This One is Done in WhiteThread White Leather Ciclo Di Cuoio on 3ttt Handlebars & Stem
Originally uploaded by Ciclo Di Cuoio /Cycle Leather+Vintage Pro Bicycles
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
This One is Done in WhiteThread White Leather Ciclo Di Cuoio on 3ttt Handlebars & Stem
This One is Done in WhiteThread White Leather Ciclo Di Cuoio on 3ttt Handlebars & Stem
Originally uploaded by Ciclo Di Cuoio /Cycle Leather+Vintage Pro Bicycles
Campagnolo Super Record on a Carnevale Bicycle sr #50-02261
Campagnolo Super Record on a Carnevale Bicycle sr #50-02261
Originally uploaded by Ciclo Di Cuoio /Cycle Leather+Vintage Pro Bicycles
Bob Jackson (Hetchins) Headtube
Bob Jackson (Hetchins) Headtube
The little Reynolds 531 sticker looks funny to my eyes...(I'm partial to the classic triangular one so common in the 60's-70's). But any sticker on the fork would clash with that lug!
The little Reynolds 531 sticker looks funny to my eyes...(I'm partial to the classic triangular one so common in the 60's-70's). But any sticker on the fork would clash with that lug!
| Fausto Coppi's 1952 race bike |
| Written by Guy Andrews |
 In the 1950s racing bikes were made almost entirely of steel. Aluminium was still rare and exotic, just as carbon became at the beginning of the 1990s. Nowadays at the Giro almost all the bicycles are made entirely of carbon, with the chain being pretty much the only steel item on the bike. That's not to say that steel bikes weren't pushing innovation , as you can see by Fausto Coppi's 1952 race bike, there are a few things that designers and bike builders still have in use today – and some ideas they 'pinched' too. Last year Rouleur took a trip to the Bianchi factory (see issue ten of Rouleur). The headquarters is based just outside of Milan in Treviglio. It was a busman's holiday, make no mistake, but was still a wonderful learning experience. Allowed to wander through the factory we found countless treasures, old chroming tanks, celeste coloured spray booths and welding bays – through to the modern bike building workshop where mechanics busily assembled the latest range of bikes, with the same care and attention that Bianchi have always paid to building fine racing bikes. We spent hours nudging and nosing around the prototype workshop, which was full of ancient and modern delights, the past decades of cycling technology all spread out like a cycle jumble. Bianchi are proud of their racing pedigree and so they have kept and preserved many of the race winning historical bikes, on display are those that once belonged to Felice Gimondi, Gianni Bugno and Marco Pantani among many others (more pictures of these will follow at some point). Amongst all these valuable, priceless bikes there was one that stood out as a gem. This is Fausto Coppi's 1952 World Championship winning Bianchi Specialissima complete with insulated bottle covers, Campagnolo derailleurs, Ambrosio forged aluminium stem and Universal brakes. The frame was a huge advance on the bikes of the time, with chrome lugs and an early integrated style headset (who said that there are new ideas in frame building?). So, here are some photographs of the most famous Celeste coloured bike of all time...                |
PLEASE REMEMBER !
On the 2nd of January 2010 there will be the
50th Anniversary of Fausto Coppis death. I
hope that sportsmen and sportswomen all over
the world will honour the
memory of the greatest cyclist of history and,
at the same time, of
one of t...he most important champions of the
whole sport.
Fausto sempre nei nostri cuori.
Allez Fosto Copi.
PINSTRIPES ON BOB JACKSON TRACK BIKE
PINSTRIPES ON BOB JACKSON TRACK BIKE
Originally uploaded by Ciclo Di Cuoio /Cycle Leather+Vintage Pro Bicycles
Le Simplex 'Route' derailleur packaging
Le Simplex 'Route' derailleur packaging
Original packaging. Gear was in production from 1930s to early 1950s.
Original packaging. Gear was in production from 1930s to early 1950s.
1950 Gillott Fleur de Lis
1950 Huret front changer, rod type. Works on a helical screw. Push the lever back and it ramps up onto the big ring. This was the last year of the split cage I believe.
1952 Gillott Connoisseur
1952 Gillott Connoisseur
The windows cut into the Spear lugs denotes this as a Connoisseur. They are shown in the 1951 catalogue. Early Campagnolo headset is a customer mod.
The windows cut into the Spear lugs denotes this as a Connoisseur. They are shown in the 1951 catalogue. Early Campagnolo headset is a customer mod.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Appreciating the Past
The bike’s getting lots of attention and a general sense of
anticipation for the arrival of the season's opening classic is
beginning to spread around the early morning customers in
the cafes and bars on the beach front. Italians have a great
sense of tradition, and having married into an Italian family
I've realized that this is based on the misconception that
everything was always better in the good old days, not leas
t the world of bike racing, as I'm constantly reminded by my
Father in law.
In "his" day (anywhere from 1920 to 1970) races were
In "his" day (anywhere from 1920 to 1970) races were
longer, riders were tougher, hills steeper, bikes heavier etc.
etc... yet some how things were always a lot better,
especially when it came to the golden era of Coppi and
Bartoli. Now far be it for me to dispute these non-scientifically
proven, rose tinted views held by the older generation, but on
a day like today with the race expected to arrive in about 7
hours and the current golden era of Italian cycling spearheaded
by Petacchi, Bettini, (and even Basso and Cunego for the
Grand
Tours) on its way, I can't help but think with all due respect,
these old guys just don't know what the F@ck they're talking
about. But that's the point in Italy – everyone’s got a view
on this race and that's why I've always wanted to get under
the skin of this legendary classic and find out why it means
so much to have a win at San Remo on your palmares.
It's said that if you win San Remo you'll never have to pay fo
It's said that if you win San Remo you'll never have to pay fo
r a drink in an Italian bar for the rest of your life. But what's
not said too often is that with all the bar room philosophers
around you'll wish you'd done as Zabel did last year, and put
your hands up a bit earlier to avoid dying of boredom. All of
the greats have won here Coppi, Merckx, Gimondi, Kelly,
Marc Gomez (I know, it was 1982 a bit freaky, but some
where an Italian will have a view on him - )
.Thursday, September 24, 2009
Vintage Campagnolo Corkscrew
Campagnolo
Big Corkscrew
These technical features and the use of the finest raw materialsBig Corkscrew
have made this corkscrew a must, a symbol of genius that is
recognized throughout the world.
Ron Cooper Handcrafting bicycle frames since 1946
 Ron CooperRon has been building frames since he was fifteen years old, starting in 1947 when he began a full apprenticeship at A.S. Gillott Cycles, London, England. He learned his craft from the finest frame builders in England, most notably Jim Collier. He was an avid racing cyclist, and the enviable skills Ron acquired at A.S. Gillott were paralleled by his accomplishments on the road. He was selected for the National Cycling Team, The R.A.F. Cycling Team, and later, for the London Center Team in the 1952 Tour of Britain (Milk Race). |
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Ralph Carnevale and Son's Jason Carnevale and Jeff Carnevale with Carnevale bicycle
Photographer David Ball
CAMPAGNOLO 50TH ANNIVERSARY GROUPO SUPER RECORD NOS - eBay (item 180406404930 end time Sep-20-09 13:38:17 PDT) Winning bid: US $3,250.00 Plus Shipping: $50.00US Postal Service First Class A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE SOLD THIS !!
ONLY 15,000 WERE PRODUCED THIS IS (NOS) NEW OLD STOCK
Seriel Number 6560 Sold on Ebay $3,2500.oo
Saturday, September 19, 2009
| Who We Are Columbine Cycle Works began as many small businesses do. An idea became a hobby, the hobby became an obsession, the obsession a way of life. John and Richard Murphy founded Columbine in 1979 with the goal of producing one of the finest bicycles in the world. To build a good frame was not enough. It would be durable, handle superbly and look spectacular. For this ideal, the rugged mountain wildflower, the Columbine was chosen to be the name. The Columbine is distinctive among the high alpine flowers. Its' color, stature and unique beauty are stunning to behold. This striking flower became the symbol for the quality, beauty and special character found in every Columbine frame produced. In a world of cookie-cutter styling, Columbine bicycles stand out as a statement of individuality, personal expression and a passionate pursuit of the craft. |  Columbine Custom |
 Ultra "Columbine Twins" | The Nature of Custom |
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