Herewith 7 wonderful stories of *free* finds, or bikes that got away.
Paulie Davis in Foggy Los Angeles
BEST INTERNATIONAL ENTRY -- Hilary Stone writes: My star of all time was an Olmo found in Florence 15 years ago chained up and abandoned and fitted with the Campagnolo original gear. It is what the Italians called a tourer with flat bars, brazed-on brake levers, a half chaincase and sprung saddle. The hubs are FB, the cranks stamped Olmo, the stem has the expander bolt concealed by an Olmo badge fitted with screws and of course the fabulous Campag gear with two levers and the wheel moving backwards and forwards to take up the chain tension. I succumbed to temptation. The rims were delaminating on their top surface at the bottom of the wheel where water had collected in the same spot obviously for many years and the tyres were completely flat. It has been ridden quite a bit since - once new tubes, saddle and pedals were fitted. It is a right bitch when the chain comes off the chainwheel which it does if you are slightly careless changing gear.
*GOOD THINGS DO HAPPEN IN LOS ANGELES* AWARD -- Duane Kennard: The best freebies I've found were a '80 Raleigh 753 Team Pro frame that was completely stripped of parts, & had no fork, and a 1960 something Bertin (all Nervex pro lugs/531) frame, also completely stripped, and no fork. I found both of them in North Hollywood, along a busy street, and both sticking out of a trash can; same location for each, but about a year apart! I found 'em about ten years ago, and recognized the Raleigh from twenty yards away; always wanted one. I'm trying to get a "proper" fork made for the Raleigh made now. I'll do the Bertin someday. While not a bike, I also found a PILE of cool parts BEHIND COSTCO in Sun Valley! (on my birthday too!! NO LIE!) In the pile was some junk; BMX stuff, rusted steel cranks, cheap forks, etc., but there was also a pre-dated ('68-'72?) Campagnolo NR crank with rings! It looks like it had never been used, though it does have some scratches & small dings. Unfortunately, it was the right side only; still lookin' for the left....
DOUBLE WINNER: THE VERY NOVEL *HOW TO GET A 2ND BIKE HOME* AND *ACCIDENTALLY WON AN AWARD* AWARDS Skip Echert: While out for a ride, at the side of the road I noticed a road bike leaning against the chain link fence of a school. It had a large "FREE" sign hanging from the top tube. As I passed, I saw that it was an old, well-worn Gitane, replete with years of dust and grime. I assumed it to be a standard low-end bike boom bike; however, a bike that, in the early seventies, I would have loved to own, if only I had the 110 dollars. I passed it by. However, the FREE sign beckoned and I returned to have a closer look - what story did it have to tell? Expecting to see "Racer" on the Mafac calipers, I was surprised to see "Dural Forge" - Hmmm. The EXCELTOO "Competition" aluminum hubs told me not bottom of the line. The front derailleur had been replaced with a Suntour Compe V. From this, in my best Holmes emulation, I deduced the bike had been ridden, but not by a Francophile. The rear derailleur had also been replaced, but with an OLD Campy Record (PAY DIRT!). This French veteran had a new home. How to get it home? I was sure it would be taken by the time I returned with the van. In the mid-fifties in England, where and when bike commuting was the norm, I recalled seeing people riding one bike and steering another alongside. Heck, what did I have to lose but large patches of skin and paint? I reached home with bikes and body intact, my drunkard-like weaving providing amusement for the locals along the way. After hours of labor, it looked cleaner and worked better, but still retained "old" and "worn". (I believe it to be merely an Interclub from the 60's, but it has no model markings to confirm this.) For its maiden voyage, I took it to Seattle's Bicycle Sunday, wanting to see the display of old bikes. As I rode up to look, I was handed a bike stand and was told to put it with the other antiques. The old Gitane was awarded second place, runner up to a Campy Corsa-equiped beauty -- whose skilled owner, years younger than the bike, made the shifting look easy - but that's another story.
*THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY* AWARD David Feldman: Seen while riding my own bike, in the rear hopper of a garbage truck: Black and gold paneled frame, Nervex lugs, Superbe Pro or Gran Compe brake calipers, flat bars with touring levers. I couldn't catch the truck a second time to get a better look.
THE *DIDN'T DARE WAIT FOR THE POST-GARAGE SALE TRASH CAN* AWARD Lou Deeter: Found a nice Super Record equipped Pinarello in a garage sale in Alabama--saw it when I cycled by---did a U-turn, cut the price deal, then raced home for the moolah before he figured out what he had!!
THE *DOES A TRADE COUNT AS FREE?* AWARD Harvey Sachs: Well, about 1974 two of us spotted a prewar Paramount fixed-gear at a filling station in Oregon. Traded a used Schwinn continental for it, so not quite a freebie... Later, got an 1896 Davis Sewing Machines of Dayton triplet, 23x23x23, 1-1/4 tubes, all lugged, cotterless cranks, at a garage sale in upstate NY. Mel Kornbluh spotted it, but I bought it for an appropriate garage sale price. Was missing a bunch of parts.
and last but not least --
THE *SURREPTITIOUS CAR CRAMMING* AWARD Rod Kronenberg: Last year at a LBS that takes trade-ins, I found a couple of bikes in their scrap pile. I know the guys at the shop a little bit because I deal with them fairly often. Usually, it's been to leave my thrift store finds there on consignment. Anyway, on this day I asked if I could take a couple of bikes out of their scrap heap. They said have at it! First, I had seen a root beer brown Motobecane Grand Record. While the paint was very faded, it was complete and original. Although I sold the bike because it was too small for me, I kept the Brooks Pro seat and use it daily. Second, I spied a very orange bike with chrome lugs and Campy N.R. stuff on it. After digging it out from under a pile of bikes, I discovered an almost mint Windsor Pro! It was complete less the wheelset. FULL Campy N.R. except for the Universal brakes. I truly believe the only scratches on this bike were made by me in trying to dig it out. I was trying not to be too conspicuous because the stores employees were around. Not believing my good fortune at one stop in one day, I happily loaded the bikes into my car. Despite my efforts to keep this low-key, two of the shop's employees wound up laughing hysterically at me trying to stuff these bikes into my Honda Civic.
++++Anybody else? I could do a second installment...
PaulieFlt@yahoo.com
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