RIH - Bottom Bracket shell
 

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took a look at the Bottom Bracket shell
here's a pic...
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...59528db4a4.jpg
starting from top:
reversed facing numbers - both are 7
I believe the center alphas say "Davis Components" (Davos ...?) ???
Lower row of numbers, left to right are 60 and 62
mean anything ???
Thanks
Yuri

I saw this one on FB today ,,

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5fff4ba1b2.jpg

Hi Yuri
The Davis Components factory located in Four Oaks, Midland in the UK made sandcasted bottom brackets shells for 80 years (since 1928) Many Dutch, Belgian and British builders used their BBs. Your 79-47 RIH is probably a Cové factory built RIH bike. Number 47 of building year 1979. I have a 79-125 RIH here in Canada. Mr. Non-Fixie and I still are not sure of the origine of the 79-*** frames by RIH. There are lots of them on this forum. Have fun rebuilding this bike and getting some matching components.

I think this is not a '79 BB. 1981 looks more correct for cables under bracket.

Thank you for your elaborate posts, cyclezen! Much appreciated! Like LeoBoon says, there has been some discussion about the "79-series" bikes. The ones we have seen here seem to all stem from the late seventies / early eighties era. Perhaps it was a series of bikes built by Cové before they launched their better-known models: Luxe, Mistral and Elan?

Anyway, yours looks very nice, and seems to be getting the love it deserves. :)

I've been the happy owner of a RIH for some years, unfortunately shortly after I bought it I had a run in with a van — front forks, wheel, handlebars and seat post all replaced, I think the crank too, and replaced badly — I stupidly let the shop get on with it and they just threw whatever they had lying around on there, so it's now in very much un-original condition.

I'd like to try to get it back closer to original build — and wondered if anybody here might be able to point me in the direction of somewhere I could locate some period-appropriate parts?

In terms of age, I'm not sure. Have not been able to find a frame number, curiously, though it's overdue a cleanup so perhaps there's something under some grime in an unexpected place. It's a RIH Speciaal, with 'HOLLAND VENLO' on the downtube. If I find a frame number I'll update, and post some pics once I hit the 10 post limit, but if anyone has any pointers for me in the meantime that would be amazing

Oh and forgot one important piece of information for spare parts purposes: I'm based in the UK

Okay, have given it a bit of a clean, and can confirm there's no frame number I can find. Only markings seem to be '70' at the top of the head tube, and '71' at the top of the seat tube

Me again!

Actually found one more marking, but still no frame number. This is just 'S1' – on the bottom of the head tube, but around the back side, not the front centre as I've seen most of the frame numbers in this thread to be

Welcome, acob ! Glad you found us.

The RIH Speciaal was made by Cové in Venlo during the eighties. It was part of the line-up mentioned above, with the Mistral and the Elan. The Speciaal was the semi-race or super sport model, and often, if not always, came with fenders and lights.

I wouldn't be too concerned with originality. Build it with your favorite parts into a casual tourer, as that is what the Speciaal is best at.

My own Speciaal is a rather late one, and a bit too small, so it never got ridden much. As bought and ridden home:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b7c30ca38f.jpg

Well, if it's an early '80s RIH, chances are the cranks are most likely "Solida" and they used Shimano Altus derailleurs and shifters. Handlebars and stem were mostly made by Sakae, SR Custom. Brakes could be Weinmann 500 or also Altus.

pre '80, Shimano 600 groupset, Cranks with guard, the stem, handlebars and seatpost are all Sakae, Weinmann brakes. Rims Weinmann and probably French hubs.

It's nice to get a bike up to original again, but if it works, don't fix it. Parts might be cheap and easy to find, it'll always turn out too expensive for the real value of the bike. My last original, old and battered but functioning RIH Speciaal costed me £ 50, to give you an idea.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...039738de4f.jpg

Yes, I've got no intention of doing a showroom restoration! Just hoping to make a couple of switches to undo some of the changes that have been done to it over the years (it's a real frankenstein at the moment — Suntour rear derailer, but with an old Shimano clamp, Campagnolo front derailer...to name just a couple of things). Some of the bits need replacing anyhow, so that little breakdown you've given me above will be very helpful as a starting point to look at, thanks!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f7de9ea3f7.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f861ce5dd6.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dc523dfb18.jpg

Not my Rih but I saw this one parked against my rowing club yesterday. It was an even better colour baby blue then my own and I thought it would interest Non fixie as it is the first 'model course' I ever encountered. Normally the Amsterdam Rih's are named ' Model Super Course' or ''Model Campagnolo'

Nice! Mrs non-fixie would probably like this one. :)

I don't recall having ever seen a "Course" before. During the only conversation I ever had with the builder he told me that at some point he switched from true serial numbers to a semi-significant numbering system which included the year. So an educated guess would be this is a 1985 frame.The under the bracket cable routing seems to support that.

Thanks for posting this one, pullup ! Much appreciated. :thumb:

Try Hilary Stone

Hi,

I'd love to share my latest find but I don't know if anyone is reading this thread anymore. I definitely have a Cove RIH that I'm dating to late 60s or early 70s (based on what I'm reading in these forums) but the frame numbering is kind of odd. I've plenty of specs on the running gear and the decals are in great condition, but I'm just not sure if I can post pictures. I'm really keen to know what I have on my hands because the bike is supposed to go back to someone who has sort of scooped it out from under an old building and I'm fixing it up for them but they're not the most responsible or mechanically sympathetic of individual so I don't want it to just disappear unappreciated. There are two s/ns on the frame: one at the wheel bracket 4510 and one near the very top of the seat tube which is simply "71". The derailleurs are Huret as are the gear levers. Seat, Brooks. No apparent brand on the goose neck. The rest of the parts on the bike are either German or Belgian. Weinmann brakes.

Happy to provide more info and pics but doubt I'm allowed to post by the looks of the policies here.

RIH-Cové started in 1973 so ...
Could be a RIH-Fongers too but Fongers have the framenumber on the headlug. 71" is imo nothing more than the angle.
Why are you so sure it's a RIH-Cové?

Welcome, velology ! Posting pictures in forum posts is allowed only once you have a post count of 10. Sorry about that, but this is an anti-spam measure that seems to serve us well. In the meantime you can upload pictures to your own album (see "Gallery") which we will be able to see and re-post here.

The "71" on the seat tube looks to be the seat tube angle, which is often stamped on the seat lug, and not a serial number. Frames from the Amsterdam shop and from the Fongers factory both have their serial numbers stamped on the lower head tube lug, so we can eliminate those. Cové stamped their numbers on the BB shell, but "4510" seems to be short of one or two digits for a Cové serial number. :foo:

Anyway, pictures would help a lot to determine what you have. Looking forward to those!

That's okay. I totally understand. As far as the serial number is concerned, the shell is blank. The 4510/4610 I quoted to you is where the rear wheel slots into frame, opposite side to the cassette. From what I've learned recently the previous owner (Australian) rode it around Europe back in the 70s and must have brought it home. There are just none in Australia that I can see anywhere online. All the running gear fits ...the cove` decal... the Luxe Gitan neck... Is it possible to get a little more instruction on what you mean by "see Gallery"?

Thanks so much

Hi Fabio, Because it has that decal on it under the gloss coat. I've figured what non-fixie meant by gallery. I'll try to post the pics there so you can know what I'm seeing.

Sorry. Just figured out the gallery! Will try to see if I can figure that out and get pictures to you all. Cheers!

Hi Again,

I tried to post a gallery titles "Mystery RIH" but I'm not sure if it worked. I think I might have misunderstood the function of the gallery. Apologies if my fumbling is upsetting any rules.

Cheers,

Velology

It has a Cové decal? That's new for me.
Does it look a bit like this one?

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9fccc653b0.jpg

Found these in the Gallery. Assuming these are yours, velology , but I see no user name attached, so let me know if I'm wrong.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6d5a700a24.jpg


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6807dbd0e5.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...92f25a2021.jpg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...165d5b5ede.jpg

That is a mid-seventies Cové-built RIH. One of the early ones. A touring model that would evolve into the "Speciaal" model a few years later. I found another one on the web, a 1974 model according to the seller. Check it out: RIH Amsterdam 1974.

This picture is borrowed from that site:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aacc518542.jpg

Hi Non-fixe,

Thanks so much for your help on this. I would have said something before but I'd reached my 24-hour posting quota. Yes, the gallery you point out was posted by me. I couldn't discern an obvious step to attach my username to it.

Just looking at the example model that you pointed to on the Dutch World Bikes site, I would presume looking at some of its features and fittings on that it would likely be a few years older? Its seat and the front sprocket at the very least seem a bit more modern. Regardless, I know that I would be very surprised to see another RIH of its kind in Australia - they seem hard enough to find in Europe. Believe it or not, before it found its way to me, it was used as an errand bike for a local pub. They called their "fixe". I just don't want to give it back to the person who is currently caring for it.

Do you have any idea what sort of value that collectors would place on a bike like this? I note that the site you pointed me to quotes "price on request". I'm far more interested in preservation than profit but it might help my case in preserving this bike. I am just amazed how well it still shifts after nearly fifty years. It's clearly a very high quality bike with equally strong running gear. Am I getting too attached? :)

Cheers,

Velo

My son bought some years ago a similar bike as yours with flat bar for €100, dis some work on it, rode it for a few years and sold it for €175. In the Netherlands.

Thanks Fabio,

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. It's so very difficult to translate the value proposition to 14,000km away in Australia. I can't calculate the market here. I don't even think there can be a market here because the bike is so unique here. I just have a very strong feeling that the bike needs to be preserved... at least here. You'd be amazed. At the local major cycling park if I take my normal racer around ppl just pass by and keep talking about their most recent KPIs or some such rubbish. When I take this bike around they slow down and look at me and say hello. I'm not kidding.

Thanks Again,

Velo

It is not a collector's item, at least not in the NL. I think Farelli jr. did very well getting €175 for it. :) YMMV down under, though. I've seen Americans go all gaga over a very mundane Dutch bike that wouldn't fetch €20 over here.

Its true value lies in it being a very nice, well-built vintage touring bike / Sunday cruiser for its owner. Both to ride and to look at. Like you have already noticed, it makes people happy. I like it, and if it were mine I'd probably keep it close to the way it is now. Service & polish it, put you favorite saddle on it and enjoy.

Thanks for responding non-fixie. I agree but do have to wonder why the site you pointed me at is specifying the price as "price on request". But in any case it's impossible to know the value in Australia. I've posted it on Australian cycling forums (with no intention to sell) so I'm interested to see what local cyclists think. I'm slightly in love with it just because there's not much like this out here. We have our share of the usual good bikes but not vintage in this class much. Carl Wilson had a run here. I'm fond of my Giant's because I think they have a good build quality. I rode BMX and had a Redline that was the envy of the neighbourhood. But this is something else entirely. Not to you guys in Europe but out here this bike to me is just a peach.

Keep in touch