Ultimate Bike Thread....

[look 171]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Speaking of Colnago .... I'm building a 'ratrod' out of a track bike I bought last year. It's not worth restoring and I don't even know what it is. It has multiple layers of paint. I've rusted some of it with a mixture of vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and salt. Got some replica Colnago decals from the Czech Republic. I'll post pics when it's done

Show us more of this bike

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

This one came in for servicing. (owners photo)

Is that one of those ELOS tubes? I hear they are stiff due to larger dia. tube size but the ride quality is amazing. By the time those newer steel tubes came out, I was already riding Carbon and switched to alum like everyone else. As much as I liked 'em, I am too old for alum frames. Our streets aren't so nice anymore.

[abisel]

["A"]

Originally Posted by look 171

Also responsible for the sloping top tube on modern road bikes (I still think they are ugly to look at), started with the Giant TCR that supplied the ONCE team who dropped Look bikes. I had one of the first 180 alum Team TCR frames that came into the US from Giant. It was light, fast and twitchy down the long mt decent. YOu have to be on your game when flying down high speed, long curves

Yeah, I tried the compact frame design on a titanium frame for a few years, sure it was lighter, but ride quality & handling just isn't what I was looking for.
It may be great for short criterium racing, but not so ideal for long rides that have high speed descents.


Sold that Merlin after 2 years and been riding my 58cm Litespeed Ultimate since 2004.


Just picked up a 04 Litespeed Tuscany few weeks ago for $850, couldn't pass it up for the price.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by look 171

Is that one of those ELOS tubes? I hear they are stiff due to larger dia. tube size but the ride quality is amazing. By the time those newer steel tubes came out, I was already riding Carbon and switched to alum like everyone else. As much as I liked 'em, I am too old for alum frames. Our streets aren't so nice anymore.

I'm not 100% sure but if I had to guess, yes they're Columbus ELOS. The owner loves it. I took it for a short test ride after I had finished and it reminded me of a Trek alloy road bike I sold years ago.

[look 171]

There's something about the ride quality of those old steel bikes. I love the snap back when jamming on it off the saddle especially coming out of a very fast turn during a training ride or a race (Sadly I will no longer race). The only bike I found that has that same feeling is my Time and this latest Giant TCR. The giant even has that slightly muted feel of steel when going over chip seal roads. The Time will beat my ass over those type of road conditions. I really think these latest generation of carbon frames have come such long way compared to the first gen OCLV Trek frames or the "flexy" Early Look frames (Had one and looooved that frame on those long training rides). I love to take that silver DeRose (Ti or SS?) and beat on it down a mountain road and see what all the fuss is all about. Those old Italians know how to built a stable and fast bike. All of my Italian (Ok including the French too) bikes feel that way.

Not sure if I mentioned it here? When I was in Italy, I has a chance to visit Masi's work shop under the velodrome in Milan. It reminded me of my father's jewelry shop. A typical shop that built things. Stuff were not out of place but scattered. The old man, Alberto, his son, came out with an English translator. We spoke about having a frame make. he took about 3 min to measure me up and immediately said you need this! Same size I have been riding since I was 18. Sadly, I ended up without the frame due to long lead time, 2 months. The tariff would have been as much as the bike itself when it ships through customs. I also visited Casati, same thing, typical shop which is very cool to see. During that time, alum was the top building materials.

[look 171]

Pete, what's going to happen to the steel bike industry when these famous builds die off or retires completely? I know there are a bunch of younger ones that are setting up shop in none traditional cycling countries but still, they are far and few in between. I think Colnago will live on and will continue making small amount of steel bikes but smaller builders like DeRosa, Masi, and all the famous builders? Cinelli has fallen off the wayside? Don't hear about them with new stems and bars. Not even their track frames. Co. like Look dominate the track.

[jim72911t]

Originally Posted by look 171

Pete, what's going to happen to the steel bike industry when these famous builds die off or retires completely? I know there are a bunch of younger ones that are setting up shop in none traditional cycling countries but still, they are far and few in between. I think Colnago will live on and will continue making small amount of steel bikes but smaller builders like DeRosa, Masi, and all the famous builders? Cinelli has fallen off the wayside? Don't hear about them with new stems and bars. Not even their track frames. Co. like Look dominate the track.

I’m not Pete, but the steel bike industry is alive and well. Heck, I can name at least a half dozen builders that I know personally, all of whom build amazing frames.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by jim72911t

I’m not Pete, but the steel bike industry is alive and well. Heck, I can name at least a half dozen builders that I know personally, all of whom build amazing frames.

There are a bunch of them in Italy as well as many other countries. I am talking about the legends who hand down their torch to their sons or workmen so the name continues.

A neighbor down the street, a cinematographer was in Taiwan shooting a film. He jsut happened to come across a steel frame builder walking distance to his filming location. He couldn't resist and had a frame built. It is a beautiful looking bike. Took a few days to finish and painted orange with the builder's name near the back of the top tube written in Chinese. Something you don't see daily around here. It is a typical traditional looking frame with slightly over size downtube. It gets ridden all the time. According to him, it tracks fine and feel like any Italian frames he's ridden but its no DeRosa, that's all. He paid 400.00 US for it. Deal of the century imo.

By the way, you know anyone down here? I need a drop out replaced. It is bent and has a crack, pulled inward by the chain that was caught. I left email for couple people, but none returned emails. Is been some time since I looked. Given up almost.

[NutmegCarrera]

Look 171-
Don’t give up!!!
I know it isn’t the LA area, but there is a great shop just outside Madison, Wi called Yellow Jersey.
Andrew Muzi has operated the shop since the early 1970’s and is a real bike shop guy. Not the corporate franchise shop.
An amazing place to visit.
I would bet that he could take care of you. If not - he could point you in the right direction.
(608) 257-4737

There’s also Waterford Precision Cycles.
They used to be the Schwinn Paramount factory. They are in Waterford Wi.
They are a traditional steel frame builder. Last time I bought a race bike, Richard Schwinn did the fitting.

I wish you luck. Hard to part with a favorite bike.

[NutmegCarrera]

And here’s one my son just moved out of…

Replacing with this one😃



First race…

[jim72911t]

Originally Posted by look 171

There are a bunch of them in Italy as well as many other countries. I am talking about the legends who hand down their torch to their sons or workmen so the name continues.

A neighbor down the street, a cinematographer was in Taiwan shooting a film. He jsut happened to come across a steel frame builder walking distance to his filming location. He couldn't resist and had a frame built. It is a beautiful looking bike. Took a few days to finish and painted orange with the builder's name near the back of the top tube written in Chinese. Something you don't see daily around here. It is a typical traditional looking frame with slightly over size downtube. It gets ridden all the time. According to him, it tracks fine and feel like any Italian frames he's ridden but its no DeRosa, that's all. He paid 400.00 US for it. Deal of the century imo.

By the way, you know anyone down here? I need a drop out replaced. It is bent and has a crack, pulled inward by the chain that was caught. I left email for couple people, but none returned emails. Is been some time since I looked. Given up almost.

Don’t know anyone down there, sorry. Up until 3 weeks ago, I was in NorCal and worked for Paul Component Engineering for the past 30 years. Amongst the builders I know/knew would be Ross at Salsa, Bruce Gordon (RIP), Curtis at Retrotec, the Sycip brothers, Sean at Soulcraft, etc. Some “newer” builders that do great work would be Tyler at BTCHN, Adam at Sklar, and Cam at Falconer. Granted, most of these guys focus on more of the mountain/adventure bike side of things, but they’ll build you pretty much whatever. I’m sure if you asked at your local shop they could recommend someone to replace a dropout.

Good luck!

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by look 171

Pete, what's going to happen to the steel bike industry when these famous builds die off or retires completely? I know there are a bunch of younger ones that are setting up shop in none traditional cycling countries but still, they are far and few in between. I think Colnago will live on and will continue making small amount of steel bikes but smaller builders like DeRosa, Masi, and all the famous builders? Cinelli has fallen off the wayside? Don't hear about them with new stems and bars. Not even their track frames. Co. like Look dominate the track.

I don't know about the bigger manufacturers but there's a whole bunch of custom frame builders in the US that still use steel.
Cinelli is name only now. Most of their products are now made in Taiwan.
Silca is interesting. Was Italian now US based. Not cheap but they make quality stuff.

From 5 years ago but this gives you some idea of what's possible with steel.

["A"]

Last long ride (60+ mi.) of the season, ride in comfort.

[Racerbvd]

Someone might be interested in this

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by jim72911t

Don’t know anyone down there, sorry. Up until 3 weeks ago, I was in NorCal and worked for Paul Component Engineering for the past 30 years. Amongst the builders I know/knew would be Ross at Salsa, Bruce Gordon (RIP), Curtis at Retrotec, the Sycip brothers, Sean at Soulcraft, etc. Some “newer” builders that do great work would be Tyler at BTCHN, Adam at Sklar, and Cam at Falconer. Granted, most of these guys focus on more of the mountain/adventure bike side of things, but they’ll build you pretty much whatever. I’m sure if you asked at your local shop they could recommend someone to replace a dropout.

Good luck!

Oh man, the Rasta rd was one of the coolest bike parts ever.

[sc_rufctr]

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Ahh, like real track riders, they dig their pedals. I do

[look 171]

Originally Posted by NutmegCarrera

Look 171-
Don’t give up!!!
I know it isn’t the LA area, but there is a great shop just outside Madison, Wi called Yellow Jersey.
Andrew Muzi has operated the shop since the early 1970’s and is a real bike shop guy. Not the corporate franchise shop.
An amazing place to visit.
I would bet that he could take care of you. If not - he could point you in the right direction.
(608) 257-4737

There’s also Waterford Precision Cycles.
They used to be the Schwinn Paramount factory. They are in Waterford Wi.
They are a traditional steel frame builder. Last time I bought a race bike, Richard Schwinn did the fitting.

I wish you luck. Hard to part with a favorite bike.

Yellow Jersey has been around for a long time. Importer. I remember seeing their ad in Bicycling or Winning from way back.

[Racerbvd]

Anyone interested in a cool vintage work stand?
[img]http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/IMG_20221006_135449_2731665080955.jpg