Brian,
Is the Pro-Pista decal on the chainstay normal on a Confente or added by Rexart? It looks like a Medici (Rexart) decal so I wondered.
Joe Bender-Zanoni
Great Notch, NJ
>
>
> Ed and all,
>
> Here are the real answers to your questions. That is a real Confente,
frame #24 from LA. It's the one Wayne found at T-Town swap a whil back. I
traded Wayne for the frame, which I intended to keep in my collection once I
touched up the somwhat beat and rusty original paint. The bike is 61cm which
I could never ride, but I wanted an example of Marios work just for grins.
>
> There are many details that tell the educated eye that that is a real
Confente. Most couldn't tell one of the better fakes from the real deal, but
I promise it is the real deal. It was made as a frame for stock in NJ, at
Rexart Cyclery. It was intended to be a fixed gear road bike from the very
beginning, it is not a converted track bike; although it was ridded on the
track during it history.
>
> One day this person came into my shop. JB had told him I had a Confente.
We wanted one real bad, and this one was his size. He wanted to make a fixed
gear bike to ride on the road. He inquired about the bike and I told him it
was not for sale. He kept comming back and working on me. Then he began to
make some offers once I had softened to selling the bike to someone that
really appreciated it and was planning to ride it the way it was intended.
We went back an forth a bit because I really didn't want to let it go. Then
out of the blue, I got wind of another Confente, a track bike (my
size!)which made me realize I might be able to convert the one not my size
into one that is my size. From there the deal finally was struck. I must now
work on getting the other into my collection, if it is possible and within
my means.
>
> Parts wise, he has set it up as a rider. I told the owner to get the other
parts that are more "authentic" for display purposes, which he has done. So
the bike you see is how he rides it, but he has the parts to show it
properly also. This deal took a lot of doing, but he convinced me that he
really wanted the bike and for the right reasons, so I let her go to a
person who rides it. I plan to ride the other bike if I can ever make her
mine. I feel these bikes belong in the possession of those who really
appreciate them, not those who buy into the small number produced and
convert that into dollars and cents. They are still frames of only a certain
caliber, they are not frames that fell from heaven or some such thing.
>
> BTW, the hole and counter bore on the rear dropouts was done with a hand
held drill motor most likely. That's just a 1/4" hole counterbored with the
tool used to recess the brake hole.
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesa, CA
> I need to get back to Richies lug question. I have been very busy and
trying to stay focused on getting work done. I have to go to OC this
morning, but when I get back I'll respond to Richies' question about lugs,
which has nothing to do with effeciency. My point has either been avoided or
missed.
>
> -- Wolfman231@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 3/14/04 12:34:33 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> richardsachs@juno.com writes:
> yes.
> it's real.
> same as it ever was
>
>
> Thanks, Richard, but what are the tip-offs in a less Zen-like answer,
please.
>
> Ed Kasper
> Detroit