Hey, Jim! Nice ride -- and Happy Birthday! Where's that cemetery in Sudbury? I lived in Sudbury for a few years when I was a kid.

Dave

Thank you, Bill.

Of course a discussion of that bike is more suited to C&V than 50+, though some would say all of us here are C&V by definition. :) All my bikes are C&V anyway. I've told this story elsewhere, but what the heck, I have no qualms about telling it again. :D

I was browsing ebay recreationally last year and saw this frame. The seller was local and agreed that I could pick it up in person and save shipping costs and trouble. The problem was, it wasn't identifiable. The long-point lugs and chrome indicated a high-end frame but the other details weren't consistent. I think that scared other bidders away and I won it fair and square.

The paint scheme is of the '82 Champion Team, but it should have had TT loops for the rear brake cable housing, and no chrome. The BB cable guides should not have been on the earlier CT's at least, and the later catalogs didn't show enough detail to tell. The rear spacing is 124mm (apparently common on Moto's) and will not accept a 6-speed FW. The DT name is individual letters, not a decal, and font isn't quite right either. The seller also had the wheels that came with the bike when he got it (from a salvager?), high-flange Campy record hubs with one NISI rim and one Super Champion, with a 5-spd Regina Oro FW. Since they were still unlisted on ebay he sold them to me outright. The rear had been rebuilt with the NISI rim and plated spokes instead of SS but still the original 2.0-1.7-2.0 gauge. Those components, the chrome, and a few other minor details suggested a repainted '74 Champion Team, Motobecane's special-order-only bike introduced in '74 after their TdF win in '73. Then I found the '74 date code on the hubs. It looks like I'd stumbled onto an unrecognizable diamond.

So how did it come to its present state? It appears to have been ridden hard by a loving owner, perhaps raced back then. It even carried a local town's registration sticker. The fork was out of alignment. That and the rear wheel's cheaper spokes suggest it was crashed and rebuilt on a budget. It should have been orange, but the complete lack of orange anywhere inside and the presence of the BB cable guides suggest the owner had it painted by someone who stripped it completely (chemically, I suppose) and did the brazing prior to painting. They probably decided to use the brand-new '82 paint scheme but left the original chrome on the fork tips and crown. Since a decal wasn't available they stenciled on the letters. Of course this story may be a complete fabrication - those wheels and FW may not have been original to the bike after all, but merely what it wore when it was finally parked. But it seems more likely than any other explanation. The frame details absolutely don't fit the paint.

Part of the fun of a project like this is the search and decisions re components and aesthetics. I replaced rusted front bearing cones, selected the Nervar arms w/TA chainrings (BF member rhm was involved - a longish story), Weinmann Carrera brakes (I happened to have them but they were original on at least one year of the CT), Suntour Cylone RD and Vx FD (the Cyclone FD clamp is just too precise to grip the French diameter ST), cleaned up the wheels and learned how to work with sew-ups, found the correct size seatpost, stem, bar, etc. The lighter spots on the TT are where the paint was touched up with a too-light metallic blue, and I don't know who did that. Finally I had local frame builder Nao Tomii straighten the fork. (He has since moved to Austin where he makes very nice custom bikes, tomiicycles.com. C&V participant [MENTION=252763]Flog00[/MENTION] saw my original notes was so impressed with Tomii's work that he ordered a bike, currently being built and chronicled here http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...uilt-bike.html in C&V.)

The bike turned out to be spectacular, far more than I expected. It and the Masi are about equal but with different gearing so their riding experiences are different. I rode a century on it earlier this summer, and rode it up Cadillac Mt. in Acadia Nat'l Park in September. One final note - the catalogs back then called it the Team Champion but the TT decal said Champion Team. Leave it to the French to build a great bike and play around with the words! (Special thanks go to [MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION], [MENTION=29368]rootboy[/MENTION], [MENTION=124730]SJX426[/MENTION] and others I've forgotten for their components, help and info.)

This was on the north side of rt117. I was trying to remember where I took that pic. A search through DeLorme Street Atlas showed a cemetery in Sudbury. But on further review I believe this may have been the big cemetery just east of the rt27 intersection in Maynard.

Happy BDay (belated)!

Thanks, Jim.

None this afternoon, way too windy to ride safely. Started out, but got blown around, and eventually off of the roadway, and on to the shoulder. No crash or anything serious, just decided it wasn't worth the risk or possibility of getting blown into traffic. One of those things you learn to deal with.

Bill

Was awake at 0300 this morning. Got out at 0415 for a 4.2 mile pavement pounding followed by some breakfast then back out for 52 cold, windy and occasionally rainy miles.

It's too early in the season to be this cold in the Washington, DC area. The nearest airport reported 29F with 24 mph winds gusting to 33 mph when I started out for a 22 mile ride, but I had on the right layers of clothing and was pretty comfortable. Saw only two other cyclists the entire time I was out there.

I will ride in a summer rain. (cover my leather saddle though)
Had a Really great ride today. It was a clear cold 45F with a North wind blowing. It was good just because it's not hot summer as we have too much of here in N Fl. Even greater because I was totally covered from head to toe with Helmet ,ski mask over face/head , gloves, warm up top and pants . About 1100 hrs. there seemed to be very few fellow bikers on the street. When I sailed by a group of younger (middle aged +) people at a bus stop, I heard one of the ladies loudly remark "Damn Kids and their 10 speeds". Took a second to soak in that she was talking about me. ME!! Soon to be 72 year old ME !!! All the grey hair and beard was covered . H3LL !! I was a kid again LOL . I started to go back and thank her. Thanks Lady ! Talk about making an old guys day.

I did my commute again today. It was about 39degF when I left the house this morning. The run home was, ah, shall we say, colder, about 29degF with a 15mph headwind. My full-fingered biking gloves weren't quite up to x-c skiing warmth levels. :eek:

I bagged out again today, no excuses, just cannot handle a bicycle in winds any longer. Hand strength is crappy from the PD, I am going to see about some PT for the hands and arms next week. I'll be back on the roads tomorrow, if I can get away from the office. Record cold here, again tonight, but winds are supposed to be gone. A warm up for a few days before the next cold spell around Thanksgiving.

Bill

Clouds, wind and even some liquid sunshine along with a SW FL. freezing 44F temperature for my 32 miles this AM. Dressing appropriately with a winter cycling jacket I haven't used since moving to FL. in '86 allowed me to enjoy the nip in the air.

I got in a 25.2 mile ride this afternoon, winds have died down to a slight SE breeze and the temps are in the low-mid 50's. We set record lows the last two nights, supposed to warm up a bit, then back down again.

Bill

Not today, and not for weeks to come. Major spill on the Allez on Thursday the 13th (Friday the 13th came a day early). Tried going up a driveway onto the sidewalk and it wasn't smooth, had a 1½ lip. The tire hit that and slid throwing me off the bike with great force at about 15mph. (Can you spell Law Suit?)
Two fractures to the right pelvis—one of the more painful injuries—abrasions and contusions, and one scarred helmet.
I'm still on two wheels but it's a wheelchair. I'll be in physical rehab for three weeks after five days in the VA hospital. I just don't bounce as well at 68 as I did at 28. In a word, Ouch!

I'm seriously thinking about a Catrike. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=418713

This pic isn't the accident but you get the idea...
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=418711

http://pedalmybike.com/userTrackies/myTrackie4957.jpg

Not the type of post I was hoping to read regarding the day's ride.....Heal well and enjoy the CAT if you get one.

........Tried going up a driveway onto the sidewalk and it wasn't smooth, had a 1½ lip. The tire hit that and slid throwing me off the bike with great force at about 15mph. ...........

I thought that with age comes the understanding that "a swallow angle = sudden impact with terra-firma".

(Can you spell Law Suit?)**********????...........

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...hmentid=418711**********??Follow the arrow**********?

Greybeard,
Man that sucks, as you already know, pain must be your constant companion right now. Keep us posted on how the rehab goes for you.

Bill

Not to Bogart the thread, I managed to log a nice 29 mile ride this afternoon. A bit warmer today and next to no winds.

Bill

No ride since Sunday due to the drop in temps and the high winds. Went out this afternoon with the wife for a chilly and windy 22 mile ride. Should be back in the 70s and 80s for the weekend.

Finally got a chance to get out for a good ride (for me) on the new-too-me Specialized Crosstrail...less than a mile of dirt and grass and 10 miles of pavement...wasn't going for speed...just a casual night ride...wound up Idling at a lot of "push the button and wait to cross" intersections...but still had a very enjoyable hour long ride...and first time ever getting used to this new bike...think I need to go back to the shorter stem and get more upright as it seemed I had far more leg power in a more upright riding position on this bike...the front "city fork" suspension was a very welcome addition cutting through the grass and scraffing the sidewalks on the kenda V block 8 700/38 tires as there are no bike lanes in my locale...here's the run...

&action_type_map=[%22fitness.bikes%22]&action_ref_map=[]#]Rode 10.87 mi on 11/20/2014 on 11/20/2014 | RUNNING Training Log Entry | MapMyRun

Ride felt great...Thanks for looking, Bill. :)

Rode to where I work for my final weigh-in (27.5 lbs. lost, 5% loss in body fat), rode back home, washed the car, shoehorned the bike into the car, went to enter car in car show, rode home.

Sorry to hear about your crash. I'm your age and I know all about those sudden falls, although I've been extremely lucky and haven't broken any bones as of yet. If you are going to look at trikes, see if there's an ICE dealer in your area. When my wife was looking to replace her old Performer trike, we looked at the Catrike (and others) and also looked at the ICE trikes. Cats are made in Orlando, not too far from us, so that was our first place to look. After looking at several makes and models, she went with the ICE since they were much better built than Cats and all of their models are foldable (except the Vortex). All their models are indirect steering, which causes much less vibration to the hands and arms than direct steering does. All Cats have direct steering. If you want a fast race trike, the Vortex (VTX) is lighter in weight (22 lbs) than the Cat. My wife ended up with an ICE Sprint 26 and she absolutely loves it.

25.1 miles this afternoon.

Bill

Greybeard, recover quickly!

I rode my commute today. It was, um, chilly, but not terribly so. I wore my ski gloves, with chemical hand warmers inside at my sweetie's insistence. My hands didn't get cold.

Rode to the car show at the Nugget in Laughlin, then rode back around dusk. . . .

28 miles in the afternoon. First ride in a week. Cold but not too windy, which made it pleasant enough.