Show Your "American Builders Only" Steel Rides
07-04-15, 03:22 PM
#102
Senior Member
There's nothing better than an American Steel thread. Somebody on the CR list said t'other day that nobody had a more perfectly integrated, essential bicycle frame than Cinelli or DeRosa. Since we're all entitled to our opinions, I'd never challenge that. But I will say that I'd give up more than one Cinelli or DeRosa, in a heartbeat, for one of gomango's Kvales. Kvale, and other kindred builders, sculpt lines out of tubes and lugs that pretty much force me to stop, gaze, ponder, and smile. After seeing a photo of the seat lug cluster on my DiNucci-built '76 Strawberry, Bryant Bainbridge said: "Classic DiNucci Lines everywhere you look." Mark was barely out of his teens when he built it.
I can't say this quality is unique to American builders, but I see a conscious attempt by US builders, particularly from the late '70s, to engage our eyes, and brains, at a different level. Not necessarily by making lug shapes and shorelines more complex, but by sculpting lines that draw our attention and reward our gaze.
I'm at N-x, so I don't have anything new-to-me to show. But to celebrate the 4th, here are my '70s-'80s vintage small-builder bikes...
'76 DiNucci/Strawberry; "...Lines everywhere you look"
'76 Peter Mooney; Peter's a Brit, but he settled in Boston in the '70s, joining a bunch of young Americans who apprenticed in England and returned to the US to build. I can't recall seeing another double-scalloped seat tube top treatment like this.
'78 Bruce Gordon: the lugs are worked and thinned, but this doesn't have Bruce's higher-end asymmetrical hole treatment, which really slays me.
'82 Columbine: This is still kind of an early frame for them, they started building in '79. It has the Columbine flower lug cut-out, but none of the "fancy" lugwork seen later on.
'82 Bernie Mikkelsen: Bernie's been building forever, but isn't very well known. This frame is from what he called his "French period," with French-style fishmouth treatments on the stays and fork blades. I don't seem to have a photo of the stays or blades, though, so there's a pic of the fastback seat cluster.
I can't say this quality is unique to American builders, but I see a conscious attempt by US builders, particularly from the late '70s, to engage our eyes, and brains, at a different level. Not necessarily by making lug shapes and shorelines more complex, but by sculpting lines that draw our attention and reward our gaze.
I'm at N-x, so I don't have anything new-to-me to show. But to celebrate the 4th, here are my '70s-'80s vintage small-builder bikes...
'76 DiNucci/Strawberry; "...Lines everywhere you look"
'76 Peter Mooney; Peter's a Brit, but he settled in Boston in the '70s, joining a bunch of young Americans who apprenticed in England and returned to the US to build. I can't recall seeing another double-scalloped seat tube top treatment like this.
'78 Bruce Gordon: the lugs are worked and thinned, but this doesn't have Bruce's higher-end asymmetrical hole treatment, which really slays me.
'82 Columbine: This is still kind of an early frame for them, they started building in '79. It has the Columbine flower lug cut-out, but none of the "fancy" lugwork seen later on.
'82 Bernie Mikkelsen: Bernie's been building forever, but isn't very well known. This frame is from what he called his "French period," with French-style fishmouth treatments on the stays and fork blades. I don't seem to have a photo of the stays or blades, though, so there's a pic of the fastback seat cluster.
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Fuggedaboutit!
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07-04-15, 08:24 PM
#103
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I hope you end up liking the frame. can't wait to see how it turns out.
07-04-15, 08:25 PM
#104
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There's nothing better than an American Steel thread. Somebody on the CR list said t'other day that nobody had a more perfectly integrated, essential bicycle frame than Cinelli or DeRosa. Since we're all entitled to our opinions, I'd never challenge that. But I will say that I'd give up more than one Cinelli or DeRosa, in a heartbeat, for one of gomango's Kvales. Kvale, and other kindred builders, sculpt lines out of tubes and lugs that pretty much force me to stop, gaze, ponder, and smile. After seeing a photo of the seat lug cluster on my DiNucci-built '76 Strawberry, Bryant Bainbridge said: "Classic DiNucci Lines everywhere you look." Mark was barely out of his teens when he built it.
I can't say this quality is unique to American builders, but I see a conscious attempt by US builders, particularly from the late '70s, to engage our eyes, and brains, at a different level. Not necessarily by making lug shapes and shorelines more complex, but by sculpting lines that draw our attention and reward our gaze.
I'm at N-x, so I don't have anything new-to-me to show. But to celebrate the 4th, here are my '70s-'80s vintage small-builder bikes...
'76 DiNucci/Strawberry; "...Lines everywhere you look"
'76 Peter Mooney; Peter's a Brit, but he settled in Boston in the '70s, joining a bunch of young Americans who apprenticed in England and returned to the US to build. I can't recall seeing another double-scalloped seat tube top treatment like this.
'78 Bruce Gordon: the lugs are worked and thinned, but this doesn't have Bruce's higher-end asymmetrical hole treatment, which really slays me.
'82 Columbine: This is still kind of an early frame for them, they started building in '79. It has the Columbine flower lug cut-out, but none of the "fancy" lugwork seen later on.
'82 Bernie Mikkelsen: Bernie's been building forever, but isn't very well known. This frame is from what he called his "French period," with French-style fishmouth treatments on the stays and fork blades. I don't seem to have a photo of the stays or blades, though, so there's a pic of the fastback seat cluster.
I can't say this quality is unique to American builders, but I see a conscious attempt by US builders, particularly from the late '70s, to engage our eyes, and brains, at a different level. Not necessarily by making lug shapes and shorelines more complex, but by sculpting lines that draw our attention and reward our gaze.
I'm at N-x, so I don't have anything new-to-me to show. But to celebrate the 4th, here are my '70s-'80s vintage small-builder bikes...
'76 DiNucci/Strawberry; "...Lines everywhere you look"
'76 Peter Mooney; Peter's a Brit, but he settled in Boston in the '70s, joining a bunch of young Americans who apprenticed in England and returned to the US to build. I can't recall seeing another double-scalloped seat tube top treatment like this.
'78 Bruce Gordon: the lugs are worked and thinned, but this doesn't have Bruce's higher-end asymmetrical hole treatment, which really slays me.
'82 Columbine: This is still kind of an early frame for them, they started building in '79. It has the Columbine flower lug cut-out, but none of the "fancy" lugwork seen later on.
'82 Bernie Mikkelsen: Bernie's been building forever, but isn't very well known. This frame is from what he called his "French period," with French-style fishmouth treatments on the stays and fork blades. I don't seem to have a photo of the stays or blades, though, so there's a pic of the fastback seat cluster.
07-04-15, 10:33 PM
#106
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07-05-15, 05:19 AM
#107
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@ PCB
Beautiful bikes pictured above. Right up my alley.
After riding a lot of bikes, most of us settle in on exacting frameset characteristics that click all the boxes.
People like what they like and I like Chris Kvale at this point. His handwork is top notch and the framesets ride beautifully.
The nice thing is his shop is ten minutes from our house.
I intend to replace my Bilenky tourer with something a little fancier in a few years and I sure hope he's still building at that point.
[IMG]
Untitled by gomango1849, on Flickr[/IMG]
Beautiful bikes pictured above. Right up my alley.
After riding a lot of bikes, most of us settle in on exacting frameset characteristics that click all the boxes.
People like what they like and I like Chris Kvale at this point. His handwork is top notch and the framesets ride beautifully.
The nice thing is his shop is ten minutes from our house.
I intend to replace my Bilenky tourer with something a little fancier in a few years and I sure hope he's still building at that point.
[IMG]
Untitled by gomango1849, on Flickr[/IMG]
07-05-15, 08:10 AM
#108
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Well said PCB, beautiful bikes you have there.
Last edited by Vonruden; 07-06-15 at 06:08 AM.
07-05-15, 10:31 AM
#109
Full Member
Proteus Touring Bike
Made in College Park, MD around 1974.
I traded this away a few years ago because it was too small for me.
I traded this away a few years ago because it was too small for me.
07-05-15, 11:53 AM
#110
aka Tom Reingold
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@pcb, I think I see your point. There does seem to be a particular approach unique to some American builders. @gomango's Kvale ahead is a good example.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
07-17-15, 01:19 PM
#112
Full Member
Thread Starter
Bruce Gordon site >>>>Nothing is better than a bike that fits
07-17-15, 02:53 PM
#113
Banned.
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Well, I just so happen to have a couple/three that bleed red, white and blue
Early 80s Davidson:
2002 Davidson:
1979 Sparrow:
DD
Early 80s Davidson:
2002 Davidson:
1979 Sparrow:
DD
07-17-15, 03:18 PM
#115
Senior Member
77 Romic & 89 Trek
Romic 75 frame made for me in 1977. All DB Champion #1 :
And an 89 Trek.... notable for American made tubing (True Temper Team) and because AFAIK, it was the last year
Trek made steel road bikes....although they continued to make steel touring bikes into the 90's:
And an 89 Trek.... notable for American made tubing (True Temper Team) and because AFAIK, it was the last year
Trek made steel road bikes....although they continued to make steel touring bikes into the 90's:
Last edited by vtchuck; 10-01-15 at 01:18 PM.
07-17-15, 03:27 PM
#116
If I own it, I ride it
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07-17-15, 05:02 PM
#118
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Looks better in person. 
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07-17-15, 06:31 PM
#119
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
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You know, there really needs to be more love for Albert Eisentraut.
The frame is from 1978. The stuff hanging on it . . . isn't.
The frame is from 1978. The stuff hanging on it . . . isn't.
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"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
07-17-15, 07:49 PM
#121
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Let me be the first to throw a Hampsten in the mix.
07-18-15, 04:17 AM
#123
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My 94 Ritchey Road Logic
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07-18-15, 08:29 AM
#125
Cyclist
'92 O'Brien. Way too small, sold a long time ago. I really wish it had been my size!
