Hi, to all--
Though Im no youngster, I am brand spanking new to the world of vintage lightweight bicycles and I must say a bit awed by the immense brain trust of this group, to which I post for the first time. So please forgive my naiveté. My previous experience with lightweights has been limited to fitness riding and short- and long-distance touring on the typical Japanese bikes of the 70s. But underneath I always had an unarticulated hunger for the real stuff--Italian, French, British and U.S.--that I couldnt afford back in my starving student days.
After many detours Ive now taken the first fledging steps toward satisfying that hunger by acquiring a 63.5cm c-t-c 1960 IDEOR Asso Olimpic frameset in a faded flamboyant red. Though the frameset is in need of extensive restoration, including chroming, its quite a handsome bike, well made, with early Columbus tubing (red sticker still intact), ornate decals and the coolest headbadge (a winged lion flying across a spoked, sun-like wheel) Ive ever seen. Im not restoring it for resale, or for whatever value it may have, but merely because the bike strikes an emotional chord in me. I suppose youve all had that experience.
Here's the problem. Extensive Web searching has revealed almost nothing to me about the bike or the company. It seems to be a big black hole. Im delighted that Chuck Schmidt at Vélo-Rétro has a reproduction of a late-50s Ideor catalogue, which Ive sent for, but Im also hungry for knowledge beyond what that printed matter may reveal. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who knows anything about the companys lifespan, its history, reputation, racers, etc. Does anyone in the group own--or has anyone ever owned--an IDEOR? What did/do you think of the bike, the company? What were the original components on the 1960 version of the Asso? About the only thing I think I know for sure is that it had an IDEOR-branded Magistroni headset and seatpost clamp (I have only the clamp). Does anyone have any parts theyd be interested in conveying? Im interested in tapping your collected wisdom.
Thanks to all! Wondering in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Peter Jourdain
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