dddd

I looked for years for one of these, and actually have never seen one (other than in an advertisement) before today. It's a pioneering effort in the construction of Time-trial bikes, Made in France in the Mid-1980's.

It hadn't been ridden in decades, but I got it assembled and out for a ride earlier tonight. This was an Ebay purchase, my $650 bid was the only bid. Sold by a desert-dweller in Southern California.

Rides well, but I will have to construct a longer, teardrop-shaped seatpost for it to do any serious riding. Very light and very fragile, it is made of steel, but with carbon internal reinforcement lining the butted sections of the main tubes.
The seat tube is more like a fender, not even hollow! The 54-48t chainrings are radically opposite from BioPace, patented by Edmond Polchlopek himself.

Components are Super Record derailers and shifters, Dura-Ace EX aero centerpull brakeset, Simplex retrofriction shifters, and an unbranded but fancy aluminum headset. Bars/stem are Cinelli 64/1R, French quill dia.
I'll be putting my Roval Aero wheels on it. Luckily it has clearance for 25+mm tires, especially considering it has just 37.2mm chainstays.
Effective seat tube angle is ~76 degrees, head tube angle is about 73 degrees. The 144mm BCD Campagnolo crankarms are 180mm, and the bb is an alloy unit with lockrings on both ends.

I'll be needing a longer aero post and a Campag aero water bottle.

This feels sort of like I'm pulling an April Fool's post, but here it is:

paulkal

Interesting looking bike. How do you adjust the seat height?

RobbieTunes

Looks like you swap posts. Very interesting bike, one of those you want to dis-assemble and re-assemble, just to see all the thought behind it.

1-Are the wheels 700c? Seems like the rings are more for the 650c drivetrains from the late 80's.

2-Beautiful saddle. Keeping it on the bike? I assume even if not, you're keeping that saddle.

3-I think the price is right on the money, and I'm glad you got it.

4-I wonder what's behind a French bike in that color scheme.

Very cool. It's in a good place.

OldsCOOL

Yup, that's wild alright. Good catch.

brockd15 

Sweet! Didn't someone post this on the "coolest bike on ebay" thread?

Edit: It was....by dddd
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...l#post16608523

himespau 

How does the weight compare to other bikes of the era?

scozim 

Definitely unique and wild. I like it.

kroozer 

So is that a Polchlopek?
Cool paint job.

shoota 

Like this?

Vintage campagnolo aero water bottle
[h=2]Vintage campagnolo aero water bottle - $85 (tampa)[/h]

I have a NOS aero Campagnolo water bottle with cage. Asking $85obo if you would like more pics just ask.

Thanks John

Catnap 

i love Polchlopek bikes, they are so weird and awesome. does anyone have more info on Polchlopek the builder, and if there was any organization / models to the various designs he used?

Campagnerdo 

I had been watching that one on the local craigslist. I was attracted to its exoticness and immediately wanted it, but the asking price was very high, and I already have an exotic 80's time trial machine. I think you picked it up for less than half the most recent craigslist posted price. Thank you for posting the pictures. They have enabled me to identify that mystery aero seat post that I have. PM me and lets chat about sending it your way.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...seat-post.html

https://plus.google.com/photos/11402...ner=pwa&sort=1

Chombi

Nice, unique bike!...And to top it off, it's French too!
What's the story on the US flag pain job on the French bike??
While you are changing out the seatpost, you might also consider changing out the saddle to to a Concor Profil to complete the aero picture.... Although, IIRC, there were Turbo saddles that were covered with lycra with color stripes that might nicely match the red white and blue colors on the frame too...

Filochard

Some informations here.

dddd

I'm just getting back to my post here, the bike weighs 21.6lb with the Look pedals and the 700c clinchers (freewheel style). Tires are 700x20, but actually there is a lot of clearance for fatter tires.

I have no data on other TT bikes, anyone own one?

dddd

Thanks, Campagnerdo for posting. I've sent a PM, and as I mentioned I am as surprised to find a post here as I was when I found this bike for sale (actually I was tipped off by Joe when it was still listed on Craigslist for $1500).

Re: Paulkal's question; the seatpost has a bit of adjustability after it is cut to fit the rider, probably 3/4 of an inch of safe vertical adjustment, for use on relatively smooth roads with a light rider on board. Taller/shorter saddles can also be used.

My post is cut a full 2" too short for my longer leg-to-height proportion, so I'm just too glad that Campagnerdo saved that mystery post until now.

joe englert

As for that saddle...I get that ... right Dave....after all...without me ... no "coolest bike on cr" for you. I actually picked up another crazy bike for Dave...not that crazy but...Its called a "Hamilton" the guy had two frames and forks..I got both fillet brazed and very very different..Im sure Dave will build up one soon and post pics

dddd

Thanks, Chombi.
Robbietunes was wondering the same thing about the "why" of the stars and stripes. I have a very tall Motta frameset with a similar motif, possibly from the same era. It does grab attention if that was the intention, and blue/white/red is per the French tri-colors.

I hadn't thought about a saddle for it, but being that it has road bars and 700c wheels, I'm still trying to figure out it's exact mission in life(?), that would point to a correct saddle. I just took in a frameset yesterday with a white Turbo Tri saddle on it yesterday, and the wider "Tri" profile of that saddle has been a better fit for me in the past. It's softer, for use with un-padded tri shorts, but looks like a real turbo in profile.
The brown saddle on there is cool, but I am thinking white might look better with this paint?

dddd

Those Hamilton road bikes framesets that take 24" "520" rims will have a posting put up later. Thanks for picking them up, will have to pursue a wheelbuilding session for those after locating the needed clincher rims.

Thanks again for finding the Polchlopek Craigslisting, how did you come across that one, too much spare time or was it a specific search? The brown Turbo saddle is in good shape, it's yours.

Post a picture or two of your Tommassini when you can, the overcast skies are perfect for photographing bikes.

Filochard

The Rigideol 2 was introduced by Polchlopek at the Paris Cycle Show on october 1983.
So the colours might have been used as an homage to Greg Lemond who became the new world champion a few weeks earlier.

crank_addict

dddd

Good find, I can remember seeing that advert in the mid-1980's, but really just thought it was just a pinnacle of a fad at the time as I barely recall, since I wasn't at all interested in Aero bikes.

Filochard, how did you find that photo album? Is cyclecrank one of us(?), I thought I recognized the name from this forum. I actually took some of those pictures, posted to Bikeforums about a year ago!


Thanks, Catnap, Edmond Polchlopek was a Pro rider on a top French team back in the early 1960's. He made several cutting-edge frame designs in the 1980's, most with steep seat tube angle, shallower head tube angle, and of course the various special tubings and fabrications.
I will add some detail photos later today if I can.

Edit: Photos not looking too sharp.

Filochard

Norris Lockley aka Cyclecrank is known on french vintage bike forums as a trustworthy expert of the french bicycle builders, at least those from the 1960's to the end of the century.

joe englert

Heck Dave..that thing really does look incredible...man, I didnt think it would be in that good of condition. Great buy...good for you...One of the most unique ones around..and that eliptical chain ring is icing on the cake...very rare and far out!!!

Filochard

The Rigideol 2 was built with a Columbus Air tubeset.
The original components were CLB brake levers, Gran Compe Aero front brakes, Shimano AX rear brakes, Wolber Profil 18 rims, Cinelli stem and handlebar, Pena seatpost and the Polchlopek elliptic crankset.

It was sold 12,000 FRF in 1983, about 5,000 USD nowadays. At that time, the price for a Pinarello with full Campagnolo Super Record was 8,000 FRF.

joe englert

That stars and stripes head tube reminds me of Boyer's confente he was famous for riding in the eighties