"Italian Tools"

[RWebb]

https://www.motorsport-tools.com/blog/beta-tools-more-about-the-italian-tool-company/

[look 171]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Looks like the Italians when they first raced with Shinamo on Italian bikes. I think it was a dutch team. I bet Ernesto couldn't sleep and was vomiting all night when he was with Mepai

[David]

Originally Posted by look 171

Ha! you were a slave like me back then. So dumb of me to do this for the love of cycling and also needed the money. You were lucky, I was not allow to touch the Campy tools. It belonged to the head mechanic. Who made the Ti crank for your Viner back then? I remember pros were breaking the Campy Ti spindles.

I guess I didn’t explain it well, I had everything but the titanium spindles. Even at 150lbs in high school I was too heavy for them.

My head mechanic/manager was a coke head who saw training me as freeing him to go sleep off his benders in the back of the shop while I built bikes.

My old bike hangs unceremoniously in the corner of the garage:

[Por_sha911]

Old days


New stuff

[look 171]

Originally Posted by David

I guess I didn’t explain it well, I had everything but the titanium spindles. Even at 150lbs in high school I was too heavy for them.

My head mechanic/manager was a coke head who saw training me as freeing him to go sleep off his benders in the back of the shop while I built bikes.

My old bike hangs unceremoniously in the corner of the garage:

I will try and get you a pic of my old Casati next time I go out to storage. Its full Campy Stupid Record too. You didn't cut the quit off those campy pedals like a real road rider for more cornering clearance?

A big smile on my face when I noticed that 21 x42 climbing gear. I rode a 6 speed straight block with 19 being the largest for a few years then got an Ultra 7. I have humped over long mts passes here in socal with that 19. I was between 130-140 was my racing weight. I am no 6' tall giant neither. Today, I ride a 23 x39 still but will change when I go to 11 spd DI2 in a couple months. That Viner looks great. You still ride?

[David]

I haven’t ridden the Viner in over 25 years. I still have shoes to fit in case I feel the need of course I’d have to repack all the bearings and glue on new sew ups. I keep saying I’ll hang it inside the house for decoration.

I ride an Emonda SLR now although I’m getting slower by the day.

[look 171]

I don't know how old you are, Dave? I am still doing the same training ride I did 30 years ago with a bunch of guy who race. The young skinny bastards are fast, just like they always have been and kill us slower, older guys on the hills. Hey, I use to be one to turn on the gas when possible. I finish the damn thing most times but still enjoy the ride itself a lot. Just turned 54 a couple days ago. I tell you this, when they get on the gas and sprint up this 1/4 mile long hill off the saddle, I can hang up until near the top and they spit me out if I don't get enough miles in that week. Right when Covid started, I was doing 250 pretty hard miles per week. I felt like if I was 23 again. Once I reduced that mileage to about 75, a couple weeks later, I feel the difference in the power coming out of my legs.

I ride a Time with Shimano now.

[gtc]

Originally Posted by look 171

Any idea what those decals are called where they are made like a stencil and peel off after painting?

I think "debossed" might be the term. Like the nice Klein paint jobs, right?

[David]

Originally Posted by look 171

I don't know how old you are, Dave? I am still doing the same training ride I did 30 years ago with a bunch of guy who race. The young skinny bastards are fast, just like they always have been and kill us slower, older guys on the hills. Hey, I use to be one to turn on the gas when possible. I finish the damn thing most times but still enjoy the ride itself a lot. Just turned 54 a couple days ago. I tell you this, when they get on the gas and sprint up this 1/4 mile long hill off the saddle, I can hang up until near the top and they spit me out if I don't get enough miles in that week. Right when Covid started, I was doing 250 pretty hard miles per week. I felt like if I was 23 again. Once I reduced that mileage to about 75, a couple weeks later, I feel the difference in the power coming out of my legs.

I ride a Time with Shimano now.

I’m 53 and it seems like my power has really dropped in the last 2 years.

I’m not doing group rides these days so hopefully that’s the main difference and not just my age. I still feel strong when I’m putting in the miles but my average solo ride speed has dropped a mph or so in the last couple years.

[sc_rufctr]

People still ride steel... Just sayin

[look 171]

Originally Posted by David

I’m 53 and it seems like my power has really dropped in the last 2 years.

I’m not doing group rides these days so hopefully that’s the main difference and not just my age. I still feel strong when I’m putting in the miles but my average solo ride speed has dropped a mph or so in the last couple years.

53? Gwaddamnwippersnapper.

The training rides keep my in shape. At our age, the consistence riding is what's needed to keep any form. I normally ride 2-3 times a week( they are normally no more then 2-2.5 hours), then there's the Saturday hammer fest. This is the 45 miles, very fast pace with 40% of hills going back. Normally there's are 40 riders show up on this one. My solo during the week ride is riding as hard as possible, the other is a must spin (at 95-100 rpm) for at least 30 mins no matter, then I will let loose. A short climb of 2-3 miles are usually involve. Did I ever tell you, I hate climbing? Being off the bike for over 7 months, eating pizza and lots of carbs has gotten me 10 lbs over weight. My solo ride has not slowed up compared to 5 years ago, but do fine the lack of power in my ability to sprint. I sprinted for a light some time go. I pulled something on my upper body from throwing the bike around too much. I still pull a little bit on the training rides.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

People still ride steel... Just sayin

A bunch of guys I ride with now can't appreciate these bike to its fullest. They buy them for collection and ride them at La Erotica (sp?) and are always asking me questions. I personally think the prettiest bikes are made during the mid 90s. The aero shape tubings are pure beauty.

This Super Record ring was going to use in one of my build but it never happened. Instead, I have Dura Ace 10 spd on my C 40 and I keep thinking I should put back the 9 spd DA on there since I never really ride it in anger. I have taken it on my Sat training ride twice and the guys were oh ahh, old bike. Whippersnappers were making noise about how to keep up on an old bike.

[sc_rufctr]

I'm waiting on delivery of this frame and I have a Record 10s group and classic "Hope Hoops" for it.
(Built in the USA)

It's not in prefect condition but it will become my "daily"

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

I'm waiting on delivery of this frame and I have a Record 10s group and classic "Hope Hoops" for it.
(Built in the USA)

It's not in prefect condition but it will become my "daily"

10 spd and modern group set just doesn't look right on those frames like my C 40 with 10 spd DA. Is that one built in the US? I think southern CA? Those funky lugs-3V, I think. Pretty. That's the proper color for Masi, white, just like blue only for Gios and red for Rossin. I went to visit old man Masi under the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milan last time I was there as well as Casati. I wanted him (son, old man died) to build me a custom alum frame. He measured me up but the wait was 1 month and I would have pay tariff on if shipped back to the US. It was something like 350 bucks plus shipping of another 150. Thinking back now, I wish I should have bitten the bullet and done it.

Now you got excited about old bikes again and has me thinking. I am going to take out my old Merlin Ti bike, go through it and start riding that. The only one thing I missed about riding steel is the spring back from off the saddle riding. My Time is very close to having that feel which I loooove, none of my carbon bikes do. My old Look Kg171 did, but it was really a bit of a noodle, soft. Funny thing is, that was the bike I normally grab when I went out riding because it was so comfortable with the typical 3 cross Mavic rims and 23 Vittoria CX tires. The Colnago C40 has that very similar Look 171 feel to it. Only stiffer.

[look 171]

So, off all the old steel frames out there, what would you want if you had to buy another? For me, it has to be a Motta, Gios Super Record, 3Renso (I know, I know), or a Rossin.

[sc_rufctr]

The 10s group is first gen so it should be fine but I'm not 100% sure about the cranks. I may be using the alloy version.

The ultimate material for a bike frame is Titanium IMO. I love everything about Carbon but I've managed to break three frames in the last 20 years.

This one is perfect IMO...

[sc_rufctr]

[David]

Originally Posted by look 171

53? Gwaddamnwippersnapper.

The training rides keep my in shape. At our age, the consistence riding is what's needed to keep any form. I normally ride 2-3 times a week( they are normally no more then 2-2.5 hours), then there's the Saturday hammer fest. This is the 45 miles, very fast pace with 40% of hills going back. Normally there's are 40 riders show up on this one. My solo during the week ride is riding as hard as possible, the other is a must spin (at 95-100 rpm) for at least 30 mins no matter, then I will let loose. A short climb of 2-3 miles are usually involve. Did I ever tell you, I hate climbing? Being off the bike for over 7 months, eating pizza and lots of carbs has gotten me 10 lbs over weight. My solo ride has not slowed up compared to 5 years ago, but do fine the lack of power in my ability to sprint. I sprinted for a light some time go. I pulled something on my upper body from throwing the bike around too much. I still pull a little bit on the training rides.

I love hills but that's probably because I don't see them enough to remember how much I hate them! Here's me at the top of what must be the hardest hill climb in Texas, the Mt Locke Hill Climb which is 7 miles of hell. This it about 20 feet past the finish where I collapsed.

[look 171]

Dave, you are looking good even falling down. Was that a race or one of those century ride?

Oh that's right, you are from TX. I hear there's a place call the hill country. How far are you from there?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Wow, that DeRosa is beautiful. Is that a clear coat on that of that's the professional photographer's doing?

I will raise you a Merlin Ti along with a couple of old bikes