1971 Gazelle Champion Mondial FF
 

One of the many adjustments to living in smalltownville western Mass is the scant amount of offerings on the local CL. This nice Gazelle frameset just popped up so I want to get a quick read from you guys. I’m not really looking ATM but if this is a screaming deal on a highly sought after frameset I’m not familiar with, I might be enticed to pull the trigger.

My reality meter tells me it’s a nice, but somewhat ordinary, 531 frameset from the 70s that should be priced sub $200. Thoughts?

https://westernmass.craigslist.org/b...562396122.html

https://images.craigslist.org/00n0n_...c_1200x900.jpg

Would love to hear more about this bike from a Gazelle guru... Gazelle's always catch my eye on ebay. Looks to be in very good condition, good luck!

I'd agree, less than $200 for only F & F for this. Maybe if it was something you'd been specifically looking for, you might justify a bit more.

The Champion Mondial was made by Gazelle's racing department, which was set up by frame builder Bertus Slesker, who came with the acquisition of the Locomotief brand by Gazelle. Slesker and Locomotief had become famous by building the bikes for the successful Dutch Tour de France teams in the fifties.

The name Champion Mondial was introduced after Harm Ottenbros had won the 1969 World Championship on a Gazelle.

http://i53.tinypic.com/14lqb8i.png

Here in Holland a nice frame would fetch €100-€200, but then there are always quite a few for sale here. Dutch bikes tend to be more focused on function than form and as a result look somewhat ordinary, compared to Italian bikes. The Dutch and bling generally do not get along very well. Build quality, however, is excellent. They are very popular with the German C&V crowd.
@jimmuller has a nice example. He might be able to give some insights on how they ride.

Thanks for the nice comment, @non-fixie. I do like mine very much. I can't say whether it is typical or how much they should cost. Mine is an '86 which looked interesting, from an ebay seller in Amsterdam.

It is not the stiffest frame in my meager collection. As a 531 frame the Gran Sport is stiffer, I think. However the Gazelle feels very nimble and very very efficient. It is an easy bike to ride hard and fast for long pefiods of time, exactly as I would expect a road racing frame to be.

I gave mine Cyclone derailleurs and sew-up tires. It likes to go fast.

Thanks to all for the education and insight into this frameset.

Going to let this one go and give the opportunity to a more eager suitor. If it happens to return to CL at a lower price, I’ll give it a closer look.