Fifty Plus (50+) - Confessions of a vintage-bike newbie: restorations done, bike porn attached

When I got back into biking last year I also started trolling around Craigslist and learning from the Class & Vintage forum...I have picked up a couple of bikes that I've mentioned before but over the past week I've finally finished them. Time to declare them done and show the pics.

Bike 1: 1988-ish Tommasini Prestige, Columbus SPX tubing, chrome fork and chainstays. Campy hubs, derailleurs, seat post, crankset. Modolo Speedy brakes. TTT pantographed stem. TTT handlebars.

This bike was unridable condition when I bought it - headset was frozen, tires shot, etc. Also, it was built up with a lot of Bianchi pantographed parts because the original owner had originally bought the Tommasini frame to replace a crashed Bianchi. My LBS fixed the headset and overhauled the bottom bracket for me. I also sold off a bunch of stuff I didn't need (btw, the old Bianchi parts sold very well on eBay, and in some cases came close to covering the cost of the stuff I replaced it with).

I then added: new cables, used Brooks Swift saddle w/Ti rails, a Super Record seat post, new chainrings, new stem. (Parts came from Germany, Belgium, UK, and all over the U.S.) I also cleaned up the Campy pedals and got new leather toe straps but after a couple of rides, I put them away; I ride it with Look Keo pedals.

This is not a garage queen - I love riding this bike. As my new bike has gotten heavier (I've added a big seat back, rack, etc. for long distance riding) this 20-year-old steel bike is the lightest bike I own (around 22 lbs. with pedals, water bottles, spare tubes, etc.). It's my sunny day training bike...and, all in, for about the same cost as an entry-level, aluminum-frame road bikes from the LBS.

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Bike number 2: I've written about this as well. This was the pink Vintage Univega (mid 80's, Gran Turismo touring bike) I've posted about before. I'm declaring it "done" because it's now my regular, daily commuter....it was in 99% new condition when I bought it, but I have added new tires, tubes, brake hoods, brake handles, cables, rack, brake pad, handlebar tape and fenders, it will likely get new chainrings once I ride it a bit. That's my 26-year-old Brooks Pro on the seatpost.

I now have committed to this bike - yesterday I sold my 2006 Trek 520 so this old Univega will be my daily transportation to work.



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Note the lugged frame...

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I love these old 80's Japanese bikes -- double-butted tubing, nice lug work, sturdy components. I just have to mention (again) the old Panasonic that I picked up for my son this summer. It's his first road bike, and was such a bargain compared to buying a new bike...this one was really nicely maintained by the original owner's son, so we haven't done anything to it since new (it could use some tires)...You'll note I stole his rear rack for my commuter...

http://i34.tinypic.com/2qs2p6o.jpg

Having sold the Trek, there's now an empty spot in the garage. Onto the next project...

Wow........... absolutely gorgeous! My favorite color combination too. It sure does look like a sunny day.

Edit: I saw only the blue bike, but the pink one is lovely too. :love:

That pink univega is my favorite. If it were a mixte, I'd be begging you for it.

The Tommasini is incredibly gorgeous!

Stunning. The Tommasini is absolutely gorgeous!

I prefer vintage steel bikes. My newest bike is a '74 vintage. I'm building up an early '70's Motobecane Le Champion as my daily commuter with a Nexus rear hub, fenders, lights and a dynamo hub. I'll post pics when its done.

Stunning. The Tommasini is absolutely gorgeous!

+1 Very, very nice looking ride, and it's my favorite color of blue. So, would you be kind enough to elaborate on the ride characteristics that allow you to "...love riding this bike."? How does it handle in tight turns? How is it on climbs? I'll bet it eats up road buzz. Tell us more.

Love the Tommasani. Ah Hell, I just love older, steel bikes. I know, I know...technology is great, new materials, aero wheels, etc., but there is something sooooo nice about a bike that actually looks like a bike. It`s just a personal opinion, of course, but I find it hard to `connect` with a $5k Cervello with Zipp wheels, brifters, blah, blah, blah...Sorry, everyone...I`m getting misty. Anyway, thanks for the post. Makes me smile.

I am glad to see that at least some of my fellow "vintage" riders share my passion for old school bikes. :)

Here is my 49-year-old Viennese beauty, painted to reflect the Austrian national flag, which comprises three wide horizontal stripes, red-white-red. I appropriately it rode Saturday to my friend's 10th annual Brucknerthon, a day-long party celebrating food, drink, fun, musically-inclined friends, and, of course, the 10 (#0 through 9) symphonies of Joseph Anton Bruckner.

Sweet.

Very nice. I share the love of the look of clean lines, small diameter tubes, DT shifters, etc. I also am totally against the look of the sloping top tube. I think its like musical tastes where-in mo0st of my musical tastes were set in my teen years and have not changes a whole lot, same true with bike design

Love your bikes, 'BengeBoy'

The Tommasini is superb, especially with those pantographed parts and the cool paint. That stem rocks btw. Its interesting that every Tommasini I've ever seen was gorgeous, including yours. The 'Univega' is great too, and I do love that color. For me, there's nothing like lugged steel bikes.


Bravo :thumb:

I envy those of you who have the ability to build/restore these beautiful pieces of art. It's all I can do wash my bike. Thanks for posting.

Beautiful!!! Steel is real!:love:

... I appropriately it rode Saturday to my friend's 10th annual Brucknerthon, a day-long party celebrating food, drink, fun, musically-inclined friends, and, of course, the 10 (#0 through 9) symphonies of Joseph Anton Bruckner.

Heh. Bruckner is to me what fixies are to you. Just don't get the appeal. I've tried, honest!

When it comes to hyper-romanticism delivered by a large orchestra, Mahler's my man. Yes, I know he studied with Bruckner.

But props to you and the OP on gorgeous old bikes. I keep looking for an old diamond in the rough that will fit short lil' me...no luck yet.

Absolutly gorgeous fleet. You've done well.

Happy Trails

That Tommasini is a beautiful bike. Good job! :thumb:

Heh. Bruckner is to me what fixies are to you. .

I was so confused when I opened up this thread and saw this at the top of the page. My favorite dog was named Bruckner. He was HUGE. I named him Bruckner because he was large and expansive just like Bruckner's music.

He lived so long that now whenever I see the name, I think they're talking about my dog.