My fixie, possibly dutch custom frame
 

In response to Lotek's request in an earlier thread, here's my fixie!

I know converting a road bike to a fixie by stripping and rattlecanning it is a practice many, including myself, here frown upon but I did it anyway to this old and battered steed.
It's made of reynolds 531 according to the original stickers, it has really relaxed frame angles as you can see in the pic annd no brazeons whatsoever. 120 mm rear spacing. This dates the bike quite far back, probably to the 60's or early 70's. Also, under the 2 coats of rattlecan that were already on it before i got it I found the remnants of "Model Campagnolo" script on the right (?) rear chainstay, a feature I've seen on some handbuild dutch frames, Zielemans and Presto's mainly.

It's build up with a cheap yet cheerful wheelset ordered from a German fixie shop and parts from the bin including a set of nice chrome handlebars, a SR stem and a Sugino chainset.

It rides super smooth due to the slack angles, though it corners not too good. The headtube is out of shape, further compounding the problem. It's my main errand/commuter/campus bike over the summer.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5198/...54959497_b.jpg
P1040843 by ctjr, on Flickr

If Rotterdam is anything like A'Dam (bike population wise)...you need some brakes!

Oh yeah...and the fork's bent. ;)

Nice ride & photo.
Very well sculpted.
Classic and Old World.

I vote for a brake, too; for the sake of future Italuminiums.

haha lol, I used to run it with brakes but they were gold MAFAC's, just a little to valuable for my daily beater. The trouble is, the only replacements I have are super records.

btw I'm in Leiden, which is sort of like a small amsterdam in terms of canals, small streets etc.. Luckily there are far fewer stoned tourists and tramways!

RIH also had a 'model campagnolo' if I recall correctly.
So, here's where it gets fun, at least for me.
Any holes for headbadge? RIH used them, not sure about Presto.
Early Zielemans never did but towards the end of Ko's building he
did have a rather tacky headbadge. I have one, much prefer the
decals.
any serial number on the frame? engraving?
my latest Zieleman has very light KZ in seatstay caps one good
thick coat of paint and it would be nearly impossible to see.
Are there any distinguishing features around the lugs or are they
bog standard? maybe some detailed photos?

Marty

Yup holes for a headbadge, original wasn't included, sadly. there's a faint 75 stamped in the bb shell, but the rest is covered or wasn't there in the first place. nothing on the dropouts. I checked the caps for three andreas' crosses (presto) or KZ (zieleman) but they are either blank or covered in gunk. Here some pics of the lugs, taken with the flash on to really show the outline (and my crappy rattlecan job)

cluster
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/...73b347d8_b.jpg
P1040934 by ctjr, on Flickr
BB
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/...e08b2c21_b.jpg
P1040928 by ctjr, on Flickr
Fork/seat tube lug
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5198/...d41025e6_b.jpg
P1040927 by ctjr, on Flickr
head tube lug
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5067/...413db7eb_b.jpg
P1040926 by ctjr, on Flickr

Those are some cool lugs.

Thanks! No clue of the type though. Btw the rear dropouts are stamped, with eyelets and very long. Hope this helps!

Like these? Because these are some of the nicer long stamped drops I've ever seen. My Romet Huragan had them.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...or_Sale617.jpg

can you take a picture of the head tube, including holes for headbadge?

next question, given the geometry is there any chance that this is an opa-fiets
thats been modified for road gear?

I love a good mystery!
Marty

yes almost like those drop outs! the eyelet is a little lower mounted though. I don't think it's a converted opafiets, because using reynolds 531 (frame weight and the fingernail check seem to confirm this) would be silly on an opafiets. Maybe a touring rig?

Any clues in that serial number location and/or format on the TT?

that's a police registration number, as a theft deterrent and a way to get stolen bikes back to their proper owners. a very crude thing to do to a proper bike.

ouch

Nice bike.

Get a cheap brake, like an old Weinmann sidepull.

duh, 531. forgot about that. . . okay scratch my opafiets theory.
back to old builders. Wit Ko ?
maybe try these guys, see if they might know.
http://klassiekeracefiets.wordpress.com

if that doesn't work contact Otto Beaujon

marty

I checked that site for clues, and I'm sort of hesistant to contact somebody with such a trivial question on an old, tired and irreparable frame. So far, the only real clue was the chainstay script... I guess I'll just ride this frame thill it finally gives out without knowing it's true provenance.

Neat lugs. If the frame can be made straight I'd be tempted to have it stripped and powder-coated and then outline the lugs with a paint pen.

Also, a little bit of oil "wasted" on that chain isn't going to end the world or cause a global catastrophe of Exxon Valdez proportions ;)

I don't think it can be made straight. The headtub is "ovalised" by a front end crash (and the fork's truly bent :)), the frame is out of true, and some idiot in the past put a seatpost on top of another one so now there is one stuck near the bb.. I won't be putting any cash in this rig I'm afraid. and yes, I'm a bit of a maintenance slouch :P