LeicaLad 

The original listing is Item # 331020657069

Chombi

"Faux lugs"?? Geeze!..... and I thought it was PC causing those lugs to melt into the frame like that.....

cyclotoine

might not be faux lugs, could be the filleted lugs like Aemmer posted, but he did do some faux lugs to IIRC.

Looks more like a sport touring bike (perfect rando?) than a camper to me, but it was a period when cantilever were not yet universally accepted for touring bikes.

Also, if 2" is accurate for the rake and it looks to be close, that isn't really that much rake.

Lastly, the bike is exquisite. I assume you won't disclose what you paid for it.

LeicaLad 

I believe they are the filleted lugs.

I also agree with the "sports touring" description. The rake is pleasant, but nothing unusual. Nor the "unheard of 36 spokes". You get the idea.

I think it is absolutely perfect. While it is a "French fit", it is a cm or two smaller than Fender1's road bike. I think it perfect for me.

I paid an "aggressive" price, but under a quarter of what he wanted. Partly why negotiations took so long. Fortunately, all you others had given up.

And for that, I thank you all! ! !

Kactus

I love how Ritchey tied the seat stays in to the seat tube. Pure artistry!

3alarmer 

Interesting seat lug cluster. I just bought a frame with similar treatment from a guy
up at Tahoe who said he was pretty sure (but not 100% sure) that it was by Michael Johnson:

gaucho777 

Per the ebay listing, the original owner stands just under 6'0" tall. Dude must have been all legs! Have you taken accurate frame measurements? The ebay ad is somewhat confusing in respect to sizing (listed as 62cm frame size, but with a 60cm seat tube and 55cm top tube?).

Congrats again on your grail acquisitions and kudos on your persistent negotiating.

3alarmer 

...oh yeah, my congratulations also on your new bike and your epiphany on acquisition.

gaucho777 

Wait, you bought that Micheal Johnson frame? Very nice work on that one as well. Eisentraut-esque. Also very similar to a Keith Lippy design shown here



But I digress...

Bianchigirll 

A little further digression I love the rug and that floor looks exquisite!!

KonAaron Snake 

I'm impressed with your tenacity...when someone's on the moon, I've never tried getting them off. Well done!

balindamood

Grail bike. Wow.

LeicaLad 

By my measurement, it is a 61 c-t, possibly 61.5, depending on how one defines the "t". Top tube is 57-58 c-c. This was Q&D with a tape. His build is about the same as mine, at least to that description. I'm a smidge under 6' with long legs. Plus I like the French fit.

Epiphany? Hmm. I may need to consult with PastorBob to see if this qualifies. A lesser angel, perhaps.


SO, photos. It's winter and dark outside, and bad lighting, etc. etc. A few photos as I continue to explore.

LeicaLad 

I hate to admit that the carpet is nothing special. Must be the flash affect. The flooring, however, IS fabulous. It's 1959 asbestos-laden. Inspectors tell us it is perfectly safe. . . as long as we never attempt to pull it up. But it is very nice. :-)

fender1

Great Pics! I have that same asbestos laden floor in my basement. My frame does not have the rear rack braze-ons or the filled in chainstay/bottom bracket area.

PeregrineA1 

Outstanding. Almost beyond words.

Michael Angelo 

Great looking bike, my size too.

shoota 

Ok what am I missing here? I know Ritchey and Campy and grail but $12.5k? Inform me please.

balindamood

You have no idea what a relief it is (to me) that that bike is not my size.

Congratulations...that is a stunner.

fender1

You can list anything on ebay for any price. Does not mean you will get it. Seller was a bit er....eccentric?

KonAaron Snake 

There are lots of things on eBay at prices few will pay...that doesn't surprise me at all. What surprises me is that he was willing to accept some reality. It sounds like the seller got reasonable top dollar, but usually folks who list like this don't seem inclined to listen to more grounded offers.

I am very impressed with LeicaLad...he was tenacious and willing to do what it took to pursue a grail; I wouldn't have the patience to negotiate over months (odd since my job for seven years entailed negotiating over long periods of time with unreasonable people). When all was said and done, he landed a gem worthy of the name grail...one of the nicer US customs on the forum.

noglider 

Well put!

Amazing bike. There really aren't many of that caliber.

As for the packing job, well, I've done worse.

LeicaLad 

To be honest, I threw in the towel in late November. He'd told me off in no uncertain terms as low-balling scum insulting him and the very idea of such a rare jewel, etc. etc. He would be willing to consider $8k..., perhaps. But not from me, because I'd behaved so abysmally. A bit more than a month later, I dropped him a New Year's note, just to thank him for leaving it up (for so long) so that I could continue to admire the bike. And I wished him a Happy New Year. Fishing. He bit. But not entirely. We still had to dance, tell stories, omg! Weeks more! So, yeah, I couldn't take my eye off the prize. Sure, throw glass in my face. Sure, tell me that you were right the first time to refuse to sell it to me, the ingrate. Whew. And ***** about the pennies. And then spend nearly $400 for that crappy shipping, even when - now that money had changed hands - I did my best to have him let a bike shop prepare it, sent packing videos, etc. etc..

I think I know why he didn't want to dismantle it, tho. I'm finding every single item is nigh on fused. Yes, I could get the seat post out, but with about an hour's coaxing (hair dryer, tenacious oil and many grunts), the crankarms were practically bottomed out on the spindle but seemed to have been so the only time a crank had been put on. I nearly broke the Park crank puller getting them off. The pedals ARE fused. I can't get a budge with a big wrench. So I'll repack the bearings and see this set of Campy SR pedals & alloy cages and crank arms as a "matched" set. The NR rings 49/42 will be replaced with an SR 52 and TA 41. I'm still thinking what RD to use. I've been there long enough with a simple Campy NR rear with a wide freewheel.



Anyway, another brief window. To work tomorrow, where I'll spend waaay too much time thinking about this. . . :-)

Many thanks for the kind words. This is a crowd who loves a good story -- especially when it includes a really nice bike.

Cheers!

Kactus

To get the pedals off of my Sekai I had to clamp the crank arms in a padded vise and pound on the pedal wrench with a 3 lb. hammer. Put some good penetrating oil on the threads, soak and give it a go! It's not like crank arms are rare.

KonAaron Snake 

My take always from this:

1. Be willing to swallow your pride. The minute he told me off, I'd have insulted him back or just ignored him. You let him "win", and got what you wanted. Flattering egos never hurts - I'm usually either blunt force trauma in a negotiation or just up front and logical. I like how you did this.

2. Be patient, but keep contact - I'm good at the patient part because there aren't many bikes I really want or that I'd overspend for. What I don't do is stay in touch and ask about the weather...nicely done!

3. Always focus on the goal, not the process...you wanted it, you got it.

As for the rear derailleur...who cares The frame is the star of this show! Is the tape Spenco? I had the same unwrapped spot with my similar tape on the Mooney - with some advice from Jim, I used some cloth tape and wrapped around it.



I love when awesome bikes get to the right person!