Olympia Sport
Me and my big mouth.
Five years ago on this forum I mentioned I would like an Olympia Sport, and this being BF C&V it was only a matter of time before someone would call me out. In this case it was @alexnagui, whom not only remembered my remark, but also my preferred size, and directed me to one that was for sale. I could have protested that it wasn't black, but there was really no way out. So here it is, in all its gunky glory. As bought: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...644a504e64.jpg Olympia Sport was the house brand of Rein Ruitenbeek's bike shop in Hilversum: https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6930f549bf.jpg As far as I know Ruitenbeek didn't build the frames and never divulged where he got them, other than "in Amsterdam". In those days - we're talking mid to late seventies here, I think - many bike shops had their own brands and most got their frames from Belgian manufacturers. In this case, however, the frame has a typical Dutch touch: an ESGE mounting plate where most bikes like this would have had the ubiquitous cylindrical brake bridge. The only other bike of this quality level that I know of that also has this feature is the Gazelle Champion Mondial semi-race model. Ugly but practical: https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fa0fa27522.jpg The bars are later additions - the seller apologized for not having the original bars anymore - but the rest of the parts may well be original. An interesting selection of decent stuff. Dura-Ace brakes: https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bbda33772b.jpg SunTour Cyclone derailleurs and shift levers: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2471ce8ec5.jpg Tange Levin headset: https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0848d9ea15.jpg And SR Royal cranks and seatpost: https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...303f48c648.jpg The bottom bracket is a Campagnolo item, as are the dropouts and fork ends. There is a serial number on the bottom bracket shell, which looks like 560?20. I can't quite make out the fourth digit. It looks like a mirrored 'P': https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...25c431466c.jpg I've disassembled the bike last night and other than a lot of scratches and some surface rust the frame seems to be in decent shape. Seat tube is 63 cm CT, the top tube 60 cm CC. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...630bc6e5d2.jpg So far I'm pretty happy with it. Thanks, Alex! :thumb: |
Cool, congrats! Glad that it worked out and you got the bike! I hope it rides well:) It's a saved search for me on Marktplaats even though that I don't really need another one. I still haven't done anything with this frameset but one day I will! And last year, I bought another Olympia Sport :eek: which I never posted here and currently have no pictures of. Another project... :innocent:
Could the serial number be 560720? Could it refer to '72 in this case? I don't think I've ever seen those Reynolds 531 forks decals, by the way.. |
I've been wondering when they switched to the new style of the head badge. The older one looks like the one in the picture.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...07b1c3ae7d.jpg From https://balhoofdplaatje.jimdofree.com/ |
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...is it only me or has anyone else noticed that every time an interesting vintage machine comes up in non-fixie's area it is "just his size"...or that of mrs. non-fixie ;) learned yet another marque polderese. when saw the header was expecting a machine which hailed from the NE corner o' Italia... ----- |
Originally Posted by alexnagui
(Post 21723160)
(...)
Could the serial number be 560720? Could it refer to '72 in this case? I don't think I've ever seen those Reynolds 531 forks decals, by the way.. I don't know which - if any - of the decals are original. The seatpost measures 27.2mm and the "nail test" provided a nice musical sound, so I am fairly confident that it is indeed a Reynolds double-butted 531 frame. The seat tube decal is from the post-1973 period, the fork decals resemble the earlier series. Although I have yet to find another example sporting the quotes around the 531 number. The frame also wears an early Dura-Ace decal -seen here under the pump umbrella, which seems to jibe with the Dura-Ace brakes. These have a a "ZJ" date code, suggesting October 1975. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...709d6431b8.jpg There is also this decal, which I haven't been able to identify yet either. It reads "SUPERB" (note the absence of an "E" at the end) and below that in a smaller font "FOR THE DISCRIMINATING". Anyone recognize this? https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fc7b14111c.jpg The SunTour derailleurs both have an "RK" date code, meaning November 1975. From what I've read on these bikes so far, a mix of SunTour and Shimano parts would not have been uncommon. Perhaps other owners can shed some light on this? @nishikiroadace also has one, if I'm not mistaken. Anyway, my guesstimate would be that this bike was put together sometime in 1976. As for the serial number decoding, I can only guess. The first digit may be the "5" of 1975 or maybe this was the fifth frame to be built on the 20th of July 1976? Or finished at five o'clock on that day? :) |
Originally Posted by juvela
(Post 21723233)
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...is it only me or has anyone else noticed that every time an interesting vintage machine comes up in non-fixie's area it is "just his size"...or that of mrs. non-fixie ;) (...) ----- |
Aha! Found it! Probably came with the derailleurs in a box like this:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b31de88b8e.jpg |
Originally Posted by alexnagui
(Post 21723160)
I don't think I've ever seen those Reynolds 531 forks decals, by the way..
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Originally Posted by nishikiroadace
(Post 21724411)
The decal has been used by Ruitenbeek for a long time, probably left over. These were used up until 1971, but my '78ish has the same fork decals. The other 2 also, one is a '75ish (parts) and unknow age.
Do you think Ruitenbeek applied those decals? I would have thought they would have come with the tubing, from the frame builder, and would have been applied by the painter. Oh, and I'd really be interested in the serial numbers on your frames. |
Originally Posted by non-fixie
(Post 21724742)
Thank you for responding. Much appreciated! :thumb:
>>Do you think Ruitenbeek applied those decals? I only have a serial on the '78, which starts with WZ 8..... I'll see if I have some pictures, lost most of them. |
Originally Posted by non-fixie
(Post 21724742)
Thank you for responding. Much appreciated! :thumb:
Oh, and I'd really be interested in the serial numbers on your frames. Actually, I have the idea it could well be '81. Derailleurs say '78, but I think the brakes, CB-4700 Superbe Pro, were first seen in '79. Frame has cable guides and it does have welded Campa cableguides for shifter cables. |
Thanks again, @nishikiroadace! That is a mighty big serial number for such a bike. Too big to be non-significant.
Saw your remark about the Bellamystraat. Was there a paint shop there? |
81.04.29 #3 makes sense. What or who is WZ? Builder? Client?
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https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...03a73ba6cf.jpg
The 1975 Olympia Sport. Shimano and CLB handles and Mafac Racer brakes. SR super light stem and seatpost |
Originally Posted by non-fixie
(Post 21727156)
81.04.29 #3 makes sense. What or who is WZ? Builder? Client?
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That is a beautiful bike. Thanks for posting it.
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https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...564e8dce98.jpg
sorry for the blue tyres 😁 |
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Originally Posted by nishikiroadace
(Post 21727162)
sorry for the blue tyres 😁
BTW, found Centrix. And they seem to have worked for Wim Zoon. |
Saw your remark about the Bellamystraat. Was there a paint shop there? |
Here is another Olympia Sport I bought last year in as found condition.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...56e359a3b0.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...00924e89ae.jpg The bike has been repainted, possibly with a brush, so no decals. The original color is to be seen here and there and seems to be red. The fork is a replacement. I couldn't find any serial number whatsoever, maybe I just couldn't see it under the paint. It came with Suntour derailleurs and shifters, Suntour Perfect freewheel, Campagnolo cranks with SR chainrings, SR SP-150 pedals, Campagnolo high flange hubs laced to Mavic Module E2 rims, SR 27.2mm seatpost, Tange headset, Mafac Competition brakes with Mafac (Course?) levers, Cinelli stem and bars. The DS crank has no markings, the NDS crank is marked with "11" in a square which means 1985. Components could have been changed throughout the years, it's hard to say what's original anymore... |
Nice find! Even with the replacement fork. Early seventies at the latest, I would think. Looking forward to seeing that cleaned up. For some incomprehensible reason I like that paint job. :)
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Thanks, I like the paintjob as well! I think it's better to live it as it is, it's part of the bike's history now.
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As I was cleaning the seatpost that came with the bike tonight, I noticed a couple of marks: "27.0" and "75 8". Ties in neatly with the rest.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8bff8e09df.jpg |
Originally Posted by alexnagui
(Post 21728790)
Here is another Olympia Sport I bought last year in as found condition.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...56e359a3b0.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...00924e89ae.jpg The bike has been repainted, possibly with a brush, so no decals. The original color is to be seen here and there and seems to be red. The fork is a replacement. I couldn't find any serial number whatsoever, maybe I just couldn't see it under the paint. It came with Suntour derailleurs and shifters, Suntour Perfect freewheel, Campagnolo cranks with SR chainrings, SR SP-150 pedals, Campagnolo high flange hubs laced to Mavic Module E2 rims, SR 27.2mm seatpost, Tange headset, Mafac Competition brakes with Mafac (Course?) levers, Cinelli stem and bars. The DS crank has no markings, the NDS crank is marked with "11" in a square which means 1985. Components could have been changed throughout the years, it's hard to say what's original anymore... looks like good fun! :thumb: suspect blades of replacement fork (TANGE Mangaloy?) longer than those of OEM fork. note how the cycle sits at a slight up-bubble in relation to the brickwork in the background. note how brake pads of front caliper must be at the very bottom of the travel in order to reach. you might be able to get rid of some of the up-bubble by deepening the axle slots in the fork ends... ----- |
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