The Eddie Merckx thread got me to thinking,
how many of us have bikes with provenance (authenticated)?
Bikes that were team bikes, bikes used for training etc.?

My Pogliaghi track bike was owned and ridden by Eddie Salas, Aussie pro
who still rides (masters?) and rode in the Olympics.
I've traded some email with him about the bike he said the
repaint looks the same as when he took delivery of the bike early 84.

So, what you got?

Marty

Perhaps doesn't fit in C&V, but I have a Hot Tubes, that was built for Frank McCormack in 1996. It's a strange half tigged half lugged columbus el-os with steep angles. His name was painted on the right seat-stay, but unfortunately a couple years of riding took care of that.

It used to look like this:

Hopefully it will be back on/off the road soon with a new coat of paint, silver campy 9 speed and other stuff.

I like this thread, I wanna see some number hangers instead of pump pegs.

My 1963 Hetchins Magnum Bonum had script on the toptube with the name of the original owner and his bike club. I have a photo of the second owner racing it in a two-up time trial in Britain. I'm the third owner, and I restored it to original two color paint scheme including the script for owner and bike club, plus some extras (chromed fork crown, seat tube panels, pained head tube). See https://www.peterbrueggeman.com/cr/magnumbonum.htm including a link to the photo. .... Peter

I got nothing.

But I know a guy who has one of Olimpio Bizzi's Bianchi team bikes. He sent me a picture, I hope he doesn't get mad that I posted it below.

I always love researching my bikes historys and make sure I have written provenance if the bikes are interesting.
My biggest scoop perhaps was tracing a Mk3 Moulton that I bought at a cyclejumble from a vicar who had been told that it was the personal property of the legendary Jack Lauterwasser, who was a 1928 Olympic medallist and built the Lauterweight racing bikes and is known for the Lauterwasser handlebars shape.
He worked for Alex Moulton from 1965 overseeing the S work bikes limited production line.
By phone, net and letters I was able to talk to all the previous owners, step by step, and eventually received an 8 page handwritten letter from the guy who bought the machine from Jack in 1985 with a photo of the bike as proof!

It may not be as easy in the states but I recommend the process, get it in writing before it is forgotten history!



I am still searching for a pic of Jack with the bike and I am sure I will find one !

Well, not exactly famous provenance, but I bought my 1949 Raleigh Clubman from a guy who inherited it from his father, who, in turn, was given the bike in 1950 to repay a debt owed by a customer of his pharmacy in Milwaukee, WI.

My 1950 Raleigh Clubman was sold to me by the original owner, who bought it when he worked for the summer at Raleigh's USA headquarters in Boston. I love the idea of him commuting each day on that Clubman some 57 years ago.

Neal

I have a 1939 Raleigh Gazelle (ladies) three speed. It was ridden by Mary Poppins.

I have a few bikes with provenance, not all "fancy".

1938 CCM "Flyer" Six Day Bike ( I have a photo of the owner with it from 1947)

1948 Ernie Clements Clubman that I bought from the original owners son.

1974 Teledyne Titanium TRACK (1 of 2) that belonged to Canadian Cycling Legend Jocelyn Lovell. You can see him in action here https://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=14236

1986 Serotta built "Murray" . Probably a team bike as it had a number tab and only weighs 1720 gms. for the frame! I am trying to find out who it was built for but Serotta doesn't have any info they could find...


1989 Cyclops Track that was built for Canadian Olympian Kurt Innes. I have e-mailed Kurt and he said that it is built from 753 and was his point/sprints/practice bike (He raced pursuit/TT) and that he raced/rode it all over the world leading up to the Worlds and Olympics in 1990(?)

I don't really have any bikes with known provenance, except for the 1942 Columbia Sports Tourist that was used as a rental bike by Von Der Linden's Sporting Goods in Poughkeepsie NY during WWII, and then languished for several decades, until somebody needed its New Departure coaster brake for some other bike and sold the rest to me. I was never used enough to wear out it's War Tires, but at some point had it's head set replaced, steerer tube is still ever so slightly bent (oddly not bent backwards, but bent slightly sideways - hit by a car maybe?)

I was able to find out the history of my Merckx track bike by emailing the Merckx workshop. It was built for the 1981 NYC Bike Show and signed by Merckx at the request of the distributor:

https://velospace.org/node/610

Don't know whether that's a blessing or a curse. If it were mine, it would discourage me from riding what certainly must be an excellent riding bicycle.

I need to take some decent pics of the Eddy.

My Windsor was the ride of a local club racer in the 70's - 80's, named Dean.
I bought the bike from him when he was thinning out the clutter.

my carlton flyer was a training bike for a british olympian in the 40s. (or so i was told)

if you click the stan miles link in my signature i have a lot of information about the provenance of that bike, too. it was a bit of a mystery to who built it (ended up being by bill hurlow!)

I have two bicycles ridden to National titles and one ridden in a World's Championship. Also, currently with a local museum, is a bicycle that was used to carry the Olympic torch.

:thumbs^:

Did you get to be the rider in that instance, T-Mar?

East Hill

I would much rather be riding a bike in Provence.

Authenticating histroy on a bike is fraught with problems, just as an example ther were TWO Merckx hour record bikes, one used in the attempt the other not, they still exist, but is the one on display in the Merckx subway station the real one or the one Colnago still has?

Who is Eddie? Maybe related to Faliberto Maasi?

I have the original invoice for my '68 Cinelli SC, purchased from Spence Wolf's Cupertino Bike Shop.
I also own a Raleigh Team Pro frame that was built for Ti Raleigh rider Frank Hoste. The provenance on that one isn't air-tight, but the serial number and rider initials on the BB mirror those on other, documented team bikes.