Can you say what make is your Freddy Maertens bike? A. Claes, Flandria, built by whom?
best wishes, David Perry Bike Works, New York City G.S. Pergolizzi
At 12:45 PM 12/9/2002 -0800, you wrote:
>I am currently restoring the actual bike ridden by Freddy Maertens when he
>won the World Championships in 1976. He used this bike again in 1977 to
>win several races including Paris-Nice and the Vuelta. I recently acquired
>this bike, as well as several important trophies and race worn jerseys
>directly from Freddy.
>
>
>
>Freddy has kept the bike in its original state since he stopped racing it
>in the 70s. Unfortunately, he also kept the bike in his outdoor garage.
>All those lovely Flemish winters have taken their toll on the bike: A bit
>of rust and completely shot rubber. However, I refuse to do to Freddys
>bike what Scapin did to Fausto Coppis 1951 Paris-Roubaix race used bike.
>(That bike was stripped, repainted, and had all the parts replaced with
>NOS. IMHO, there is mojo left when you do that to a historical rider
>specific bike.)
>
>
>
>After many, many hours, I have nearly completed cleaning the rust away,
>polishing and waxing the paint job, and reassembling the components. One
>of the biggest pains in the butt was the $5 toe clips. I spent an
>inordinate amount of time cleaning them. For some reason, the rust just
>loved being there. The majority of the Campy gruppo, however, cleaned up
>nicely.
>
>
>
>As I mentioned, the rubber is shot. I have carefully removed, tagged and
>bagged the original hoods, housing cables, and tires. (Someday, someone
>may want to revert the bike to the original-original state.)
>
>
>
>I need some help in locating a few items that seem to be eluding me:
>
>
>
> White cable housing circa 1977-1978. The housing is the cheap variety
> with no Teflon insert. I need length appropriate for the brakes and rear
> derailleur. (Black cable housing can also be used.)
>
>
>
> I need 2 Clement Criterium Seta Extra tires Green or Red Label as he
> used both.
>
>
>
> I need 2 old style (ie NOT with the shied) Campy gum rubber hoods.
>
>
>
>
>
>Any help in locating these items would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
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>
>Brett Horton
>
>San Francisco