Fifty Plus (50+) - New Ride: Croll

Finished the build of my new, and perhaps last, stallion. Picked up the frameset late last year from a bike shop on Ebay that had it for years. Never built or ridden. Croll was a framebuilder in Minnesota that handcrafted custom frames, and I wanted to try and find an older hand-built frame that was still new and never used. I was very fortunate to do so.

I took a night ride around center city tonight. Fortunately, it's still almost 50 degrees here -- but a winter storm is on the way. So it was now or never. The ride was very light, comfortable and responsive.

All of the parts, except the wheelset used tonight, were NOS. I picked my favorites, mixed and matched, going back close to 20 years. Like the frame, I wanted all parts to be new as well -- which proved time consuming to find.

I still need to decide on a saddle -- but I'm leaning towards a Brooks "swallow" titanium. Brooks also makes fine leather handlebar wrap, so I'll wait to see what saddle finish I get, then match the saddle finish. The saddle and bar wrap will total close to $400 alone, so I want to be sure.

Here's a list of components:

Frame: Croll Reynolds 531-competition, fully lugged
Fork: Croll Reynolds 531
Stem: Cinelli
Seatpost: Thompson Elite
Saddle: Brooks Swallow Titanium (still need to decide)
Handlebar: Cinelli champion del mondo
Brake Levers: Campagnolo Record Carbon
Brakes: Campagnolo Athena
Bottom Bracket: Campagnolo Record Carbon
Crankset: Campagnolo Chorus 52/39
Pedals: Campagnolo Record Titanium Spindle
Clips: Campagnolo
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Chorus
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Athena Graphite
Dropouts: Breeze
Chain: SRAM PC-68
Wheelset: will vary for what's needed

Photos below taken tonight before heading back in. Not great shots at night with flash, but they'll do.

Thanks for looking.

I'm too new to cycling to understand or have any knowledge of the different components you've mentioned, but I do know a sweet looking ride when I see one! Outstanding looking bicycle!

It's got to be an amazing feeling to have taken the time to get exactly what you want, put it together, and take it out on the road. A brand spanking new vintage bike. Wow. I'm impressed!

sweet magic carpet!
I'll be lookin for some ride pic posts when you turn west and cruise the Emmaus and T-town areas, to see how it looks now...
I'm actually excited to be coming back East again this year. Gonna be packin the Limongi and I plan on doin days in my old stompin grounds in Sussex and Warren Ctys in NJ, and prolly do a few days out around T-town and also the Amish country.
Hopin to organize a 'Vintage & Geezer' ride from No Jersey out to the Runcible Sppon and over to Harriman area. but I'm wanderin here...

very nice, may the wind be always at your back (as it should be for all of us)

Nice set up. The lugwork looks clean, the component list is a dream, do the backstays wrap around the seat post? Although I ride CF now I still dream of rebuilding my '72 Hetchins also made with Reynolds 531. Steel seems to give a perky springy ride as compared to the dulled ride with CF. That's a silver paint job - not a chrome plate- right?

Happy riding

Great Looking bike. I hope it rides like it looks. It has the simple lines designed for pure function and the equip list echoes that.
Great Job!

Beautiful! I love the classic look of bikes from the 80s. While I ride a ti bike that has a very minor sloping top tube, I still prefer non-sloping when it comes to appearance. Nice component selection too!

Well, I'm a steel lover here, so you know I'm going to be thinking that bike looks great and I'm expecting the ride is wonderful too. Have never owned Campy gear, but have heard it is sensational. A great looking bike!!!

Nice Croll!

Very nice!

Beautiful!

After restoring my old Tommasini over the past year, I've recently decided to start over and start modernizing...some of the components on your list are on my shopping list...(such as the Athena brakes...).

Classic.

Finished the build of my new, and perhaps last, stallion...

Tell me, oldcrank, how long have you been involved in this sport? 'Tis a truly gorgeous bike, but "last"? Oh, come now... :rolleyes:

SP

Nice Croll! I recently acquired a Croll Pista and would like to find out what size seatpost does yours have. I'm guessing 26.8mm but want to make sure. TIA!

You might eventually get a response from the OP. But the thread was started over 2.5 years ago, and his last post to BF was over 3 months ago.

Scares me when this happens!

You might eventually get a response from the OP. But the thread was started over 2.5 years ago, and his last post to BF was over 3 months ago.'

The bike is probably a fixie by now:notamused:

'

The bike is probably a fixie by now:notamused:

It wouldn't shock me!