Bicycle Collection Thread, yours or others "Embacher"
 

Hello,
Like many of you, I am sitting inside today...I am preparing an architecture lecture for my design class on Monday...teaching architecture online is not an easy task for me because I am Professor Analog...Mr. Fountain Pen and trace. My mind wandered a bit and I found myself surfing the web looking for some interesting bicycle collections and I stumbled across this one.
Embacher is an architect and collector that I am sure many of you are already familiar with (apologies) but for those unfamiliar, I thought I would post a link and perhaps try to start a new thread on "Bicycle Collections".

Velo City ? Visiting the Embacher Collection

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b69c60ffa3.png
Photo from the link provided
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...05c38267f8.png
Afew more:
Ah Joo collection:

Bicycle collection


I don't have a great collection but I am sure many of you may (are you willing to post yours?) or know others that do....perhaps searching the web and sharing what you have found there could be an addition to an otherwise humdrum day.
Anyway, if you are so inclined, please post a pic of your collection or what you have found on the net...I think it's always nice to see/have something to aspire too.
Best, Ben

Well OK. Nobody touched this thread in nearly a year, which is understandable - given the high bar set. But not being a high bar guy....who gives a rat's a__!
Pulled nearly every bike out on the deck for Spring's 'annual evaluation of needed consumables'. So as to look for deals. And touch them all in a single day.

Collection, hmmmm.... what does that mean... to me? ...and for the purpose of clarity, this post is only about lightweight vintage roadies - lugged steel with friction shifting (couple of exceptions).

Years before I bought my first adult road bike in 1985, three buddies from work would loan me their spare bikes for the few rides i would join. Bike variety was part of the appeal, certainly more than the soreness and cramps that followed. After buying a Centurion ProTour in '85, i focused just on riding, for many years. But then a neighbor gave me a bike, a co-worker gave me a nice one..... and it was off to the races. Variety made the same routes, somehow... much different. I got up to 10 bikes I think, but never considered them a 'collection'. Life changed, sold off all the vintage except the AustroDaimler Olympian.

Life changed again and I decided Variety was a constant worth keeping.

Below is my collection of European roadies - originally was supposed to be 1 per country - but Italy got a break, and AustroDaimlers in a large size just suit me. The French Follis072 and Pinarello Cadore are not included, simply because they were the ones deepest in the attic, not worth my effort to retrieve on this day. Countries not included are still in the low-key hunt. An orange Crescent, something from Denmark. Luxembourg, Monaco, Vatican City..... (n+1)

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b4fb80a5e.jpeg
Don’t stack ‘em too close, bad things can happen



Austria
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5468d266b.jpeg
This is the Keeper. Skinny tubular tires, narrow bars. 1981/82 AD Olympian. Decal set and frameset from different years. '81decals/'82frameset
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...104b19bee.jpeg
1983 Vent Noir with plush 28 tubulars. A relatively recent addition. Losing a bit of it’s black chrome finish.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...57b5c3131.jpeg
1981-ish AD Michelle. Thinking wishfully, this was to be the wife’s bike. But she refuses to ride so the saddle is jacked up for me.

Belgium
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c4ed8ac4f.jpeg
1985 Merckx SLX. Either Pro or CorsaExtra depending on which expert I trust. Only bike with a repaint. In 61cm size, a cloudlike cruiser for me.

England
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ccca7ef9c.jpeg
1989 Falcon, 531c, 59cm. This one is racy-feeling. Almost as racy-feeling as the DeRosa. Not sure the grey Benotto Pro ribbon is my favorite on this bike, but 'done-is-done'.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...89450833e.jpeg
1979 Carlton Criterium, 63cm. New addition. A low-end frame, but late Worksop frame i could not resist. (Pulled a tandem wheel to see if 35mmtires fit, should have swapped back for photo but missed that.)

edit: The French Follis - my only barcon shifter (+ the tandem). 46/30 for off-road. Mismatched tubulars were Bike Swap cheapo used cyclocrossers.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ae2296619e.jpg


Germany
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...32e3f7880.jpeg
1959 Hugo Rickert touring. Still unfinished.

Ireland (well, to be honest = rebranded English Holdsworth Special)
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...90e46d01b.jpeg
1980 Harding Special, 531, 58cm. Rebuilt over the Winter with repro Holdsworth crank, longer stem, narrow rando bars, rear derailleur upgrade to NR. Awaiting chain.

The Italians.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1bc30e9e4.jpeg
80s Bianchi, model unknown. Columbus tubeset. Awaiting Mavic components for revision on drivetrain

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...62694123e.jpeg
1972 Bottecchia Giro 'd Italia, SP, 58cm. I think this one has the shortest headtube. About the smallest frame that fits comfortably.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c35f5a20c.jpeg
1986 DeRosa Pro, SLX. 1st gen indexed. Feels like the race bike in the collection (maybe just in my head).
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6cc6a9a41.jpeg
60s Frejus, low end model - but somehow appeals to me. Short toptube disqualified it as a comfortable drop bar bike........
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...be1aa21ef.jpeg
......maybe it will work in condorino mode.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...105181fd7.jpeg
1984 Pinarello Super Record in Arco LA 84 colourway, SL. The only Shimano drivetrain and the lone bike with replacement fork. Short front-center tells me front end crash (note front wheel to downtube spacing) but a Pini fork may help stabilize ultra-quick handling instead of a track fork (I think). Ugly bar wrap was used as this may be the ugly junkyard-dog bike.

edit: 1999 Pinarello Cadore - entry level lugged steel frame was NOS. Late '90s frameset made brifters most appropriate. Not the lightest/most refined ride, but handles like a racer when fitted with nice tubulars. What's the saying.... Better a mediocre frame with great wheels/tires, than a great frame with mediocre wheels/tires. Proved it...again.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b0d95d676f.jpg





The Netherlands

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...27cbc332f.jpeg
1978 Batavus Competition, Ishi022. Campa9 Ergo. The model says Competition, but it feels like an all-rounder, in a good way. Longish stem on a shortish top tube.
The rear tire = the only Grant Petersen thing I own (that can be publicly shown) = a patented SpeedBlend tire.

Spain
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...be0b1ff5a.jpeg
Early 70’s Zeus, 531. The Karma bike. Has seen many Zeus component swaps, but I like it as-is, for now. Almost completely re-Zeus'd.

Switzerland
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...11653d0f2.jpeg
1980 Mondia Super 531SL. Fits like a glove. Rides like a dream. Shown with Schwalbe 30mm tubulars. 531SL fork probably not for 190lb riders, or the newer brake pads.