ecnewell 

A couple of months ago, I felt it again: the itch. You know what I'm talking about. That familiar desire to go from N to N+1. It had been a while, but after four moves in three states I finally have a decent workshop space again, so I figured it was time to take on a frame-up build. I started looking for a project.

This ebay listing caught my eye: a 1981 Cilo frame and fork, in rough but salvageable condition. At least it looked like a Cilo... more on that soon. VINTAGE CILO FRAME & FORK (ALFRED RUEGG PANTO) | eBay There wasn't much to go on, but it was ostensibly a high-end frame built either for or in honor of Swiss champion racer Alfred "Fredy" Rüegg (it has his initials on the fork crown and his last name on the seat stay caps). Given the details I could see (painted lug cutouts, Shimano dropouts, nicely drawn stays) I figured the $100 pricetag was an acceptable risk.

I didn't notice until after I had completed the purchase that it was being shipped from Macedonia. The shipping cost was actually quite reasonable, but it did take two weeks. I wish I had taken a picture of the box when it arrived; it looked like it had been through the crusher! But the contents were safe. Here's the frame as it arrived to me (like my stand? ):





I learned from the seller that this bicycle had originally been built with first generation black Dura-Ace, which he sold to another buyer. Someday I'd like to collect that groupset and bring it back to its original state, but for now it's wearing a mixed bag: Shimano 600 crankset and brakes; 105 derailleurs, shifters, levers/hoods, and pedals; Maillard/Mistral wheelset; SR stem and seatpost; Nitto B115 bars; and Brooks B17 saddle. Here it is all built up:





This is where things get interesting. I had owned this bike for a couple of weeks and decided I was definitely keeping it - I love the fit and ride - but a little voice in my head kept telling me there was something odd about it. For one, I couldn't find any other photos of Cilos with Fredy Rüegg details like mine. I also found it strange that there was no real serial number on the frame, just a date of production: 16.1.81. Then last week, while reading a little more about Fredy Ruegg, I happened upon this sentence...

"In 1967, Rüegg stepped down from active cycling, and in 1974 founded the company "Fredy Rüegg Velo-Sport" in Affoltern." Hmm.

As it happens, Fredy died in 2010, but his shop still exists, run by his family. You can visit their website. I did, and I found out that he wasn't just a shop owner, but a custom builder--and from what information I can find, a good one. Thanks to the magic of Google's translate tool, I was able to communicate with Fredy's son in German and confirm that my frame is in fact a Rüegg custom, made of Columbus SL tubing and built for a good colleague of Fredy's. The shop is going to send me new decals so I can brand it appropriately - very nice!

Question time:
1) First, has anyone ever heard of this builder before? Knowing what I know now, how did I do?
2) I'm leaning toward getting the frame refinished before I affix the new decals. I've had a terrible time getting a matching touch-up paint, and there are enough worn spots that it would be really hard to get it looking new without starting fresh. I see a lot of people moving toward powder-coating, is that something you would consider, or is it important to keep things original? As I see it, my options are paint, paint and chrome, or powder-coat. I realize this is a personal choice, just looking for input and things I should consider.

For those who've read this far, thanks! Feel free to share any pleasant surprises you've had.

noobinsf 

I was going to say that someone just posted about a Ruegg in the C&V commuter thread, but that was you! Nothing to add...

St33lWh33ls

Just my opinion, bike looks fantastic as is. I wouldn't even mess with the decals but that is just me.

SJX426 

Its only original once. I would hold off on refinishing until you are sure that is the right thing to do. I have a couple of frames that are almost rough that are staying as they are original.

BTW: you did well

Sir_Name 

Nothing to add on the builder, but it looks like a really nice, high quality bike. I'd say for $100 you did very well. From ten feet and through a phone screen the paint looks good to me, I'd keep it as-is, especially considering the interesting backstory. Pretty color, too.

Any indications it's a repainted at this point, or does it look original? New correct decals for sure, neat you found the shop and that they're sending a set. The paintfill on the head lug windows is a nice touch, will echo the black DA once you piece together a set.

Enjoy!

ecnewell 

Yeah, at this point half of the English-language Google hits I get are my own forum posts and Imgur links. I don't think too many of these have crossed the pond.

ecnewell 

Thanks! I could be wrong, but I don't think it's a respray. I do see two colors where there is uneven wear, but I think the bottom layer is primer. I also see over-spray of the current frame color inside the BB lug and headtube.

Sir_Name 

Sure looks original from here, great score!

qcpmsame 

Sounds like you scored a really nice bespoke frame, I can see why you are smitten by it. The details are really nicely executed and nothing lacking, and having the shop send you original decals is icing on this cake. I have to vote for painting it, not a powder coating fan here. If you have the funds for professional painting and re-chrome, go for it.

I recently got some parts from Macedonia, off of eBay, the seller was great about communications, and was clear on the approximate shipping time from there. Everything arrived ahead of their projected date, and was as described.

Bill

due ruote 

I would put the decals in a safe drawer and think about it for a season. You could always go to a good body shop for a paint match and touch it up. Much less expensive than a full respray. If there are serious rust/corrosion issues, that's a different matter, but it looks pretty nice on the whole.

bikemig 

Agree with the others. I'd hold off on painting it. The bike looks great; the back story to the bike is very neat as well.

grayEZrider

Wow. Super nice find. A once in a lifetime deal I think. I don't plan on doing a true "restoration" but would make that thing a one-time exception !

thinktubes 

Looks awesome - wouldn't bother with painting.

ecnewell 

Concensus seems to be to wait on the respray for now, and to go all out with professional paint/chrome if I decide to refinish her. This seems like good advice. There are a couple of spots that definitely need to be touched up right away to protect the frame, particularly one area of corrosion on the underside of the downtube. I've tried Napa Paint and Supply and Advanced Auto Parts for touch-up paint, but their color matching machine only works with large flat surfaces, and nothing in their sample book was close enough. I never thought of trying a body shop - do they have better color matching tools, or just more experience?

msl109

I'd second this - keep it original, no powdercoating, take it to a pro who can computer match the paint and touch it up with that before deciding to repaint the whole thing. Personally, I'm about the mojo of the original paint - every scratch was earned. You could also find a cosmetics place with a really good variety of nail polishes - I've waliked into cosmetics aisles with a bike fork or guitar in hand more than once. Good luck with it - looks like a really well made piece. Great find.

ryansu

Cool bike and even cooler story, pro cyclists who put their names on bikes rarely produce marginal frames.

specialmonkey

Sweet looking machine and build, I like the fork!

+1 for leaving the paint alone. It looks great from here. Just clean and polish when needed.

I looked a little into repainting. It seemed to be a lot of work, expensive for a professional job, and anything less would show.

Pemetic2006

I'm always drawn to these Cilos when I see them in the forums, which is the only place I've ever seen them.
Sweet bike with a cool story. If that is the original paint, IMO, I'd keep it that way.

Lascauxcaveman 

Cool and unusual

Although I had good results with my one and only powder coat job, I'd advise against it for this frame.
Rüegg stamping on the seat stay caps (for one example) is pretty fine and would likely get buried in a PC.

Chr0m0ly 

This is pretty awesome. I'm not sure I'd even want to patch the paint. Just polish any bare metal and wax the whole frame to protect it. Let it wear its age proudly. If you do find a close match touch ups would be my second choice. Beautiful frame.

ecnewell 

Took this bike out for a nice ride yesterday. She climbs nicely up the hills and handles superbly. Straight as an arrow with no hands.

Thanks, that's exactly what I was worried about. I'm attracted to the durability, but I wouldn't want to lose those fine details.

ecnewell 

Got an envelope from Switzerland today...





Decals! They even sent two color options for the downtube, and what I guess are two size/style options for the headbadge decal. I'm going to hold onto them for a while until I decide what to do with the paint, but I wanted to share.

exmechanic89

I agree with the 'ít's only original once' comment. Great score alright, I'd ride the heck out of that.

texaspandj

Nice score.
I'd definitely leave it as is. If I felt like I needed it shiney I'd clean frame, treat/remove the rust then clear coat. You can always paint it later. But you might have regerts about that later on.

non-fixie 

Nice find! I always love to find bikes by small and relatively unknown builders.

As a matter of fact I found one of my own this week. Seems this particular builder built no more than a hundred or so frames.

BTW, did you find out why the frame carries Cilo decals?