It seems obvious that 20 years on even most real team bikes will probably never have sufficient provenance to be reliably identified as such. The good news is that this means they should be available to people at a fraction of what they would cost had they been definitively traceable to their history and will thus be ridden and enjoyed rather than being horded as investments.
It ain't all bad is it?
Kurt Sperry Bellingham WA USA
On Jan 28, 2008 12:43 PM, Freek Faro <khun.freek@gmail.com> wrote:
> I happen to own two 'real' teambikes: the Splendor-Hitachi (probably 1986)
> and the ADR-Bottecchia (1989), and its not easy to get some proof of
> provenance. I bought the bikes from people that didn't have a clue, but I'm
> pretty sure they are teambikes.
>
> I have send numerous emails to Belgian ex-pro riders, but so far no one has
> been helpful (either by not replying, or by plain not knowing anything about
> the bikes they rode). What next?? I really don't know at this point ...
>
> Freek Faro
> Rotterdam Netherlands
>
> http://www.wooljersey.com/
>
> http://www.wooljersey.com/
>
>
> 2008/1/28, David Ross <dlr94306@yahoo.com>:
>
> >
> > How about correspondence from the original builder, checking the frame's
> > serial number in his records? I lucked into a cosmetically wrecked but
> > structurally sound Yamaguchi track frame a couple of years ago. When I sent
> > it back to Koichi-san for refinishing, he identified it as the frame he
> > built for Brett Reagan, a member of the US Jr. Nat'l team and the 17/18
> > pursuit champion in 1989 (his teammates that year were Mike McKenna, George
> > Hincapie, JD Moffitt, Marty Nothstein and Jonas Carney). I understand that
> > Mr. Yamaguchi built all of the team's track frames in those days.
> >
> > The frame now sports the same graphics and decals that adorned it the day
> > it first left his shop. Too bad the original finish was gone, as well as the
> > parts. But at least I'm pretty sure about the provenance of the frame.
> >
> > Dave Ross
> > Portola Valley, CA USA
> >
> > Proof of true team bikes may be very difficult to obtain, since many
> > such bikes were made in multiple examples and, of course, in most cases,
> > the groups, saddles, etc., they sported were also usually made in
> > series. In fact, several bikes may have been used by a given rider for a
> > single event. Engraving, special decals, etc., may be helpful, but these
> > can be reproduced.
> > The first form of evidence of a true "team bike" would be congruence
> > with known photos or other established examples of this bike-lacking
> > this, proof would be more difficult.
> > This would be followed by some form of provenance, e.g. a bill of
> > sale, letter, etc.,with a hierarchy of such provenance extending from the
> > bike's rider to the manufacturer, seller, etc.
> > George Hollenberg MD
> > CT, USA