Hi Jer, That Italvega is from the earlier part of the 70s, and is from the midrange of the lines they offered. I think it's a Nuovo Record model, but I'd have to dig into my files to compare to be sure. Since it has Campagnolo dropouts, it's not too bad, but it's not really a "racing" bike. Only the three main tubes are made of Columbus SL or SP tubing ... dunno what the rest would be made with. Some of the parts are pretty good, too. Might be hard to resell the bike for what you paid, unless you are willing to butcher it and piece it out. Most on the list here frown at that practice, and when a bike is specially equipped, I feel the same way too. But, the parts here are all pretty basic good stuff, and usually readily available on Ebay, etc. If it fits you, and it moves you ... why not give it a try? Don't expect it to be the lightest thing out there, but if you have never ridden a lightweight before, it will still be a lot lighter than your typical 70s Schwinn Letour. Performance comparisons against other period gears, etc., must be made by the individual ... I have no opinion there ... but I am a confirmed Campy fan :) The technology is likely much more primitive than that of the other bikes you mentioned though.
Check out Mark Bulgier's site for an Italvega brochure from 1976, which
will help give you an idea of where it stands, even though the bike is a bit
older. Here's a direct link:
http://bulgier.net/
Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield MI USA ~ ~ ~
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:44:52 -0700 From: "Jerry Prigmore" <robinjer@hotmail.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: FW: RE: [CR] Italvega 63cm Outing
I'm starting to think about taking a crack at this one myself.
I presently have 3 road bikes that are only very tangentially related to classic bikes, as defined by this list (2 Japanese KOF-style bikes, if you use the term KOF VERY loosely, and a Rambouillet). I've been looking for an afordable 70's Italian road bike with which to take the plunge, (French bikes are tres beaux, but don't seem to be for the faint of heart or small of brain) and I'm wondering if this is a good candidate. I've been reading up on the marque in the archives and they seem like the ticket, but I don't even know what model this one is. Would anyone care to identify it and enlighten me about the relative goodness of it?
Thanks, any help much appreciated.
Jer
-Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill-
>>From: "Jerry Prigmore" <robinjer@hotmail.com>
>>To: robinjer@hotmail.com
>>Subject: [CR] Italvega 63cm Outing
>>Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:16:56 -0700
>>
>>I'm new to the CR list and don't know the first thing about Italvegas, but
>>if anyone is interested in this example on eBay, it is located in my town
>>(Clovis, CA) and I'd be happy to take a look-see for you.
>>
>>
>>http://ebay.com/<blah>
ch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D170105628120%2
6category0%3D%26fvi%3D1&item=170105628120&rd=1
>>
>>
>>No connection to bicycle or seller.
>>
>>Jer
>>
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