Component Failure - Stress Fracture Campagnolo Crankset

Not sure where I got this Campangolo Record (Strada) crankset, but it's been retired. Took it off my Guerciotti and it's now wall art (garage, of course - my wife has a different definition of fine art). 

The lesson here - inspect components - from the pedals to the forks and everything in between. This goes for modern carbon fiber to old school steel, aluminum, bamboo. 

Some more pics of component failures. Have any of your own? Send them to me via email - vintageracingbicycles [at] gmail dot com.

*** *** UPDATE *** ***

The great folks over at Classic Rendezvous (Google Group) chimed in and suggested simply filing (rat tail file) the inner part of the spider/arm where the cracks are. Some people said this is all it needs, and others suggested that the cracks may extend further than the eye can see, so filing may not be a good idea. File at your own risk!

Vintage Bicycle Parts Museum

So, perhaps "museum" is a bit much, but I am pleased with this display case I got at the Long Beach Antique Market last Sunday. Nice place to show off my newly-acquired Campagnolo Super Record groupo I bought on Friday.

UPDATE: Turns out that the group is a mix of 1986 and 1982 parts, so the seller wasn't entirely wrong. The derailleur is Brev 1982. As mentioned earlier though, the brakes are definitely 1985-86.  

1986 Campagnolo Super Record Groupo

Bought this off CraigsList yesterday. It was advertised as a 1982 Campagnolo Super Record Group, but, after purchasing it and researching a bit, it turns out that it's a mix of years from 1982 to 1986. That's fine with me - it's minty, and beautiful.

I think the first tip-off that this wasn't a 1982 group was these white hoods. I asked the seller, and he said, "Nope - 1982." Oh well; live and learn.

Feel free to correct me on any info I provide here, but from my research, 1986 was the last year for the legendary Super Record brakeset, and featured the conical center nut and quick release nut as well. Campy brakes wouldn't be the same after these. The C-Record Delta brakes were radically different. The C-Record Cobalto brakes where similar with the exception of the cobalt stone set in the center bolt and the blue Campagnolo name on the arms rather than the black. The next year, 1987, Was the last year for the Super Record group until it returned 11 years later.

Does this photo make anyone else feel dizzy?

Was this the last year for the iconic Super Record rear derailleur design that started in 1973? Dunno, but it had to be either '86 or '87 - chime in if you know.


The Super Record crankset featured non-fluted arms. The earlier versions featured engraved logos on the arms, the later ones - like this one, featured laser-etched logos. 

The pedals - classic Super Record, and these shined up real well.

Left - unpolished, Right - polished

As part of this purchase, the owner "threw in" a Mavic GP4 rear wheel with Super Record hub, an unused 25mm Campagnolo Super Record seatpost, a couple of Campagnolo Tools, several Campagnolo brake pads, some brake shoes, assorted allen head bolts, downtube shifters and extra shifter parts, an extra set of Campy crank arm bolts, the original metal crank dust caps, four Campagnolo toe clips with four Campy straps, an unused Campagnolo aero water bottle with cage, and an unused Campagnolo Silca framp pump head.

Had much fun polishing and sorting this collection this morning. Will I mount the components on a frame? Probably - in time. For now, I'll keep it in my new clear acrylic display case I got at the Long Beach antique market last Sunday. Photos to come. 


Anything to add or facts to correct? Chime on in! Thanks.

Oh, the Insanity - Part Two

This is a follow up to my last post on this ...seat.. post.  Sigh.

Okay - I'm done trying to polish this. I mixed the MAAS metal polish and the Brasso, but can't get this any more polished. Still looking for ideas on this or the harsh news that this may be as good as this post can look. Go ahead and break it to me - I can take it.

Here's the next question for the VintageRacingBicycles.com community: What logo is this? I'll post this question on Twitter as well as all the other usual spots and answer back to this post when I get the correct answer.

If you're thinking "Colnago," then where's the "clubs" symbol? Or did that come in a later iteration of their logo? It's not Cinelli... Campagnolo? 


Someone out there will know the answer... let's see who gets it first. 

Oh, the Insanity...

Post with polishing cream applied

I have here a circa 1977 two-bolt fluted, pantographed Campagnolo Super Record seat post that's seen much better days. I sincerely wish I'd taken a photo of this BEFORE two hours of polishing, as that's the state in the photos you see here. 


I'm using MAAS Metal Polish, but will bring out the Brasso tomorrow if this doesn't cut it. Wanted to start with the MAAS as I'm doing this in an enclosed space and Brasso is pretty caustic stuff. 

This side isn't too bad

I've hit an impasse though. Although I'm still able to get black residue on my cloths after each polishing pass, I'm not seeing any more of the discoloration/pitting/oxidation disappearing. 

Here's the troubled side.

Any metal polishing experts out there? What's the next step in restoring this seat post? Grinder wheel with polishing pad on it? I tried the Dremmel, but that's too high of an RPM, and actually tarnished a small section of the post using the Dremmel. 


Will post more photos in my next post after another couple of hours of polishing. Chime in with suggestions... Please! :)


Also, start thinking about that logo on the post. Colnago? Campagnolo? I'll need your help to identify.


Thanks.

Campagnolo - 'nuff Said?

Campagnolo C-Record Cobalto Calipers

Photo courtesy of Sheldon Brown - Perhaps the Web's best cycling resource.

I'm a Campagnolo fan, and proud of it. While Japanese components can be equal, in many ways, I'm attracted to the nostalgia surrounding Campy heritage. I don't own any Campagnolo gear newer than 1990, and have no real interest in building up a bicycle with any of their carbon components - not now, anyway. I do have a minty first generation Chorus group, two pair of C-Record Cobalto brakes and levers, and the Campy set that's on my Bianchi Superleggera. I've also got my eye on a Campagnolo "Sport" derailleur that I spotted on CraigsList yesterday, although it may be gone before I get the opportunity to purchase it on Monday. 


I'll be talking more about Campagnolo gear in future posts - just wanted to start a conversation on the subject to fuel the discussions to come.


Do you own any Campy gear? How does it compare to Japanese or other brands? What's your favorite Campagnolo model line?


Send photos and I'll post them on this blog. vintageracingbicycles [at] gmail.com