Colnago

[scott43]

Had a visceral reaction to this at first: No! (I'm Italian, and definitely not gaudy.) Then I started thinking about it and decided you were right.

My reference classic lugged frame is a demure Raleigh. So ... I guess I'm not that Italian after all.

 

[cantunamunch]

Technical foul! ^bike is a Specialized!

Vitus were a nightmare..I had a 979..used to creak and groan and wobbled at high speed like a drunken sailor on leave.. However..super light!

IME: change the fork to something with more trail, put in a top headset and you can make all those bikes feel really, really nice...

 

[scott43]

Technical foul! ^bike is a Specialized!

Yeah..but Cipo-gaudy! Wow!

 

[cantunamunch]

Yeah..but Cipo-gaudy! Wow!

Just speaks to my earlier point that even Italians can go verrry verrry bad when given gobs'o' USAian money

 

[SShore]

Yeah..but Cipo-gaudy! Wow!

No one could sport Italo-gaudy like Super Mario. He was a Michelangelo.

 

[SShore]

Yeah..but Cipo-gaudy! Wow!

No one could sport Italo-gaudy like Super Mario. He was a Michelangelo.

 

[Tony S]

I really loved Frenchs bike and components too, but unfortunately, they have all gone by the wayside.

Not sure about French components - there's a reason all those Huret derailleurs were replaced with Japanese ones that actually worked - but I always had a soft spot for Motobecane.

 

[SShore]

Not sure about French components - there's a reason all those Huret derailleurs were replaced with Japanese ones that actually worked - but I always had a soft spot for Motobecane.

Greg LeMond did win the Tour de France on a bike equipped with a Magic group set.

 

[Bill Talbot]

Not sure about French components - there's a reason all those Huret derailleurs were replaced with Japanese ones that actually worked - but I always had a soft spot for Motobecane.

Well the Simplex Super LJ was one of the finest derailers in the mid to late 70's. These beauties shift very well indeed! And the Retrofriction levers are in a league all their own!

The boxed set

In the wild

 

[graham418]

In the early 70's , in my neighbourhood anyway, there was suddenly a big popularity in bikes, and French bikes were a big part of it. Peugeot, Motobecane, LeJeune, Gitane among others were very popular. All were equipped with Simplex derailleurs , and Mafac centre-pull brakes.

 

[Bill Talbot]

In the early 70's , in my neighbourhood anyway, there was suddenly a big popularity in bikes, and French bikes were a big part of it. Peugeot, Motobecane, LeJeune, Gitane among others were very popular. All were equipped with Simplex derailleurs , and Mafac centre-pull brakes.

Lets not talk about the 'plastic' Simplex derailers on the low end French bike boom bikes

 

[Philpug]

Here is an article from Sports Illustrated about Campagnolo from 1980..La Crema Della Crema.

 

[graham418]

Lets not talk about the 'plastic' Simplex derailers on the low end French bike boom bikes

For many of us, that was our first 'real' bike, after a stingray bike. I remember the plastic Simplex, but also some stamped metal ones.

I also remember going into going into one of Toronto's first proper bike shops when I was 16 or 17 and seeing my first Colnago. It was an elevating experience, they were things of beauty. Cinelli, Ciocc, DeRosa, Guerciotti, Masi, Rossin were other brands they carried. They also carried cycling shoes and black wool shorts. That was something completely new in our city. To an impressionable young man, it made an impact. I saved my money for what seemed like ages , an finally got my first Italian bike , an Olmo. It had Campi Gran Sport derailllers , and Ofmega crank, and Modolo brakes. It wasn't the best set-up, but it was all I could afford. I have had strong bias to Italian bikes ever since

 

[Eleeski]

Yeah..we had Campy and Dura Ace..then Mavic came out with these bad boys and changed the whole game...

Wasn't Philwood the first sealed bearing hub?

 

[scott43]

For many of us, that was our first 'real' bike, after a stingray bike. I remember the plastic Simplex, but also some stamped metal ones.

I also remember going into going into one of Toronto's first proper bike shops when I was 16 or 17 and seeing my first Colnago. It was an elevating experience, they were things of beauty. Cinelli, Ciocc, DeRosa, Guerciotti, Masi, Rossin were other brands they carried. They also carried cycling shoes and black wool shorts. That was something completely new in our city. To an impressionable young man, it made an impact. I saved my money for what seemed like ages , an finally got my first Italian bike , an Olmo. It had Campi Gran Sport derailllers , and Ofmega crank, and Modolo brakes. It wasn't the best set-up, but it was all I could afford. I have had strong bias to Italian bikes ever since

Olmo's were nice. Built a few of those.
Bloor Cycle..RIP..

 

[scott43]

Wasn't Philwood the first sealed bearing hub?

Phils were early on too..but custom..Mavic went mainstream and were cheaper..they rocked.

 

[graham418]

Bloor Cycle..RIP..

Bloor Cycle was a great store, ( I'm gathering you worked there) but for the truly esoteric selection of old Italian parts, and frames, and a good dose of eastern bloc abuse, High Park Cycle was the place. Old Jan (Ivan the terrible) was the tersest, rudest, most thieviest, (is that a word?), but had the biggest selection of vintage italian components and small parts.

 

[gwasson]

Got inspired by reading through this thread. Here is my 1999 vintage De Rosa Neo Primato. Just pulled it out of the basement and cleaned it up. Probably needs new tires as these are most likely dry rotted, but I might just have to take it out for a spin. The motorcycle pic is showing 2 Italian beauties.