I’ve spent a lot of time of late looking at ‘vintage’ road bikes on the interwebs. It all started when thinking about what my ‘dream bike’ would be, and invariably the frame material of choice was steel. Beautiful modern-day frames from the likes of Baum, Speedvagen and Italian classics Colnago and De Rosa were high on the list, and high on price, something that kept the ‘dream’ in dream bike. Then I struck on the solution; surely people are selling off the old ‘ten-speed’ from under the house, not knowing that the old girl that had been handed on by Grandpa, who was a bit of a cyclist in his day, was worth a little bit more than the pocket money that they were asking just to save them the hassle of taking it to the dump.
Trawling the pages of TradeMe (the Kiwi EBay) started taking up my evenings, interspersed with endless forums that showed some of the most beautiful restored bikes I’ve ever seen. And like the awesome bikes my father has painstakingly rejuvenated (and which we chronicled on this very site) they invoke the beauty and simplicity of the time. Beautiful to look at, but I wanted something I could ride as my one and only road bike. The plan was hatched.
So I found this old girl, a Columbus SL-tubed, locally made machine, and watched the auction with intent. When the time to bid came, cold feet got the better of me, and I passed, as did the cut-off with no bids put in. The next day, a slew of emails to guru of all things Euro, steel and cool, Oli, gave me the impetus to get the ball rolling. A buy-now offer was taken up, and for the princely sum of $220 NZ (about 50 bucks US) I had the Bosomworth secured. The next step didn’t come so cheaply though, but with a sale from the NZ distributor happening, the necessary group was ordered; Chorus 11 speed will be gracing the old girl, and some Shamal Ultras are being watched closely too, or I may just plump for some new Nuetron Ultras to complete the build. I’ve just bought a sweet Italmanubri quill stem for peanuts, and a post and headset are the next targets. (Wheel and component suggestions welcome.)
It may not quite be the dream bike, but it’s going to be fun to convert it into something close. So out with the carbon and in with the steel, out with the Japanese and in with the Italian. Even if the frame ends up not floating my boat, there are some back up plans in place.
I’m excited.
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Hate to ask, but whats a bosom worth?
Two for the price of one!
I've seen that joke done on a couple of vintage websites in my research this week...
Surely you've reviewed Rule 12 while hatching this plan. The Bosomworth and Chorus pairing may just be the ticket (for ANOTHER bike), but when I start reading things like "one and only road bike" and "out with the carbon" I worry for you, Bro.
@Marko
Thanks for your concern Marko, but I'm not made of money, and if I need to go back to carbon, at least I'll have Campy to throw on it. Plus, my Roubaix is on the small side for me, and I'm over the look of fat tubes and huge logos on each one of them.
And this will keep Jarvis and Frank happy, I'm going back to a standard crankset!
This looks like a wonderful project. Can't wait to see the finished bike and read about the rides.
Curious - what is the shiny fitting on the top tube, just forward of the seat post?
Have fun with it.
Mike
The guy that I sold my old Bridgestone RB-1 to asked me if I wanted to buy it back (because he wants an aluminum bike - go figure). I should probably buy it back and pimp it out to as new condition.
Beautiful bike, nice lugs. Going to steel and Italian is always a good move...I've been looking at some older steel frames myself, thinking that down the road, I might do the same thing...I could kick myself because I went into my awesome LBS, A BIcycle Odyssey, and they had just sold (on consignment, I guess), an old Molteni colored Merckx MX Leader - frame was gorgeous (even though it had DA). I, obviously, had no money to buy it, but it was a nice fantasy for a few minutes.
The cool thing about the ol' Bosom is how affordable it is...and when you build it up with the Campy, etc it becomes a really sweet ride that doesn't cost you a fortune, plus it has the - IMHO - a added bonus of not being so well known. I kind of go back and forth about whether I want to find something like an old Colnago or a Masi or De Rosa or whether something less well known (and less expensive) might be a better way to go.
As for carbon, every time I go to my LBS to test drive a carbon bike, they just feel dead to me, though Frank's R3 looks pretty damned sweet, I'd have to say...
@Cyclops
Dude, buy it back!!
@Mike
I'm not sure what that little dealiebob is. Brett will likely tell us and then we'll say something like, "oh. Duh."
@Adrain
++1 for the rad avatard; --1 for the bad joke. Squeaked by on neutral!