Bike Forums - Three older photos

Old to me, anyway. Just thought I'd bring them back up for the memories:

Gary Silva (3G Bikes, and the originator of the D'Arienzo-rebadged Bassos) asked me if I could provide him a larger version of one of the photos of my '87 D'Arienzo that I sent him long ago. I ended up thumbing through memory lane looking for the original - I have most of my pre-'08 photos stored on a second computer, and I rarely get a chance to look at them - and I came up with this photo of the Basso, and two others.

First off, the D'Arienzo/Basso:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/87_basso_large.jpg

Pretty much no different then it looks now, with exception to a low-profile Brooks Pro in place of the Selle Royale CX saddle (I don't care how NOS it was or how nice it looks - the sheer reason for their prolonged existence is because they're the biggest @$$-hatchet of a saddle ever contrived). The bike is a dream, however, and is mostly equipped with the original Campagnolo Triomphe S3 group, with exception of a Campagnolo Victory S3 derailer, and a mis-matched pair of wheels. The rear is a Nashbar, while the front is a Benotto HR22 that I pulled out of the woodwork. When I purchased it, the bike came to me with the Nashbar-badged rear wheel (suspiciously similar to a Mavic GP-4/MA-40 clincher), and a nearly identical FIR tubular rim in front. Go figure.

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If you're going to do a black 531 fixie, you might as well do it with style. This was a rattle-canned (and not badly either) '76 Raleigh Gran Sport that had been put through the mill by the former owner. Blue paint had faded to white.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/76gransportfixie.jpg

I didn't intend to part with it, but decided to do so for lack of componentry - original plans were to build it up as an machine in the style of a Raleigh Lenton Sports, with a 4-speed Sturmey drive. My first Campagnolo-equipped machine soon followed this frameset, and the build plans for the 4-speed roadster were scrapped. The frame languished in the shed until I built it up as you see in '07.

I rather fancied the way it turned out, particularly as it was the highest in Raleigh's lineup of that period that still came with stamped drops, hence, no derailer hanger from factory. No need to fear some future owner ever whacking it off, had it a proper forged drop with the built in hanger.

It also rode beautifully - I have since yet to ride a fixed enjoyed any other fixie more then this one. Then again, I've never had the opportunity to ride a proper track machine either - this was the only 531 fixed-gear I've been on.

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Rounding it all out is my unmistakable favorite of the lot (those of you who know me will find it as no surprise) - the '61 Paramount in full '40s-esqe English touring mode. It just looks happy that way. Looks as if it should be overlooking the English countryside, in fact. Always thought the Paramounts had an uncanny English geometry to them, especially in the fork rake.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/paramount_61_groupride.jpg

She looked a lot better with the polished Araya rims then the dark anodized Mavic MA-4's w/Phil hubs (and those IRC tires looked new at one time!). Granted, these particular Araya rims were junk, but they did their time with little bother. Come to think of it, the Paramount has had numerous small modifications (most notably, about 3 different front chainring configurations) since this photo. It's the only bike I've ever bothered to tinker with until reaching absolute perfection in ride quality to my personal liking. The others in the fleet are perfect - mechanically - as well, but none of them have been "personalized" quite like the '61 Paramount.

The photo was taken on the very first Coral Gables C&V Roadbike Ride - the most successful of the short-lived series. The big Schwinn bag on the Paramount was full of spare tubes and a rather decent assortment of tools that day, just in case of any mechanical mishap in the group. Come to think of it, I did not have any tubular glue on hand. Not good.

-Kurt