Hugh,
I've seen that name spelt both ways too! I think 'Gert-Jan' is the correct way, at least thats the way its spelled in the biography about him, 'Gert-Jan Theunisse, de fiets, de fiets en verder niets'. (the bike, the bike, nothing but the bike)
I personally believe that many riders preferred the 531C (or DB) over 753. Maybe they didn't trust 753, maybe the reason was fact based: 531 is (perceived?) stiffer. I have a 1986 Gazelle Amstel Bier teambike (Michel Cornelisse, now team-manager of the new Vacansoleil pro-team), its 531C. On the other hand, in my stable is Marc Dierikcx' Gazelle, from the 1981 DAF-Cote d'Or-Gazelle team, its 753, and pretty big too: 60 c-t. Special order?
Freek Faro Rotterdam Netherlands
2008/9/18 Hugh Thornton <hughwthornton@yahoo.co.uk>
>
> Thanks Marten and Freek for that Gazelle info -- I have had a hard time fin
> ding out much about these bikes and frames and I study the listings when th
> ey come up on ebay from time to time. I bought my own 1982 AA-Special
> Amstel Bier team bike off ebay and it has Geert Jan Theunisse's name on th
> e top tube. It is 531c tubing which is very strange if 753 was availa
> ble - Theunisse was a lightweight and mountain climber, so I would have exp
> ected him to insist on 753, not that Holland has too many mountains.
> The spelling of Theunisse's name seems to be a source of confusion -- I alw
> ays thought his first name was G-E-R-T, but it is spelt G-E-E-R-T on the bi
> ke. I found on the net a race report from 1982 and it was spelt both
> ways in the same report! I believe that he now spells it G-E-R-T in a
> dverts for his mountain biking camps. What gives?
>
> Hugh Thornton
> Cheshire, England
>
> --- On Wed, 17/9/08, Freek Faro <khun.freek@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> From: Freek Faro <khun.freek@gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [CR]FS: Gazelle Champion Mondial frameset.
> To: "M-gineering" <info@m-gineering.nl>
> Cc: "classic rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>,
> hughwthornton@ya
> hoo.co.uk
> Date: Wednesday, 17 September, 2008, 12:44 PM
>
>
>
>
> In addition to Marten's comments: A-frame had long dropouts/fender eyelets
> and a c.10 mm longer wheelbase. From what i can see with the naked eye, geo
> metry was in essence the same. To make it more complicated, i have seen A-f
> rame's with short dropouts ... I believe this is because customers could al
> ways order what they wanted from the factory.
> Until the late 70s there only was a choice of A-frame and AA-frame, then (7
> 8? 79?) came the 753-frame.
>
> In the 1980 brochure the models were:
> A-frame
> AB-frame
> AA-frame
> 531-SL frame
> 753-frame
>
> 1982:
> A-frame
> AB-frame
> AA-frame
> AA special-frame
> 753-frame
>
> 1984:
> A-frame
> AB-frame
> AA-frame
> AA special-frame
> AA Super-frame (ultra short chainstays, dented seattube, gearleverbosses on
> top of dt)
> 753-frame
>
> Diversification!
>
> Freek Faro
> Rotterdam Netherlands
>
>
> 2008/9/17 M-gineering <info@m-gineering.nl>
>
>
> Hugh Thornton wrote:
>
> With reference to these Gazelle Champion Mondial frames, does anybody know
> the difference between an "AA - Special Frame" and an "AB - Frame" like the
> one on offer here. They seem to be all the same spec with 531c
> tubin
> g. Was it a difference in quality or in geometry? The amount of
> chrome doesn't seem to be dependent on which it is and I can't imagin
> e tha
> t Gazelle would offer frames in different qualities - most manufacturers wa
> nt all their products to be considered top quality. I have seen the A
> A frames advertised as "race" frames on ebay, which makes me think it might
> be geometry that is different, but does anybody know for sure?
> Hugh Thornton
> Cheshire, England
>
> It varies a bit from year to year, but typically:
> A-frame: the standard frame, 531 tubing, long Campa dropouts, BCM lugs and
> Super Vitus crown. 120mm wide
> AA: short Campa dropouts, eyelets on toptube, Roto bracket, sloping crown.
> 126mm wide! Possibly shorter chainstays but geometry was not discussed in t
> hose days ;) We all knew a AA was 'better' but no clue as to why ;)
> AB frame: short campa dropouts BCM sloping crown
> AA special: AB with brakecable thru toptube, FD braze on, Cinelli bracket
> AA super: extra short with vertical dropouts and dented seattube
>
> chrome and two tone paint was always extra. There were also track, stayer,
> cross and touring versions
>
> Some years had Columbus tubing options and there was also a 753
>
>
> --
> mvg
>
>
> Marten Gerritsen
> Kiel Windeweer
> Netherlands
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
>
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