Ultimate Bike Thread.... - Page 236

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

I know, there is a hot chick on this bike, but it is an interesting bike

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

look 171 · 07-09-2023, 09:43 PM

Wow, is that a fender on the front and a tire saver to prevent flats on that race bike? Is that Coppi?

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

That is Coppi. And I noticed that front fender too.

Early 50s, but I never noticed a fender on other bikes of that era. I didn't notice the tire saver. Also, looks like a threaded boss of some sort on the fork (fender bracket??). Maybe Paris-Roubaix??

Also, didn't really know much about Coppi but he died of malaria at age 40, right after returning from some sort of bike ride in Africa. There is this entire conspiracy theory about how he was actually poisoned as revenge for running an African rider off the road in a race 2 years prior

herr_oberst · 06:57 AM

He's offsetting the weight penalty of the fender by just taping the rear brake cable housing onto the top tube instead of using those beautiful chrome clamps.

(realistically, that Bianchi must weigh close to 25 or 30 lbs, and those brakes in the wet would be terrifying)

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

I miss top tube cable clamps! Even my oldest bike (mid-80s) has brazed on top tube cable holders - not nearly as cool

Also: I am currently in possession of a Specialized Tarmac S Pro ... has Mister Steel is Real gone to the dark side?

Probably not. Unfortunately, this bike came my way under very tragic circumstances and I am helping the widow out by getting this bike ready to sell. I'll post my honest riding review soon!

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

Looking even closer at that Coppi foto ... single chainring and a direct mechanical shifter for the rear derailleur mounted on the seat stay. Now I really wonder what race that was. And, YES, the brakes look frightening!

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

5 minutes of research later ... 1950 Paris-Roubaix looks like the one. Single chainring so we know it's a flat race. Looks like a front fender in this pic and the seat stay shifter.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 06:17 PM

I've been wondering about that front fender all day. With it's limited reach, it didn't really protect the rider- except perhaps his face from spray? The other option was keeping dripping water off the front water bottles off the rims/brake. I dunno?

Also, I was watching a video on the seat stay/chain stay shifters and that riders from that time preferred them due to a positive feel in shifting, basically knowing where they were compared to cable shifters. Perhaps that was posted here. I can't keep up anymore with what

i watch.

herr_oberst · 07-10-2023, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

I've been wondering about that front fender all day.

The steel crank arms caught my eye. Cottered. Heavy. When I was a lad, cotterless aluminum were still new enough to be pointed out in ads and magazines on bikes that I could almost but not quite afford. Possibly held on with nuts, not bolts.

(A little later drillium grabbed hold of the collective consciousness and begat the concept of adding lightness by way of the lathe and the mill or the drill press!)

sc_rufctr · 07-10-2023, 07:07 PM

One of the first builds (not my hand)!

look 171 · 07-11-2023, 12:47 AM

If from the 50s, shouldn't that Bianchi have Universal center pull brakes instead of those big, giant side pulls? Good eye for catching the threaded boss on the front fork. I noticed there were any on the photo and it looks they rode single speed or those two speed cogs from the early 50s?

Top tube cable clamps are way too cool for me. No thanks. I like brazed ons or like my early 80s Casati, internal cables.

look 171 · 07-11-2023, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

I miss top tube cable clamps! Even my oldest bike (mid-80s) has brazed on top tube cable holders - not nearly as cool

Also: I am currently in possession of a Specialized Tarmac S Pro ... has Mister Steel is Real gone to the dark side?

Probably not. Unfortunately, this bike came my way under very tragic circumstances and I am helping the widow out by getting this bike ready to sell. I'll post my honest riding review soon!

SL what? 5,6, or 7? I had an SL5. Fast little bike. It was a bit too small for me when I had it for a year or two. The rim brakes, SL5 is uber light. Mind weighted 14.5 lbs without pedals with elect. shifting SRAM Red and Enve wheels. I think another 1/4 lbs can be had if I really tried. Its a great bike.

sc_rufctr · 07-11-2023, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

look 171 · 07-11-2023, 01:16 AM

I would kill myself if I did that at the track.

sc_rufctr · 07-11-2023, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

I would kill myself if I did that at the track.

Not if you did some training with me.

... Signed "The Old Basterd"

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

Those top tube clamps were always good for creating frame rust, especially the front one. Sweat would drip down and seep in where it couldn't be wiped away.

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

I've been wondering about that front fender all day. With it's limited reach, it didn't really protect the rider- except perhaps his face from spray? The other option was keeping dripping water off the front water bottles off the rims/brake. I dunno?

Also, I was watching a video on the seat stay/chain stay shifters and that riders from that time preferred them due to a positive feel in shifting, basically knowing where they were compared to cable shifters. Perhaps that was posted here. I can't keep up anymore with what

i watch.

I think you might be right about the fender. It really doesn't make sense if it were for keeping gravel spray off the rider. The bike does have a handlebar water bottle cage and going over the cobbles I'm sure there would be spillage.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 07-11-2023, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

The bike does have a handlebar water bottle cage and going over the cobbles I'm sure there would be spillage.

I didn't even think about the cobblestones. I was going to joke and say it was an emergency brake to push on when that sucky front brake didn't work, but, now I 'm betting it was to keep the wheels dry so they wouldn't get slippery on the cobblestones.

Those bottles had cork? stoppers. I bet they leaked bigtime.

I also remember the cotter style cranks. My dad had a 60's raleigh with them. I remember trying to remove them as a kid and just beating the hell out of the cotter pin and it never came loose. When I had the opportunity to restore my dad's bike, I reluctantly passed. He had left it in the elements for too long, and even restored, the frame flex at the bb was immense. It was too much work for something that wasn't going to ever work as well as some of the more modern retro bike builds.

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

>>> SL what? 5,6, or 7? I had an SL5. Fast little bike. <<<

Here's the Specialized Tarmac. This is pretty much outside of my wheelhouse. It just says 'Tarmac Pro' on it as far as I can see. I'm thinking this is a very early Tarmac (maybe '05-'08???). It's all Dura-Ace except the Ultegra crank which seems odd (maybe it was replaced). Wheels are Roval. I'm thinking the rim brakes absolutely zero-out the market value for this type bike?? I need to get it cleaned and tuned before even attempting a ride.