Welcome Paul, Always good to see another Lambert owner, and one with four L amberts/ Viscounts, no less. There are several similarly afflicted perso ns here, so we sort of form a mutual support group, rather like Alcoholics Anoynomous. And while we cannot assure you you aren't crazy for having f our Lamberts, we can tell you you are not alone.
To demonstrate you aren't the only one crazy enough to have a Lambert, here is one I just got semi sorted out today:
http://flickr.com/
This is an early lugged model, the relatively rare Viking-badged version. Still a bit rough, I'm trying to acquire some less scratched up bars fr om other list members. Also looking for another Lambert toeclip to match the single one I have, but I do have the toe straps. Missing the dustca ps on the gold Lambert pedals also, as well as the half hoods on the Lamber t brake levers. Considered adapting Mafac half hoods, but they didn't se em to be a good fit.
The early lugged Lamberts came badged as Reg Harris and Viking as well as L ambert. On the CR site are the Omnipotent Listmeister's Lambert version and another member's Reg Harris version, so this Viking sort of completes t he set:
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/
Nothing like restoring a Lambert to build character. Among the other joy s of Lambert ownership, I discovered or perhaps rediscovered on this proj ect that on these early lugged Lamberts, many of the fasteners are Whitwo rth - makes for an interesting weekend project.
Well now you're a CR member, I'll reveal to you the super-secret password o f the Lambert Owner's Society: "Misery Loves Company".
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA
From: paul grens <pgrens@yahoo.com> Subject: [CR]New member info To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Saturday, October 4, 2008, 11:50 PM
Hello everyone, Glad to have found this list! I've already burned a few hours researching things in the archives and am looking forward to expanding my knowledge and (hopefully) contributing in some way. A little about myself, I'm a Spanish translator and work from home (Chicago), so cycling is my chosen form of exercise and escape from the computer, especially during the day when the r oads are less congested around here. I also like wrenching, so my office looks m ore like a workshop most of the time, but hey, vintage bikes are works of art, right?
My current stable of lightweights: 1974 Motobecane Le Champion, an early '70s Lambert, 3 '70s Viscounts (the Lambert and Viscounts all still have their "quick-release" forks), and a mid '80s Cilo - the guy I bought this bike from turned me on to this list, incidentally. Hoping to pi ck up some Italian steel this winter. There is a vaguely described red Ciocc and a '79 Colnago Superissimo that keep popping up on Craigslist here, and after spending some time on a friend's Pinarello and also an Olmo, I'm hooked. I have to say, though, the Cilo feels pretty damn close. Must be the Colomb us.
Should anyone need translation assistance with Spanish cycling literature , I'd be more than happy to lend a hand.
Cheers,
Paul Grens, Chicago, IL, USA