northbend 

Some folks have shown an interest in knowing a little more about the bike I post occasionally on this forum so here is my Bruce Gordon.

Back in 1979 I hired into the company I still work with today. My first big purchase as a reward to myself was a new Ciocc San Cristobal frame set from R&E cycles in Seattle. It took me a few more months with purchases each paycheck to buy all the components I needed to build it up. It was a beautiful bike - silver with lots of chrome, yellow decals. I rode the crap out of that thing using for fun and commuting.

There was this guy named Tony who I worked with that was also a bike geek who thought my bike was about the coolest thing he'd ever seen and would I be willing to trade him for his Bruce Gordon. Heck yea I'd trade so that's how the bike came to me back around 1981 or so…

The Bruce Gordon became my daily rider - rain or shine. I wish now that I had taken a few photos of my bikes back in the day but the thought never occurred to me until the advent of digital cameras years later.

I got married in 1984 and rode it less often when I discovered mountain biking. Once, back in the early 90's I made a weak attempt to sell it but for the most part it sat in my garage getting little attention until my son got a cell phone and car which means he disappeared and I had more free time on my hands.

So I pulled it out of the garage and started riding it again.

And started to improve things here n there. I mounted some hammered honjos on it

And 3 days later received intimate knowledge of metal fatigue with a 25 year old Campagnolo Crank Arm snapping off on me while sprinting to clear a bridge. I went down hard and broke my collarbone and remember seeing the bike flip end over end..This is how sick I am: My first though was worrying about those damn fenders. While recovering, I started thinking it would be nice to have the bike restored. A few years ago I had the frame repainted/restored by Elliott Bay Cycles in Seattle. While it was in getting repainted, I had them install a second set of waterbottle bosses and a pump peg. I really liked how it turned out. Here is a link to Bob Freemans Photos from the shop after paint and from a return visit once I had built it back up:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8379107...7622856621712/

That Crank Arm failure dogged me and I never felt comfortable riding hard on the replacement I had put on it. I also started thinking it would be nice to upgrade the drive train with a 'compact' that would be easier on the legs as I get older.

Last year I swapped out the Campy with a 36X48 TA unit and modified the SR derailluer with a Rally Long Cage. I like the fact that I have chain ring options with the TA if I need to later…


I've had this bike a long time and appreciate now more than ever.
It's ridden to work rain or shine

And seen it's share of mountain passes, Islands, and dusty roads.

northbend 

Some of the frame details I just love about this bike:

The seat cluster! Bruce Gordon's trademark fastback with paper thin lugs:


The Brake cable offset on the top tube

And the Art Deco style logos on the down and head tubes

gomango

Incredible bicycle.

Thanks so much for this opportunity, as this is one of my most anticipated threads.

I'll read and peer at the pics, then comment later.

Thanks for putting this together.

BTW This is truly a grail bike for me, no doubt.

ciocc_cat

Beautiful bike! A fellow Razorback Racing Team member had a Bruce Gordon frame back in the late 1970s and it was a very clean and fast ride. That's certainly a real "grail bike".

southpawboston

Thank you, North bend! What a treat to read about the history of this bike.

buldogge

Love it...the re-spray looks wonderful.

Many more wonderful years ahead, no doubt!

Chris W.

Great story! Beautiful (grail) bike! Thank you for sharing

Cheers,
Chris

Six jours

The blue is lovely. And there's nothing more wonderful than a bike that has been used properly.

And just to screw with your head, here's a picture of a TA crank I broke while accelerating away from a stop sign.

mbbiker

I havn't been around the C+V to long but that Bruce Gordon is beautiful!

auchencrow

Very impressive bike and photos northbend.
I do like that TA crank -
Don't listen to Six Jours - He's just being "cranky"

JAG410

Wow, outstanding ride. I love that rainy headbadge pic! Certainly a grail bike for me too, I love Bruce's style.

illwafer

hubba hubba! man, is that paint delicious!

thirdgenbird

that bike is older than me and much better looking.

poprad

Gorgeous bike NB, this was a nicely done post and good photo work. Thanks for taking the time to share.

Six jours

I think I need a saddlebag like that one. What is it?

northbend 

You are an evil man...now I can't sleep

Check out Acorn bags. Great stuff

https://www.acornbags.com/rollbag.html
What you see is the Roll Bag

Handlebar Bag is nice too

And the Tubular Bag has great capacity for longer rides

YoKev

I've always admired BG's and I really like yours, in both color schemes! Nice story, thanks for sharing.

gomango

Acorn and Black Rose bags are the only two companies I buy from anymore.

Their quality and value is fantastic.

Curious about a few details on the Bruce Gordon though.

What handlebar are you using?

What tires are you using?

Also, I notice in some of the pics you have fenders and some you don't.

Mechanical issues or philisophical?

TIA

northbend 

Good morning Grady,

Handlebars are Nitto Randonnuers

Fenders - nothing more than doing what was practical at the time.
The photos you see without fenders were all taken last summer after I had taken them off so I'd have clearance for fatter tires - I was setting up the bike for riding the Cino Heroica.
I'd much prefer to ride with fenders on but I needed bigger tires for that purpose.
In most of those photos you are seeing Challenge Paris-Robaix tires; the exception being the one photo taken during the Cino Heroica where the bike is parked up against the wire fence. In that photo you are seeing Rivendell 28mm Ruffy Tuffys. I was really happy with the Ruffy Tuffys.

The latest 'garage door' photos of the bike where you see the fenders mounted were taken yesterday. With fenders I use smaller tires. The ones you see there are 23mm Challenge Forzas. They are pretty nice, I've had better luck with them than the PR's. I can fit up to 26mm with fenders. I took the Ruffy Tuffys and mounted them on my pink Paramount fixed gear and that makes a great combination there as they are cushy and tough. Flats are a PIA on a fixed gear.

rootboy 

Gorgeous. Love that color. very pretty. Have to admit, I like the old color better, but, it must've needed the re-paint.
Can you please tell us, does Bob Freeman and crew do the painting at Elliot bay, or have them sent out? Nice paint job.

gomango

Thanks so much!

I am finishing my brother's Waterford for him tomorrow, and he's heard good things about the Ruffy Tuffys as well.

I think I'll have to see if anyone in town has a set today.

As for the bars, a local coop has a set of the Nittos in stock, so I'll pick those up for him as well if they have the right width.

As for the Forzas, I'll get around to ordering a set. I really do like to try premium tires from different manufacturers, just to see if there is the "perfect" tire.

I've had such good luck the last few years with Challenge, Veloflex, and now Deda Dre Corsas, it's good to hear about other options.

BTW I will eventually get to a Bruce Gordon. I am trying to be really patient for a very nice used example.

Sometimes good things come to those who wait.

Thanks again for all of the pics and info.

Very cool bike you have there.

northbend 

Root: Elliott Bay Bicycles has an in-house painter and they have a lot of experience with bike restorations. They do great work. The need for new paint had more to do with me wanting my ideal color rather than anything else- I think it suits me better. It's more cheerful - part of the joy of riding a beautiful bike.

bibliobob

Gorgeous bike! Thanks much for sharing.

And, Bob Freeman is a very knowledgeable, conscientious guy. I wouldn't hesitate at all to deal with him.

Chrome Molly

It's just lovely. The new color is fantastic.

Now I have yet another grail bike to think about on todays ride... To sleep, perchance to dream... all while pedaling...

rootboy 

That pale blue is very handsome. One of my favorite colors on a bike. And it goes extremely well with the decals. Great paint job.
Of the artisanal frame builders from that period, I've always thought that Bruce Gordon's frames were among the prettiest. Great bike.