delbiker1 

Just had it PC'd


Original
I am curious about the year model of your Ochsner. What color is it and what components were stock? I have an Ochsner, originally blue, that I purchased new in 1992, but I am not certain of the actual model year. It came with 105 indexed, downtube shifters. Mavic MA 2 rims with 105 hubs. I am in the process of rebuilding this bike and just had it powder coated. I purchased new decals, same as original, from Velocal. I have done some research but not all that much info available. Serial number base seems to not exist. thanks

uncle uncle

My frame was blue; the same blue as your frame was. I purchased it in 1985, or 86, while I worked at a bicycle shop. It came like a kit, totally disassembled, and I built it up with the shop manager (at the time) after work and on weekends. By totally, I mean I had to build the wheels from the components, install the bottom bracket, install the fork, etc. With the work and time involved in assembling it, I don't really think it made much sense, cost wise, unless you were like me, and had access to the tools and the know how (most of the know how came from the shop manager, not me).

You could order different groupos with it, at the time, like Campy Victory, Campy Triomphe, and Shimano (something). I chose the Victory groupo. The rims were Mavic (MA40's I believe). Cinelli bars and stem (I believe).

I think the same frame was available for numerous years (that's conjecture on my part, as I have no proof) and the parts for the kit were probably updated as time passed.

Mine was the one and only to pass thru the shop, as the business owner didn't want to get into selling Oschner's... I wasn't even allowed to put the bike shop sticker on it, which was fine, I didn't really want to anyways. The owner was a bit set in their ways.

Cl904

delbiker1 

Thank you much for your reply. I have never seen another Ochsner in person, just pictures, and mostly on Bike Forums. The shop I bought mine from only had two and the other was purchased by one of their employees. It seems most of them were that blue color. I have seen a couple of pictures of red ones.

uncle uncle

Blue by far seems to be the most prevalent color choice. I've seen pictures of both red colored and all chrome Oschners. I believe both of these colors might have been reserved for fancier tubesets.

HPL

My "Aelle" Bottecchia feels similar to my "SL" Colnago. After riding many frame sets of different tubing grades and manufacture, I still believe that fit and geometry are more important, eschewing a weight obsession, to enjoyment and efficiency. That being said, I only weigh about 135 lbs and tend not to cause much torsional stress to a frame, nor does the road "feel" significantly different regardless of the bike unless I change wheels, rims, tires, and/or pressures; also to include saddles, gloves, and/or bar wrap. I've never ridden carbon or Ti frames so no reference, but even steel compared to aluminum doesn't phase me much. I'm probably not riding long enough (25-50 miles) rides to feel it. I've not compared steel vs. alloy bars, but with a 50's bike (Lygie) getting built I'll be riding with steel bars on a race frame for the first time so should be interesting how the arms feel with that difference. The main difference I notice in a frame comes more down to what size frame I'm riding when fit properly. I'm 5'7", but I have comfortably ridden frames from 47cm up to 61cm, the smaller frames are in general much stiffer. I'm weird, I just enjoy riding anything that can go fast.

Manny66 

Back in the 80's I had a OLMO made with Aelle and another OLMO made with Columbus SL. The SL had full Campy Super Record and was my main Race bike, the Aelle had Campy, Galli, Modolo and Ofmega parts on it. It was built as a Training bike with a moderate $ investment and nothing to cry over If I wrecked it.

I Rode both bikes up some pretty steep climbs and some hairy descents, full blown sprints and some pretty fast Crits. My Aelle OLMO succumbed to top tube corrosion as I took it Hawaii for 2 years and I sold it dirt cheap. After everything was said and done I never had a preferance as both bikes rode very well and never let me down. I rode the Aelle Olmo in a race in Japan and everyone there thought It was the greatest thing ever just because it was the only ITALIAN bike in the bunch. ( I got spit out the back in the last mile, but I looked good)

I think the tubing doesnt really matter as a bike is a sum of its parts.