Duell Frame EL OS
 

I am still a total failure at downsizing. This frame kept popping up at places I frequent and catching my eye. Finally my resistance broke down and I contacted the seller. Worked out a deal and the other day this baby showed up at my door. First off, I will say this was the best packed frame I have ever gotten Seller did an awesome job.

Took a bit of searching but I finally started digging up some information on these. One key is that the builder's brother did the paint and is still in business. I reached out to him to see if I can source so touch up paint for this. It's really nice but is around 25 years old and does have a few chips in it. The paint overall is really nice though. The highlights and "decals" are all paint. The green logo work is a sweet fade which also portrays a very metallic sheen. The frameset as pictured with the headset, downtube adaptors, and rear dropout set screws weighs a respectable 5 lbs 10 ozs. This will be my third bike made from Columbus EL OS.

As usual, I grabbed a set of pictures of the frame. This is exactly how I received it, haven't even dusted it off yet. Much less, cleaned, polished, or waxed it.

Lots of logos and pantographing on this one. The builder was Jan van Dalen and his name is all over the bike.

The whole frameset:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034410.jpg

Downtube logo:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034413.jpg

Seattube logo:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034414.jpg

Builder's signature and panto lug:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034416.jpg

Rear Brake Bridge:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034418.jpg

Rear dropout:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034419.jpg

Cable guides on lug:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034421.jpg

Nice chrome fork crown:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034422.jpg

Model Name:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034424.jpg

Internal toptube cable routing:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034425.jpg

More:

Art work looking down at the toptube:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034426.jpg

?? Racer, or owner, or what??:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034427.jpg

Logo on top of downtube:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034428.jpg

Beautiful Fork:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034429.jpg

Real headbadge, not a decal:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170034430.jpg


The pictures do not do this frame justice. The overall sheen and such is not captured in these pictures. There are some paint chips and such but overall it is very lovely.

All the graphics appear as spray masks- impressive.

The website for the builder's brother Brady who was the painter from what I've found.

https://www.specialpaintwork.nl/en/

That is a remarkable frame, from the chromed slopping fork crown to the brake bridge. Nice acquisition, what're your build plans. Any background on the mark/brand?

Duell is a Dutch brand of frames made by Jan Van Dalen and within Europe they have quite a name for craftsmanship. Not sure if he's still in business. The shop that took up his bikes around 2009 or so has been bought out and the new business does not mention Duell bikes.

This one was custom made for a customer whom I suspect is the name on the frame. Supposedly a 1996.

Very nice!

Oooh and aaah.
Seriously.
:thumb:

Duell has been adopted in 2006 by Van Herwerden, a famous race shop with their own brand history, in Voorburg, Holland. Van Herwerden still very much exists, and you can still order a custom Duell according to their website.

The Van Herwerden shop, as pictured by yours truly a couple of weeks ago:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...beede4c800.jpg

:thumb: Very nice. ;)

I've seen a few duells here (IRL or on the local CL) and they are very, very nice. Espescially the paintwork (as seen on your pictures too).

They seem to be build up with quality parts, but I cant recall if that should have been Shimano or Campa :)
Perhaps contacting Van Herwerden will tell you more.

Nice buy! Hope it rides as well as it looks.

Nice Duell, they were very popular in the early 90s in the Westland near The Hague, most were custom build.
Karel Keller was the person who ordered the frame, it was an option to have your name on the frame.
Jan van Dalen now has a cafe in Baarle-Nassau, near the Belgium border.
I also have a Duell, build for me in 1992. It is my favorite bike.

Awesome thanks! I was at this site last night but the search function wasn't working for some reason and I couldn't find any Duells navigating it. I found mention of John taking over the marketing of the Duells somewhere in my searching.

Thanks for confirming the reason the name was on the bike. I was assuming but didn't know.

Found a 1997 old price list at the site @non-fixie shared on these. Looks like the Vienna was the second most expensive frame and the lightest one.

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/170035890.jpg

Hard to go wrong with EL OS, and the paint is spectacular. The lugs look like they weren't touched...something I've noticed on other dutch roadies. Is that a regional preference?

Nice bike, for a second looking at the thread title i was thinking "Buell did bicycles?" that buell is different sort of bike altogether :)

I'm afraid that's our Calvinist background. If it doesn't serve any other purpose than enjoyment, then it's not on. :(

It’s a fine line between lug thinning and idolatry ;)

The brazed on cable guides attached to the lower head tube lug are neat.
Uncommon. Cool touch.

I'd say my Jan De Reus shows more lug work on it. I could use better pics of that one but this shows some thinning on the lugs.

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/167070219.jpg

Two completely different Dutch bikes for sure though:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/167575141.jpg

super cool

I walked into my office building's bike storage this morning, and guess what was the first thing I noticed? A fixie'd Duell: :eek:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bbb07a3dc8.jpg

Well, it's been awhile but this was finally finished today. Or at least, mostly finished. Too late to get good pics but here's one teaser. I'll try to get proper shots tomorrow.

As pictured with the pedals and all it comes in at 18 lbs, 2 ozs. Not too shabby if it rides well. That means this is one carbon fiber set of wheels from being in the 17 lb range.

Hopefully it get's a proper shakedown tomorrow if my knee will cooperate. Don't mind the position of the bars, miscommunication between me and the guy that built this one. I'll be sorting those out soon.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bf8cc75f1f.jpg

I'll start a picture post of this one once I get a decent set shot of it.

That would get a “Super Nice” on GCN!