Cyclist753

Look up 'shape effects' on drag', flat plate aerodynamics, etc. I really like the Battaglin!

SvenMN 

Compared to some of these "exotics" my contribution is quite traditional :-) Another Prologue TT, this one from late '87 (if I am remembering correctly).

Had to dredge up a picture from back in 2015, as it has been hanging at the LBS for awhile and now temporarily stored away. Mostly Tricolor, as that is what I had on hand when I built it back from a bare eBay frame.

I like the color and quality of the paint work, and the fact that it is so unusual to ride. Rode one TT on it, as I figured it deserved it. Interesting experience.

VintageTTfan

Sorry just getting back to you, computer problems...aaarrrrgh!..............Anyway, yeah I will have to look that stuff up....along with why UCI banned the small front wheel and frame geometry of the vintage lo pros. Glad you like the Battaglin...as I said someone on the famous auction site we all know just put one up for ten thousand dollars as starting bid and then took it down all of a sudden. Maybe it is back up .... I have not checked....and I am not the seller btw.

Anyway, please post some pictures of other Vintage Time Trial bikes you like. We love color pictures! Thanks.

VintageTTfan

Sorry just getting back to you, computer problems...aaarrrrgh!............This is a great picture. Like the contrast with the snow.

The more I see this bike the more I like it. I really like the red, white, and blue American colors and the way they fade into each other. And the paint looks high quality and the way they wrote "Prologue" on the top bar is cool. The disc wheel fits this bike pretty well and I love the deep rich red handlebar tape which is perfect for this bike. Also the very small front wheel gives it a very cool look. What size is it? This looks like it would be fun to ride and fast. I think these are almost affordable...though I could be wrong.

It is great that you built it up yourself from the frame. You did well. Anyway, thanks for the great post and please be sure and post more color pictures of other Vintage Time Trial bikes you like. And let us know what it was like to ride this in a time trial event. All Best.

VintageTTfan

A thing of beauty..........

VintageTTfan

Here is another beautiful Gardin.

VintageTTfan

And the final wower since I will be gone for a few days........




There yah go.......I want em all.............

SvenMN 

The late 80s Schwinn Prologue TT frame was Japanese produced from Tange Prestige tubing, and used a 700c rear wheel with a small 24" front. I have a spare wheel set so attached a picture of the front tubular. Was amazed again at how light the front wheel (with tubular and skewer) is at 960 grams.

SvenMN 

Others that time-trialed these machines back in the day can surely provide a better description of the riding experience.

My single race on the Prologue TT was back in 2014. I chose to ride the vintage Schwinn on a whim, as on the weekend several days prior I had done two hard endurance races, and had done a hard speed workout 6 hours before the TT start. I just thought the bike should be raced again before going back on the wall.

My time over the 13 mile (21 km) "lumpy" course was ~ 4 minutes slower than what I had done several weeks prior on my "modern" TT bike. I was happy with the result as I averaged 20.7 mph (33 kph) despite being extremely fatigued.

Without aero bars it was very difficult to stay tucked in and relax my upper body. A pair of spinaci bars would have made a vast improvement. And climbing out of the saddle was an adventure. Unusual with virtually no view of a cockpit or wheel in front of you. Overall a very memorable experience :-)

There were other participants who thought I was crazy to ride a 27 year old bike, and some who appreciated seeing it out there as they used to race them.

VintageTTfan

Prestige is a great tube set I believe. I love the 24" front wheels on TT bikes! I just like the way they look and the way they contrast with the back wheel. I always think they look cool. Thanks for the picture. I imagine the tires for these wheels must be hard to find these days though could be wrong.

VintageTTfan

I think is is super cool that you chose to ride a vintage in a modern race. The naysayers have no sense of adventure or creativity in this particular point. It was about the experience and not winning the race.....and you rode very fast anyway. It is cool that some appreciated seeing the bike. I am not saying that all modern racers should switch back to vintage of course. I am just saying that these are valid bikes that go fast and are fun to ride. Also they have an artistry and craftsmanship that the new bikes do not have in my opinion. It is like the difference between a Corvette Stingray car and a modern one. The Stingray is a classic and a work of art that is timeless. Just my opinion but I will stand by it. Thanks for sharing with us and please do post some pictures of other vintage TT's you like when you get the chance. Have a good one.

VintageTTfan

Some cool vintage disc wheels:

VintageTTfan

Just back from computer problem hell........so here is another picture post:

I do not see many Dancelli time trial bikes. I particularly like the disc wheels on this one which are very cool and unique. The colors all match with the bike and the effect is vivid and strong. If I saw this in a window for sale I would be in trouble.

robbyville

My wife would definitely hide the Amex if we had that bike in our neighborhood!

VintageTTfan

I saw a cool quote somewhere (maybe here) which goes something like this: "My biggest nightmare is that after I die my wife will sell all my vintage bikes for what I told her I payed for them." Kinda funny.

notgr

This thread reflects my interests. I raced a vintage Marinoni TT bike, at a low level (cat 5), last month.

I will return once I've reached the requisite 10 posts with pictures a couple of my bikes.

VintageTTfan

Very cool...I would love to hear the story here on how you decided to race the vintage bike and what happened. I would also like to see a picture of the bike and the other ones you have. Glad that this thread interests you. Also post any pictures you see of other vintage time trial bikes you like or also cool vintage TT parts like disc wheels etc. These bikes are works of art and also examples of the finest Japanese, Italian, and other assorted countries bicycle craftsmanship. Welcome to the forum.

Here is my picture of the day:

There is just something about these old eighties Japanese bicycle catalogs that I love. Glossy! The attention to detail and excellence enshrined in Japanese culture along with their pop art sensibilities at this time are a great combination.

martl

One favourite has to go here, the infamous "perfume flacon". Let me explain:
At one time, a cosmetics grocery chain by the name of "Lancome" comissioned a few 100 (?) TT bike lookalikes as store decoration with "Schauff" (i think theyx could also be won in some kind of lottery), which was a respected bike maker at the time and was connected to german cycling legend Rudi Altig. They were never meant to be ridden in a competition, but still Schauff did what the could with the budget at hand, so they look like 50% legit
The fun started when, long after Lancome and the campaign were gone, these bikes ended up everywhere and started to pop up on Ebay or craiglist; Often listed by people with no clue about cycling or the history of the bike, so the discriptions given made for some amusing reads...

VintageTTfan

Man, I have to say, your post just made my day. The magazine ad and story are cool on many levels. First of all it is really interesting that they had a time trial bike like this for a store display. The bike actually looks really really great. I love the white and green. And the solid chain ring along with the advertisement on the disc wheel make it so kitsch and neat looking. I love odd ball stuff like this and vintage ads. Have you ever owned or ridden one of these puppies? How much were they selling for typically? I totally get that it is not up to the standard of a real racing bike but boy does it look cool. If you have any other ads with time trial bikes in them or other odd ball pictures please post them. And also please post any other cool pictures of vintage time trial bikes and stuff. I wanted to post some of the racy sexy eighties Italian time trial ads here but they were deemed inappropriate. Oh well......the times they are a changing back. Have a good one.

VintageTTfan

Cinelli Angel TT bar......kinda oozes quality......a lot of the aero extension bars look cheap to me (not referring to bullhorn style which I love) but not this one. I would imagine this is pretty rare...if anyone knows anything let us know.

VintageTTfan

Here is the bicycle of the day...from a rare catalog:

I love the grey smoke paint job and the cool red leather Turbo saddle matches the color well. Kinda like the NISI logo on the disc wheel. Especially love how the bullhorn handlebar is half wrapped in red ....I love the half-wrapped look as it shows off the beauty of the shiny metal too. The frame has a beautiful shape. Pinarello is one of the brands that made a large variety and amount of time trial bicycles ...to the point that I would say it was a specialty for them.

VintageTTfan

I want one of these for my Paletti. It has that oooh lah lah. Bloody well expensive though. I want white ones for my Centurion Turbo Time Trial. White ones are rarer. Aaahh the delicious torture of loving the rare......and not being rich...ha ha. I must be a masochist.




IT'S PUUUURRRTY.

P!N20

One of these (in black) is for sale in Australia at the moment: https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/pasc...ial/1230267240

It's like an Alter stem that grew legs!

VintageTTfan

Here is the Bike of the Day:


And speaking of torture......that is what I am in when I realize how bad I want this. Like the angel that the brand is named after, this is a thing of beauty. Ever since I saw the name Cherubim on a Japanese bicycle I thought it had a certain mystique.....and it does. Where do I begin the rhapsody? Just look at the shape of the frame....it looks like it would cut the air like a knife. And the metallic disc wheels with the incredibly cool font for the brand name are killer. Then there is the solid chain ring.....I am in love with solid chain rings...and they are rare. Those unusual handlebars are way cool. All I can say is---wow.

VintageTTfan

Hey thanks! That is not a bad price and he is willing to negotiate. I am going to pass because I prefer the silver. But someone should jump on it. A really weird one is the Corima Manta which I actually love and want one of. Also bloody expensive. And a bit bulky but on the right bike looks cool. Post any pictures you like of time trial stuff please and thanks for the tip.