Back When I Could Only Afford . . .

[LongRanger]

. . . two wheels . . .

Bikes were my introduction to mobility. I didn't learn to ride 'till I was 13, but once I learned, well, let's just say I did my best to make up for a late start . . .

Anyway, before everything was made out of plasti---er, carbon-fiber, road bikes were made out of steel. And the best road bikes were Italian: Colnago, Guercotti, CIOCC, De Rosa, Bianchi, etc. As much art as mechanism, the details of the more elaborate bikes was breath-taking: double-butted chrome-moly tubing, investment cast lugs, torch-brazed into light, spidery shapes, sprayed with lacquer, hand-finished, then and hung with forged aluminum bits, some signed or pantographed with the names of builders and riders and races from long-ago.

I still have my old no-name Italian bike, Olmo-framed and Campy-equipped, bought and ridden for college, back in the early 80's, in the heyday of steel, just before plasti---er CF. Newer bikes may be lighter and stronger and, well --- just MORE . . . but there's something about the look and the feel and the art of an old Italian road bike.

So, while I can still jack-knife myself over one . . . I look.

Here's a nifty little De Rosa I came across, on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

My back hurts just looking at it!

Rick Kreiskott

[Chuck Miller]

Not a bad place to spend some time Rick.......

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/index.html

Cheers from'a old 'gone to seed' bikey......

[LongRanger]

Thanks for that link, Chuck.

Here's another --- more of a museum, though:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/

Pick a country, find a builder, then wander through some of the galleries. Anybody remember Bruce Gordon? He's there:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/Gordon_B_main.htm

Seems that bikes had a golden age, too. I just never noticed it at the time . . .

Rick Kreiskott

[LongRanger]

. . . with Campagnolo 50th Anniversary Group minus pedals. Early 80s artistry in steel. Before plastic bikes.

On eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-ROSA-r...item3cb1bdd80a

By itself, I've seen the Group sell for $3.5k

(not mine)
Rick Kreiskott

[Flieger]

I still ride steel. It was cheap and a rigid frame. Not able to swing the fancy Italian ones, but I do have the Porsche.

It is fun to pass some of the guys with jerseys and clip-in pedals and energy goo on carbon frames and skinny tires... up a 7-8% grade, ~800 ft elevation gain climb in the canyons.

[joegt3cup]

I have a small collection of Raleigh 3 speed Sports but the bike I'ved had since new and have never ridden is my 1986 Peugeot 12 speed... I really should sell it !

[LongRanger]

. . . on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Colnago-Tecnos-R...item4154410af3

Nivacrom tubing --- google it --- full Campy, pantographed. 58cm fits about 5'8" to 5'10".

Rick Kreiskott

[reinaldo]

Wow that's really nice.

[LongRanger]

A genuine Eddy Merckx . . . . an actual Team bike, no less ---- from Craigslist!! . . .

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...rola-Team-Bike

Rick Kreiskott

[LongRanger]

. . . on eBay . . .

Seller's schtick . . .

. . . VINER STELLA | Classic steel | Campagnolo Super Record | NOS

Handmade, New Old Stock Viner, Mod. Stella. Built in the late 70s in Italy.

Beautiful details in the metal work and in a perfect, original state. This vintage racer was never used before, its out of a bike dealers storage.
The beautiful original red paint has no marks of storage.
The decals are still looking great.

I just cleaned the bike from dust, adjust all bearings, put two new tubular tires and new bar tape on it.
The highlight on this bike are beside the rare original state the beautiful and never used Campagnolo Super Record parts.

An interesting bike for all friends of classic italian racing bikes and a rare opportunity

Handlebar: 3ttt, Mod.Superleggero (light and rare)
Tires: Vittoria competition, Rally, 23 mm, tubular tires, new!
Stem: 3ttt, 95mm
Saddle: San Marco, Gi-Lux 311
Seat post: Campagnolo Super Record
Cranks: Campagnolo Super Record
Headset: Campagnolo Super Record
Rear Dereilleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record, 6gear, Pat.77
Front Dereilleur: Campagnolo Super Record
Shifter: Campagnolo
Brake cables: original
Shifting cables: original
Hubs: Campagnolo Record, 36 holes
Rims: Fiamme Ergal, polished!
Bottom bracket: Campagnolo Super Record
Dropouts: Campagnolo, chromed
Brakes: Campagnolo Super Record
Brake Levers: Campagnolo Super Record
Quick release: Campagnolo
Tape: Textil tape, yellow, new!
Coq sprocket: Regina Oro, 6gear
Chain: Regina
weight: 8,78 kg! (without pedals)
chromed chain stay
chromed forkhead (there are some small injurys on the right side of the chrome forkhead, but no rust)
Tubes: Columbus

Frame size 57 cm high (middle bottom bracket – end seat tube), the rider should be arround 177 - 181 cm tall.
Top tube 56 cm (middle seat tube – middle bar tube)

This bike is in a perfect and new condition (have a look at the pictures). Of course no rust or dents. All components on this bike are never used before, they are new!
There are no pedals including this offer!

The bike will be packed properly (you can see my stabile transport box at the last picture!) and I will provide a track number. We have a lot experience in shipping bikes around the world as you can see at our reports!

If you got some questions more please contact me.

Have a look at my other auctions and take a look at eisenherz-bikes.de, germany . . .


http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINER-STELLA...item1c30ee3afc

(Not mine)