I am trying to locate two 27.2 Campy Record Ti posts (NOS preferred, but I'm getting desperate) for a unique lugged steel project that is wrapping up next week. I am ready to pay a fair price for this and am assuming $100-140 per NOS post is in the range of reality, less for non-NOS. As long as any insertion scratches are below the lug line, I am good to go. Since these posts were manufactured as late as only five or six years ago, I am aware this falls out of the CR timeline. Nevertheless, given their ultimate use, I feel posing the WTB inquiry to the CR list is KOF appropriate. I asked and received permission from our great and glorious leader Dale prior to posting this missive to the group.
This past year, I contacted five builders from various parts of the world to propose a special project. Excerpts from the original proposal are set forth below:
Summary of Scope Each builder was asked to create one lugged steel frame and fork to suit my riding style. It was entirely up to the builder if they wished to create a stem, a second fork, fenders, etc.
The mission of this project has been to not only celebrate steel bikes, but to bring steel bikes back to the consumer. Many people that have entered the sport in the past ten years have no idea what can be accomplished with steel. There is certainly a market willing to spend a significant amount of money on bicycle frames. These consumers need to understand the truly unique possibilities that exist with this noble metal.
Geometry & Design
Geometry decisions were entirely left to the builder's vision.
Decisions as to paint colors, etc. were left entirely to the builder's vision.
Project Exposure This project has been enthusiastically received by several magazines around the world. At present, there is firm commitments or interest from the following magazines: Velo News - 2007 Annual Buyers Guide Feature Article (8 pages) FIRM
Bicycling Australia - March 2007. They are looking at a story 4-8 pages long. FIRM
Bicisport/Ciclotourismo/Gran Fondo - March 2007. Length open. Articles are generally 4-6 pages. Slant of article and news of the day will dictate appropriate magazine. The editor thinks it will likely be in either Bicisport or Ciclotourismo. FIRM
Interested - Want to see final photo spreads Cycle Sport UK / Cycling Weekly UK - February 2007 Tour (German & Swiss markets) March 2007
I have tried to structure this so each builders "home market" magazine can slant the article to give more press to "their" builder, if the magazine so desires.
Velo News will be the lead magazine. It was Ted Costantino's vision to include this in their annual buyer's guide. Ted truly appreciates steel and having this article in a buyers guide chock full of carbon is wonderful.
Builder List
The final line-up, in alphabetical order: Ron Cooper - England Darrell McCulloch - Australia Dario Pegoretti - Italy Richard Sachs - U.S. Sacha White - U.S.
Each builder was carefully selected for a number of different and special reasons. For starters, I think each of the five are superb builders. However, this is not a bake-off nor an attempt to say these gentlemen are the "five best" in the world. Given the fact that there are some extremely subjective elements as to what would go into even attempting to define the "best" builder, I'm not going down that path. It's like trying to debate which is the best wine produced or which car drives the best. I liken this to comparing a Ferrari to a Bentley to an Aston Martin. All great, all different. To me, the bottom line is to celebrate steel. To the best of my knowledge this type of project has never been done before.
The response from the builders was awesome. The "pitch" to each of them took about 30 seconds. A completely blank canvas. Build it however you want. Ready, set, go.
The builder's in this project produced all sorts of different frames. From the very conservative 1960s style of frame that Ron Cooper produced, to Darrell McCulloch's incredible stainless steel lugs, to Sacha White's young builder's vision, to Richard Sachs tried and true signature model, to Dario Pegoretti's Italian flair, each of these bikes is very distinct. IMHO, the work product that was produced is stunning.
I think the style of the Cooper and the Pegoretti would be best showcased using silver seat posts. However, the majority of "modern" style posts do not mesh with my aesthetic values. Okay, the Nitto Crystal post is usable, but I would prefer the bikes to be all Euro components if possible. And yes, the bikes are being built with modern component groups. If there is any hope of driving modern cycling enthusiasts to using steel, that goal is not going to be met by inferring one needs to use 25 year old components.
I have talked to every U.S. distributor I can think of, including Campy USA, Euro Asia, and most of the builders in Europe. Zero success. eBay seems to have them, albeit in beat-up condition. As I said before, I would really like to locate NOS or near new if possible.
I need to move this along as we have the photo shoot on January 7th. Please, don't be shy about offering something up that might not be NOS in the box.
Thanks for your consideration and any help you might be able to lend to this project.
All the best, Brett Horton San Francisco, California USA
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