Classic & Vintage - Stowe Mountain Bike

Just bought off ebay tonight - can't find out to much about the builder who is reported to have worked out of Rochester, New York and was a buider for Quintana Roo. He may have also worked for Ben Serotta during a period of time and for a cycling company called Phase 3. Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks Mike

Pictures or it didn't happen. :)

Here is the ebay picture #200173544004

too lazy to type that in.

I did a copy & paste. Some day he'll learn to link, then he'll be 1337 like us. :D

This is what I know about Robert Stowe (please correct me if I am wrong). He learned the art of frame building from Albert Eisentraut. He worked as head builder at Serotta and worked for a while building for Terry. He helped start a company called Phase 3 Cycles - so called because there were 3 people involved, Robert Stowe, Dale Duross and a third whose name I cannot remember. I believe this 3rd person was the money/business guy? Anyway here is a ling to Mark Bulgier's web site and a Stowe catalog.

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/stowe/

I have a Stowe Europro and it is a really beautifully built bike - nothing fancy but immaculate workmanship.

Thanks,

For the information, you added a few more pieces to the puzzle. The link to the catalog was extremely helpful because it shows the distictive handling of the seat post bolt. The bike I bought appears identical to the mountain bike I purchased hopefully it will be in decent shape ,

it is tigged, not brazed, so it would not be built of traditional Columbus. Probably one of the later True Temper frames.

But, you're not getting off that easy. You stole that bike, and I'm gonna report you. Send that guy another $100 right now.

Easily one of the best deals that I've seen. That's what keeps us addicted to eBay...

luker,

I have to get a deal every once in a while! It goes along with my Chris Chance road bike with Fully Campy for $500 bucks and the team Raleigh with full Campy groupo at Salvation Army for $12.00 bucks. That being said it's been a while since I got a deal on ebay, but I guess it's those deals are why I keep coming to Ebay. Of couse my spouse thinks I am crazy - and I have 3 projects under way and know place to hang any more bikes and I have point her at the forum to show her others with worse addictions than my own!!

As to the bike it's identical to the catalog frame accept the badge is different so I don't know if that makes it a earlier or later frame.

yep. comin' here for help with too many bikes is just exactly like holding your AA meeting in a bar.

Luker,

I tried to contact Mr.Stowe in New York based on a number I found in the Reynold 's approved builders page. The number turned out to disconnected and I also did a nationwide white page search to no avail. I guess I'll have to be satisfied with the information I've uncovered to date. I really wanted to talk to Mr. Stowe to sort out the fact and fiction on history of his bike building.

ah, spank me. That is a fillet-brazed frame, not tigged. Night, and friggin' day. The deal keeps getting better. You owe us some pictures, dontcha know?

Luker,

I intend to put some picture together, presently out of town on a consulting gig and the bike is two days in transit via Fedex. - and yes based upon the catalog it is fillet and lugged construction versus the frames Mr. Stowe built under the Pig Iron logo. Still think it will take a lot of work to put the bike right, but who knows I might be surprised. I am collecting some early NOS Suntour and Shimano components for the project, but I intend to ride it.