Rick Cool wrote:
> Has anyone noticed the allegedly Ritchey-built and on-topic
> Palo Alto on eBay?
> http://ebay.com/
Definitely Italian-built, not Ritchey. Seller does say it is by Biemmezeta, an Italian builder. (I think seller might have added this info after Rick saw the auction - it does say "Revised".)
I'm pretty sure it is newer than the seller thinks it is too. That particular type of squashed-down fork tips and stay ends at the dropouts is a technique I didn't notice until mid-eighties I think. The fork crown, lugs, under-BB cable guides and chainstay bridge all look eighties to me too.
It may have been PA's top of the line, but it's distinctly B-grade, semi-mass-produced. Might ride sublimely (giving it the benefit of doubt here) but the workmanship is not great.
Side note, Biemmezeta is simply a phonetic spelling-out of the way an Italian would say the letters B-M-Z -- "bi - emme - zeta". A few other Italian bike companies are/were named that way, but the only ones I can think of right now are Gipiemme for GPM, and Duegi for GG ("due - gi" or "two Gs"). Who wants to think of some more?
Mark Bulgier
Seattle WA USA