Yes, mine has already been repainted. I don't remember exactly when, but about 30 years ago after I added some braze-ons. The "LBS" was Bikecology in LA, and I bought the frame via mailorder from them in 1976. They have not been able to help me. As I recall it originally was light grey, had Ron Cooper on the downtube, but I don't remember if it had a headtube badge, since it is a 19" frame and the headtube is very small. I was really hoping to just buy some decals. Anyway, thanks for your help.

Hi Cooper Fanatics,

I'm attaching a few pics of my Cooper. I have always liked his bikes--ever since I sold them in a bike shop when I was in high school! I purchased this one from my friend Greg in the SF Bay Area.

I hope you like this RC as much as me.

Stevie

Beautiful cooper! Mine arrived last week and I love it. Smooth riding. It's a 77 with cyclone dr and some other period correct stuff. I'm thinking about pulling all the vintage parts and building it up with modern parts to ride around for a bit. Give me some time to polish up all the old bits and pieces.

Awaiting strip down and powder coat, rescued from police stolen prop' sale. Frame no. 238**********? Covered in grey emulsion with original silver below. Shimano 105 rear mech gone smashed in to spokes, frame has been tracked now square, mech hanger straightened out okay. Hubs campag, brakes Galli, bar/stem Cinelli, pedals MKS. Mavic Ma2. Front mech and levers 105. Can't lower the stem despite loosening the allen bolt quill. Maybe need to loosen nuts? Nuts badly turned by a wrench? Need colour suggestion for frame and fork (single colours only) and where to order fresh Ron decals.


London based.

ta.

Do you know that you need to tap down the stem bolt after loosening it to drive the spreader cone out of the stem? If you find a source for the headbadge decal please let me know. I'm skeptical about powder coating valued vintage frames, but perhaps that is a baseless prejudice. Enjoy the bike!

Thanks, I'll check the stem. As for painting maybe a regular spray job would look better.

The crank is marked 'Aerox' not sure about the front rings. Six speed at the back. Might be room for another cog?

Not sure if these had a head-badge or not. Have you seen one?

Having problems finding a 118bcd 48t chainring for the SR 170mm Aerox crank.

She's a rolling wreck now though with the rear tri' tracking and the rear mech hangar strainginted out.

Brakes moving, 105 front mech binned and RD6500 ultegra in its place.

Galli brakes are a bit tired, the springs have lost all chrome and are rusty.

They appear to be Galli supersports.

See here

https://velobase.com/ViewSingleCompon...57c73&Enum=118

Levers are early 105.

Six speed block is going soon, got and near identical one for pennies with nice new cogs, may take a seven speed instead one day.

Rear wheel needs a new spoke, both rims need truing.

Frame will probably powder coated and perhaps sprayed on top. Not sure.

Ugly seatpost has got to go and Selle saddle will go for a Brooks leather and leather bar tape = $$$$$$.

That cable guide needs to be tightened before it removes any more paint.

I got braze ons guides on mine. Nice work too.

Gonna look for a Brooks saddle tomorrow.

Thanks!

I have a cooper frame I want to build up and in the name of using period appropriate components, wondered if anyone had a sense of the dating based on serial numbers. My serial number is 289. Here are a few picts.

I bought mine in May, 1976 and its S/N is 231. I don't know when it was built, since I bought it off-the-rack, and I don't know how many frames Ron Cooper made per year. Perhaps we can bracket it with inputs from others in this thread.

Add another Ron Cooper to the thread. I recently received this bike from an old friend I grew up with in San Jose. We got into riding back in 1973 when we were in Jr HS. Three of us bought Motobecane Gran Tourings in 1974 and his was later stolen a couple years later. To replace it - he decided to go with a Ron Cooper and we specified all the parts to make what we believed would be the ultimate sport touring bike. I believe the bike was originally built in 1977 or so - don't remember the exact year. He had a tumble on it in 1989 and it's been sitting idle ever since. We recently reconnected and he offered the bike to me for the cost of shipping it! I was ecstatic as I remembered the bike fondly.

I plan on a full restoration to bring it as it was back then. After getting it last weekend - doing a quick cleaning and dis assembly - I was amazed at what excellent shape all the components were in. Here's a list of the parts as best as I can tell.

Starting at the front:

Edco Competition Headset - races look to be in very good condition
Cinelli Stem and Campione DelMondo Bars (old style stamping) - Stem is 90cm and bars 40 cm - both in oustanding shape
Campagnolo downtube shifters - no braze ons
Stronglight 105 BIS Crankset - 38x52
Stronglight Competition BB - sealed and I believe has the Ti axle - it's still VERY smooth
Phil Wood hubs mated to 27' MA-2 rims with DT spokes. Wheels are true but need a bit of a touch up. Rear hub a bit rough - but front is very smooth
Specialized Touring II 27x1/18th tires
Regina Extra Oro freewheel - 13-26 5 speed. Sounds rough - not sure if it is going to be rebuildable or not
Phil Wood CHP pedals - not shown in picture - but they came with the bike. One has a slightly bent corner but looks to be easily repairable
Campagnolo Nuovo Record Front and Rear Derailleurs
Campagnolo Record brakes and levers. Levers have Modolo anatomic hoods.
Avocet Touring II saddle and Avocet Seatpost

Serial number is rusty so it's hard to read right now - should be able to read it once the frame is cleaned up. As you can see in the pics - i've stripped it down and will now be looking at getting a respray and hopefully getting all the decals redone. Right now - only the chain (and possibly the freewheel) will need to be replaced. I might replace some smaller parts here and there that I can't get all the rust off.

This bike means an awful lot to me and I can't wait to restore it to it's original glory and use it as my commuter.

All Ron Cooper Photos here

joe - It looks like we ride the same bike... I would not consider mine to be a commuter as I have lesser bikes for that purpose.

joe - Seeing the differences here now...

Just noticed that your front cable guide appears to be brazed on, you have eyelets in the rear, slacker frame angles, and longer rear stays.

My Cooper is an insanely nice ride and it's a racing frame... your bike must have a ride that is of the hook.

I know that when the bike was built - we were more into sport touring then racing so I'm sure the overall geometry was specified. It does appear that the chainstays are a bit longer and yes - rack eyelets were spec'd front and rear. As for braze on's - the only braze on's on the frame are the top tube rear brake cable guides and the derailleur cable guides above the bottom bracked and the one for the rear derailleur on top of the chainstay.

I haven't had a chance to ride it - although I probably should have before dis assembly.

https://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/roncooper1.JPG

I have the Ron Copper 1982 built specifically for me while in London in 1982, photo in this thread. The serial number is either 342 or 842. The #3 is very rounded so I am leaning towards the #8. Hope this helps those seeking a year model. I recall that his typeface changed late 1970's and know that typeface (for his name on my bike) was used on models as far back as 1980 when the LBS I worked at was selling them. I also believe that this was the last incarnation of those changes. Some of yours definitely are pre-1980.

Joe- is there a serial number stamped into the fork steerer tube?
If so it is probably easier to read than the one on the BB shell.

This thread may be the best Ron Cooper resource currently on line.

Here is mine.
I bought the frame from the US earlier this year. The vendor believed it to be an 80s frame, but long Campag 1010 dropouts, 120mm dropout spacing, minimal braze-ons, cloverleaf cutout headlug all point to 70s.
I think the barend shifter cable stops and toptube cable guides were added when the frame was repainted sometime around 1987.
More photos here.
The frame serial number is 694.

Over the last few years I have been putting together a Ron Cooper collection on Flickr, taking photos from ebay & Craiglist.
These are a nice illustration of the evolution of Ron Cooper frames through the 70s & 80s, from early 70s with long dropouts & stamped BB shell & crown; late 70s or early 80s with short 1010B dropouts, and later 80s frames with investment cast BB & crown

Some history of these curly lugged Cooper frames from the CR list HERE.
Photos of the yellow #001 are on my Flickr Ron Cooper collection

This would confirm that my 1982 RC is in fact #842. Built in early Spring 1982 it is possible that the year ended with close to #1100. He built about 5-7 bikes a week--correct me here if I am wrong. So, it is quite possible it could put "maisspecial" bike in either 1980 or 1981. However, I recall all our bikes at the shop in 1981 had braze-on cable guides and braze-on derailleur guides under the BB but that was a long time ago.

Some other distinguishing things about my bike is the letter "C" cutout in lug connecting top tube with head tube. Also, the inside of lugs at the fork head going down the fork has a spade, clover, heart and diamond cutout. Does anyone else have a bike like this? Hope this info helps others put a date on their RC.

Will look for the photos I have of these features and also some photos of Ron holding my bike frame in 1982 at his shop in Honor Oak Park. I think Ron is about 80 years old now.

there was a very pretty one for sale at the Marin Swap this last Saturday, yellow with white accents, almost mint condition and minty components...seller was asking $1500 or thereabouts (he didn't sell it).

My Cooper has the card suit running down the inside of the fork legs as well as the club cutout on the down tube lug an another club cutout in the bb shell.

Love the RON COOPER.
.
Brings back memories of buying my very first road bike (Miyata 310) at A Bicycle Odyssey in Sausalito. They had lots of Ron Coopers hanging around.
.