RE: [CR]Ebay Chris Chance...best bike ever?

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme)

From: "Robert D. Dayton,Jr." <rdayton@carolina.rr.com>
To: <oroboyz@aol.com>, <dcwilson3@yahoo.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: RE: [CR]Ebay Chris Chance...best bike ever?
Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2007 09:34:23 -0500
Thread-Index: Acc3HqT9cAXWPuA4SjG0qpwNl4lqVQAAQw3g
In-reply-to: AAAAAFY+J9E/kytLgJ/uo6srCORkwzUA


Kendall Johnson is the dude in Winston Salem. Has the insane looking clown for a motif.

Rob Dayton Cahrlotte,NC USA

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of oroboyz@aol.com Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 9:23 AM To: dcwilson3@yahoo.com; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Ebay Chris Chance...best bike ever?

To answer your question of "Best bike ever?"

No, a very nice bike, but far from that in my humble opinion...

Don, have you watched that Discovery channel show about that family who make choppers? Their business is Orange County Choppers? It is stupid in many ways but a good illustration of this bike versus other fine bikes.

This family take parts (frame,tank, engine, lights, etc) assemble them very nicely, then tack on a few parts they make and add a (intentionally) compelling "theme". Paint & gee gaws get tacked on that reflect the theme, (a mini ladder gizmo for Fire Station theme, etc.)

Contrast these guys to the other MC builders who make their own frame, tank (Ala Jesse James) and components... I forget the names of the other guys (don't watch this stuff much) but there is a guy over in Winston Salem who makes bikes from the ground up that are frankly amazing... I am no chopper fan but it doesn't take too much of a stretch to admire some of these guys craftsmanship and effort to make unique and personal "statements" in their motorcycles...

When you look back at the first family, despite all their press and celebrity, you realize they build motorcycles that are well received but are rather superficial when compared to the "real" ground up motorbike builders...

This is sort of the case for this Chris Chance bike... Yes, very tasty and cool in paint color, nice add-on emblems and competently assembled, but when compared to a Sachs or Baylis or Bruce Gordon or Weigle or Peter Johnson or Chris Kvale and others, well, it is just a nice assembly using minimally modified Henry James lugs, in a relatively boring and stock looking format. The tacked on bits are most of what make it unique. The other builders I listed make frames that are so original, involve so much hand work and achieve their own unique look & style.... you just can't add on a water jet cut emblem and get to where they are.

Actually I have seen Chris Chance frames that are more artfully made and closer to the halcyon heights, just no brazed on trinkets save his nice head badge...

Dale Brown Greensboro, North Carolina USA

-----Original Message----- From: dcwilson3@yahoo.com To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Sent: Sat, 13 Jan 2007 3:09 AM Subject: [CR]Ebay Chris Chance...best bike ever?

This Chris Chance would have to be in the running were a competition held. It IS the most beautifully elegant bike I have ever seen. This man took minimalist elegance to another level with this bike. The paint scheme is brilliant and so is the construction. I even like the stars and I'm not normally a fan of such details. 120074566094

Below I have copied the seller's summary. It needs to be in the archives. I hope someone on CR gets this piece of rolling art. It makes me proud to be an American just looking at the pictures.

Don Wilson Los Olivos, CA USA

"The Bicycle Exchange was New England's leading seller of high-end cycles, components, and sundries for over 50 years, and launched many careers of competitive amateur and professional cyclists. Ben Olken, the founder, was considered the Godfather of the regional trade.

This track cycle was hand built by framebuilder Chris Chance as a special gift to Ben Olken, to commemorate 50 years in the business (1934-1984). It is built of Columbus SL tubing, custom detailed HJ lugset and crown. 55 cm center to center seat tube and top tube. Finished in metallic amethyst with black enamel rear triangle, fork blades, and headtube. It is a rare and stunning example of Chris Chance's work. As many know, Chris Chance was a graduate of the Witcomb school of framebuilding, and launched his business in the mid 70's, initially concentrating on high-end racing cycles, before launching the FatChance line of mountain bikes, SlimChance production racing cycles, and finally selling out his business to retire in Vermont.

Complete cycle is NOS, and has never seen a road or track surface. Best track bike at Lars Anderson. Details includes stainless steel badge embellishments, such as the headbadge, BiEx 1934-1984 commemorative badge on the seat tube, "Ben" badge on left side of top tube, "star" fork crown badges - all jewelry-like in detail. The bike is absolutely stunning, with many custom tuned component touches. Show, concours condition, completely original, unadulterated. Component group includes:

* Campagnolo Record HS/BB * Campagnlo Record crankset, 170mm, with milled crankarms, milled spiders, Star chainring cutouts * Campagnolo SR seatpost * Campagnolo SF 28/28 Pista hubs, DT spokes, Vittoria Pista CX tubulars * Campagnolo SL Pista pedals with ICS clips, Cinelli straps * Cinelli Unicanitor black suede pista saddle * Nisi Pista Speciale "For Professional Use Only" rims, black anodized * Cinelli Pista handlebars (old logo) with milled old logo 1A stem, Benotto Tape/plugs

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