"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Fausto Coppi's 1952 Bike

http://rouleur.cc/recent-features/238-coppibike

http://rouleur.cc/images/stories/coppibike/img_1318.jpg

http://rouleur.cc/images/stories/coppibike/img_1327.jpg

http://rouleur.cc/images/stories/coppibike/img_1328.jpg

thanks. that worn out handlebar tape is awesome.

I thought carbon fiber bikes came into fruition in the late 70's/early 80's?

the 52/46 chainrings mated to what looks like an 11-15 cassette is even more awesome.

The RD pulleys are wild.

The RD pulleys are wild.

I wonder if the teeth aren't just completely worn off?
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/campy.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/366276411_ed3a65d4a4.jpg

My first "real" bike was a Bianchi I bought in 1973. Really didn't look a lot different from that. Basically the same lugged frame, cottered crank, leather seat.

My first "real" bike was a Bianchi I bought in 1973. Really didn't look a lot different from that. Basically the same lugged frame, cottered crank, leather seat.

do you still have it?

unfortunately its long gone.

the 52/46 chainrings mated to what looks like an 11-15 cassette is even more awesome.you youngsters! it's more likely a 14-19 freewheel not a cassette. maybe a 13 but i doubt it. 12 tooth freewheels weren't too popular until 7 speed freewheels in the early 80s. and there was no such thing as an 11.

and note its only 4 cogs.

i count 5

my bad eyesight

Best thread of the day!

Thanks!

(you know it's sad when the 33 is relegated to threads on "what should I eat the night before" and the 41 is the place where people are talking about crit racing)

integrated headset!

I thought carbon fiber bikes came into fruition in the late 70's/early 80's?

Are you really that ignorant about cycling history?

I wonder what that bicycle weighs?

Jeez, what a piece of sh/t.

I've never seen notched dropouts like that. Very interesting.

the 52/46 chainrings mated to what looks like an 11-15 cassette is even more awesome.


I would guess a 14-20 cassette.

Edit: just saw the 10th post.

Jeez, what a piece of sh/t.

That was state of the velo art in 1952 pal.

I've never seen notched dropouts like that. Very interesting.

I'll bet that frame was originally set up with the Campy Cambio Corsa gear set and upgraded to the Gran Sport (pics above) when it came out.

Back then even Coppi wouldn't have gotten brand new frames at the drop of the hat.

http://www.campyonly.com/images/history/cambio_corsa/wpe3.jpg

I'd love to try one of these but I'm sure I'll crash and bend thousands of dollars of vintage gear.

:beer:

I wonder what that bicycle weighs?

I bet it's around 10kg.. at least I think I read that some races bikes back then hovered around there.

If you guys get a kick out of this old bike, check out this book: http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/CompetitionBook.html

All kinds of info/stats on the old race bikes, good reading, and even better viewing. (I haven't picked up a copy yet, I have the "rando" version (http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/goldenage.html) of it tho)

10kg? my training bike weighs that.

I bet it's around 10kg.. at least I think I read that some races bikes back then hovered around there.

If you guys get a kick out of this old bike, check out this book: http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/CompetitionBook.html

All kinds of info/stats on the old race bikes, good reading, and even better viewing. (I haven't picked up a copy yet, I have the "rando" version (http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/goldenage.html) of it tho)

Heh, I've worked on a pair of Dursley Pedersen replicas. Interesting bikes.

Inspirational.

I wonder if the teeth aren't just completely worn off?


Nope. They came with no teeth, they were worn in. Last first gen on ebay went for about $6K. You can see the differences between the generations on Satoru's site, http://homepage3.nifty.com/ClassicBicycles/brands/campagnolo.html


I wonder what that bicycle weighs?


Probably under 20 lbs. Definately if it were built up with Mannesmann Extra tubing.


I'll bet that frame was originally set up with the Campy Cambio Corsa gear set and upgraded to the Gran Sport (pics above) when it came out.


It is the same frame he used to win the 1949 Tour de France. But he used a Simplex derailleur for that win. Gino Bartali used the Cambio Corsa in 1948 to win the Tour.

Probably under 20 lbs. Definately if it were built up with Mannesmann Extra tubing.

20 lbs, really? My guess would have been at least 25 lbs. Was 20 lbs the race norm in the early 50's?

A stock Peugeot PX10 with sewups and plastic Simplex in the early 70's was 21 lbs.

I don't know if it was the "norm", better riders got better bikes. But I do know Rene Vietto rode a Barra in the 1948 Tour de France that weighed 17.6 lbs. That particular example was an aluminum frame, but there is no reason to believe a steel frame would be more than 2 pounds heavier.

20 lbs, really? My guess would have been at least 25 lbs. Was 20 lbs the race norm in the early 50's?

A stock Peugeot PX10 with sewups and plastic Simplex in the early 70's was 21 lbs.

During the turn of the century, there were racing bikes that weighed 14 pounds.

That truly is a piece of junk. But I heard it makes .5 past lightspeed.

During the turn of the century, there were racing bikes that weighed 14 pounds.

The 21st century you mean?

I have Jan Heine's book, referenced above. He actually weighed the bikes in the book.

Here are are some weights:

Coppi's 1949 Tour de France Bianchi - 22 lbs.


FYI, Eddy Merckx's 1974 Merckx/De Rosa weighed 24.3 pounds

Greg Lemond's 1981 Gitane weighs 22 pounds.

I don't know if it was the "norm", better riders got better bikes. But I do know Rene Vietto rode a Barra in the 1948 Tour de France that weighed 17.6 lbs. That particular example was an aluminum frame, but there is no reason to believe a steel frame would be more than 2 pounds heavier.

The only "historic" race bikes in Jan Heine's book that weighed less than 20 pounds were track bikes.

Not saying he weighed every bike that ever raced in the TdF, but it's surprising how heavy all the bikes in the book are until you get into the 1990's.

I don't know if it was the "norm", better riders got better bikes. But I do know Rene Vietto rode a Barra in the 1948 Tour de France that weighed 17.6 lbs. That particular example was an aluminum frame, but there is no reason to believe a steel frame would be more than 2 pounds heavier.
Whatever worked and held together was the norm I suppose, give or take 10 lbs.


That truly is a piece of junk. But I heard it makes .5 past lightspeed.

I'd love to own a piece of junk like that and restore it. Few things make me happier than working a piece of steel wool over old metal.

That's a nice bike. And it is even better that it hasn't been restored and still has the patina of time.

Thanks.

The only "historic" race bikes in Jan Heine's book that weighed less than 20 pounds were track bikes.

Not saying he weighed every bike that ever raced in the TdF, but it's surprising how heavy all the bikes in the book are until you get into the 1990's.

I've been meaning to that book, I do have his The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles. Great images and historical facts.

I find the DeRosa weight surprising. What wheels are on it, GP4s or something lighter?

I'd love to own a piece of junk like that and restore it. Few things make me happier than working a piece of steel wool over old metal.

And remove the rust formed by Coppi's sweat? Heresy. The cycling gods will smite you for sure.

20 lbs, really? My guess would have been at least 25 lbs. Was 20 lbs the race norm in the early 50's?

A stock Peugeot PX10 with sewups and plastic Simplex in the early 70's was 21 lbs.


At that time, 21 pounds was considered very light. To get much below that, you had to do things like drill everything out.

SUPER COOL!!!! That bike is just too awesome and you can see it has plenty of stories to tell.

I had a 1972 Masi Gran Crit and a late 60s Olmo when I was younger that were not too far off of that bike in terms of technelogical advancment.

Man, if I had the dough, I would have a giant vintage 50s-late 80s road bike collection.

Sr. Coppi's 1949 bike:

http://www.velonews.com/files/images/Ghisallo3.jpg

"Giro di Francia"? What a n00b. It's the Tour day France.

And remove the rust formed by Coppi's sweat? Heresy. The cycling gods will smite you for sure.

The cycling gods and I made a deal a long time ago - in exchange for getting into road cycling at the age of 13, plus carrying the vintage torch way beyond the point of elapsed irony, I'm permitted to have my way with the restoration of any vintage bike.

The 21st century you mean?

No. The late 1800's and early 1900's.

Sr. Coppi's 1949 bike:

http://www.velonews.com/files/images/Ghisallo3.jpg

The monastery at Ghisallo is on my "must-see-before-I-die" list.

:beer:

I bet it's around 10kg.. at least I think I read that some races bikes back then hovered around there.

If you guys get a kick out of this old bike, check out this book: http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/CompetitionBook.html

All kinds of info/stats on the old race bikes, good reading, and even better viewing. (I haven't picked up a copy yet, I have the "rando" version (http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/goldenage.html) of it tho)

Thanks for that link. The missing head tube badge on my Bartali looked exactly like the one in the picture of Gino's Bike. I was really sad when I lost that thing. I would give my left you know what to get another one.

The monastery at Ghisallo is on my "must-see-before-I-die" list.

:beer:

It's actually a pokey little church. Well worth the visit. A new cycling muesuem opened up next door a few of years ago (2006 IIRC).

Those guys were tough. I mean doing the Tour on flat tires and a rusty bike with fraying bar tape?

And I can't imagine having that big sign flopping around between my knees for 3 weeks.

Wow.

Sr. Coppi's 1949 bike:

http://www.velonews.com/files/images/Ghisallo3.jpg

I love how Eddy's bike is overlapping wheels with it.