This sure is a wacky listing. However, while my German (wife ;^)) is certainly not perfect, I believe you misread the seller's responses to submitted questions. He says his father was Walter Leppich who did the modifications for himself (not by an old teammate). He signs his name "Falko Leppich" and claims to have a bike shop named "Fahrrad-Leppich" (Leppich Cycles).
...Derek Davis, Phoenix
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Maas [mailto:bikestuff@nonlintec.com]
> Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 8:54 PM
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [CR]A rickert on ebay for 8000,00 Euros
>
> Re: ebay item 150079724379
>
> This is indeed odd, not only the conversion of a track bike to a street
> bike. Interesting that the derailleur hanger obviously had to be welded
> on, but no one bothered to make any frame modifications so it could have
> a rear brake. Thus the ugly clamp.
>
> The responses to questions are also interesting. The seller claims that
> his father, who was on the national team in 1936, did the modifications
> and repaint for Walter Leppich, who was the 1936 national champion. This
> would have to have been in (roughly) the late 80s, given the Shimano 600
> components, so the guy would have been--maybe in his 70s? So, here you
> are, 70 years old, bad knees, hemorrhoids and all, and you go to a
> former teammate and ask him to turn you old track bike into a street
> machine? Somehow, this all seems pretty strange to me....
>
> Steve Maas
> (Freezing my wimpy buns off in)
> Long Beach, California.
>
> (PS: You people in Minnesota, STOP SMIRKING!)
>
>
>
> John Thompson wrote:
> > Schmid wrote:
> >> Wanted to point out a surreal german auction here:
> >>
> >> http://cgi.ebay.de/
> Bahnmaschine_W0QQitemZ150079
> >> 724379QQihZ005QQcategoryZ9194QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
> >>
> >> Seems to be a Rickert Track frame later on changed to a streetmachine.
> >> Interesting trackends with derailleur hanger. Seller claims bike had
> >> famous owner and states some mystic facts about 1936. The seller has
> >> obviously no clue of the real value. His other auctions reflect that
> >> too, asking 35.000 Euros for a piece of antique furniture. Or did he
> >> miss some basics on ebay?
> >
> > The owner appears to be overly optimistic at least. But he's only been
> > an eBay member for a month and has no other sales.
> >
> > But who knows? Maybe hubris sells.