It’s been a few years since I’ve restored a bike older than the 1970s, and this Bianchi Sport was the perfect candidate. With a timeless, classic design and high quality details, it was born to cruise the streets in style. Mechanically simple, it retains a few distinctively Bianchi features that set it apart from the rest. Read on to learn about this lovely ladies’ bike and the restoration process.
The Gios Compact debuted in 1986, and has since been considered by cyclists and collectors to be one of the best frames Gios ever produced. The most revolutionary technical innovation introduced by the Gios Compact was its adjustable dropout system. The wheelbase can be lengthened or shortened by 8mm, to create an aggressive hill-climber or a more sedate roadie, depending on the terrain and the rider’s preference. This example from 1987 was recently restored in my shop with a period-correct mix of Shimano Dura Ace and 600 components. Read on to learn more about the Gios Compact and the Gios story.
Sometimes a bike just radiates warmth. It invites your eyes to dance over its curves, linger on the finer details, and imagine the wind rushing by as you ride it on a sunny day. This 1977 Benotto 2500 is that kind of bike, and was a pleasure to restore. Equipped with a Campagnolo Nuovo Record groupset, it exemplifies the ideal of the Italian racing bicycle as envisioned by its founder and former racer, Giacinto Benotto. Read on for more photos and background on this bicycle and the legendary brand behind it.
The Competition joined Raleigh’s lineup of racing and sports bicycles in 1969 as an affordable alternative to their top-of-the-line Professional and International models. This one is from 1976, built by Carlton and featuring a Reynolds 531 frame & fork with Huret dropouts. It came equipped with Huret Jubilee derailleurs, which set world records as the lightest production derailleur ever made and which are now rare pieces of kit. The derailleurs, matching Specialities T.A. Professional crankset, bottom bracket and headset are all original to this bike, which I recently restored. Read on to learn more about the Raleigh Competition MK. II!
I put this bike together in 2016, after I completed the restoration of the frame. The restoration process is documented here. The smaller of the two Super Record Aero frames sold quickly, but this larger one hung around for a while. I came into possession of a Lotus Classique bicycle, which I stripped in order to build up this 3Rensho.
In addition to the stock Sugino and Suntour components, I added modern Tektro brake levers, and cork bar tape that was shellacked a dark brown. I also added a 3Rensho pantographed stem I had at the time, to give it some extra flair. It was sold soon afterwards. I realized recently that I’d never published any photos of the built up bike, so click “Read More” to check out the full hi-res gallery after the jump.
I’ve always been fascinated by non-Keirin bikes built by Japanese frame builders who are famous for their track bikes. All of the most well-known builders of NJS track bikes began their careers in the late 1960s – early 1970s, when the bicycle touring craze was sweeping the world and Japan in particular. They apprenticed in shops that built road and touring bikes, and many of them built these kinds of bikes early in their careers. Touring and sportif bikes are often custom-made for clients, and are expected to include the kinds of beautiful details and high level of finish common with this kind of luxury item.
Shuichi Kusaka, the master builder behind the Vivalo brand, built a number of road, touring, and sportif customs. In the past 15 years, I have only seen a handful, and in this article I’ll be highlighting a few of these lovely bicycles. Read on to learn more!
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Have you ever seen a 3Rensho cyclocross bike? I had not, until I came across the bike pictured above, on auction at Yahoo JP auctions. I thought about throwing in a bid on it, but rather narrow-mindedly decided that a 3Rensho that doesn’t have the logo engraved into a seat stay cap or fork crown wasn’t a 3Rensho worth buying. Man, was I wrong! I regret it now, as I’ve come to learn that engraved logos do not a 3Rensho make.
I’ve been diving into the history of Cyclone LTD (the Yoshi Konno’s brand that later became 3Rensho) as I’ve been researching the provenance of the custom 3Rensho Super Record I recently restored. In the course of that research, I’ve dug up a few interesting rarities to share. Read on to learn more!