EhGiOeS

Two bikes from one of Italy's oldest and most respected Builders. Ed

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OLYMPIA-CAMP...vip=true&rt=nc

https://www.ebay.com/itm/350808663201...84.m1438.l2649

aixaix 

They are fine bikes. I have six of them. They are undervalued (in my humble, self-serving opinion).

BTW, looks like you posted the same link twice.

EhGiOeS

Fixed I hope. I agree with you beautiful bikes much undervalued, no snob appeal. Ed

Drillium Dude 

Definitely undervalued and underappreciated. Although there are tons of small, hole-in-the-wall shops in Italy that produce fine frames, it's rather strange how Olympia - Italy's second-oldest bike maker - is off the radar.

Yeah, I've got one and will be riding it in July when I'm home on leave

DD

jbchybridrider 

I'm a happy Olympia owner, best balls to the wall race bike I ever owned. They have always made highend race bikes comparable with the best but also make bikes to cover the whole bicycle market down to kids bikes.
I believe they are Italys largest maker but they were always happy staying with there domestic market which is probably why there not well known. Only in the last few years have they reached out to other markets.

aixaix 

Olympia makes 15,000 to 20,000 bikes/year, which is about the same as Bianchi. I have no idea where this places them among Italian factories in general, but compared to the worldwide market, they aren't at all a big factory. Their racing bikes have been deeply respected for a century, despite their limited distribution.

Giacomo 1 

OK, OK, I'm sold already guys!

I'll take 2 Olympias please!

rootboy 

And hearty congrats to Aixaix, whose Olympia won best of category at the recent Cirque!

Kactus

And one more over here!

That first one is drop dead gorgeous.

1 Lugnut

I posted this in the 'white bikes' Thread. Not mine, but I've always admired it & wish it was...

aixaix 

I bought this one as a frame & fork. The parts are a mid 1970s mash-up: mostly Campy NR with Simplex retrofrictions. The color is bizarre. It is pearlescent and looks orange-y, goldish, or copperesque depending on light and background.
I love the way it rides.

jbchybridrider 

It's interesting how they sometimes used Reynolds, there's one on the bay right now from Italy. I see Olympias come up on the bay quite often, wish I could buy them all

It's been seen before but it's not everyday a Olympia thread comes up. Mines a semi vintage "95 EL-OS, frame weight is 1510 grams I'm yet to see a steel frame as light. I bought it from Hungary with poor flaking paint and one poor decal left on it and two small top tube decals. It was fully chromed underneath.
Painted it myself, had the modern font decals made in Italy and found 3 genuine head badge decals in Italy from a sewing machine shop of all places. The frame seller thew in a panto seat post & stem I'm not using now.
To finish I just need 2 top tube decals made. I would like to know about the signature it's not a rider and has been used through the decades.

Giacomo 1 

Wow, what a beauty!

That paint job is just gorgeous. It still looks wet. Perfect build, just perfect...

gomango

If you are serious let me know.

Gary Fountain

Olympia - never heard of the marque. How could I be so out of touch. They look like fantastic Italian bikes. Thanks for waking me up to this great bicycle manufacturer.

Drillium Dude 

This one's for you, Gary



The frameset arrived from France with the Spinella (a builder in his own right) decals, but it's an Olympia:





DD

gomango

Gorgeous!

I have always admired this one DD.

Gary Fountain

I am so glad I was sitting down and just had a calming cup of tea when you sprung that one on me DD. I know I had seen it before but it's beyond spectacular. The head tube and lug finish and design is jaw dropping. I absolutely love everything about it. If it were mine, I would have to eat with it in arm's reach, work with it behind my desk, take out the back seat of the car so I could travel with it, buy a king sized bed so I could tuck it in at night and keep it warm ( no, nothing grubby), throw out my walking shoes and only ride it places, etc, etc. I wouldn't change anything about it, it's perfect. Yeah, I like it. Thanks DD.

Drillium Dude 

Thanks for good words, Gary and Grady! I think it's time now for aixaix to share some more pics of his beauties

DD

rootboy 

I'll second that motion.

Giacomo 1 

Hum-a-da hum-a-da, ummmm, welllll, hmmmm, you might just hear from me...no, no, go away, make it stop, make it stop, please make these voices stop! I must resist! my wife will leave me!

Never gave the Olympias any real thought - until this thread!

gomango

No worries.

There is one sitting in Bayern with your name on it.

Giacomo 1 

Thanks for talking me out of it Grady!

gomango

We'll be visiting again this summer.....

Who knows what I'll stick in my suitcase this time.

aixaix 

I am a lousy photographer and lazy to boot. Most of the decent pix of my stuff have already been put up here. That said, here are a couple of photos from a 1980s catalog. I want this bike...