For some strange reasons I buy parts bikes that look like they should be thrown in the trash, then decide "that'll be fun to bring back to life"

I picked up a mid 70's Windsor Pro (S/N 3612) which I think will put it at 75/76 timeframe. It was a basket case but the frame wasn't dented and the price was right. I was going to pay him $100 (his asking price) and he talked me down to $0, plus he threw in another bike that I donated on the way home to the Silicon Valley Bike Exchange.

I'm now to the build portion (need to finish in October for "Show me your Orange Bikes") I'm at a point where I am hoping to get some details/help.

The bike came with a 27.0 Seat post, 27" wheels (Record Hubs) with 6 speed. The spacing is ~124mm. From what I can determine it should be 27.2, 700c and 5 speed. Since this thing was so odd of a Frankenbuild I'm not planning to replicate what I found, but was also wanting to confirm with those "in the know" if they think either the 27.0 or the 27" wheels could have belonged.

Here's the current state. There's also a really small Geurciotti that photo bombed me when I was taking the shot of the Windsor.

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thank you for sharing this project - looks like fine work you are doing there

wrt wheel size -

oem tyres were tubs so that means oem wheels were 700's

there should be 52mm brake centres with 700 wheels in place

for date given would expect 120mm rear spacing and 5V gear block

shall look forward to following along as you move to the build...


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What’s that stuff on the floor...?!?!?

(I mean space)

As a complete bike the front derailleur cage looks rotated up.
usually with a Campagnolo mech the outboard cage matches the big ring pretty faithfully.

.
...it's quite possible that 27.0 is the correct seat post size for your frame.
...as I recall, of the two I've owned, one was reamed out to 27.2, and one was a 27.0 seat tube.

Had a customer bring a Windsor Profesional into my shop to check if the frame was straight. The paint was the same gray color yours was, and like yours, peeling off in sheets. Nice to see your example get a quality repaint. Looks great!

Would you please post a photo of the underside of the BB shell? Does it feature drain holes? Any other shots of frame details would be appreciated as well.

The seatpost would have been 26.8 stock. As previously noted, the rear spacing would have been 120 mm, and wheels 700c.

Here's a page from Bikeology's 1976 Catalog featuring the Windsor Pro:



And here's another 1976 Catalog page grabbed off eBay today:



Think yours is earlier, but won't know until you post more photos.

Does your steerer tube feature striations or "rifling?" Dropouts Campagnolo?

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tip forgot to mention -

there was a batch of these which came through about 1973-74 where all the bottom bracket shell interiors were heavily rusted - brand new bicycles straight out of the box

since you have already completed the refinish of the frame you would have checked this during preparation

a good argument for a Framesaver treatment nonetheless...

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orange colour in photo appears more red than the OEM orange

this may be due to lighting or photo effect ( or me auld peepers )


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correction -

since brochure posted above shows cycle as coming with Fratelli Pietra model 68 arrestors would expect brake centres to be 47.5 bow and 56.5 stern


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I have a set of Sheeren's on HF Record hubs with a 5sp DA freewheel that will fit the bill. They're going on.

I did do the frame saver. Since I had seen there was a batch with an issue, I also inspected before I moved forward.

The shell has the drilled hole in a circle pattern along with a larger hole in the center.

I know at least one of the two bikes I just painted have the rifling. I'll check this when I get back to the build after lunch.

I'll also post more pictures.

Thanks. I'm pretty happy with how the paint turned out. It was my first time with chrome lugs that had to be taped off. I'd call it a really good 3 footer, but there are some things that I'm not happy with, but that I wasn't going to restrain and repaint for.

Thanks. As I was working on it I really didn't think the 27.2 would fit. The 27.0 was really beat up. When I saw some of the responses I decided that committing to the 27.0 was the best choice. Polished it to remove all the zig-zags from above the min-insertion and it's now on the frame sporting an Ideale saddle (may go with a Brooks Pro later).

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whoever composed this text must have flunked geography in school - ALL of Mexico is to be found squarely within the confines of the northern hemisphere...


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We all know that marketing guys never let the facts get in the way of a good message.

Awesome project. Did the chrome stand up or did you need to get it re-done?
PM me if you need period-correct front and rear derailleurs. I've got some in great shape.

The chrome was "acceptable" to me. Definitely not great, but polished up enough.

I believe I have everything I need to get it close. I'm planning on a NR build and I have everything except for the DT Shifter for NR, but I have a set of Gran Sport that I really like.

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if the Scheeren wheel rims on the planned use wheels are Weltmeister I hope you are a featherweight person

"robust" is not a term which fits them

a forum poster hath writ they were actually produced in Weinmann's Belgium facility - have no hard information on that one


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Mine was 26.8 and the frame set was a bit heavier than I might have guessed.

It's coming together. The bar tape will change when I get the cockpit finalized. Cables and hoods are on the way. I'm going with black cable housing and hoods. I'm letting the clear coat set for another week before I attach anything that clamps to the frame. I was also able to get another coat of paint on the Geurciotti that insists on photo bombing me.

They are Scheeren Standards (which according to velobase are the ones from West Germany). I'm not a featherweight (180ish) but I rode on these for 500-1000 miles on when I first got them (on a 71 Bob Jackson) and I really liked them and they stayed true. I didn't want to put clinchers on it for the original build, I wanted my first impression to be a good as possible (my best 5 speed wheels and tubulars). These will be temporary until I build up another set of 5 speed tubular wheels. I have about 3-4 sets of wheels in my queue to build up. Just need time and spokes.

I bought a '79 Windsor Pro new and still have it. Seat post is 26.8mm. This was a long time ago, but as I remember it had 27 inch wheels on it, 5 speed. I ran tubulars for the first few years (I think 700c sewups fit 27 inch rims????..long time ago). I do remember replacing the wheels with clincher rims and the bike shop owner asked if I want to switch over to 700c..and I did so. I still have the original tubular rims/wheelset hanging in the garage with a set of sewups mounted on them from...1982ish.

I had my bike painted and all the Campy stuff anodized black 3-4 years after I bought it. Never cared for silver paint/color. A friend bought an orange one..that was nice looking. I paid $600 out the door. Still have the receipt.

oh..and good on the OP for restoring this one. It's and excellent riding bike. I rode mine exclusively for over 35 years until I got hooked on the newer STI shifters and found it hard to continue using friction shifters on the downtube. I don't want to update it with new components. Mine is still in perfect riding condition and I take it out now and then. Wonderful bike.

[MENTION=431789]fishboat[/MENTION] can you check the S/N on your bike? I'm trying to continue to narrow down the year on mine.