I thought I'd introduce myself. Back in the 1980's and 1990's I did a lot of long-distance cycling, including the Randonneurs, and RAMROD. In 1987, my racing bike, a Bianchi with Suntour superb was stolen--or most of it. The thief left the wheels behind. I got a fairly generous insurance claim and went ahead to have a bike built for me. I lived in Vancouver, so went to Guiseppe Cramerotti's store, La Bicycletta on Broadway, approximately across the street from where MEC is now located. We discussed Columbus SLX vs. SL and was told that the SL tubing would be more than adequate for my weight and size. The bike was constructed with SL tubes, the Nuovo Record Gruppo, Cinelli handle bar and stem, Campag dropouts. I believe the lugs are Cinelli, but I'm not certain. Also I believe the forks are Cinelli, as they have the winged "C" on the top. They have a "heart" in the lugs. Black and grey paint with a checker board pattern. Chain stays and forks are chrome. Regina 13X21 freewheel with 6 sprockets, so yes the bike is a 12-speed. The bike was $1,800 cdn, which at the time was pretty pricey. At t time, he higher end bikes with Super Record components were in the upper $2,000's. Besides, I thought those "Super Record" Delta brakes and the "Flush" cranks were silly looking things!

I still have the bike, in its original paint and all parts. I replaced the brake levers with Campag streamlined levers where the cable is secured inside the handlebar tape. I replaced the Nuvo Record derailleur with Shimano 105, as it really was a cludgey shifter. I also took off the pedals and replaced them with clipless pedals as toeclips with the strap caused foot fatigue on long rides. I have all the parts I took off so the original bike can be reconstructed. Also the wheels have been lightly used (clincher rims, not tubulars) as I didn't like the narrow "Mixer" rims which got a "ding" on them on one of my earlier rides, so I have used a set of wheels with my old suntour superb hubs. The Regina freewheel is lightly used as the lower gears were just too difficult in the mountains.

I was told at the time that the Nuovo Record Gruppo was essentially the older "Super Record" components that had been updated with newer items. For instance the "Super Record" brakes became Nuovo Record Brakes as the "Delta" Brake became part of the Record Groupo. The original "Super Record" brakes are beautiful esthetically, and could lock up a wheel just as easily as the "Delta" brakes could. Similarly the Super Record Crank Set was replaced by some more aerodynamic crank set where the crank was more flush with the arms for the chain rings. So the old Super Record Crank Set was included in the Nuovo Record Gruppo. At the time, the Nuvo Record Gruppo was second in price only to Super Record.

She has been a lovely bike. I haven't ridden her in a few years now, but she is still raring to go. She is stored in the furnace room.

Jim