[CR]FS: Cromovelato Olandese frame + fork

(Example: Framebuilders:Cecil Behringer)

Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:36:36 +0200
From: "Freek Faro" <khun.freek@gmail.com>
To: "Classic Rendezvous" <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
cc: faro@cistron.nl
Subject: [CR]FS: Cromovelato Olandese frame + fork

Or: Dutch Cromovelato. And something special it is, indeed. I'm offering to the list (please bear with me, its a rather long story) this 1982 Jansen Oomen frame and fork. The frame was made for the Jansen Oomen bikeshop in Baarle Nassau ( http://86.82.253.197/). Baarle Nassau is very close to the Belgian border, and the frame was made somewhere in Belgium. Baarle Nassau and Baarle Hertog are a collection of Dutch and Belgian enclaves, where one can cross from one country in another just by walking across your living room!

This bike is a bit of a cheat .. Jansen Oomen were a big dealer of Colnago frames at the time, and thought it was a good idea to have their own, cheaper, brand of frames, but fashioned after Colnago. Look at the details: the clover leaf cut-outs, the shot-in seatstays, the chromed lugs. Did Colnago have cromovelato? I think they did, so this must have been the topping on the cake.

Then, for good measure, they added the Gazelle style toptube decals: not 'Champion Mondial' but 'Champion du Monde'. 'Your honour, it is not the same, really!'

The cromovelato paintjob is beautiful and sparkling, and the condition of paint and chrome on the frame is wonderful. Just a few chips and scuffs, thats all.

Notice the Columbus decal on the seattube? Well, I guess the main frame is Columbus (it takes a 27.2 mm seatpost), but the front fork certainly is Tange. Dropouts are Gipiemme.

I rode the frame a few times: IMO, its not a pure racing frame. Its very stable and easy to ride, more of a fast touring frame.

Pictures are here:

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/Freeks-racefietsen/Jansen+Oomen+Gazelle+531+SL/?g2_page=4

The measurements of the frame are:

- 58,5 c-t seattube - 57,5 c-c toptube - 100,5 cms wheelbase - BSA threaded bb - 125 mm rear spacing - 27,2 mm seatpost (with a little cleaning of the inside of the seattube)

The frame has Shimano specific gearlever bosses. The little nobs can be filed down (carefully) so it will accept Campy gearlevers.

Price of the frame is 195 USD, shipping and handling (Priority, insured, trackable) to the USA is 95 USD. Payments only through Paypal please: faro@cistron.nl .

Thanks for looking, and, any questions are welcome!

Freek Faro

Rotterdam Netherlands