Originally Posted by solange

Hi hi,
I'm new here and joined because I am looking to buy a new retro bike. I got my bicycle addiction last year when I picked up two old bikes in really bad condition for 40 euros and started to set them to my hand.. I had never repaired a bike before, and really loved it! So here's two pictures of my bikes. I turned one into a single speed just to ride to Uni and back, for groceries etc.
Funny enough the only picture with me and my bike I could find is at a stage my bike wasn't really usable yet But I was really proud so had to take a picture!
I don't even know what brand the green bike is, since it didn't have it's original paint anymore and was rusty all over.

Originally Posted by solange

Hi hi,
I'm new here and joined because I am looking to buy a new retro bike. I got my bicycle addiction last year when I picked up two old bikes in really bad condition for 40 euros and started to set them to my hand.. I had never repaired a bike before, and really loved it! So here's two pictures of my bikes. I turned one into a single speed just to ride to Uni and back, for groceries etc.
Funny enough the only picture with me and my bike I could find is at a stage my bike wasn't really usable yet But I was really proud so had to take a picture!
I don't even know what brand the green bike is, since it didn't have it's original paint anymore and was rusty all over.

Originally Posted by paulkal

(..) London-Edinburgh-London.

Originally Posted by solange

Hi hi,
I'm new here and joined because I am looking to buy a new retro bike. I got my bicycle addiction last year when I picked up two old bikes in really bad condition for 40 euros and started to set them to my hand.. I had never repaired a bike before, and really loved it! So here's two pictures of my bikes. I turned one into a single speed just to ride to Uni and back, for groceries etc.
Funny enough the only picture with me and my bike I could find is at a stage my bike wasn't really usable yet But I was really proud so had to take a picture!
I don't even know what brand the green bike is, since it didn't have it's original paint anymore and was rusty all over.

Originally Posted by non-fixie

Wow! That's a 1,000 mile round-trip, I believe. How did you and the Gazelle hold up?

Originally Posted by paulkal

It is 1400 km, the Gazelle did fine, except for 1 broken spoke on the way back. I, on the other hand, did not so fine. After 300 km I had to take the train back to London (with the gazelle), saddle sore. So now I have wait (and train) 3 more years.
The Gazelle felt at home, being made of Reynolds tubing.

Originally Posted by exxongraftek

Finally got to the place where I can post these. First pic is me on my Boneshaker (swapped an old Palo Alto Bike Shop 10-speed for her)


Second - my Speedwell Mk I with full first-generation Campy Super Record Ti group, Regina Ti chain & freewheel, bought from the founder's son


Third - my Larry Blake-built Lineseeker (predecessor to the Exxon Graftek) with American-made Weyless group, Cool Gear seat


Fourth - my first-gen Rigi with Shimano Dura-Ace 10 pitch track group incl seat post and handlebar stem, Brooks Swift seat


Fifth - my Teledyne Titan (with both prototype and production decals), full Hi-E group and 200 gram rims, Galli Ti brakes, Huret Jubilee changer


Sixth - my Masi with "interesting leftovers group" incl. Ofmega Mistral crank, prototype Hi-E front hub, original Campagnolo Nuovo Record long-cage (pre-Rally) derailleur


Seventh - my Colnago Master with Regina Record Extra (aluminum-cog Oro) freewheel, Campy Hi-Lo rear hub & Colnago-pantographed parts


Eighth is my Look Equipe Team Issue restored to La Vie Claire team specs except for the Campagnolo Delta brakes


Ninth - my Exxon Graftek with first-generation Shimano Dura-Ace parts (that included "safety levers" on the center-pull brakes!)


Tenth and final pic - my 120-speed Trek recumbent, because the "bicycle man" must have more gears than other mortals!


Not pictured - Guerciotti Alan mountain bike with AMP Research front fork, second Teledyne (16 pound track bike), second Rigi & second Graftek which all get ridden
(#1 - #9 I can't afford to break so they hang in the Bike Room)... but I'm not as bad as I was...twelve others (from 40's-80's) were sold off when I lost my last job.

Enjoy!

Originally Posted by 753proguy

Wow. D-A and suicide levers on a Graftek. Maybe the only one on the planet that is set up that way? That looks like the largest frame size that was available? I have a 24-inch one (or maybe it is a 60 cm., it's a bit in-between 60 and 61). How large is yours? Very cool bike....

Originally Posted by exxongraftek

Thanks! This Graftek is a 63 cm center-to-center. Too big for me to ride, but the finish level and the fact it is an uncommon iteration of the Graftek frames (Graftek dropouts but round instead of square brake bridge) made it a must-have for me. And the "suicide" levers coupled with the Dura-Ace centerpull arms predate the prettier Dura-Ace sidepull brakes most people think are "first-generation Dura-Ace" - these were on the market about a year prior.

Originally Posted by non-fixie

Nice Graftek! (And my size too). Do you know what model those levers are? I have a pair with the same straight blades (without the safety levers), but haven't been able to find any info on them so far.

Originally Posted by exxongraftek

During the same time, there was a virtually identical lever used on the "Tourney" part-set that was just marked "Shimano" in the same place. I think that is what you have. A lot of them had no "suicide" levers.

Originally Posted by non-fixie

Thank you! Another mystery solved. As it happens I have a pair of Tourney center pull brakes from the same period, until now without levers.

Originally Posted by exxongraftek

Great! It's gratifying when some of the "useless bike trivia" I've picked up through the years ends up useful to someone. Enjoy those brakes!