N + 1 = DONE ? plus the worst packing job ever seen!
 

Stick a fork in me. I am done. Complete. There is no other grail bike left in the wild I must have.

I’m certain. (Really!)

It arrived in the snow storm last night, and presented as the worst possible OTT stupid packing job ever, EVER, inflicted on a bike.

(OKAY. OP Edit: It is not the "worst", but it sure was utterly stupid. And the seller was given all sorts of photos and explanations of why it really would be better to let a bike shop do it. . .!)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps96f42d18.jpg

Box without THIS SIDE UP or any indications of top or bottom. The shipping guy brought it from the back of the truck in an end-over-end, carried to my door, plopped it on one end and, when the door was open, just end-over-ended into the house.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps88cf5708.jpg

Surprisingly, very little damage beyond a couple unnecessary new scratches from the loose wheels.

The seller spent nearly $400 for the “packing” (sic) and shipping. He felt the bike “too perfect” to submit to the indignity of, say, removing seat post, saddle or pedals. But then he left it at a UPS shop to be “packed by professionals!” More like the minimum wage kid in the back room. Let’s just say that the negotiations for this bike have taken months and months. The seller required, shall we say, delicate conversations.

Four lightweight cardboard boxes cut up and taped into one box. One thin, single wrap of lightweight bubble wrap. Insert bike with loose wheels. Fill to top with 1.5 million Styrofoam peanuts! ! ! OMG.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps5ac67d55.jpg

Not sure if RD cage isn’t a bit bent, but the bike is up on my stand now for deep cleaning, etc. The forks miraculously escaped damage. Cables took a hit, but they need replacing, anyway. With that snow on the ground, I’ll not be riding this for a few days.

Teaser photos. I actually forgot to take a full frame photo last night. But it will give an idea of why I'm a happy lad.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps3802046b.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps6660d875.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps98deb86d.jpg

I really want to ride this – NOW! It hasn’t been ridden since the ‘80s and I’m a bit worried about both tires and saddle. No snow ride, at least for it's first test run. I can swap out wheels and saddle, but I probably have to wait for dry(er) roads.

Sated.

:-)

The paint looks exceptional. What is it?

Hook it up to a trainer if you have one. Moar photos please :thumb:

Wow, that is beautiful craftsmanship. I wish I could see under the paint, the brass and file marks.

Nice lugs! What brand and model is the bike? As a seller, I prefer to ship CONUSA, or going international, just the frame/fork. I do my own packing, this way I know it's done right. It takes usually 3 to 4 hours, but I'm satisfied when I'm done.

Beautiful! Ritchey tourer? Reminds me of Fender1's.

I'll quote you from that thread:

Worst packing ever? Not even close. Perhaps you missed the packing job on a Gillot bike that was recently discussed over at the CR list. No box even!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/makfrea...7638044964926/

wow. that 2nd photo does look frightening. glad the beauty survived the package mayhem, and congrats.
amazing paint job i see on the frame—and awesome photography grabbing the details!

deadly curious what it is, may i ask?

I bought a Mercian from a man that said he use to own a bike shop in the 80's. Well, I guess re received more bikes than he shipped, because he used the UPS packing service too. I only agreed to pay $125 for shipping, but UPS charged him a total of $260 for packing and shipping 2 boxes. They must get paid by the peanut because both boxes were filled with peanuts and nothing was tie wrapped.

I still find the stray peanut in my workshop from unpacking it.

Were you waiting at the door for the UPS man to deliver it?

It is that Ritchey that was on ebay a while iack. Seller was a bit of a nut. Nice bike!

Wasn't he asking $12,000?

looks like a beaut.

gotta be ritchey with faux lugs.

Beautiful so far. I like the way the pump peg matches the housing stops.

it actually came just like that no box? FedEx turned me away last week for a box wrapped in kraft paper how did that get through.

At least there were peanuts. I bought a Raleigh Competition GS off of eBay, and it got shipped in two boxes: one for the complete bike minus the wheels; the other had the two wheels. Neither box had ANY packing material at all. The bike was just dropped inside the cardboard box, free to bounce about, and the box was taped up. Same for the box of wheels. Miraculously everything arrived without any damage!

And I AM a man of my words.

Yes, THAT Ritchey touring. Asking $12,500. That's why it took months of carefully worded notes, etc. etc.

I believe that I have "earned" this bike in that labor alone.

Amazing photos of the Gilliot packing. Whew. It, too, appears to have survived in spite of the wild mis-packing.

I will get better photos up when I can. The bike is in excellent condition, although none of the Ritchey decals are. Odd. But, I don't care.

It IS the bike I've been waiting for. And I would love to stand it side by side with Fender1's Ritchey. They are both fine examples of the art.

Yea! ! !

We can schedule a "Ritchey Ride" whenever you are ready! Congrats!

Looking forward to seeing the whole bike. Sounds like it's time to update your signature -

1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (clearly my new favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France
1971 Gitane Super Corsa
1984 Tom Ritchey Team Competition

Indeed, I must.

I'm curious about serial numbers in this period. Brian, I went back through our old threads, but don't see an actual serial # on your touring frame.

This one is T58015R. The seller was the original owner and said that was the date. I asked if it might be frame #15 of that month, but he insisted it was the date Tom finished the frame (prior to the painting). He said that Tom's shop wasn't that busy (his words) and that he didn't think he was making more than a bike or 3 per week, at most. (Again, his words.)

This new page (discussed in its own thread here in C&V) has another: http://www.vintagemtbworkshop.com/19...chey-road.html

The Old Mountain Bike site has a mis-identified bike: T2802R, as a 199x Road. Eric, site master, thinks this re-dating to 1980 would be correct.

But, this style of serial number seems to have been a very short window. Anyone else have examples to share?

Ha!

Right on!

I came to the conclusion that the seller was wacked. Good for you for having the determination to stick with it through to the end. Sorry about the poor packing job. How exciting.

Mine has no serial number that I could find. Where was yours located?

After A lot of interwebs research on the topic, I came to the conclusion that T2802R is either an 80 or 82.

Probably fairly close to this

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/p...027021516a.jpg

Bottom Bracket.

I'll say 1980. My seller is adamant (yes, you were utterly correct in your earlier assessment) that his serial number is the date month/year/day, and that he picked his up about 10 days later than this (allowing paint to dry and the build).

Eric has asked me to report back if we all (collectively) conclude this is correct AND if we have any additional bikes with similar numbers.

My 1981 mtb had the number stamped on the drive side dropout. This bike, the serial is right centered on the bottom bracket. Seems he moved around a bit.

more photos after I escape the office...

I think the road serial numbering started and the "park bench" chainstay ended in 1980. My Ritchey road bike (crit, not touring) was purchased in 1980, has no serial number, does not have faux lugs, and has the park bench. That said, it is probably a 1979 frame, as it was a custom order that was never paid for and Tom sold it at a discount to an acquaintance months later. I recall reading that the park bench was very labor intensive - perhaps that is why it was only made for a couple of years.

Congrats, glad to see it went to a good home.