jonpear6

Hey guys! I am pretty new in the C&V area of cycling, though I have owned a mountain of more modern bikes in my relatively short life. I just wanted to share my new bike with you all to gather any thoughts and/or knowledge of the bike. I sought out info on Viner bikes but was more or less unsuccessful in learning much, even from Sheldon Brown. Regardless, let's get to the bike!

I recently moved to Seattle to start a career. I went to school in SLC, Utah and spent most of my time riding down in the valley's rather than up all of the canyons and due to this I loved riding track bikes. As a Portland, OR native I should have known better than to arrive in Seattle with 3 track bikes. Recently I was looking to unload a well-built Surly Steamroller. On a whim I posted, "Willing to trade for pre-1987 Italian Road Bike" in the ad. I have had dreams of L'Eroica CA most of the year.

So this guy reaches out and tells me he has a Viner Special Professional that he has had in a Storage unit since 1990. He purchased it new in the mid-1980s when studying abroad in Florence, Italy. He is the original owner. He wanted a straight trade for the Steamroller. I didn't find much info, but I knew to expect Columbus SL, some Campy components, and stars on all of the lugs. Needless to say, I decided the trade was good enough for me. I probably lost money given how the Surly was built, but I want y'alls general thoughts on the bike.



I have swapped the original wheels (Campy Record to Tubular Vittoria Rims) for Mavic MA40/G40 clinchers laced to Record hubs. I also swapped the Original Turbo saddle for a Brooks Professional with Copper Rivets and Rails. Added a little Crane E-NE Bell and have had a BLAST riding this old steed.

Any info on this bike you could share would be awesome. Also, if you have a Viner I would love to see some photos! Thanks!

Lascauxcaveman 

I don't think you lost money on the trade; you lost it when you bought the Steamroller in the first place. A shiny new big name-brand bike is always going to be about 50% depreciated as soon as you roll it out the door, and therefore a worse value than a nice used bike. Your Viner looks pretty high end. All that chrome and panto and Campy going on, I know which one I'd rather be riding. (Hint: it's the Viner)

I like my fixie well enough, but that Viner looks like a real machine. It deserves a lot better pictures. Take it outside in the good light an snap some shots that really show it off.

kflagg 

You did very well man. Enjoy the Viner and post more pics when you ride her.

jonpear6

I luckily worked at a bike shop my last few years in Utah, so I got everything minus the crankset at cost. Still, with Chris King everything, Paul everything else, it added up. Haha. I have loved this bike immensely.

romperrr 

Dollar for dollar you may have, you're right. However, consider the value of the Steamroller vs the Viner? If you wanted to rebuild the Surly, whip out your credit card, and you'll have it in a week. Bikes aren't built like the Viner anymore and finding one in great condition with one owner is a solid bonus.

Value, for me anyway, is more than just money, though that is part of it. Value is also subjective as considers one's esteem of the bike.

Also from a functionality standpoint, it's nice to have gears.

Cheers!

jonpear6

I realize the Viner is infinitely more useful, unique, and beautiful to look at. I love it an only have slight trader's remorse. My bain is the fact that I am a Tax Accountant. Money, depreciation, and Fair Market Value are my life.

Should have finished the minor in Econ so as to see all costs and benefits.

SJX426 

I think you did OK. I would have kept the tubulars!

jonpear6

I still have them. They're pending sale this afternoon. How much work would it take to get them rolling. I will attach some photos of the tubies.

SJX426 

If they hold air, ride them! There is a large range of options in terms of pricing, from 3/$50 on up. Yellow Jersey has the 3/50 deal. Nice hubs, nice spokes, good freewheel, marginal tubies, why sell and miss the experience of a great ride?

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...y-tubular.html

There are a lot of C&V oriented bike shops in Seattle along with a number of BF members. @Drillium Dude is in the neighborhood and is retired, give him a shout. He will introduce you to the area from a C&V perspective.

velofinds

Nice story, nice Viner. Here's one we have in our family:



And here's a photo for size reference

crank_addict

^I'm diggin' the OP's and that cute jr. of Leegf!

In the works but getting close to done a 'Veener' Record. Updating to all Chorus / Ergo's / spread for an 8 speed. Beater condition frame that will be ridden hard and not worry about it. BTW: Anyone know the status of the company? Back in biz? Italy or gone Asian?

crank_addict

Vote to save the tubular wheelset!!!!! You'll regret if selling them off. Otherwise you won't get the full experience of that bike, save for the special rides at the very least. Tubular tires do come around very low priced if patient.

Chombi

A classic steel Viner in great condition, in exchange for a TIG welded, lugless Surly Steamroller,
You will all day doing so!!.

velofinds

Looks like "gone British":

https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/gea...-0-6-15-49308/

bikingshearer 

Here's a link to the Classic Rendezvous Viner page. According to it, Viner "closed its doors in 2013. It sounds like the name may have gone British, but likely not the actual frames.

VINER bicycles main page

Excellent score. Viner was one of the top-drawer Italian frame builders who were relatively unknown in the US. Good stuff, and good trade.

noglider 

I think you did great, and even if not by dollars and cents, you got yourself a FINE bicycle. When yours was made, you could hardly buy a finer bicycle. You could have bought a frame from a low volume frame builder who used more meticulous labor, but it wouldn't ride better, and this one is well made, too. Probably top of Viner's line, or close to it. Enjoy it!

Tubulars are a damned pain. I have too much experience with them. If you really wanted to ride them, we can tell you how to get the most out of them, but my advice is to sell the wheels for whatever price you can get. The sooner you are rid, the sooner you can start saving money and time you would otherwise spend on tubulars, as they are expensive and require a lot of time.

jonpear6

Thanks for all of the lovely, positive feedback. That little jr. Viner is awesome. Also, I agree on tubulars. I ran a co-op in Utah as well and we would refurbish older tubular wheelsets. What a nightmare. I will see what I can get for the wheels. How much do y'all feel a generic campy record single eyeleted wheelset runs for these days? Hahaha. I just don't see myself ever liking tubular.

bikemig 

Vines were not uncommon in New Orleans when I was growing up. They were imported to the States by Gus Betat which supported a local race team.

N.O. Bicycle Club - Archives and History

kroozer 

Tubular tires tend to elicit strong emotions, for example I love and hate them at the same time. I have 2 sets and they are lighter and faster than any of my clinchers. But they're only on my 60's racers, which were built at a time when narrow clinchers didn't exist. They are a big PITA to fix but tire sealant will reduce flats by a lot. My 80's racer has light clinchers.
It wouldn't cost you anything to try out the tubulars before selling them. They generally don't get high prices, and it's nice to have a spare set of wheels.

CroMo Mike 

Just make sure the existing tubulars are firmly glued to the rims before riding them. The glue can weaken its grip over time. Then pump them up and ride them a bit.

Great bike, by the way.

non-fixie 

Viner Record (I think) frame set. Still not sure how to approach the build. Paint is pretty bad, decals virtually non-existent.

juvela

oh no!

the bovine cranium hath been superseded.

replacement transfer sets are readily available. no need to journey to pistoia.

yet another nice vinnie.

non-fixie 

Yes, it's that time of the year again for us to honor the former bishop of Myra. Convince him that we've been good all year, so that he may bring us presents.