[CR]Intro and Alert

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing)

From: Stephen James <sj52@hotmail.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:08:26 +0000
Subject: [CR]Intro and Alert

Hi,

it was suggested that a short introduction might be helpful, so here it is. Well, let me begin by saying that I, like so many others, was introduced to beautiful bicycles by Tom Avenia. I grew up in the South Bronx, and my mother bought me my first bike because of the transit strike in 1965. Anyw ay, the bike became my vehicle for exploring the city. One day, while ridi ng up 3rd Av., I spotted Tom's store, went in and that was it.

It was 1970, and all I remember now is that I had my Frejus pro track by th at June. She was red with chrome forks and cost $300 plus tax. I had that bike for 18 years. Unfortunately, it was stolen at my job. For years, I pined to have one or one similar or just another Frejus track. Middle age and steady employment made it somewhat possible, which gets me to the real point of my writing.

There's an advert on craigslist (http://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/bik/7260 09469.html) that I happened to follow --for no good reason actually. The t itle of the advert is really nondescript. At any rate, after I contacted t he gentleman, he sent me some pictures of a great looking black Frejus pro. So, don't bother asking him about it. I promised him that I would sprea d the word. I don't really know many of my old friends who are interested, and I happened to find this site. I thought it might be helpful to someon e.

At any rate, I do have pictures; but I'll see how I do with this hotmail sy stem. Well, to briefly describe: the serial number is 100097 (left side, u pper seat post); it is black, with Campagnolo Record hubs, soldered spokes, Ghisallo wooden rims, campy seatpost, Cinelli plastic seat, Cinelli pista stem and handlebars. The crank's not campy; it's a TA Specialites, though . The chain ring is TA (48t), and the sprocket is a campy 16t. The bottom bracket seems to be campy --the plate is marked. The seat post and the he ad set crowns are also engraved. It's approximately 59cm ctc in height and approx. 56 ctc along the top tube. The paint condition is fair, and the c hrome is somewhat pitted.

My plans are to ride the bike, so I'm probably going to put on new rims. I t is somewhat of a shame to break apart the wheels, but it would cost me to o much cash to buy another set of campy wheels just to be able to admire th ese wood ones. The original owner, I've been told, did not ride the bike i n the street at all. Otoh, I've had little opportunity to get to a track.

Well, I'd never seen a Frejus with the TA cranks, and I'm not sure whether it'd be worth it to change. That's mainly because of the bike's probable a ge. When did Campagnolo Record parts become standard equipment on Frejuses ? What was the standard before that, if any? Any information or suggestio ns will be appreciated.

regards,
Steve James