Yes! Do that, we're all interested. :)

Nice original color, I would definitely recommend staying with that color scheme!

1959 RIH - Serial 5997
 

Imported this bike to California about 15 years ago, love ro know more about what I have.. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a615f2bd45.jpghttps://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4861fb9e4a.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ef144ff368.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0246258ff6.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...36b1f63e03.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...30148acad3.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f41f1224c1.jpg

Thanks for the pictures! :thumb:

Well, it is definitely a RIH from the Westerstraat in Amsterdam. And ca 1960 seems plausible as well. What you have is probably one of the best bikes one could buy at the time. In those days even the Soviets bought them for their best 'state amateurs'. Here is a list of the 63 World and Olympic champions that rode a RIH.

Thanks for the information, I have attached pictures of an RIH branded hub with a strange script logo, ever seen one or have any insight? https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...072a43c57d.jpg

Thanks for the picture of the hub. My first instinct says to look toward Austria, where there's also a RIH Radsport (unrelated), which might have had these made / branded.

Perhaps [MENTION=333224]juvela[/MENTION] can tell us who made this hub? Italians, I suspect.

I will be pulling it all apart for a deep cleaning over the next month or so and putting it together again, cant wait to ride it!

Thnx for the pictures dirtworks. :) Don't get to see Rih's from ths era that often and this one looks to have survived pretty well

Thanks for your comments, when i saw the frame for sale I felt like it was something special.. it's been sitting in my shop for the past 15 years, cant wait to get it back on the road doing what it was made to do! Im starting to realize how rare these early RIH frames are..

RIH info needed - what do I have?
 

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cda948829e.jpg
I have had this bike for about 17 years now, but know little about how it fits in the RIH history.. please let me know what I have here if possible.. thanks for the time and info!https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8f609c602d.jpghttps://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...97d0f548f4.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4af37155ce.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...15b44b8ec7.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a8ba328482.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dacd024dd2.jpg

Why, that is a RIH Mistral. :p


These were made by Cové in Venlo as part of a franchising deal with RIH, after the previous deal with Fongers went south when Fongers was taken over by Batavus (that's the management summary of the management summary ;)).

These Cové RIH bikes are quite nice (there was a "Luxe" and an "Elan" as well), but their popularity (and subsequently their value) suffers from not being "real Amsterdam RIH's".

Bit of a shame, IMO, as they are nice bikes in their own right.

Thanks for the info! It's a really nice riding bike (looks great sitting next to my other RIH) dobyou know what year it is? Anyway, value doesn't matter, I never sell my bikes!

I haven't looked into the Cové serial numbering system yet, but looking at the bike I'd say early to mid eighties. It looks to have been upgraded at some point in life, so dating the parts won't be of much use, I'm afraid.

BTW, if there are any lurkers out there with Cové RIH's, please post them. I for one, would like to learn more about them. :)

291T rih 1969
 

Greetings from Johannesburg South Africa. I bought this Fongers built RIH earlier this week and await some details as to its origins in South Africa. The serial number is 291T. Going by the Fongers site and start of this thread I assume the year to be 1969 model from Groningen.

Questions:

• There is no tube decal, can anyone tell me what tubing the frame is likely to be? Unfortunately the seat lug is pretty poor and I will need to clean it up before I can get an accurate measurement. Has Campagnolo dropouts.
• Anyone identify the headset?
• I see a lot of the frames have an extra two holes drilled through the rear brake bridge. What was this for?

I can't wait to start cleaning the frame up and will touch up as the chrome work is in very good condition with nice patina on the paintwork (which I assume is original).

Thank you for a great thread, really informative

Steve
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3618d1249e.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d41b82da3b.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d14b169fe0.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eff4c46cd4.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e6dc550e3e.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e8546bd00a.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e971a00b01.jpg


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7cab449745.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ff34be2f91.jpg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9f35e758b6.jpg

Welcome, Steve! Thanks for posting your frame. 1966 looks correct. The last digit looks more like an incomplete T in your picture.

The extra holes in the brake bridge are fairly common, but I haven't an explanation for them, other than "drillium".

Perhaps [MENTION=333224]juvela[/MENTION] could have a look at that headset. He can usually identify them at a hundred paces.

Looking forward to seeing it built up!

olffie1
 

Hi Steve, the tubing is definitely Reynolds 531!

And the drilled holes on the rear brake mounting is an absolute identification pointer that the frame is a Rih!
Fedor den Hertog once told me it was to also to get a bit of weight off the bike.

Dear specialists, I wonder about the date of birth : isn’t it more a 1968/69?
Because the T is after the serial number and the Z might be sometimes used as a “2”(?)

I have a 263Z and a 123T at home and I have doubts about their age now.

Great bike anyway ! (Steve, you need to keep the original paint eh😉, I do find the painting of the Fongers of better quality than the Bustraan by the way. Well it’s my humble opinion based on my stock only)

good day !
Patrick

RIH "Speciaal", ~1980
 

I always wanted a RIH and since I was looking for a frame to build a classic Randonneur, I was happy to stumble over this peace of garbage, which I got for 40 EUR.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dcc98f3325.jpg

"Experts" wrinkled their noses. "What a cheap peace of junk!" And what about the tubing: Reynolds 500... The bike was built in Venlo and its frame number is 420835. Somebody told me, that due to the tubing, the bike must be build somewhere between 1978 and 1982.

However, I was happy with it, why not give a cheap frame a go, at least it was sturdy. Eventually, I salvaged only the frame, fork and brakes. The rims are new, the rest mostly bought 2nd hand or stuff me and my friends had lying around. At first, I mounted original ESGE racks, but I did not like the looks of them, so I replaced them with modern Tubus racks which are just a lot more practical.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3a7594f48b.jpg

A few weeks ago, we went on a trip and I didn't stop smiling. Love the bike, the way it rides (stable as hell) and it's classic look.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8aa1b96206.jpg

This winter, I will however build some "aero" lowriders for it. Fighting against strong winds got me thinking about that.

Hi Patrick

You are correct the "z"could be a badly pressed "2" whilst a closer examination of the last digit does lend one to assuming its a "T".

This will then make the farm a 1968!

I will amend my post if possible.

Regards

Steve

Additional information obtained on the frame 291T.

The original owner was a chap by the name of "Hoenders" (chicken) Hendricks. Hoenders and his brother "Tosie"where each bought a new RIH in about 1968/9. Hoenders' bike was red and his brother's blue. 291T was eventually sold to Arthur Els who then sold it to Lenny Stanford in Kimberley before being swapped to a dealer in Johannesburg.

I cleaned up the frame and plan to build it up with a Campagnolo Gran Sport groupset, except for Universal '61 centre pull callipers if I can fit the cable guide to the headset. The steerer tube is a bit short and I will try swap the crown race to a flatter model or use what may be the original headset.

The seatpost is 27.2mm and will be fitted once I clean up the lug a bit. It will sport a Brooks Professional saddle.

The bar and stem are newer Cinelli as I don't trust the older steel bars because of internal rust, especially if I use the bike for Eroica SA next year.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b38ac1481a.jpg

Got myself another RIH. Pearl white with RIH panto in front forks, no type, serial
81 110 on lower ballhead lug, oval hole at seatstay, 531 frame and forks.

Originally it would most probably have had aluminium "Maes/Kint" bars, and a steel stem, both made by Titan in Tielt, Belgium. These, as pictured on a 1968 Fongers-RIH:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ec63fcd9b7.jpg

1981? Or 2000's? The one time I met Wim van der Kaaij he told me that at some point after he'd taken over the shop, he ditched the old Bustraan serial numbering system and switched to semi-significant numbers, including the build year. Some numbers I've seen from the eighties and nineties seem to support that. After that, things get a little fuzzy.

1981. I'll upload some pics later. Framenumber is 81 118.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fd552182af.png

New

Up dated photoshttps://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...121dbb4b49.jpghttps://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9247d34eb7.jpg

Love that bike, cant wait to see more pictures!

As soon as I'm out of hospital, aroumd Dec. 10th

For those who doubted my 1978 Amstel Wielerploeg RIH (1978.20) was a genuine van der Kaay built bicycle.....
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8c27f40fc1.jpg
Taken from RIHsport website. Numbers are up