It's pink!



Very nice! Like that build, too. Thanks for adding it!

Very nice!

I imported this frame about 15 years ago to the USA from Holland.. I am starting to build it up finally.. wish I could post pictures!

Interested in the pics but I can't help

Maybe [MENTION=173992]non-fixie[/MENTION] has an idea

as soon as I have ability to post pictures I will post 2 of my bikes

Welcome [MENTION=374135]dirtworks[/MENTION]! I wish you could, too! There is a ten post minimum, I'm afraid. Apparently it's an anti-spam measure that keeps the number of unwanted posts to an acceptable level, and the mods from flipping. I'm sure you can find a few interesting threads that might be improved by a comment or two.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing your bike. The serial number seems to indicate a birth date close to 1960. An interesting period that spawned beautiful bikes that we don't see very often. In those days the market for high end racing and touring bikes was limited to professionals and very serious (and wealthy, I might add) amateurs.

I think I have about 5 posts in different areas now, as soon as it allows pics I will show you! The frame is a grey color with red and blue pinstripes around the lugs.. I would love to know more about the frame and its origins.. also, i have a wheel set with RIH branded hubs (logo in script) stamped on 3 peice style hubs.. I cant find any info on these anyplace and would love input from other collectors!

Love the color and look if this bike!

RIH-branded hubs? That sounds interesting. I don't recall ever having seen those. Looking forward to a pic.

I'm gonna figure it out and post pics soon!

Yes! Do that, we're all interested.

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

Imported this bike to California about 15 years ago, love ro know more about what I have..

Thanks for the pictures!

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?

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..

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!

Why, that is a RIH Mistral.


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.

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

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!