Eroica California 2022 - Bicycle Concours d'Elegance and Swap

 

The 2022 California Eroica Festival was held for the first time since 2019, and, again Cambria, California was chosen as the host city. My wife and I rented a beach cottage near Fiscalini Ranch and had a splendid weekend. I didn't do the ride on Sunday, but enjoyed much of what the festival had to offer. This time around, though, I didn't purchase anything at the swap as I had three years ago during my visit. I have too many parts sitting in drawers already.

As you can see, the bikes on display represented many of the finest around - brought here by collectors from far and wide. Ted Ernst, who just turned 90 a few days ago, was one of the judges. Few men his age have got the zeal and pep he does. Great to see Ted out there accompanied by another judge, looking over the minute details of these vintage beauties as he made his rounds - what a true classic and class act he is, himself, in so many ways. 

I did bring a bike up here to Cambria to ride around. It's my newly-built Klein ebike conversion, and it was very helpful climbing the hills in this neighborhood - see photos, below. I look forward to coming back here again next year for another Eroica and more of the same beautiful bikes, wonderful scenery, and terrific people. 

Campagnolo Super Record vs Galli Cranksets

Galli Strada (top), Campagnolo Super Record (bottom)

Galli Strada crankset

Campagnolo Super Record crankset

Back of Galli

Back of Campagnolo

Campagnolo crank arm

Galli crank arm

Campagnolo weigh in - 394 grams drive side

Campagnolo weigh in - 175 crank arm 

Galli weigh in - 430 grams drive side

Galli weigh in - 172 grams - crank arm

Campagnolo has had its share of competitors over the decades, and Galli had a good run from about 1970 through the mid 1980s. I've had several Galli parts over the years; mostly cranksets and brakesets, and they all seemed to work fine. They didn't have the finish that Campagnolo did, but they all functioned admirably. Galli had some fantastic anodized brake levers and calipers in the 1980s that really looked great when paired with the right paint job on your frame. 

Chime in if you've had any experience with Galli parts. Thanks!

 

1986 (?) Specialized Allez SE - After Pics - Final Build

 

With the exception of pedals, the Allez SE Red/Black build is done! You can see the before pics HERE.

This was a fun build without many mishaps. Some may say replacing the Modolo Speedy calipers with Modolo Professionals is overkill, but I already had them in stock, so... Also that saddle, right?? Anyway, enjoy the pics. Leave questions in the comments. Thanks!

1986 (?) Specialized Allez SE - BEFORE Restoration

 

This bike came to me a week ago and it instantly became my #1 project. The frame, as you can see, is beautiful, with only a few minor paint chips. Turns out the Red #140 nail gel from our local Dollar Tree is a near-perfect match for the Allez candy apple paint. As this already had a great red and black theme going, I wanted to strengthen it even more. 

That San Marco Regal saddle is pristine, so it's getting bagged and saved for another project. I bought a new red/black Selle Italia X3 on eBay that will go on this. Yeah, I know... new saddle on a 35 year old bike... so sue me... it'll look terrific. Plus, this isn't supposed to be a totally retro build. 

The Cinelli bar tape got trashed and replaced with red/black tape, which looks great. Replaced those levers, which I always thought were perhaps the ugliest brake levers ever produced, with Modolo Professional black levers with black hoods. The Modolo Speedy brake calipers are being replaced with black Modolo Professional calipers. Leaving the crankset (Specialized), front and rear mechs (Shimano 600 SIS) as they are. 

The black annodized downtube shimano shifters are SO cool. Pedals are off for now (Look Keo II) and will be replaced by something black... still not sure on those. Seatpost (Thompson Elite) is staying. Replaced the Salsa stem with an ITM black stem. Handlebars got replaced with black 44cm ones, as well.

Next up, brake cabling and replacing the chain. Then... posting new photos here. Stay tuned!