Finally a Champion Team!
11-10-13, 01:32 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 625
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
3 Posts
Finally a Champion Team!
Hi amigos, I finally acquired a Champion Team. The back derailleur is stamped 74, as well as the crank, as it has a 4 inside of a diamond. It points to a 74, but based on what I have read, that's not really accurate. The important thing is that it's orange! :-) The bike is in very good condition. It came with all Campagnolo components, Cinelli bars and stem, and Brooks Pro. It apears to be all original except for the wheels Araya 27 1 1/4 (do have the original Record hubs, quick releases, and Regina Oro Freewheel), bar tape, hoods (cane creek), and chain. It does have some paint blemishes, but thankfully no damage to the frame or fork!
I will be restoring it, and giving it a full tune up. I believe that the original wheels were Super Champions. If anyone has a pair please pm me. If someone knows, can you please let me know what Campagnolo style were the original hoods? I prefer the original bar tape, if anyone knows what kind it was as well I would sincerely appreciate it. Additionally, the current chain is made in Taiwan, but the original was a Sedis Gold. If you have one I would be interested in it too. Finally, please see the below comments from the seller. That is quite the story, and I'm thankful that he was able to secure it before that happened. :-) Thank you for your comments, thoughts, opinions and recommendations. As always, they are very much appreciated.
From seller:
"The guy that originally bought the bike was an eccentric individual. He bought top of the line things in pairs of two and in the color orange such as corvettes and pick ups and motobecanes. He gave the bike as a gift to his Pastor maybe 20-25 years ago who is a friend of ours. The pastor just stored it and didn't ride it. I don't know if it had ever been raced. It was going to be thrown away and I spotted it and took it to a bike shop and had the bike shop go threw it to make it ridable. That's all I know about it.
Good luck,
Flash
I will be restoring it, and giving it a full tune up. I believe that the original wheels were Super Champions. If anyone has a pair please pm me. If someone knows, can you please let me know what Campagnolo style were the original hoods? I prefer the original bar tape, if anyone knows what kind it was as well I would sincerely appreciate it. Additionally, the current chain is made in Taiwan, but the original was a Sedis Gold. If you have one I would be interested in it too. Finally, please see the below comments from the seller. That is quite the story, and I'm thankful that he was able to secure it before that happened. :-) Thank you for your comments, thoughts, opinions and recommendations. As always, they are very much appreciated.
From seller:
"The guy that originally bought the bike was an eccentric individual. He bought top of the line things in pairs of two and in the color orange such as corvettes and pick ups and motobecanes. He gave the bike as a gift to his Pastor maybe 20-25 years ago who is a friend of ours. The pastor just stored it and didn't ride it. I don't know if it had ever been raced. It was going to be thrown away and I spotted it and took it to a bike shop and had the bike shop go threw it to make it ridable. That's all I know about it.
Good luck,
Flash
11-10-13, 02:01 PM
#3
Fat Guy on a Little Bike
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 15,944
Bikes: Two wheeled ones
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1254 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times
in
174 Posts
One of my all time favorite bikes - beautiful orange and all the goodies. Congrats!
11-10-13, 02:06 PM
#4
Senior Member
Wow.... just wow. Awesome comes to mind, but... wow!
11-10-13, 02:18 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,431
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5885 Post(s)
Liked 3,468 Times
in
2,078 Posts
I love this bike esp. the color. Enjoy it. Great story about its provenance as well.
11-10-13, 03:02 PM
#8
Cisalpinist
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Holland
Posts: 5,557
Bikes: blue ones.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times
in
11 Posts
Nice score. Remind me to take up preaching, I'd very much appreciate a tithe from the flock like this one.
11-10-13, 03:04 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 2,982
Bikes: LESS than I did a year ago!
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
It is always great to see someone get a bike they have seeked for a long time. Congrats on the acquisition...
11-10-13, 03:39 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Point Reyes Station, California
Posts: 4,524
Bikes: Indeed!
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1506 Post(s)
Liked 3,452 Times
in
1,128 Posts
Welcome to the club! That's a beautiful bike in beautiful condition. The replacement French Reynolds decals are readily available if you are inclined to replace them.
Brent
Brent
11-10-13, 04:10 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Queens NYC
Posts: 3,175
Bikes: Colnago Super, Basso Gap, Pogliaghi, Fabio Barecci, Torelli Pista, Miyata 1400A
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 316 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
What a beautiful bike.
One of the best the French made IMHO and the most desirable. Looks pretty darn immaculate from the pictures. Lovely color and its certainly the color to have. To think it almost got thrown away! What a shame that would have been.
Good luck and give us a ride report soon!
One of the best the French made IMHO and the most desirable. Looks pretty darn immaculate from the pictures. Lovely color and its certainly the color to have. To think it almost got thrown away! What a shame that would have been.
Good luck and give us a ride report soon!
__________________
It never gets easier, you just go faster. ~ Greg LeMond
11-10-13, 04:42 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Chicago, the leafy NW side
Posts: 2,477
Bikes: 1974 Motobecane Grand Record, 1987 Miyata Pro, 1988 Bob Jackson Lady Mixte (wife's), others in the family
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 125 Post(s)
Liked 154 Times
in
78 Posts
Wow!
Me riding one of those would be like making a Preakness winner pull a plow, but I would like one anyway.
Me riding one of those would be like making a Preakness winner pull a plow, but I would like one anyway.
__________________
I never think I have hit hard, unless it rebounds.
- Dr Samuel Johnson
I never think I have hit hard, unless it rebounds.
- Dr Samuel Johnson
11-10-13, 05:21 PM
#14
carpe diem
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Fenton, MI
Posts: 678
Bikes: CAAD 9 , Schwinn World, Prologue, Madison , Sports Tourer ; Ironman , Opus lll , Allez , Peugeot 753, Trek 531 (2) , Assenmacher ( custom)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sweet bike, looks to be in super condition ! I would like to score one someday...
11-10-13, 05:39 PM
#15
vintage motor
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Posts: 1,593
Bikes: 48 Automoto, 49 Stallard, 50 Rotrax, 62 Jack Taylor, 67 Atala, 68 Lejeune, 72-74-75 Motobecanes, 73 RIH, 71 Zieleman, 74 Raleigh, 78 Windsor, 83 Messina (Villata), 84 Brazzo (Losa), 85 Davidson, 90 Diamondback, 92 Kestrel
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 101 Times
in
78 Posts
Those mid-70's Motobecanes --the whole line-up-- were nicely made and beautifully finished.
11-10-13, 05:46 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wherever
Posts: 16,748
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 132 Times
in
78 Posts
Well, Flash, that is some find and a great story. Glad to see this didn't suffer an ignoble fate. The original wheels would have been Record low flange laced to Super Champion rims, though the correct model is a bit up in the air. I had always thought Arc en Ciel tubulars, which I acquired for my bike but Peter Kohler says they were the standard Super Champion rims. He wasn't sure of the model. Hoods would have been the globe logo version and yes, a Sediscolor chain. Black cloth Tressostar tape, or Newbaums, which would be even better. The residue patch on your bike almost looks as though it could have been the "gold band" Reynolds decal but I suspect the prior version as your bike has all the hallmarks of a 1975 model. Congrats on acquiring this scarce bike. The best of the 70's French bikes.
11-10-13, 06:01 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wherever
Posts: 16,748
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 132 Times
in
78 Posts
Note the subtle differences between the catalog pic and Flash's model. Catalog scan for 1974 shows high flange hubs. Black seat stay caps. Chromed fork socks and the smaller script logo on the down tube, though it's hard to see in the photo. Flash's model more closely resembles the bike as shown in the 75 catalog. Although it is my theory that the bike shown in the 74 catalog, as outfitted, was actually for the 1973 model year. Though those specs may have survived the 74 season and then the changes were made for the 1975 model year. Hardly matters though. That's one fine bike no matter the year.
Last edited by rootboy; 11-10-13 at 06:05 PM.
11-10-13, 06:41 PM
#19
Senior Member
I'm think of a pairing, like wine and cheese. Or oranges and vodka.
Last edited by leaping_gnome; 11-10-13 at 06:47 PM.
11-10-13, 07:13 PM
#20
Banned.
Join Date: May 2011
Location: on the beach
Posts: 4,816
Bikes: '73 falcon sr, '76 grand record, '84 davidson
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 59 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times
in
17 Posts
beauty.
sure would be nice to covert to 700c if the arms will reach.
sure would be nice to covert to 700c if the arms will reach.
11-10-13, 07:40 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wherever
Posts: 16,748
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 132 Times
in
78 Posts
Certainly should work, as the bike was built for 700c. In those pics, there sure seems to be an awful lot of room under that fork crown if those are 27 inch wheels.
11-10-13, 08:30 PM
#23
Velocommuter Commando
Hi amigos, I finally acquired a Champion Team. The back derailleur is stamped 74, as well as the crank, as it has a 4 inside of a diamond. It points to a 74, but based on what I have read, that's not really accurate. The important thing is that it's orange! :-) The bike is in very good condition. It came with all Campagnolo components, Cinelli bars and stem, and Brooks Pro. It apears to be all original except for the wheels Araya 27 1 1/4 (do have the original Record hubs, quick releases, and Regina Oro Freewheel), bar tape, hoods (cane creek), and chain. It does have some paint blemishes, but thankfully no damage to the frame or fork!
I will be restoring it, and giving it a full tune up. I believe that the original wheels were Super Champions. If anyone has a pair please pm me. If someone knows, can you please let me know what Campagnolo style were the original hoods? I prefer the original bar tape, if anyone knows what kind it was as well I would sincerely appreciate it. Additionally, the current chain is made in Taiwan, but the original was a Sedis Gold. If you have one I would be interested in it too. Finally, please see the below comments from the seller. That is quite the story, and I'm thankful that he was able to secure it before that happened. :-) Thank you for your comments, thoughts, opinions and recommendations. As always, they are very much appreciated.
From seller:
"The guy that originally bought the bike was an eccentric individual. He bought top of the line things in pairs of two and in the color orange such as corvettes and pick ups and motobecanes. He gave the bike as a gift to his Pastor maybe 20-25 years ago who is a friend of ours. The pastor just stored it and didn't ride it. I don't know if it had ever been raced. It was going to be thrown away and I spotted it and took it to a bike shop and had the bike shop go threw it to make it ridable. That's all I know about it.
Good luck,
Flash
I will be restoring it, and giving it a full tune up. I believe that the original wheels were Super Champions. If anyone has a pair please pm me. If someone knows, can you please let me know what Campagnolo style were the original hoods? I prefer the original bar tape, if anyone knows what kind it was as well I would sincerely appreciate it. Additionally, the current chain is made in Taiwan, but the original was a Sedis Gold. If you have one I would be interested in it too. Finally, please see the below comments from the seller. That is quite the story, and I'm thankful that he was able to secure it before that happened. :-) Thank you for your comments, thoughts, opinions and recommendations. As always, they are very much appreciated.
From seller:
"The guy that originally bought the bike was an eccentric individual. He bought top of the line things in pairs of two and in the color orange such as corvettes and pick ups and motobecanes. He gave the bike as a gift to his Pastor maybe 20-25 years ago who is a friend of ours. The pastor just stored it and didn't ride it. I don't know if it had ever been raced. It was going to be thrown away and I spotted it and took it to a bike shop and had the bike shop go threw it to make it ridable. That's all I know about it.
Good luck,
Flash
11-10-13, 09:25 PM
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 625
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
3 Posts
Well, Flash, that is some find and a great story. Glad to see this didn't suffer an ignoble fate. The original wheels would have been Record low flange laced to Super Champion rims, though the correct model is a bit up in the air. I had always thought Arc en Ciel tubulars, which I acquired for my bike but Peter Kohler says they were the standard Super Champion rims. He wasn't sure of the model. Hoods would have been the globe logo version and yes, a Sediscolor chain. Black cloth Tressostar tape, or Newbaums, which would be even better. The residue patch on your bike almost looks as though it could have been the "gold band" Reynolds decal but I suspect the prior version as your bike has all the hallmarks of a 1975 model. Congrats on acquiring this scarce bike. The best of the 70's French bikes.
Thanks to all for your comments and and recommendations. I sincerely appreciate them! Hopefully, I'll have the chance to ride it soon! Before I do, I want to find the 700c Super Champion wheels either tubulars or clinchers, to make it a little lighter and more of a racing bike. Thanks again to everyone!
Flash
11-11-13, 06:32 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wherever
Posts: 16,748
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 132 Times
in
78 Posts
On the decal. I mis-stated it. If it is a 75 or a 1976 model it probably had the "gold band" version of the decal. Did have English down in the gold band but the text up top in the tube description section of the decal was still in French. Like here. Look at the 73-77 version, reference "J" French decal with gold band. If you are going to replace them, I wouldn't hesitate to order them from Nick at Lloyd's.
https://www.hlloydcycles.com/531%20history.pdf
https://www.hlloydcycles.com/531%20history.pdf
