Classic & Vintage - Identify Clapton's Vintage Bike?

Anybody know what bike this is?
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wb8bAl1P-N0/TL7dFD-hKXI/AAAAAAAARSY/0_AmMWVnq-Y/s1600/clapton.JPG

Cinelli

Wonder if he got it from Spence Wolf? The Weinmann brake levers, Mafac calipers on a Cinelli were kinda his invention...

A little more info:
http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/01/from-bsnyc-culture-desk-clapton-by-eric.html

Brad

quote from Clapton


..I have begun buying vintage road bikes, not to ride but because I have always loved the equipment of cycling, especially bikes and accessories from the sixties.

so guess who's bidding up your favorite parts on eBay ;) :lol:

His QR is down at 7 O'Clock. (... And to think he used to be my hero! :rolleyes:)

His QR is down at 7 O'Clock. (... And to think he used to be my hero! :rolleyes:)

..and his tubulars need some air. Well, he said he doesn't ride them, so...

That is awesome ! :thumb:

Oh god, what a haircut.

Actually, fork crown looks wrong unless its a "B".

Actually, fork crown looks wrong unless its a "B".

I noticed that, note the "ears" on the lugs and that the fork is all chrome... Who knows. Hopefully he knows how to use a quick release correctly, when bikes came in to the shop for service with the QR like that decades ago, the owner just "wound it tight" and ignored the cam. This is the reason for the CPSC locked and unlocked stamping on later units, which kind of helped.

Scheeren rims.

Oh god, what a haircut.


Clapton is God.

^^^I can't believe it took 12 posts for someone to say it.


here's what I don't get.

in the article linked to above Clapton says


Hiroshi came over to the hotel on his new Cinelli track bike... He is still a leading pioneer in street culture, hence the Cinelli. Track bike riding is taking over from skateboarding in Japan, and Hiroshi is in the avant-garde as usual. I have caught the obsession of course.So I kinda would think he's posing with a track bike there if that is his own bike.
I can't see the rear dropouts well enough in the picture so I can't tell.
Oddly enough though there are shifters and brakes and road bars on the bike. Is it possible Clapton likes Track bikes, but since he also claims he loves all the 'equipment' of cycling, he puts derailleurs and brakes on his bikes?

Does someone build Clapton's frames up for him?
Can I get that job?

"Here's a pile of cash, I want a beautiful vintage bike"

Those are wide looking rims! I thought they were concaves..... I wonder what gears he's pushin.....I wonder how high he sets his saddle......no halfmoon tan lines on top of his hands??.....Oops yes, he does not ride too much.....
The rear QR lever looks to be at 1 o'clock and he twists his straps through his pedals, plus no valve caps on his tire valves so he's mostly cool in those departments, I think.....

Chombi

bring back the toe strap button!

i'd love some cool ones.

the qr will remain in that position.........I'm sure Mr. Clapton does not get his fingers near the spoke/fork intersection............his fingers are probably insured for much more than he would ever divulge....

the qr will remain in that position.........I'm sure Mr. Clapton does not get his fingers near the spoke/fork intersection............his fingers are probably insured for much more than he would ever divulge....
Does he use a spoke tension meter or does he just pluck the spokes like most of us mortal home wheelbuilders do???:rolleyes:
I figure it's most likely the latter and he sings and composes as he tensions up his new wheels.....accompanied by heavenly music from the spokes.....:D

Chombi

there was a well-publicized visit he made to pick up a "special" Clapton-model Cinelli super corsa at the HQ...it was a "modern" specimen with chrome lugs. I'm sure there have been many more since.
Elvis Costello has his Bob Jackson...how many more Rock/Cycle mash-ups are there?
D'oh! almost forgot David Byrne...but don't know what brand he rides.

Fork's bent.

Neal

Anybody know what bike this is?

And did it come with Disraeli Gears (http://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Home.html)?

I have to chime in that Ginger Baker (Drummer for Cream and Blind Faith) actually raced (bicycles) in the late 50s early 60s!

Cheers,
Chris

God needs some Drillium on that rig - and I'm willing to facillitate :)

I once saw a black and white pic of Madonna in People Magazine back in the mid-80s riding a Super Record-equipped De Rosa in NYC. "Material Girl" indeed...

there was a well-publicized visit he made to pick up a "special" Clapton-model Cinelli super corsa at the HQ...it was a "modern" specimen with chrome lugs. I'm sure there have been many more since.
Elvis Costello has his Bob Jackson...how many more Rock/Cycle mash-ups are there?
D'oh! almost forgot David Byrne...but don't know what brand he rides.

How about Peter Gabriel on a Moulton NS:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMwn_hnoS5Y

Those are wide looking rims! I thought they were concaves..... I wonder what gears he's pushin.....I wonder how high he sets his saddle......no halfmoon tan lines on top of his hands??.....Oops yes, he does not ride too much.....
The rear QR lever looks to be at 1 o'clock and he twists his straps through his pedals, plus no valve caps on his tire valves so he's mostly cool in those departments, I think.....

Chombi

Scheeren rims are quite wide and balsa wood filled. I have taken a long time to gather the rims I have. They polish up like chrome too.

Mr. Clapton has a number of bikes, and a number of them are Cinelli.

His QR is down at 7 O'Clock. (... And to think he used to be my hero! :rolleyes:)

That's the tremolo position, favoured by all guitar heros who are Eddy Merckx wannabes.

I can't see the rear dropouts well enough in the picture so I can't tell.


Look closley, you can see the solid back of a road dropout just above the Qr

That poser.

Looks like a 50s Model B with Mafacs, early Campy cranks and Scheerens. And in perfect condition. It is nice to have the advantage of being able to rub a couple of dollars together.

I don't recognize the pedals. Don't look like Campy or Sheffield. Any guesses?

Clapton is God.

What do Clapton and coffee have in common?

They both suck without cream.





(ok, i'll allow derek and the dominoes)

And did it come with Disraeli Gears (http://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Home.html)?

This took 20 posts?! Good on ya, Jeff.

I love him, the man as much as revived acoustic guitars among the youth.
He can see what's cool.

I'm in an informal guitar club at work with a few guys who all like to play Clapton. I play along, but sorry, boys, I don't share the adulation for this guy. Posing with an expensive Italian bike doesn't make me like him any more, either.

Seems like my favorite Clapton tunes heavily feature someone else (Baker, Bruce, Winwood, Allman).

how many more Rock/Cycle mash-ups are there?
According to shop lore, Jason Newsted of Metallica had a full custom black-painted Ibis Ti Mojo back when it was the exotic stuff you left raw so your riding buddies knew what you paid.

Clapton? Meh. I'll take Richard Thompson any day. Although I will grant you that the Stones' demo of Brown Sugar with Clapton playing slide is pretty darn good.

That poser.

There a lot of art collectors that can't draw.

That poser.

Yeah, who buys a bike to not ride it ? When it's on CL, tell him it's only worth $ 50 ?

This took 20 posts?! Good on ya, Jeff.

Back atcha, Slugger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisville_Slugger_Museum_%26_Factory)!

So I kinda would think he's posing with a track bike there if that is his own bike.
I can't see the rear dropouts well enough in the picture so I can't tell.
Oddly enough though there are shifters and brakes and road bars on the bike. Is it possible Clapton likes Track bikes, but since he also claims he loves all the 'equipment' of cycling, he puts derailleurs and brakes on his bikes?

A. Track bike? Look closely at that crankset. It's a half-step double. Looks like a Record 151.
B. Campagnolo Gran Sport cam+rod front derailer.
C. Q/R axles on a track bike? :lol:
D. Clapton looks like a very bad imitation of James May with that haircut.

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/02_03/jamesmayDM2202_468x693.jpg

-Kurt

greatest rock song ever - "Crossroads" by Cream (but see Robert Johnson for a 1937 version)
Disraeli Gears - the name of the famous Cream album. Named because a roadie for Cream said he had bought a bicycle with disraeli gears - he didn't know the word derailleur.

Eric is possibly rock's greatest guitarist, but Jimi and Keith are major contenders. Who can say?

I can forgive him for not riding much, but I know where he lives in Surrey, and it is pretty steep and narrow, and one is likely to get killed by bankers in Range Rovers.
As his kids get bigger he might end up doing a bit of "Cinelli"

but check out Keith and Elvis ...
174693174694http://www.bikeforums.net/images/misc/pencil.png

And did it come with Disraeli Gears (http://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Home.html)?

Shucks ! You beat me to it !!

There a lot of art collectors that can't draw.

Yeah, but how many art collectors don't display their art?

Bikes are made to be ridden, art is made to be looked at.

Seems like my favorite Clapton tunes heavily feature someone else (Baker, Bruce, Winwood, Allman).

Agreed, though I don't think Allman's contribution to D&D was that heavy. I think the key is that when you put together a band around someone like Clapton, the whole band really shines. Baker and Bruce, talented as they were, never shone as brightly when Clapton wasn't with them. Winwood sure had his moments, but Clapton was in on most of them.


greatest rock song ever - "Crossroads" by Cream
Oh, let's not be silly. On the other hand, what about "Killer Queen"? "Another Girl, Another Planet"? or "Steppin' Stone" as done by Minor Threat?

"Steppin' Stone" as done by Minor Threat?

Whoa, now I like minor threat.... but I don't know if i'd ever say greatest rock song ever. Ian Mckaye was a lot better with Fugazi. End hits has a lot of GREAT rock songs.

Sorry, I am WAY off topic. I don't feel either way about Clapton's music but I do respect his talent. He has a lot of money, he has to find some way to spend it before his last breath. I don't see why it's such a bad thing really.

John Helliwel from Supertramp rides, was a time trialer in England prior to fame as a rock n' roller.
He has a least one Masi (US GC) and a Bespoke (Norris Lockley), and still rides.

Marty

Whoa, now I like minor threat.... but I don't know if i'd ever say greatest rock song ever. Ian Mckaye was a lot better with Fugazi. End hits has a lot of GREAT rock songs.

Sorry, I am WAY off topic. I don't feel either way about Clapton's music but I do respect his talent. He has a lot of money, he has to find some way to spend it before his last breath. I don't see why it's such a bad thing really.

It's not a big thing, for sure. I think we just like to have something in which we can feel superior to Clapton. Many of us have some nice guitars, but I know I couldn't show Clapton anything on the guitar.

I rather like the comparison between Crossroads and Steppin' Stone because both were old songs reworked for a new audience. I don't like any of Ian's originals, as far as I can remember; what I like about that track is that it really sounds like they were fooling around in the studio when they just happened to tap in to something really hot. They weren't ready to record-- that's why the bass and drum levels are so low at the beginning. Ian said "turn on the tape!" so the engineer did... then looked down and said "oops!" and gradually brought up the recording levels on those microphones. True story, as told to me by my friend the drummer.

For me the real genius in Claptons work isn't his guitar pyrotechnics. Listen to Me and Mr. Johnson
while he didn't redefine guitar playing in the way that say Hendricks did, he was hugely influential.
I appreciate his more than just a passing nod to the past and his staying true to his blues roots.

I got to play a guitar built for Clapton before he ever received it. His taste in neck width leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion. His taste in bikes doesn't seem to have gone the same route.

^^I'd read he like a very thin neck on a guitar, actually I think I recall Martin claiming that their Clapton model uses the profile from a Women's guitar Neck.


I love him, the man as much as revived acoustic guitars among the youth.

One of the first few things I learned on my first acoustic guitar was some allmans stuff and like 3 or 4 songs of Clapton's Unplugged album. Its great music...what he did to Layla on that album was pretty cool actually. And I totally learned Tears in Heaven to attempt to pull tail ;)

True story, as told to me by my friend the drummer.

Wow, that is really cool. Some of the first songs I ever learned to play were Minor Threat songs. I always assumed Steppin' Stone was them goofing around by the way it ended.

I just pulled it up and listened for the drum volume at the beginning, funny.

Clapton is God.

Common misconception, foisted on us by a fiercy pro-British press.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j211/chriswood7/rory-phil.jpg

Actual photo of guitar diety above Clapton, accompanied by my cousin and fellow Black Irishman, Phil. ;)

(Actually, Clapton had some good moments with Delany and Bonnie as well; he took their backing band as the base for Derek and the Dominos. The first couple solo Claptons aren't bad, either, but then he decided to try and become JJ Cale. He failed at this. Cream always seemed pretty uninteresting to me, and Blind Faith a bit overblown. Both have moments, but Derek and the Dominos is his absolute peak.)

Of course, this is all stupid opinion, so you can disagree with it. And I like that Mr. C. Likes bikes. We had a thread in here a long time ago; apparently he was some sort of junior racer back when in the UK.

I'd much rather the star had a garage full of cool old bikes than a garage full of cars. Mr Clapton gets many points from me for this. But not enough to pick Derek and the Dominos over Irish Tour on the desert island (w/velodrome and road course, natch) that I might be stranded on some day.