Pipebomb

So I just picked up a old Carabela frame seems to be in good shape(I rode it home), It comes with campy
valentino derailer in rear and campy front. I know its made in Mexico.The hubs seem to be generic but it rides like a dream so im happy. Any info you guys could give would be most amazing. Also got and (80's?) Alpine roadie full shimano Ive done a good bit of searching on this bike and come up with nothing all I know is thats its american made. Again I know if anyone can help me its you guys thank in advance.

ollo_ollo

Georgetown Cyclery of Washington DC had a road bike built to their specs back in the mid/late 70s. It had "ALPINE" decals on the down tube. A few of these frames (less than 30) were built by Eisentraut. I had one for a while but traded it away. Mine was built up with the early, ornate Shimano 600 components. The business is long gone. I believe there was also a Japanese bike named "ALPINE" made in the 80s but it was more of an entry level bicycle. Don

ollo_ollo

I found some pics, does yours look anything like this? (forget the bars, most would have had drop bars)

Pipebomb

Yeah the frame looks familiar but mine is set up as a racer style. Also I forgot to say it says Alpine cycle group not just Alpine. I just put some wheels on it and went for a nice ride today, its real fast. Thanks for the input I feel its worth the 10$ invested so far!

unworthy1

Carabela is a product of AcerMex, a big manufacturing concern in Mexico and mostly known for the Windsor line of bikes in the '70s to early '80s. The Carabela is less likely to show up here in the US, but the one that I saw "in person" was virtually identical to the Windsor Pro (Profesional, one "s" Spanish spelling) except for the decals (stickers). It was even the typical silver paint with chrome lugs that most of the Windsor Pros you see here are painted. Windsor also offered a cheaper Carerra Sport (gaspipe and HEAVY) and the slighty lighter Carrera Semi-Pro (or something, I can't remeber, but it sounded higher class) that was still made from heavier tubing but had a better gruppo..maybe your Carabela is in this league. The pro was built from Columbus SL and mimic-ed a Cinelli down to the 3-holes drilled in the chrome lugs and the fastback seat cluster...but it was NOT a Cinelli and didn't have a Cinelli sloping crown fork or the 26.4mm seatpost a Cinelli from the same years would have. Acermex also sold Mopeds and small motorbikes labelled Carabela. The Raysport (house brand of a US shop) was built in Mexico and *might* be an Acermex product, it's made from Reynolds 531, not Columbus, word has it it's a pretty nicely made product, as is the Pro, just not up to the same standard as a 'Nelli.

luker

look, if you have a bike built by Eisentraut, or any american builder, for that matter, you gotta let us see a few pictures. fair is only fair. like...Eisentraut is one of the ultimate bikes for those of us that like vintage steel.

ollo_ollo

Ok luker, here's a few more: I should have taken more pictures. The only decals on the bike were the "ALPINE" on the downtube and a small "EISENTRAUT::OAKLAND" circling the seat tube. No badge or decal on the headtube. This bike was a 45cm & the oldtimer I got it from had it built up for his wife by Bill Stevenson(local builder). She never rode it much & it spent the years in his basement. I was saving it for my grandaughter but when she outgrew it, I traded it for a Specialized Expedition Touring that was more my size. Don

Pipebomb

Man I dont have a digital camera or otherwise I would be showinbg it off like crazy!! It is the sweetest ride ive ever had for real.

Ballenxj

Carabela? Just picked one up, along with a Japanese Schwinn. Photos to follow if there is any interest. Second old thread woke up today, sorry, but my search for Carabela lead here.

unworthy1

then you should do yourself a favor and use the search tool for some more info. That post I posted in 2005 has "mostly" correct info but not 100% and there will be several other threads on Carabela/AcerMex/Windsor here that fill in the gaps.

Ballenxj

Thanks, I will.