rhm

I studied at NINO. I can't really read my diploma, which is in Latin, but I am pretty sure it says they awarded me the degree "doctor of letters."

But to serious matters, I noticed something funny about my Cera frame!
Look at the above photo, taken in my kitchen. Note that both wheels are 700c, with matching tires. The wheels are carefully placed on the line between the floor tiles, which ensures the bike is parallel to the countertop. The floor is horizontal. The counter is horizontal. The top tube is not horizontal; I did not measure, but I believe the front of the top tube is about 12 mm lower than the back. I've never seen that before!

I presume this was intentional, on the builder's part?

At any rate the bicycle rides just fine. It is very comfortable, and supremely stable: it rides hands-free as well or better than any other bike I've ridden. Stable enough to play with a camera while riding, anyway!

Italuminium

How coïncidental, I did a minor's degree in Assyriology there! Glad you like your bike. That TT is a mystery to me though. wheels and tires look the same size

steinbra

That is weird. If it is not an intentional design feature, it has to have something to do with the front. Is the fork the original one? Could it be bent?

In regards to the export of bikes and increased market value of old steel frames, Im a culprit too - having imported a couple of lovely bikes to Norway. I didnt pay too much though - 50 for a RIH-frame that still gives a fizzy feeling in my belly, and 100 euros for a fully dura-ace-fitted orange Koga mIyata Pro-Racer that makes me look very cool. On one hand - one can complaint that prices on old stuff go up, but on the other, it really means a lot of good things. Rebuilding and restoration rather than buying new china-made crap(it costs the same now) is very good for our planet. Keeping the old artwork of bicyclemaking alive - not in dumpsters or museums - is fantastic, for the art of bicycle making. Appretiation of our pretty narrow interest is also nice, for us - if you are able to look at it that way. OK - the fixiefolks are annoying - but some are making really nice rigs - and as an enthusiast this is great to see - even though it means we have to pay a little more to extend an already to big collection of old racebikes. It is of course irritating not to be that special anymore, and also to be mistaken for some kind of hipster. But it also means those collections increase in value...

Italuminium

I'd rather see prices rise and collections grow then a bunch of scabby budget hunters that want to have their cake and it eat it too. But hey, one of the Tour commenters said the other day that the government estimates that there are 9 million drop-barred bikes in the country, so whe haven't seen the bottom of the well yet

s70rguy

Good memories! Sometimes, while relaxing here in Hua Hin Thailand, which is often, those memories come back to me!

(Had a 65k ride on the Brands today, was lucky to get back just before a heavy rainstorm)

b dub 

I've posted pictures of this bike already, but I might as well stick it here as well:

pullup

Nice bike from a shop that has been around for a while.
I actually didn't know that they build their own frames but looks like a nice build. I love the white and red finish.

b dub 

I think this one was ordered by van Herwerden from Chesini in the mid to late 80s.

pullup

Ok I'll show one of my own Dutch bikes; a mid eighties greenish Presto c/t 60.



Actually I am on the lookout for a 70's Presto or Rih bike or frame at the moment that is smaller than this one, but in my quest I encountered this Presto a couple of months ago and for the price I thought I made a good deal even if it is not a top of the line Legrand model.

Tubing: Colombus Matrix so the bike would date around 85 I think. Green 'P' panto on the forkcrown. The headbadge is still the nice Amsterdam one


On the seat stay unfortunatly not the three crosses anymore but another 'P'



Presto panto near the bottom lug



Parts are in a nice shape without any rust whatsoever, frame has no dents but some scratches and bigger nicks and the Matrix decal on the seatstay is almost gone



I don't think I will keep this for myself because it is to big for me but I am very curious if anyone posting here knows who was building the Presto frames around that time because I am interested at the history of this and other dutch brands.

I understood that in the seventies Legrand, Serrier ans Siesker all build Presto's and don't think anyone of them build this one but who did ?

Elev12k

Nice bike. Is there a serial? What does the dropout say? 'Campag' ...or possibly 'Duell'?

pullup

It just has the number 60 below the bracket which I take to be just the frame height.



The dropout says 'Columbus'.



Today I cleaned the frame, put the saddle way down and took it for a short spin which turned out to be pretty challenging considering the gale

Elev12k

Okay. I would say in detailing it at least shows resemblance with frames built by Jan van Dalen (Duell). The tiny squarish tube beehind the bracket, the way the brake cale is routed, the pump peg, the way how the stays connect to the dropouts, driveside stay chromed, dropouts chromed, engravings on locations also typical for Duells ...if you add this all up it could still be coincidence, but it being built by JvD seems a plausible explanation.

pullup

Tnx, I hoped you might know where to look for.
I will check those Duell frames and check at the Presto shop.
I have the bad habit of not wanting to part with my bikes, especially when they are nice and think I will lend it to one of my friends for the winter.

s70rguy

I wouldn't be so sure its a Duell build frame. I suspect, but am not sure, that there was a transitional period from about '83, when both Legrand and Serier had left Presto, to the moment Jan van Dalen was commisioned to make the frames for Presto. In the meantime, it could have been anyone so to speak.
The Columbus dropouts remind me of my Brands, and of a 1988 Sirocco, both build by Peter van de Klundert, who build for many shops in Holland. So why not him ...

I think that the usual people working in the two Presto have no clue about the origin of your frame, maybe the owner, Loek Valk, has. He's not the most approachable guy I've ever met. Good luck!

aka_hans

It's about time I showed my 1994 Gazelle Champion Mondial 653-RVS

Italuminium

That is a beauty, maybe it would be a bit nicer with a more vintage seat post, like an alloy aero campagnolo unit. I love these old frames with modern parts.

Elev12k

Hi aka Hans,

Yes, nice bike


(for non native Dutch speakers: RVS denotes Poppe & Pothoff Noblex stainless steel for blades and tail)

aka_hans

The stem and handlebars have a titanium look, so I'm keeping an eye out for an affordable titanium record seatpost.

Elev12k

I've a steel example. About the same look and matching with the Noblex.

buldogge

Love the Gazelle 653/731 "Exception" type frames...love 'em.

Congrats...

simran

I picked this up for 10 dollars at an Estate Sale. It had white over spray all over it. Luckily there was a fair amount of dust under the over spray!!

This bike has made all my other rides mute. This baby is comfortable.

aka_hans

I didn't know they existed... Now I want one.

humanreisberg

Hi everyone, i am pleased to contribute a few more dutch invadors:

My 1986 Gazelle Champion, Campagnolo Victory:


1974 Gazelle C.M. track bike, Campa Record Pista:


Presto, Model Campagnolo (probably early 70ies), Campa G.S.


Regards

K.

non-fixie 

Van Herwerden did make at least some of the frames they sold. This is an ad from december 1979. Says Ton van Herwerden is the frame builder of these two.
(Sorry about the picture quality, but the scanner's on the blink.)

b dub 

Now that's very interesting. I had been wondering what 'Special Route' on the bottom bracket meant. I figured it had something to do with the routing of the cables, but it didn't really make sense. It didn't occur to me that it is the name of the frame model.



Any change my bike could have been build by van Herwerden himself?