Pinch me! Unbelievable grail bike garage find just fell into my lap!
01-16-16, 12:20 AM
#1
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Pinch me! Unbelievable grail bike garage find just fell into my lap!
I was telling a good bike riding friend of mine that I was a little bummed because it was taking so long to get my Ron Cooper back from the painter (because it's been too cold to paint). He was joking that I needed another bike. Then he mentioned that his 83 year old uncle had an old italian bike that he bought new (for 300,000 lire) in about 1972 when he was living in Naples, that he wasn't riding it any more that it was too big for my friend but about my size. So, I told him to ask his uncle what he wanted to sell it for. A few days later I get the call..."Sorry Dave, my uncle doesn't want to sell it...seeing as you're a friend of mine he'd like to give it to you".
We went over there tonight and this is what we found buried back in the dusty catacombs (i.e. the basement) back behind the garage:
I think I must have just died and gone to heaven. This kind of stuff always happens to other people, not to me. There are very few bikes that would be above this on my must have list. It even came with a spare rear wheel (the original with 13-21 cluster). He had switched out the original wheel for one with a larger cluster and a Suntour Cyclone GT back in 1979 in order to ride the Davis Double Century (which coincidentally I rode that year also).
There was a slight hitch to the deal though. I asked the uncle if there was anything that I could possibly give him for the bike and he asked if I'd take him to the airport to catch a flight next month. No problem! I got the better end of the deal, plus the uncle is a fascinating guy to talk to anyway.
We went over there tonight and this is what we found buried back in the dusty catacombs (i.e. the basement) back behind the garage:
I think I must have just died and gone to heaven. This kind of stuff always happens to other people, not to me. There are very few bikes that would be above this on my must have list. It even came with a spare rear wheel (the original with 13-21 cluster). He had switched out the original wheel for one with a larger cluster and a Suntour Cyclone GT back in 1979 in order to ride the Davis Double Century (which coincidentally I rode that year also).
There was a slight hitch to the deal though. I asked the uncle if there was anything that I could possibly give him for the bike and he asked if I'd take him to the airport to catch a flight next month. No problem! I got the better end of the deal, plus the uncle is a fascinating guy to talk to anyway.
Last edited by davester; 01-16-16 at 12:24 AM.
01-16-16, 12:22 AM
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Very cool; you must have good karma. This is a beautiful bike.
01-16-16, 12:39 AM
#3
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What a gift! What a wonderful ride! I think from time to time that this is how I will divest my favorite bikes, when I'm 83.
Alex (we met on the NY+2 ride)
Alex (we met on the NY+2 ride)
01-16-16, 12:53 AM
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The only thing in My old uncles garage is moldy nudie mags and beer. Amazing score and even better story.
01-16-16, 12:59 AM
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Are you sure you want a bike from Napoli?
I bought my bike (used) about a decade later in the spring of 1982 for 300,000 Lira in Parma.
Anyway, your bike is a wonderful find.
I bought my bike (used) about a decade later in the spring of 1982 for 300,000 Lira in Parma.
Anyway, your bike is a wonderful find.
01-16-16, 01:02 AM
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Congrats, Dave! Best-paid cab driver in CA, I assume. 
01-16-16, 01:06 AM
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Wow.
Don't ride it like you stole it, ride it like the Pope gave it to you personally.
Don't ride it like you stole it, ride it like the Pope gave it to you personally.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
01-16-16, 01:12 AM
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You must be living right, is all I can say!
01-16-16, 01:23 AM
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Dear Penthouse letters, I never thought this would happen to me, but...
Hmmm... bikes or 70s pr0n mags... tough call... 
Aw hells no!!!
Class A Cinelli bike or ride to the airport in MY CAR?!?!?! Tell that clown to start pedalling.
Class A Cinelli bike or ride to the airport in MY CAR?!?!?! Tell that clown to start pedalling.
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
01-16-16, 01:36 AM
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Wow, that's fantastic. Very happy for you. At some point you'll run out of excuses to wander into the garage so you can just stare at it.
Good things happen when you organize local C&V rides.
Good things happen when you organize local C&V rides.
01-16-16, 01:49 AM
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This doesn't happen to Other People, not very often.
Great bike, great story! Just wow.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
01-16-16, 02:29 AM
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01-16-16, 03:16 AM
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Davester, what a fantastic gift! That stuff doesn't happen to the rest of us other people, either, so you must be doing something right. Enjoy that beauty!
DD
01-16-16, 04:37 AM
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Wow...your karma charts must be way off scale!!! Congrats...beautiful bike...and seems to be perfectly maintained...
01-16-16, 05:20 AM
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Pinch me! Unbelievable grail bike...
01-16-16, 05:24 AM
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Great story and congratulations!
01-16-16, 05:49 AM
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Congrats, what's you plans with it?
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Semper fi
Semper fi
01-16-16, 06:03 AM
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What??? Only 2 wheels?
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Should we expect to see your avatar showing up in the "ride a grail bike?" thread?
You know those bumper stickers about how stuff happens? Sometimes good things do happen too.
You know those bumper stickers about how stuff happens? Sometimes good things do happen too.
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Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
01-16-16, 06:13 AM
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Simply, beautiful.