Falcon Black Diamond
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This was my first ten speed back in 1973... a bike boom bike with Simplex Prestige derailleurs, Weinmann brakes, a swaged Sugino Maxi crankset, and a gas pipe frame. It has since been mutated many times into such things as a winter commuter, an around-the-block bike for my Dad. It was set to become a City bike, but was pre-empted by the Trek TX 700 below. Falcon Cycles Ltd. is still around. |
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My first "good" bike. Or, what I now call a toy bike. I got it in 1975 or so. It is a typical 70's Campy race bike, but has also lived as a fendered commuter, and as a not-so comfortable tourer with a TA triple. Now it's back to much as it started. Proteus Designs is long gone, but you can read about them at Classic Bicycle Rendezvous. For more details on this bike, click here |
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Back in 1977, two friends decided to start a company to build touring bicycles and I joined them before the torch was lit for the first time. At the time, you couldn't buy what we considered a touring bike. You couldn't buy a bike with cantilever brakes or braze on's for racks and all the frame geometry's were more suited to racing. This is the bike I built for myself. It was practically the only bike I rode between 1977 and 1998. The geometry is very relaxed. It is a very comfortable bike for long distance riding. A few parts have changed over the years, but not much. The only things that clamps on the frame is the front derailleur and the headlight.
Doug Curtiss is still building CurtLo
frames.
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This is the bike that got me back building bikes. I picked up
the frame for cheap in 1998. I thought I could build it up with parts
I had laying around and leave it at a friends house in Toronto to use when
I visit there. Little did I know that rear wheels were now 130 mm
wide and short reach brakes were now normal reach brakes... I ended up
buying a lot of new parts. And besides that, the clearances are so
tight I couldn't fit fenders on it... what good is a city bike
(or any bike for that matter) without fender?
This was also my intro to indexed shifting. For more details on this bike, click here. Frameset For Sale |
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I got this in 1999. It sounded like an interesting frame. And it built up into a nice bike. I think it has had more rear derailleurs on it than all my other bikes combined! This is probably because I decided to try Moustache handlebars promoted by Grant Peterson at Rivendell bicycles. These bars seem to 'need' bar end shifters. I have always hated bar end shifters. Well, actually, at first I thought they were really Cool. I put some on my Proteus when I first built it up, and they quickly lost their appeal. I switched back to down tube shifters. (Shifting with bar end shifters is kind of like playing guitar with your feet... ackward?) Any ways, I have switched derailleirs many times and even switched to the 1976 vintage DuraAce bar end shifters I had on the Proteus. It has been so unreliable it drove me to try Campy Ergo for my Mariposa. I'm now using Campy Ergo shifters on this bike with the M-bars. I wondered how they will work with 1/2 step gearing, and they seem to work just fine. Double shifts worked easily with them even on my first ever ride with Ergo. This has been my main commuting bike. My commute is about a 22 mile round trip, but I've only been riding about 2-4 days per week. Actually, this is usually my most ridden bike. It has been quite reliable with the exception of a few breakdowns on the Ergo shifters. This is also the first bike I have tried "clipless" pedals on. After reading opinions about various pedals on the iBOB list and other places, I selected Speedplay frogs. I like them a lot. They remind me how much I liked old slotted cleats with toe clips and straps. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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Ordered in December 2001. Mariposa Bicycles are made by Mike Barry and Tom Hinton at Bicycle Specialties in Toronto, Ontario. Maybe it was because I was so frustrated with the poor shifting on the Miyata Road Gentleman, maybe I cirummed to marketing pressures, or maybe it was Mike Barry's description of Ergo as the best new thing in cycling in twenty years, but I scratched my plans to build this bike with Phil 7 speed freewheel wheels, TA cyclotourist cranks, and DuoPar derailleurs and went to the extreme opposite with a Campy 10 speed triple. As far as gearing, this is my only non Neuvo Record bike that doesn't currently have half-step gearing. One of my rationalizations for trying the Campy 10 speed stuff was that was the only thing that comes close to half-step. The Miyata for example, is a 7 speed and has 14 evenly spaced gears between 40" and 100". The Campy 10 speed here has 14 evenly spaced gears between 40" and 100". The 10 speed stuff really doesn't buy you anything except a monster multiple shift between the high and low halfs of the range. With the half-step gearing the next gear is never more than a double shift away. To be fair, double shifts are a pain in the butt with bar end shifters, but are easy with down tube shifters, and maybe with ergo shifters (I'll report on that later). Also to be fair, I must say that the half-step gearing is heavier. To get the same range of gears, the small chain ring and the freewheel cogs have to be bigger. I should also add that some claim that current components are not well suited to half-step. If I had the spare change to verify that, I would, but what I have tried has worked just fine. Part of this may be due to the increased expectations people seem to have about shifting under load. I also will agree that beyond 7 speeds most gearing is already spaced close enough that half-stepping isn't necessary or productive, but the range without multiple shifts isn't there. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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Just ordered the frame on 1-Oct-02. Just couldn't refuse the price that Encore Sports was selling it for. I set it up as a fixie bike. I'm going to use mostly parts I have lying around (yeah, I've heard that before). But it really was parts I had around save the rear hub and the spokes. This was replaced as my fixed gear bike by the Trek 610 shown below For more details on this bike, click here. Frameset For Sale |
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Just ordered the frame on 10-Dec-02. Again, a great price from Encore Sports. This is my winter bike. I never could quite get myself to complete the rebuild of my old Falcon into a winter bike (maybe another fixie). Shimano Nexus 7 speed rear and Nexus generator front. I had to make some parts to get the Nexus 7 speed to work with vertical dropouts. They have been fairly successfull, but have given me some trouble. I really need a bike with horizontal dropouts. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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An ebay purchase. The plan is to pull parts off the Miyata Prologue fixed gear bike and rebuild it on this frame. The advantage being this frame has eyelets and clearance for fenders. Ahhh, a more useful bike. Very nice ride. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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On a whim I got this on ebay. It's what Litespeed sold as both their cyclocross bike and their touring bike. Those seem like the have very different requirements. Rationalizations: Plans here are for non-ordinary Ti bike. Fenders, wide range half-step gearing, and maybe a generator hub are good possibilities. It has gone through more evolution than any othe bike I have. The first build was mostly an experiment in gearting. It had a half-step geared 9 speed cassette. I wasn't happy with it. It looks like half-step ends with 7 speeds for me. The second build found it reborn as a commuter bike. I swapped the fork to make fender and light mounting easier. I liked this build, but I wasn't done yet.
On the third build it remained
a commuting bike. I swapped the fork again, this time increasing the
trail and changing the front end geometry quite a bit. I'll add more
here later as I decide if I like it. Many other parts were changed
as well.
For more details on this bike, click here. |
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Not sure why I got this one. But it's a nice bike with nice components on it. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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Again, not sure why. But when I finally saved up enough to buy a nice bike back in 1975 there were two bikes I wanted. A Holdsworth Pro or a Falcon San Remo. My local high end dealer was out of anything in my size so I ended up ordering my Proteus. So I guess this is sort of fulfilling an old dream. There's a lot of great Holdsworth information on the web. As best I can determine so far, it is about a 1982 Holdsworth Special. But most of the components on it are early 70's Campy NR, so maybe it's older than I think.
For more details on this bike, click here. |
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This is an ebay gamble. An unpainted 1968 Atala of unknown model. It's probably one of the better ones judging by all the chrome.
It has been painted, but I haven't appled the decals yet. I think I have most of the parts
required to build it almost as new.
Frameset For Sale |
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This is another ebay gamble. This had some dissapointments. A chainring was badly bent in shipping, the stem was well stuck in the steerer, the tension bolt on the baddly sagged saddle was broken, and lots of other little things wrong. On the bright side, I did learn how to repair Brooks saddles. It's original saddle can be seen on the Holdsworth above. Still, it is a good solid frame. I built it up as a city bike. I even rode it on a new years day populare with the Randonneurs Ontario. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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For some reason, unknown to me, I decided to build a mountain bike. I think it has something to do with trips to the Canadian Rockies. It really looked like it would be great to ride in the mountains. Unfortunatly, there are no mountains in Ohio. There aren't even very many places where you are allowed to ride a mountain bike.... but I still got it. Since I like the ride of the Fore Runner above, I got this Valley Runner in a smaller size and have started collecting parts. The photo here isn't actually the frame I had. What I had was one size smaller. When I was going to begin assembly I measured things and decided it was really too small for me, so I passed it on to another iBOB who has since passed it on again.
For more details on this bike, click here. Sold |
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December 2004 and it seemed like a good idea at the time. The ebay title said "CINELLI road bike w/ Campagnolo Delta brakes - 62cm" but after the auction started the seller sold the Delta brakes out from under the auction and replaced them "with some nice low cost DiaCompe center pulls from a Nishiki or Centurion." I didn't really want delta brakes anyways. The other problem with the bike is that it didn't have the original fork. Mike Barry at Bicycle Specialties in Toronto, Ontario got me a real Cinelli fork and painted it to match my frame. I now, two years later, have all the parts to build this up properly. All I need to do is build the wheels.
For more details on this bike, click here. |
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Starting the quest for a commute bike that will take bigger tires. I also wanted to convert myself over to "modern" crossover gearing. This bike is my first try. It didn't work out all that well, but I put quite a few commute miles on it anyway. This frame looked like it could handle at least 35 mm tires, but it doesn't. I tried 39 mm tires and they touched the brake bridge. 35 mm tires cleared the bridge but the only brakes I had (Nashbar/Tektro long reach dual pivots) wouldn't go around them. Finally 32 mm tires fit, but just barely, leaving room for a close fitting fender. The brakes were even a problem with the rims. They don't open wide enough for a 24 mm Vuelta Typhoon rims at least with the stock pads. I put in some threaded V brake pads with all the spacers on the outside. It just fit. Most of the problems were the brakes, not the frame, but I was pushing everything to the limits. The rest of my setup wasn't optimum either. The stem I used was too short for use with mountain bars, so the bike is a bit cramped. The fizik saddle made the color scheme for the bike, but of course, it wasn't comfortable. It was replaced with a Brooks Pro as soon as I had repaired a sagged old one. Really a nice frame; a nicely made Japanese lugged frame made by Maruish. I enjoyed the ride, the fat tires, and the gearing. It just wasn't what I wanted.
For more details on this bike, click here. Frameset For Sale |
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Another "good deal" bike from ebay. It's set up with a mix of Campy parts with carbon fiber and titanium bits. It seems that bikes without fenders and lights just don't get ridden much. I haven't ridden this one enought to decide if it was worth the time to build up. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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This is another ebay impulse buy. I placed a very low bid and somehow "won" the bike. Must have been a good deal. I had offers to buy it before I even had it in my hands.
I believe it is a 1983 Raleigh Prestige GS, but I could be wrong. It seems to match the bike in the
1983 Raleigh Catalog
, but that's the only thing I have to go on. The catalog pictures it all chrome, but list it as painted.
If it is a Prestige GS, it is made of
For more details on this bike, click here. Frameset or maybe the Entire Bike For Sale |
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Continuing the quest for a big tire commuter. Another ebay bike I didn't expect to "win". Must have been a good deal too. Once again, I had offers to buy it before I even had it in my hands. I built this up on New Years Day 2006 and rode it to work on the 2nd. I was really dissapointed that it couldn't fit anything bigger than a 32 mm tire with a fender on the back. There seems to be a trend here. I rode it nearly every day till mid April. After that, I took it apart and it's waiting to be reborn or be passed on. For more details on this bike, click here. Frameset For Sale |
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Another nostalga bike. I used to work on a friends 1969 Raleigh Pro. It was the same color and size as this one. A rough riding bike, but nice to look at. Well, this one isn't so nice to look at. The paint job is in bad shape and the decals are faided. It's still awaiting restoration.
For more details on this bike, click here. |
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I also picked up a Recherche by Dave Moulton. It's a really nice bike, it has seen a lot of miles and really needs a new paint job. Frameset Possibly For Sale |
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Well, I finally got my Falcon. Not sure was model it really is, but it's close enough. I can see the Reynolds stamp in the steerer tube. This photo isn't my bike, but what I hope it will look like in the near future. It was a complete bike, but in very rough shape when I got it. The components are OK, but the bike looked really bad because of a really BAD repaint someone had done on it. I'm not sure what parts it came with were original, but the Campy headset, seatpost, and hubs probably are. Maybe even the Sugino crank is and probably the bars and stem. Restoration is in progress. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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A beautifully made frame and a nice ride. It's the relaxed geometry 'sport' version of the Signature frame. It came set up with a mix of High end Shimano touring parts and a Brooks Pro saddle. I may rebuild it with different components that suit me better. Friends are trying to convince me to build it up with Campy Super Record. That would be nice, but I think I would ride it more if it stayed more of a touring bike setup For more details on this bike, click here. |
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This is another nice old Trek that has been modified to be more of a touring bike with the addition of cantilever brakes, water bottles, and rack mounts. It was all done nicely with a nice repaint afterwards. It may become a backup commuter. For more details on this bike, click here. Possibly For Sale |
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This bike came to me looking a bit rough, but not as bad as the ebay pictures made it look. It is cleaning up nicely. It has almost all the original parts save the saddle and the rims. It looks like the wheels were rebuilt at the point of sale. The rims are branded by the shop that sold the bike. And a friend has supplied me with a Unicanitor 'Hecho en Mexico' saddle. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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This is intended to be built up with the parts from my Miyata Fore Runner and become my new winter bike. This will enable me to build the Fore Runner up the mountain bike I intended to build on the Valley Runner into. Nice paint job. Nice color. Haven't built it up yet. |
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The front end fits me! We thought the stoker's seat would fit Peggy, but now I'm not too sure. I had a little scare with a possible crack in the top tube, so I never assembled the bike. I need to assemble it now. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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Needs a few changes to fit me acceptably. It's really a bit small at 63 cm. The Simplex seatpost is not quite long enough to fit me and the toe clips are too short. So a few minor adjustments and it should be good to go. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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May be too nice to ride, but that would be a sin. It was supposed to be a MINT condition 1977 bike. It won a first place at Larz Anderson for unrestored French bikes and at another show. It was assembled by Spence Wolf in 1978. An unusual, mostly Italian, build. Campagnolo headset, hubs, and derailleurs; Cinelli bars on a singer stem; and TA crank and pedals; and Mafac brakes. This bike used to belong to Mark Petry. It looks like it has gone thru a few changes over the years. Since it's not really all original, I won't feel too bad if I change components some. Mark tells me it is the same bike pictured on the Classic Rendezvous Alex Singer page. The interesting thing is that the bike is listed as a 1972 there. The front fender was damaged in shipping to me and repaired by Bicycle Specialties in Toronto, Ontario. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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It has an somewhat messy repaint that was badly damaged in shippment, but I would have wanted to repaint it anyways. It was originally a red metalic paint with a white head tube and panels on the seat tube. I was told it had a Reynolds 531 butted main tubes decal and that the forks and stays were Columbus. It had been converted for touring use by the addition of a Pleicher rear carrier and the subsitution of a 42 tooth ring for the 45 tooth, a Campy 1st generation Rally derailer replaced the NR one, and the wheels were rebuilt from tubulars to 27 inch clinchers. It was originally red with white panels, but I think I will repaint it like this. For more details on this bike, click here. Frameset Possibly For Sale |
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The first bike I've purchased NEW at shop since 1973! A really nice ride. Completely stock and very usefull. |
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Not quite all original. The brakes, bars, and stem have been replaces, as well as the wheels were converted from tubulars to 27" clinchers. The largest frame size the International came in was 24 1/2". That's a bit small for me, but the bike rides very nicely. As the 1976 catalog said "The frame has a longer wheelbase than the Professional for a softer more resiliant ride." For more details on this bike, click here. |
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I got this as a frame only, and in need of at least some touch up, if not a repaint. I guess I usually buy project bikes because they cost less than nice ones like the Singer above. The geometry looks like it should be a really nice British ride, and one of the better fits of the non custom bikes I have. Lets see if I can touch up the paint and get it on the road before the next decade. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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OK, just one more bike...
1979 - Thanks to brazing monkeys, Colnagos are now available via bi cycle shops, catalogs, tractor supply stores, Ace hardware, and select 7-Ele vens. So you can see this is a valuable vintage. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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A 1978
This was probably a really nice when it was new. It has defiantly seen some miles. But
in 1990, it has had a few braze on's added and been repainted. The owner didn't
cheap out on the modifications. He had Joe Bell do the paint. Unfortunately, they
also gave it the The bike has braze on's for shift levers, water bottle, and top tube and bottom bracket cable guides. These may be original. I've seen other '76 - '78 Cinelli' with some or all of these braze on's. The bicyle also has braze on's for mounting a rear rack; consisting of eyelets on each rear dropout and above the brake bridge; and for a generator on the front wheel. My guess is that these were added before the frame was repainted. For more details on this bike, click here. |
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The serial number on the bike begins with the letter But wait! If you look through old Raleigh catalogs you notice Raleigh made a Competition model in 1969 , and then made a Competition Mk II in 1973 , but the catalogs don't list any Competition models between those two. Another unusual thing about this bike is the color. Most of the frame is a lavender color with blue panels. It appears to the the original paint. I've only heard of one other Competition in this color scheme. The components are about the same as pictured in the 1969 Raleigh catalog.
For more details on this bike, click here.
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For more details on this bike, click here. |
Is this the end ?
I'm beginning to doubt it. I already have plans for another CurtLo and, if possible, another Mariposa.
