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.  

Mystery Klein - Update

Thanks to DiabloScott for chiming in on my Mystery Klein post. His information provided insight into the origin of this frame. 


His comment: "If you checked the underside of the dropout and there's no serial number there, then you definitely have one of the earliest custom bikes. I don't think I've ever seen another Klein with an over the BB FD cable guide... interesting."

Here's the cable guide Scott mentioned above.

Custom Klein Super ? Still up for debate, but this is as close
 as I've come in identifying this. Stay tuned.

Scott also provided a link to some great, old Klein ordering information and pics of another very old Klein bicycle. Go HERE for this info. 

If anyone else has information on vintage Klein bicycles, please let me know. I'd be especially interested in corresponding with someone who worked at Klein during the early years - but I'll take any information I can get.


Thanks!

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.

Restoration of Vintage "Magnet" Bicycle

Have any restoration photos or videos? Send me a link to them - VintageRacingBicycles [at] gmail.com

Fitocracy - Quick Tip Tutorial

Join me on Fitocracy -
Group name: Step to the Beat

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.

Which Bike to Ride?

This is a follow-up to yesterday's post where I wrote about a short ride that turned out to be unexpectedly enjoyable. 

Out of my six or seven ride-able bicycles in my stable, I chose my Klein Performance for that ride. This 1988* bike is the most comfortable bike I own for all road conditions and for trips longer than just a couple of miles. Its long wheelbase provides a stable, forgiving ride, and the wide range 13-28 gearing means I'm prepared for spinning if my unconditioned legs start complaining. 

Fuji Cambridge

If the ride was five miles or less, I would have chosen my Fuji Cambridge, which is terrific for errands around town and short jaunts on the bike path. It would have been fine for this slightly longer ride, too, but I had the Klein readily-available, so I chose that.

Do you have more than one bicycle? How do you choose which bike to ride?