The eBay Alternative You'Ve Been Looking for - New Vintage Bicycle Online Marketplace

Welcome to A Great Vintage

Established October 15, 2013

My name is Tom Jordan, and I’m a vintage bicycle collector and the owner of VintageRacingBicycles.com, which I started in November 2011. A Great Vintage was born from my admiration for older bikes of all styles and genres and my desire to connect buyers, sellers, and vintage bicycle enthusiasts from around the world. I hope you enjoy this site as much as I do. Thank you for visiting!

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A Great Vintage is a global, online marketplace for buying and selling vintage bicycles, parts, accessories, and clothing. A 7 Day Ad costs only 50 cents, USD, and we never charge any fees associated with your sales.

If you wish to sell a bicycle, part, or accessory, simply click on the “Place Ad” link in the right sidebar of every page. You can create an Ad that runs for 7 days, 30 days, or “Until it Sells” whichever works best for you. You also have the choice of paying for each individual ad via PayPal, or to purchase Ad Credits, which you can purchase at a discount.

Ad Credits are a handy and cost-effective way of “paying” for your ads without having to go to PayPal each time. This becomes especially useful when you need to place multiple ads at once. You’ll see the cost savings these credits provide on the Place Ad page.

We accept credit cards through PayPal, but you do not have to have a PayPal account to use our service. PayPal will accept credit card payments even from non-members. Your transactions are always secure, as all transactions are done within the PayPal site.

We charge no transaction or back-end fees at all. Once listed, you control how long your ad runs, who you sell it to, and how it is shipped.

A Great Vintage  is always free for buyers, so feel free to browse through all the great bicycles, parts, and accessories you’ll find here. Buyers do need to register for an account to contact sellers.

We welcome all types of bicycles built from 1890 – 1990. As the name implies, this site is designed to cater to “vintage” bicycles of all types as well as KOF or “Keepers of the Flame,” which, on this site, refers to newer bikes built in a “classic” style.

Thanks, and have fun!

Vintage Bike Ride

I am privileged to be invited along with a small group of vintage cycling enthusiasts on this annual ride from Long Beach, CA to Newport Beach. Lots of great history with both the bikes and the frame builders present. Lots of pics HERE.  Enjoy.

1976 Austro Dailmer and Other Great Vintage Pics

I wanted to share these great vintage bicycle photos I found this past week. Enjoy!

1976 Austro Dailmer Vent Noir

California Pedaler

Pushies Galore - 2013 Vintage Bike Show, Brisbane, Australia

Photo courtesy pf veloaficionado.com 

Some beautiful vintage and modern master-crafted bicycles here. Enjoy!

Vintage Bicycle Show - Manhattan Beach Grand Prix

Had a great time at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix this morning. Not only was the racing action spectacular, (pics HERE), but the vintage bikes on display were equally inspiring. 

Thanks to Ted Ernst for establishing this 3rd longest running bicycle race in the USA. This is the 52nd year and the 2nd oldest race is only one year older.

More pics from the show HERE.

Test Ride - Centurion Equipe

I took the Centurion "Cinelli" Equipe out for a 15-miler this morning around the neighborhood. While there were no hills, cobblestones, switchbacks, or other fun obstacles to provide a "proper" test ride evaluation, there were squirrels to dodge and I came close to hitting a skunk, so perhaps this counts toward the bike's adequate handling characteristics. 

The first couple miles were somewhat uncomfortable, but this was no fault of the bike. Had to adjust the seat back an inch and tilt it up a bit. I prefer to have the nose of my saddles a couple of degrees above horizontal. I truly distaste leaning into the bars to keep myself "back" on my saddles. If you find yourself with numb palms or fingers after a ride, make sure your not leaning into the bars too much. You should feel neutral on your bike - well-balanced and not pitched forward, fighting to keep yourself from sliding off the front or the back of your saddle. 

Enough for the riding lessons. Once I adjusted the seat, the Centurion disappeared beneath me. It has very neutral handling, neither twitchy or laid-back, and, although not the lightest bike in the stable (22 pounds 1oz without bottle cages), accelerates well and is stiff while sprinting. 

Perhaps the best compliment I can give this bike is that it doesn't draw attention to itself in any way. The Campagnolo Nuovo Record rear derailleur shifts effortlessly through the gears, and the stability and easy handling allow me to focus on everything except the bike - like the squirrels and other, less pleasant early-morning critters.

I was thinking of selling this bike, but, after this morning's ride, I've decided it's a keeper. This is a decision I can live with, and one that should bring many more easy miles in the years to come.

More photos of the Centurion Equipe can be found HERE. 

SpeedBicycles - Collection Virtual Museum

This is a cool site that I thought I'd turn y'all onto. 

There's a 1973 Colnago Super in Moteni orange that looks a lot like mine would if it wasn't repainted. Other great bikes there as well. 

Enjoy!  http://www.speedbicycles.ch/showBike.php?enr=420

1974 Mondia Special

This 1974 Mondia (Super) Special was repainted by Joe Bell sometime in the past 20 years - unsure because it was previously-owned. I have the period-correct brake calipers and need to get a good stem and seatpost from that era to outfit it correctly. Other than that - runs like a charm and rides as smooth as silk. The orange tubulars are a nice touch, if I do say so.

Serial number is 187640.

Ever ridden a Mondia?  You can read more about them here: http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Switzerland/Mondia_main.htm

Klein Performance - From VRB Community Member, Jim

Below you'll find Jim's fine-looking Klein Performance and his story. Thanks Jim!

If any of you have a story and pics to share - send them on in to me - VintageRacingBicycles [at] gmail dot com

Here are a few interesting features: Huret Jubilee Racing Final Type Rear Derailluer with SunTour Superbe Pro front derailleur and SunTour PowerShift Stem Shifter; Red Modolo Pro front and rear side pull calipers, Campagnolo Italy headset, Campagnolo 175 Strada Crank 53/42.  60 cm frame and frame # S556 stamped on left rear dropout.

Here's Jim's story - 

As a married man for 29 years with a wonderful wife and three great kids, we have always believed in enjoying the outdoors.  Over the years, I have purchased 5 mountain bikes for my family from a local bike shop in Overland Park, Ks.  Only in the past two years have I become interested in vintage road bikes.  At a bike swap meet in the fall of 2010, I purchased a 1987 Raleigh Technium 440 Aluminum road bike.  Over that winter I cleaned, polished, and replaced cables and housing.  Nothing major, but it was a lot of fun.  Last winter I talked to the owner of my   "lbs" to let him know that I was interested in another winter bike project.  This time, I told him, I was looking for something a bit more rare.  I happened into the shop on February 18, 2012, and the owner approached me with excitement that he found a perfect project for me.  He pointed to a bike frame leaning next to a couple of wheels next to the "back room".  It was set up with aero bars and looked to have been most recently used on a bike trainer.  I was not familiar with Klein bikes either as a MTB or road.  He gave me some brief history of Klein prior to the merger with Trek in 1995.  Although the bike was a bit rough and dirty, the uniqueness of the Huret rear derailleur and Campagnolo components certainly piqued my interest.  I was also very anxious to begin my research on Klein.  To my surprise I learned quickly that Gary Klein was a MIT graduate just like my great grandfather.

Over the next two months I devoted myself to research and reconditioning.  Red Modolo Pro calipers,  ultra-light Huret Jubilee Racing derailleur, Cinelli stem and bars, Campagnolo 175 Strada crank (53/42) and headset, and SunTour PowerShift Stem Shifter.  My knowledge of bicycle components of the '70s grew immensely.  By spring my reconditioning efforts were complete and it was time to ride!

What a pleasant surprise when I learned that my oldest daughter had decided to begin training for a triathlon.  This was a perfect opportunity for me to put the Klein Performance to the test.  My 6 foot frame fit on this 60 cm aluminum frame like a glove.  As I have not yet moved up to clipless pedals, I retained the SunTour Superbe Pedals.  We had some great training rides at Shawnee Mission Park where the triathlon is hosted.  As this bike is set up as a 10-speed, it was not to bad to deal with the stem shifters.  Since my Raleigh Technium is also aluminum, I really cannot compare the ride to a steel frame.  With these older Schwinn wheels, the bike still weighs in a 25 lbs.  I felt very comfortable riding fast down the hills, but fast for me is 37-39 mph.

Although I have done quite a bit of research, I have not been able to definitively determine the age of this bike.  Because of the use of stem shifters and no bracket for downtube shifters that are visible on Klein Performance versions from the late '80s, I think this frame could actually be from the early '80s.  The frame downtube has markings for "Patent Pending" and the red Modolo calipers were first introduced in 1978.  The last big piece of evidence that I have is the serial number of S556.  I have not been able to find any reference tables to link this to any specific year or year range.

I hope you enjoyed my story and I look forward to putting many more miles on this very special ride.

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.

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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!

New Track Documentary - Looks Great. Web Series

RYOKOU TRAILER - WEB VERSION from Projucer on Vimeo.

Mock Eddy Merckx Video - Well-Done!

Enjoy!

1973 Colnago Super - Molteni

LOTS of photos (posted by the previous owner who undertook this project) here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexjries/sets/72157627447013600/

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Frame: 1974 Colnago Super, Columbus SL, Campagnolo dropouts

Fork: Columbus SL, Campagnolo fork tips

Dimensions:

ST: 61cm c-t

TT: 58cm c-c

Rims: 700c Nisi tubulars

Hubs: Campagnolo Record low-flange, 36h F/R, 100mm/120mm

Skewers: Campagnolo Record, pre-CPSC, flat QR lever

Tires: Vittoria Corsa Evo SC, 700x23

Cranks: Campagnolo Record, 172.5mm, 1982? (2 in a circle)

Chain rings: Campagnolo Nuovo Record, 52/42

Pedals: Campagnolo Pista

Toe clips: Christophe Special

Toe straps: Alfredo Binda

Bottom Bracket: Campagnolo Record

Freewheel: Regina Corsa, 5-speed

Chain: Regina Extra SL, Superlegerra

Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record, pre-CPSC, flat cage

Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record, patent 1971

Brake Levers: Campagnolo Nuovo Record, early type, NOS Campagnolo gum hoods

Brake Calipers: Campagnolo Record, pre-CPSC (flat QR)

Saddle: 3ttt

Seat Post: Campagnolo Record, 2-bolt

Seat Binder Bolt: Campagnolo

Stem: Cinelli 1A

Headset: Campagnolo Record

Handlebars: Cinelli Mod Giro D'Italia, 40cm c-c

Extras: TA bottle cage, NOS Campagnolo grey cable housing, NOS Campagnolo brake cable clips, Cinelli Milano bar end caps

This is a rare, beautiful Colnago bicycle in ready-to-ride or show condition. Pristine, 10/10 in all respects.

I "showed" this bike recently at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix Vintage Bicycle Show. Pics of that here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreamcalendars/sets/72157634536676686/

This is a repaint, reconditioned frame - Cyclart of Vista CA did the work - Jim Cunningham is the man there. He replaced the seat stays that were rusted out with correct, Columbus stays. No other rust problems existed. The frame is in pristine condition.

In case you're wondering, the bike curretly looks exactly like the photos. I only rode it around the block after I bought it. The saddle is even free of sweat stains... sorry, TMI, but these details are important.

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Quick history: I acquired the bike from the previous owner who was responsible for all of the work - piecing this together over a period of a year from NOS parts. He purchased it as a near complete bike from a seller on eBay, the frame had been stripped and spray painted so he knew all along that a repaint was in order. The parts were not going to work for his dream rebuild, so were re-purposed on "lesser" machines. When the owner received the frame he found it had extensive seat stay rust issues that required the replacement of the seat stays.  Cyclart came through with the frame repairs and with a nice "modern" paint job, in the spirit, but not exact shade of the Molteni Team bike that Eddy Merckx rode in that era.

To spice up some of the components, the previous owner summoned the help from veteran members DrilliumDude and Otis, both experts in drillium in their own ways. Both DrilliumDude and Otis own beautiful examples of Molteni Orange Colnagos that were added inspiration for this build. Drillium Dude went to work on the brake levers and shifters, while Otis milled the stem and seat post. The previous owner did the chain ring himself and was complimented by DrilliumDude for this very artful attempt.