of those Kenevans frames really looked fantastic and Ken was a really good salesman. You'd think EL OS would last much longer that 12 months.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:59 pm
by Uncle Just
Just poor post build prepping. The scale and swarf weren't cleaned out and hey presto moisture and consequent rust on those thin tubes does the rest. Subsequent frames have been faultess. I have a 9 year old custom Gellie that was impeccably finished.

I built the Gordon Hill frame around some items I'd picked up on a trip to the UK. A lovely 3T 120mm 2002 hinged stem, a marvellous easily adjusted Mavic 305 headset and the fantastic "kind to the knees" 646 LMS pedals. It was all I could afford as I'd fallen in love with Mavic stuff and would have liked a full group (that starfish chainset was a work of art imo) but settled on Ultegra for the rest of the build. I still have the 3T stem on a Duell frame I picked up NOS on this forum as a paean to the early 90s steel era. :D

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:25 pm
by GaryF
I really like some Mavic components too. I also think the starfish chainset is beautiful. I love the Mavic hubs of the 80's era and chased a pair for quite a while. A Mavic groupeset is a dream that I will never realise.

A trip to the UK would be fun especially coming across a few rare components or even a wonderful British frame. Finding a home for your newly found components and fitting them to your Gordon Hill frame must have been fun.

I think I would love to see your bikes, they sound so interesting.

It is quite sad to read about your EL OS frame wows especially as the damage could easily have been prevented.

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:28 pm
by 10speedsemiracer
Uncle Just wrote:Apologies for a thread derailment ......
that was nicely done...

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:35 pm
by GaryF
10speedsemiracer wrote:
Uncle Just wrote:Apologies for a thread derailment ......
that was nicely done...
+1

Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 10:15 am
by GaryF
DeGrandi's were finally 'throwing out' some old frames and bikes when they moved from their old premises to their new store. A number of second hand things were caught in limbo - it just wouldn't all fit in their new store. I bought this frame during that period. Just as a bit of fun; a Berretto pursuit track frame made by Brett Richardson in Brisbane:

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The nice thing about this bike is that it has 700c front and back wheels, an ovalised frame that accepts a Shimano AX seat tube and it's quite nice to ride. It took me quite a while to put it together and I think it looks fantastic. I'm very pleased I own this piece of Aussie cycling history.

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Re: My Bikes - Re-Posting a few photos.

Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 1:40 pm
by 10speedsemiracer
my lumbar regions hurts just looking at it. cool bike though.