RE: [CR]vintage bike sightings

(Example: Production Builders:Frejus)

From: "Robert D. Dayton,Jr." <rdayton@carolina.rr.com>
To: "'Russ Fitzgerald'" <velocio@earthlink.net>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: RE: [CR]vintage bike sightings
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 18:15:20 -0400
In-reply-to: <51b0b9b9250b05d6f9e71b8376359995@earthlink.net>
Thread-Index: AcXDpFniupbDIT73Q7uAiejKvxPQvAADI2Qg


I did the same ride. Saw a lot of nice old iron.

Rob Dayton Charlotte,NC

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Russ Fitzgerald Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2005 4:45 PM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]vintage bike sightings

Last weekend I rode the Breakaway to the Beach, the Carolinas' version of MS-150. I did it on my KOF Rivendell (which got lots of compliments, interestingly enough). Lots of modern stuff, of course, but the big surprise for me was how many vintage bikes there were out on the course, including -

- a stunning 80s F.W. Evans in rose pink metallic. The English lady piloting the bike said she had borrowed it from a friend who had it custom built.

- a really clean looking Paramount with chromed Nervex Pro lugs, probably mid to late 70s - it looked like it had been pampered for its whole life. The 63-year-old guy piloting it said he believed it was one of the last ones built with those lugs.

- a pair of battered old Raleigh Gran Prix, complete with cottered cranks and shortened-by-damage Bluemels fenders. The fenders were like descriptions of cavalry horses' ears - jagged stumps and all that, and looked like they'd been on the bikes from the day they left the shop. Amazing patina, even with modern clickety-click pedals and gel saddles - along with the required SunTour VGT Luxe series derailleurs, the only changes those bikes had from stock.

- the most beautifully patinated Mercian Vincitore ever. I had left my one-use camera in my saddlebag, otherwise I'd have shot it dry taking pix of this one. Oh, what a mish-mash of parts - Stronglight 49 cranks set up as a triple, original Dura-Ace sidepulls, Campy Record low-flange hubs, Campy clamp-on shifters running a Record front and a Rally rear, hideous modern black short extension stem - and the most worn, weather-checked, lived-in blue paint ever. Honestly, if bikes could talk, this one could stand next to Ian Hibbell's old Freddie Grubb and look more worn and world-traveler-ish. It was in the bike lockup, I never got to talk to the owner, and it looked like it was almost my size to boot. A collector's treasure? Who knows - but it had vibe, it had mojo from use and miles just radiating off it. Seriously, the only time I ever got a vibe like that was off a one-owner late '40s D'Angelico jazz guitar with all the finish played off the back of the neck.

Oh, yeah - lots of Italian iron out there, too, including several DeRosas and Masis and Colnagos, some of which wore old Nuovo or Super Record parts. A nice break from the carbon fibre and other OT stuff. I may be slower than I'd like to be, but there's less sting in being passed if the passing bike is a rolling classical beauty.

Russ Fitzgerald
Greenwood, SC