Palo Alto build and maiden voyage
 

I had the Palo Alto pretty much finished mid-week (I haven't taped the bars yet, as I'm still trying to find out if the stem is too long or not), but between work, weather, and family this Saturday was the first time I was able to take it out for a shakedown cruise. I'd been a round the block once or twice to check basic functionality, but Saturday I loaded up the seat pack and a water bottle and hit the street for a real ride.

The short story - 26 miles, 15.5mph average, 36mph top speed, and 1200' of climbing. I didn't want to wring it out too hard, but I needed to get an idea of how the bike ran.

It was an overcast day, and rain threatened throughout. I had a couple of drops hit me toward the end, but the skies didn't open up until I was safe at home for a couple of hours.

The long story - the bike rides nice. I had problems with the seat post slipping, but I got that addressed in short order. The Campy 10 speed is smooth and precise, even at the lowly Veloce level. It is a bit different than the familiar Shimano Ultegra, but the "up-shift all at once" is a real nice feature. Very handy. Climbing is still climbing - no real improvement there :D , but the bike is quick and fairly lively. It corners well, and goes downhill with great stability and efficiently. It carries the flats smoothly and almost effortlessly, and even at just shy of 22lbs is easy to spin on for extended periods of time. It may be my imagination, but this bike seems to have a higher BB than usual. And the 130mm stem makes the steering feel a lot different than I'm used to - seems almost too responsive. After the ride I had a suggestion of lower back soreness, so I may swap out the 130mm for a 110mm before taping the bars. We'll see. The Chorus hub/DT Swiss R.1 wheel combo spins smooth and fast, and the high-pitched hum from the Chorus pawls during coasting time is a pleasant, almost musical sound.

Not great pics, but enough for you to get the idea. The bike is a dazzler in sunlight. The candy red metal flake makes your eyeballs ache it is so vivid, and all that shiny alloy is something to see.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t...to_built_1.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t...o_built_10.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t...to_built_9.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t...to_built_6.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t...to_built_5.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t...to_built_2.jpg

Sharp looking ride, going with white bar tape to match the saddle and pedals?

Were you ever able to date it? I just happened to stumble across some 1984 ads for the Palo Alto frames. They are similar to yours but not identical in that they have eyelets on the rear dropouts, a chromed fork chrome, no bottle bosses, derailleur cables routed above the bottom bracket and triangular cutouts on the side of the head lugs. In my opinion, all these features point to a model slighter older than yours. FWIW, advertised price for the frames was $325 US.

That's the plan. I'm waiting to see just how comfortable that ass-hatchet is gonna be - I've not had good experiences with Selle Italia saddles, except for the el-cheapo Selle Viper that came on my new Giant. That Viper saddle is wonderful, and I have thousands of miles on it.


Nope - never did nail it down. I tried emailing the bike shop, but their mailbox has been full and rejecting new mail for a month. I did not call - keep forgetting to. A lot of knowledgeable folks that I've talked to around here think it is no later than mid/late 80's. The rear triangle is 129mm, so it was either made that way (which suggests at least late 80's), or it was spread at a later date.

Mine, as you noted, has no eyelets, two sets of bottle bosses, and "under the BB" cable routing. Lug work is rather plain but well done.

I'll just call it 1987 and move on..... :D

Sure turned out nice, Bossman. I rode with a 130 stem on my Cinelli when I used to do time trials. I've since switched back to a 110 for normal riding. I agree that a 130 makes the steering too fast.

That sure is a beauty. The frame by itself was nice when I saw it in person but seeing it built up, WOW! It sure is going to turn some heads. That's also a nice looking bike stand and Earth Day appropriate.

Beautiful build bossman. Got to love the combination of high quality steel and modern campagnolo. Such cycling enjoyment.

Great work on it bigbossman. It looks beautiful. A photo op for it in front of the Palo Alto shop may be in order.

If you decide you do not want the Flite I'd be happy to buy it or trade for vintage parts. That's all I ride on my modern bike and like the smooth no logo one like you have there. PM me if it's up for grabs. Thanks, Otis

I am still waiting for the photo op pictures of you, with bike, in front of the shop.

Colour coordinated, of course.

Gives me yet another reason to come down and visit all the Bay Area folks one of these days. I have to see that in person! I actually thought I'd put in my two cents before, but I think now I must have kept getting diverted because every time I look at the bike, I get absorbed in that beautiful red colour. It must truly glow like fire under a bright sun. Truly spectacular, bigbossman!

East Hill

That's better.....>HRUMFFF<

Well, I probably won't get down to the shop, but I do have a color coordinated kit. You might regret having seen me in it, though..... :eek:

Update on the build - I have another, shorter 110mm Cinelli stem that I'm going to swap in for the 130mm that's on it now. Then I can tape the bars and call it complete.

I've about 100 miles on it so far. It rides very smoothly indeed, and the bike handles marvelously. I love the DT Swiss r1.1/Chorus wheelset - very smooth, good performers with the Michelin Pro Race 2's.

The Campy 10sp drive-train is Da Bomb.... I'm probably going to give up on DT friction altogether now, except for my "collectible" bikes that I'll ride now and then for show. Sorry, but IMO it's just way too much better on a long ride, and I cannot ignore that fact any longer.

I built this bike to test my thesis that a quality vintage steel frame mated with a modern drive-train would be a perfect marriage - the best of both world. That has been proved to my satisfaction, although I gotta tell you that my modern CF bike is just as nice (if not nicer) to ride for distance. Different feel to be sure, but I'd be hard pressed to pick between the two for a "main" ride.

Nah, we're tough here.

But the metallic red paint wins every time :p .

And the saddle?

East Hill

Actually, the metallic red paint is stunning in person. The pics I posted were taken on a very cloudy day, so there was no direct sunlight and it looks rather ordinary. In the sun it is spectacular. I plan to post some proper photos when I'm all done with the stem swap and tape.

BTW - the gray tires are history - I tore out a sidewall on the rear during yesterday's lunchtime ride. Now I either have to pony up for replacements, or else use what I have on hand. Hmmm......

The saddle? Meh - the jury's still out. Otis, I haven't forgotten you, but I'm still trying to decide whether to keep it or not - it almost a style over function sort of thing. It seems to ride well enough, but the longest ride so far has been just shy of 20 miles - hardly long enough to evaluate properly. But, it looks great on the bike, and will look very nice with matching tape (besides, I have nothing better at the moment).