Classic & Vintage - Another Gazelle? Cyclocross!

Got a nice package today, coincidentally(?) from a BF member. His name is Arno, or Mention Man, and he did some serious wrapping:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8392722917_36767cf166_c.jpg

After a couple of hours of unwrapping with the help of Maarten 'the very unreasonably tall' non-fixie and some cups of coffee, the sun was already gone and I was a bit shaky. Hence the blurry crappy cameraphone pic

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8098/8392722707_202acde47a_c.jpg

After easing down I had another go

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8499/8393809168_c886001d63_c.jpg

Anyways, for those who care about C&V cyclocross, this will be the thread where I'll be updating on the build. It'll be quite a hassle getting the canti brakes all settled up...

Very happy with this Champion Mondial crossframe! Quite a rare site, though not for me anymore.

That's a really nice frame. So what's the build plan?

I look forward to the progress. What are your plans?

Great looking frame and I agree that is quite the wraping job.

That's my kind of wrap job.

Homely, but highly effective.

Very cool frameset, no doubt.

Killer frame. You building it up modern or vintage? What sort of riding will you be doing?

I love cross bikes, but despise cantis. I will soon be trying TRP 8.4 mini-v brakes on my only remaining bike with canti bosses. If that doesn't work well, it will likely get sold off.

You got your crossbike! Awesome :thumb:

And it is a very nice frame. Circa 1990?

want! My size too! Would go so nice with my Champion Mondial A frame!

I love canti brakes. I have patience for them. :)

Thanks for the kind remarks, y'all!

@Elev12k: the framenr indicates that it's from 1981 (the year Stamsnijder won the World championship cyclocross on a Gazelle!). The decals are more modern so probably has had a repaint. I checked the old Gazelle brochures and judging from the braze-ons and forkcrown it definitely looks like the 1981 model. So fully build with 531.

I intend to make this a classic build, with Shimano bar-endshifters, Mafac brakeset, Campy drive chain & derailleurs and Rigida dp18 rims complemented by some nos Golden Boy clincher cross tyres from the early 90's. Maybe when I get my hands on some classic tubes, switch the wheelset to tubular Galli rims on Campy hubs I got laying around.

Also thinking of drilling a hole in a Dura Ace seatpost and Cinelli stem for brakecable routing. It saves the cablehangers and is also a nice feature IMO. But, as a sort of a noob to drilling, I'll be checking the forums on this one. I don't want to unnecassarily destroy good parts...

I love canti brakes. I have patience for them. :)

I do as well.

Some are much better than others though.

We just set up a Rawland's Rsogn with Tektro 720s and Yokozuna brake inserts for a friend recently.

The brakes were cheap, last than fifty for a set.

Inserts were another twenty.

Braking force is much better than average and not significantly different than the Pauls I am using on an upcoming project.

Hm, I don't really get the canti hate, got some low-end shimano ones on my mtb and they stop pretty fine. Especially compared to the shimano v-brakes i had on another bike, which seemed to be either fully off or locking, not that much modulation... But I have a MAFAC set and a Campagnolo Olympus set just waiting for the right frame, I'm really curious to see how these work.

Very cool bike. Looking forward to seeing the progress

Why the canti hate? I've tried lots of canti brakes and sure, I could get them to stop adequately, but never as well as modern Campy dual pivots and it was a PITA to get them there. And no matter what color brake pad I used, they would inevitably howl and the fork would chatter. I am still using them on my IF, but wish they weren't there. It's actually my favorite riding bike, but I find myself reaching for something else with either discs or DPs. I inquired about having disc tabs added and when I was told no by all the local builders, I bought a DeSalvo that already had them.

I guess as Tom says, I don't have the patience for them. I recently started my first full-time job and will be working an average of 55 or more hours per week for the next 40 years. Life is short and my riding time is limited so I don't want to fuss around with things that are just okay. If I'm in the saddle half as much, that means my bike should be twice as nice and enjoyable. At least that's how I have been justifying my ridiculously expensive (by my standards) new build...

Sorry for the OT rambling. I am disgruntled to be awake this early on Saturday... Back to discussing the beautiful gazelle!

Why the canti hate? I've tried lots of canti brakes and sure, I could get them to stop adequately, but never as well as modern Campy dual pivots and it was a PITA to get them there. And no matter what color brake pad I used, they would inevitably howl and the fork would chatter. I am still using them on my IF, but wish they weren't there. It's actually my favorite riding bike, but I find myself reaching for something else with either discs or DPs. I inquired about having disc tabs added and when I was told no by all the local builders, I bought a DeSalvo that already had them.

I guess as Tom says, I don't have the patience for them. I recently started my first full-time job and will be working an average of 55 or more hours per week for the next 40 years. Life is short and my riding time is limited so I don't want to fuss around with things that are just okay. If I'm in the saddle half as much, that means my bike should be twice as nice and enjoyable. At least that's how I have been justifying my ridiculously expensive (by my standards) new build...

Sorry for the OT rambling. I am disgruntled to be awake this early on Saturday... Back to discussing the beautiful gazelle!

Good luck with your new job!

Nothing beats cash flow, does it. :)

As for the Gazelle, I can't wait to see this built.

Should be gorgeous.

Ok, i get it now:) currently i'm on the other end of the time/money scale as you are, so i don't mind fussy wrenching jobs. We'll see how that will change two years from now.

Sorry for the OT rambling. I am disgruntled to be awake this early on Saturday... Back to discussing the beautiful gazelle!

I'm awake, but gruntled. Must say, your sentiments about things just working given time available are spot on. Nothing worse than scrambling home to find a flat, or having to piece together an underseat kit that the kid has gotten into during the day. I'm a canti fan though.

The gazelle is a very nice looking frame, and yellow is on the list for a build up soon. I'll be watching this one closely. A classic bar end build on a cross frame sort of hits my sweet spot for a next "sport-utility" build, given the tourers I already have.

Update:

It's coming along now. Still need to install the shiftercables, connect and refine the brakes, install a chain, drill the stem (decided not to drill the seatpost), change athe cassette, remove the colour-filling from the crank, regrease the hubs and choose a nice colour bartape.

I thought I was going to go with white tape, but now I'm not sure. Maybe black is better and blue seems to fit the yellow with blue decals. But I don't want a rainbow-bike... Any thoughts?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8463/8414377452_7496365639_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8413278889_ae260d63eb_b.jpg

Really hot build! Just tape it black, with our weather here any other tape will look black anyway after 5 mins. of riding:)

It looks great!! I think blue might make the decals pop a bit but Italuminium may have the right idea.

I vote for a different saddle. I would have opted for a later component group. 7400 or superbe pro come to mind, but that is just me. It's a beautiful bike anyway you dress it.

Plus, if you put on blue tape+saddle this might turn into a rolling IKEA :)

I vote for a different saddle. I would have opted for a later component group. 7400 or superbe pro come to mind, but that is just me. It's a beautiful bike anyway you dress it.

I see what you're saying, but the only 7400 I have is a RD. But the only thing on the bike that is not from the 70’s or early 80’s is the paint/decals (except for the cables). Rear spacing is 126mm. I've never measured an 8-speed, but my guess is that it's not going to fit.

Anyways, black (leatherish) tape it is!

Plus, if you put on blue tape+saddle this might turn into a rolling IKEA :)

Yep, and people will start calling me Billy!

But you know, sometimes an Ikea-bike isn't at minger at all:
http://www.velociao.com/2012/gerber-cyclo-cross-1978-1981/

Yep, and people will start calling me Billy!

But you know, sometimes an Ikea-bike isn't at minger at all:
http://www.velociao.com/2012/gerber-cyclo-cross-1978-1981/

you're right, that is a very pretty bike.

I'm envious!
I don't know if you are actually going to race this beautiful machine but if you do plan on racing it I agree with replacing the saddle. That saddle has too much grip. You want something nice and smooth for the transitions, especially in wet/muddy conditions.
Brent

I see what you're saying, but the only 7400 I have is a RD. But the only thing on the bike that is not from the 70’s or early 80’s is the paint/decals (except for the cables). Rear spacing is 126mm. I've never measured an 8-speed, but my guess is that it's not going to fit.

Anyways, black (leatherish) tape it is!

I would have pegged it an '87-'89 if I had to guess, is it a repaint? You could easily pop a 130mm hub in there. It's only 2 mm per side, but this all besides the point. Your build is going to look great.

Very nice. That looks promising.

Think I would 1st try blue Benotto. There are several tones available and Benotto won't get dirty. Maybe it turns out very nicely ...and if it would be too much I could always go to black cotton and preserve the Benotto for a next project.

I'm envious!
I don't know if you are actually going to race this beautiful machine but if you do plan on racing it I agree with replacing the saddle. That saddle has too much grip. You want something nice and smooth for the transitions, especially in wet/muddy conditions.
Brent

Now that's some useful advice, thanks! I still have the saddle from my old crossbike: http://velospace.org/node/40929

But I dont like the way it looks. I was aiming more at something like on this Gios cyclocross:
http://www.cycleexif.com/gios-torino-cyclocross , which seems like a 'grippy' saddle as well.

For now I'll try this one and if it's not comfy, it'll be swapped.

This clear blue 80s style could do well with Benotto

http://www.porkchopbmx.com/Lined-Brake-Cable-Housing-5mm-CLEAR-BLUE-PER-FOOT-CABLE-FT-CLRBLU.htm

This clear blue 80s style could do well with Benotto

http://www.porkchopbmx.com/Lined-Brake-Cable-Housing-5mm-CLEAR-BLUE-PER-FOOT-CABLE-FT-CLRBLU.htm

Ooh, that's flash! Maybe a bit too flash for a Calvinist Dutch bike :p

Ha, that is coming along great Don, can't wait to see it next week. Actually 'the fietsenmaker' has the blue Benotto to go with the blue cables if you hadn't already spotted it. If you decide to go the Ikea way ;)

http://defietsenmaker.nl/index.php?item=benotto--handlebar-tape&action=article&group_id=46&aid=54&lang=EN

Plus, if you put on blue tape+saddle this might turn into a rolling IKEA :)

No, you're better off with "hallo, Jumbo!"


Just kidding. The bike looks great, and I'd go with black too.

Update:
I thought I was going to go with white tape, but now I'm not sure. Maybe black is better and blue seems to fit the yellow with blue decals. But I don't want a rainbow-bike... Any thoughts?
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8463/8414377452_7496365639_b.jpg


Oh that looks like it will a fun bike to ride! Get some white tape n let it get dirty.

Really cool bike

No, you're better off with "hallo, Jumbo!"

The copywriter who came up with that line should be drawn and quartered. Most annoying add ever made. But yeah, black and yellow would be great on this bike. Speaking of black and yellow, RIP music.

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

That Gazelle is gorgeous. Love C&V cyclocross bikes.

And yeah, cantis (especially poorly designed ones) can make you pull hair. I figured a few tricks to mount them over the years to preserve my scalp. I do like them over Vs.

That Gazelle is gorgeous. Love C&V cyclocross bikes.

And yeah, cantis (especially poorly designed ones) can make you pull hair. I figured a few tricks to mount them over the years to preserve my scalp. I do like them over Vs.

I can't imagine an easier canti to set than Tektro 720s.

They are dirt cheap and work great when paired with Kool Stops.

For about $50 a pair!

That is a cool Gazelle, go with the blue tape. White will get dirty and black is to common.

Thinking about a brown Rolls saddle I've got laying around...

Thinking again...

Maybe not.

Rolls would look good. Now that I have one for myself, I say Brooks Pro.

Fine looking bike :thumb:

Fantastic bike. I've been dreaming recently of getting a classic CX bike but they aren't so easy to find. This one is certainly drool-worthy.

Benotto tape and a rolls would look fine ATMO.

1990 CX bike? I would say a Selle Italia Flite or Turbo.

(I just chimed in here to subscribe. :) Gorgeous bike.)

Very nice CX bike. Love the color in it as well. Bet that will ride very nicely in the slop. Actually might have to bring mine out of the basement to go play in our newly-thawed mud. Dunno if I'd put a Brooks Pro on there if you ever intended on racing it - maybe once it's very very well broken-in.

Benotto is pretty slippery when wet. Fizik makes a blue that would look good. Fantastic bike.

Thinking about a brown Rolls saddle I've got laying around...

Good! :thumb:

here's a Gazelle CX that belonged Matt @ Cicli Devotion:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4932947554_0d106cdcbd_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4932946766_ccbfa8b8a1_z.jpg

^ that is beautiful! Strange canti's, dia compe?

not digging the green on green, but other than that, really nice Gazelle.