1980 Raleigh Competition G.S.

So, after acquiring this frame a couple of months ago as described in a previous post, I have finally decided to get started putting it together. The lingering question was just what to do with it? It’s not a high dollar classic or a particularly sought after brand, and not really very collectible so it had to be a good rider. It should also be reasonably light and a bike that is nice to look at, so my main goal for this Raleigh is just that, for it be a nice looking bike that is fun to ride.

 

White Mountain Peak in a day!

Five participations, Five summits

They say that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Well, each of the five times I rode this event I was hoping for the same result, but it was still pretty crazy! A blast from the past about an epic MTB ride from the 1980’s.

The view of the peak from near Barcroft Station (not my photo).

 

Mid 60’s Girardengo, completed

Bicicletta classica per tutte le strade

I’m trying to find the right category to classify this bike as and I haven’t quite got it yet. Retro Italian gravel bike, vintage all roads rider, old school adventure bike, Strada Bianca speciale? All of these come close but in the end it is probably just a Franken-bike.

 

Off season and off topic, in the Veneto

This post isn’t really going to be about cycling. In fact, the best I’ll be able to do is to sneak a couple of bicycle related images and locations into this brief account of our off season trip to the Veneto. The trip for our family is about a little mid-pandemic relief and trying to reclaim something of a normal life during this not-so-normal holiday season.

Early December evening, Piazza San Marco

 

1954 Urago Debutante

Urago Bicycles was a French manufacturer which was founded in 1935 in Nice by brothers Joseph and Francois. They were known for the high quality of their handmade frames, many of which were built by artisan frame builder Anicet Cattanéo who continued working through the early 70’s. Francois Urago was a track racer in the 1920s -1930s and his likeness was on the head badge for many years. Outside of these scant few details there is limited information readily available on the Urago marque other than the few bikes that are out there to observe.

 

Mystery bike has a name!

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Piemontese

After a fruitless effort to identify the marque of this bicycle I have decided that it should not remain a no-name bike. Lacking its true identity I can at least give it an alias, or perhaps a stage name. Bicycles have personalities of sorts and any name should reflect that. To give it a signature to display on the down-tube seems only proper. A few of the naming criteria for me are as follows: First, that it be Italian, offers a complimentary image, and should reflect something about the character of the machine. Italians bikes are often unique to the region in which they are manufactured, in the case this bike the Piedmont region of northern Italy. That makes this bike Piemontese in origin and would also make a fine label for this bike. Hey, I think I just invented a bike brand!

 

The Mystery bike is finished!

 Cicli – R.Daniele – Ivrea

 

Late 1950’s or early 60’s?

 

Eroica California 2017, ride day

This is the third year for this event…….

Riders gathered for the 7:00 start wave.

In all of my previous Eroica events I have always ridden the longest available route. I wanted to get the full “Heroic” experience out of each location, Italy, England, Spain as well as California. This year however I chose one of the shorter distance options which may have marked a turning point in my cycling.

 

Bianchi L’Eroica bike

My 2015 Bianchi L’Eroica

I originally discussed this bike in a post last year after I first heard about it, Preview of the Bianchi L’Eroica. I determined that I wanted to get one as soon as they became available and put my local bike shop onto the job of tracking one down. After a few months of phone calls and inquiries my Bianchi arrived in January of 2016. It appears to be the 17th bike in production based on the serial number, and is certainly among the first to arrive in the US.

 

1959 Girardengo

Here is a project that I may regret taking on. I stumbled across this frame online and picked it up for a song, and that may be about all it is worth. To my optimistic eye however it has some potential in spite of its condition. Rusted chrome, bent top and down tube, bent fork etc. But, I am usually up for a challenge!

 

Verboort Sausage ride, 2015

Another great Oregon Randonneurs event!

This years Verboort Sausage Festival ride started well enough, cool and cloudy but not raining. Well, that fantasy lasted for about the first mile before the rain came in and settled on our ride!

 

1980 Motobecane Nomade II, winter project

Here is a bike that I really didn’t need, though that could be said about most of them. It came to me like so many others “as a good deal!” At just $38 for the frame and fork it seemed like a no brainer, especially since I had most of the needed parts just lying around.