Monday, May 23, 2011

Chiossi Cycles



 Chio si (drop dead pretty) cycles indeed.

The frame has been resprayed in a shade similar to Bianchi’s ‘celeste’ but with a touch more green. The drive train has been updated with a modern internally geared system, and a dynamo hub in the front to power the headlight. The wooden hand grips are a wonderful detail, as is the Ghisallo rims. Once again, Paolo assigns his restoration with his signature gold badge on the seat tube. The perfect vehicle for traversing the cobbled alleys and laneways of Modena.

http://www.chiossicycles.com/

Sunday, May 22, 2011

En Selle Marcel - A Bicycle Concept Store in Paris

"En Selle Marcel is the escaping location for uber cosmopolitans who are truly passionated about beautifully designed bicycles and unique vintage cycling objects including limited editions (50's and 70's) from RALEIGH, PEUGEOT, ALCION but also special collaborations with BROOKS, ABICI, PANTONE to name a few."


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my cat and my bikes

The cats like to circle around my bikes
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Thursday, May 19, 2011

New facebook group


Have created a facebook group Old Steelers to call for other vintage riders or vintage bike fans. Join me now fellow old steelers!

Link me

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/home.php?sk=group_146577568748613

Monday, May 16, 2011

Paul smith x mercian cycles

Paul Smith Track Bike

The track bike or ‘flip bike’ is very striking. The bike is inspired by legendary cyclist, Fausto Coppi who competed and won the Tour de France with a fixed wheel track bike.
The back wheel of the bike can be flipped with one side being a regular single speed with a free wheel in low gear ratio and one being fixed. The was a popular way of running a bike in the early days of competitive cycling and fixed wheel was faster over flat ground, while the single speed with a freewheel was easier to ride when the stage became more hilly.
To reflect this ‘flip-ability’ the paint on the frame is split down the middle in two colours, so that from one side it appears to be green for example, and other side navy. The lugs are picked out in a contrasting colour to match the classic Mercian barber pole down the seat tube. The lugs and barbers pole are then hand finished with another complimentary colour.
The frames are built in Reynolds 631 tubing and the frame design is also exclusive to Paul Smith, where the spearpoint lugs seen on our Professional frame (used to stiffen the bottom bracket area) have been added to every lug. This will make the bike very stiff and responsive. The spearpoint lugs are not cosmetic and added to the frame following construction - but are hand cut, joined, carefully filed by hand and added to the lug before the tubes are joined, using our traditional open hearth brazing method.
The seat lug area has Paul Smith signature engraved into the top-eye on one side, with Mercian engraved on the other side.
Every small detail on all of the bikes has been specified by Paul Smith, from the exact shade of enamel paint to the colour of the Brooks handlebar tape and saddles.
The result is a stunning bike!
The track bike retails at £2,900.00

Components

  • Headset - Campagnolo Chorus
  • Chainset - Campagnolo Record
  • Bottom bracket - Campagnolo Record
  • Brakes - Campagnolo Record, front only
  • Brake levers - Diacompe, Single lever, right hand side
  • Gear levers -
  • Front gear -
  • Rear gear -
  • Saddle - Brooks Swift
  • Seat pin - Kalloy
  • Handlebars - Nitto track
  • Handlebar stem - Nitto
  • Handlebar tape - Brooks
  • Pedals - MKS Platform
  • Toe Clips - MKS
  • Toe Straps - Brooks
  • Hubs - Phil Wood front & Flip Flop rear
  • Rims - Mavic Open Pro Silver
  • Spokes - DT d.butted
  • Tyres - Michelin
  • Tubes - Michelin
  • Sprockets - 1 × fixed, 1 × freewheel
  • Chain - Connex 121