Stardate 2016.112

Colorado Custom and Vintage Bicycle Expo
Part III

All photos courtesy of Snowcatcher
I have only a few more bikes to share. If I got anything out of the expo, it would be that I miss the era of cycling in which many of these bikes flourished. I like round, lugged tubes. I actually believe "steel is real". I also like tig-welded frames (aluminum and titanium). I would like to learn more about Magnesium as a frame material. I've been riding carbon road frames since 2002, and my next road bike frame will not be carbon. The frame most likely will be purchased from a small, hand-built, boutique-type shop. Nonetheless, on with the show.




The first thing to catch my eye on a bike is the lug work. I like simple lugs, nothing too ornate.




How about some Cinelli handlebar etching?




Another frame builder I'm not familiar with until now.




The lugging is quite elaborate and captivating. Notice the curved seat and chain stays in the second photo.






I wish we had more track-racing in the states. I like indoor and outdoor velodromes.




No brakes, one fixed gear and bred to fly. Track racing is the epitome of heart, legs, lungs and the clock.




Thanks for reading! Stay tuned...

Adios!

Stardate 2016.107

Colorado Custom and Vintage Bicycle Expo
Part II

All photos courtesy of Snowcatcher
Following are more photos from the bike expo in Golden, Colorado. Let's start with snow riding bikes. Before modern fat bikes (bikes with super wide rims and tires), one builder was experimenting with snow buoyancy by welding rims together to get some width. Enjoy!




It would be fun to see how it handled.






This is a setup for self-supported rides like the Colorado Trail and Tour Divide (Canada to Mexico).




How about some Italian heritage steeped in European cycling history.




Beautiful! Look at those machined Campy cranks.




Belgian Eddy Merckx is considered the man of professional bike racing. He raced from 1961 to 1978.




The American 7-11 Team rode Merckx bikes. They also showed Europe they could compete at their level.




Check out the Campy Delta brakes. It's my understanding these brakes were a bit portly.




Beautiful bikes! Part III should be up in several days. Thanks for reading!

Adios

Stardate 2016.096

2016 Colorado Custom and Vintage Bicycle Expo
Part I

All photos courtesy of Snowcatcher
On the eve of a large snow event, Snowcatcher and I rode out to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden, Colorado, for a vintage and custom bike expo. Our ride was a 52-mile out-and-back. I kind of messed up though. I thought the expo was Saturday. When we arrived at the fairgrounds, it was obvious were were there on the wrong day. We were a day early. Oops!

Nonetheless, we had a good stiff (wind) training ride. The following day we drove out to the expo because of a bunch of white stuff falling out of the sky was making everything frosty and wet. Following are some selected pics I'd like to share from the expo.

The first bike I had an interest in was a 1980s Cunningham mountain bike. Charlie Cunningham, a mechanical and aeronautical Engineer, built a total of 187 aluminum bicycles. According to the owner of the bike at the expo, only one other bike just like it exists. I saw the other bike (or one very similar) at Rim Cyclery in Moab, Utah, back in 1988. In 1988, this was a bike to drool over, and drool we did.




This bike was ready to ride, sporting mustache handlebars and roller cam brakes. Rim brakes are fast dying.




The following bike was the old man of the show.




Check out the candle headlight.




The wood pedals and toe-clips are classic.




Now that's a chain!




The 1880s bike is the third bike up from the bottom.




Wood bikes also compete in a carbon, titanium, magnesium, aluminum and steel world.




It's a beautiful finish! It's also belt driven (no steal chain).




Check back in a couple days for Part II.

Adios