^Thanks. Actually, I just found one in progress photo. It shows one bar end on the left side at the front of the bend, which I'd like to replace with Dia Compe knob-style grips, but you get the picture...

If an octopus rode a bike...

That looks pretty brilliant actually. You solve the long top tube thing, you have tons of hand positions...I might just have to try that. Whose make is that handlebar though? It looks like it has more drop than my Nitto knockoff.

What size is the Palo Alto? I like it. Never heard of them.

I saw a Palo Alto once in Vancouver, but other than that only pics. They appear to be very nice bikes. The logo reminds me of a more detailed or true-to-life (less abstract/stylized) cousin to the one used by Cramerotti, the Vancouver-based marque which made its name selling nice Italian-made steel up here:



I've never tried moustache bars OR bar end shifters, but I recently picked up some of the latter. So the future beckons...

Thus far, I have seemed to accumulate very similar bikes - all big road racers, more or less sporty geometry, drop bars and DT shifters. And I've been thinking that some variety is called for. Nice to see some inspiration here to try something different (as much as I love all the classic roadies).

Look forward to seeing this build as it progresses.

Dude...... you bought that POS? I was just kidding, man...... I didn't think you'd actually waste money on it.

55cm ST ctc, 56cm TT ctc. They were sold by a bike shop in Palo Alto and had their frames made on contract. Some were made by Ritchey actually...most were Biemmezeta. I think when I photo this, people are going to like it...the details are terrific. I do think it may have made more sense to use cantis and a fender bridge, but cest la vie.

That's what my best man said to me during the wedding. OHHHHHH SNAP!

I've heard this, but have never been able to verify it. Looking at the catalogs, it seems Ritchey built the rigid framed Palo Alto branded mtb's.... so maybe that's the Palo Alto/Ritchey connection? I don't think he had a hand in the road frames.......

Proof he made both:

Link to Paceline:

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=113999

Post #8.


Ritchey Palo Alto Frame catalog > https://www.oldmountainbikes.com/cata...hey1979_36.jpg

More here > https://www.oldmountainbikes.com/cata...hey1984_03.jpg

1x6, north roads, 48 ring up front, campy
gs, nr or sr. Fenders - plastic bluemel
knock offs. B17. In short, a very beautiful zippy bike that will get your legs back up to speed
while your body geta back into riding shape again.

The first link is interesting....

I knew he made MTB's and had them in the PA catalog.

On the second link, the page shows Palo Alto Frames on top of the page, and then Tom Ritchey frames at the bottom. To me, it reads like he didn't make Palo Alto frames, it reads like he made Tom Ritchey frames and sold them through the Palo Alto catalog.

Every Palo Alto branded bike I've seen has been made by BMZ. Maybe I'm misreading or picking nits?

I read it a little differently - the frames would be painted and dressed as Palo altos.

Ahh..... I can see that, too.

What's really interesting is the use of 531 - I didn't know that. Also, Tom had a different way of making the bottom bracket cluster.... note the ovalized seat tube as it enters the BB shell. Gotta look for one of those..... That catalog page appears to be from 1979, the one I have is from 1984.

Does yours have the big stylized "BMZ" on the bottom of the BB shell? Any markings on the top of the BB? I remember you saying your seat stay caps have doves..... mine are scalloped, chromed inside the scallop, and have Palo Alto on the inside.

I'll be very interested to see detailed photos, when you have the bike in-hand.

Wed. is pick up. It did have BMZ, but it wasn't large; I'll photo soon. It's a BEAUTY!

So after looking at parts in the basement, I'm going to use most of the pieces off an older SR/NR gruppo (52-42 crank) , some silver 10sp Campy dual pivots and will go with a curved city bar of some sort - I really liked what squirt linked to for this. 6sp thumbies (friction).

I have the VO Postino bar to go on my Bottecchia fixed gear. I still have to paint the bike so I don't know yet how I like them.