Restoring a Concorde Aquila
12-03-12, 04:06 AM
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Restoring a Concorde Aquila
Hi,
I'm restoring a "saved from the dump" Concorde Aquila.
stay tuned for next-step pictures: sandblasted + re-chromed
I'm restoring a "saved from the dump" Concorde Aquila.
stay tuned for next-step pictures: sandblasted + re-chromed
12-03-12, 04:16 AM
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Cool! I love the blue ano brakes. Did you find it with wheels? I found mine in the dump as well, same condition, chrome gone on one chain stay. No money for a 300 euro rechrome+350 euro paint, plus it was a little too big, so now it serves as my urban fixie, yo.
12-03-12, 04:34 AM
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No wheels. Sold the brakes already, funky blue but a lot of scratches on the levers.
I paid €100 for sandblast + rechrome of front and rear fork.
Currently still in black figures due to selling the parts, will switch to red when painted...
I paid €100 for sandblast + rechrome of front and rear fork.
Currently still in black figures due to selling the parts, will switch to red when painted...
12-03-12, 05:16 AM
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Hi Steven,
This I gotta see! Btw that's pretty cheap for a rechrome. Are you going to repaint as well and if so, have you thought of a colourscheme?
Cheers, Don
This I gotta see! Btw that's pretty cheap for a rechrome. Are you going to repaint as well and if so, have you thought of a colourscheme?
Cheers, Don
Likes For Zieleman:
12-03-12, 07:36 AM
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Chromage Mossu, in Waasmunster. Turnaround 4-6 weeks. Sandblasting with very fine sand so details are not lost.
12-03-12, 11:11 AM
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I like the saddle. It looks very comfy!
Keep us posted, it looks like this is going to be a good one!
Keep us posted, it looks like this is going to be a good one!
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12-03-12, 01:13 PM
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OK, here how she currently is:
I'm currently thinking about keeping the original paintscheme. Anyone knows:
- what year this was produced?
- where to find a catalog scan (i've found the one from 1993)?
- what tubing this is (not SLX as there is no helix inside the tubes)?
I'm currently thinking about keeping the original paintscheme. Anyone knows:
- what year this was produced?
- where to find a catalog scan (i've found the one from 1993)?
- what tubing this is (not SLX as there is no helix inside the tubes)?
12-03-12, 01:30 PM
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Although I believe Concordes ran the gamut from bike boom low end to high end Italian built frames, this frame looks rather high end to me, with the Campy dropouts, the embossed fork caps and brake bridge, the Concorde "C" stamped on the head tube. I believe that is also a number hanger below the TT, which would indicate a racing team bike or replica anyway. Most of the better ones used Columbus steel.
What size is the seat post? A 27.2 should indicate Columbus SL I believe...
What size is the seat post? A 27.2 should indicate Columbus SL I believe...
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12-03-12, 02:11 PM
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Thanks, yes, the Aquila was the high-end, racing model. Seattube is 27.2
Last edited by stevenc; 05-10-13 at 04:05 AM. Reason: re-measured seat tube, it is 27.2 after all.
12-03-12, 03:05 PM
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im not sure why, but even Concorde's higher end bikes with details on the headtube lugs were always made of the slightly heavier aelle tubing.
OR,
Concorde's mid/lower end bikes had panto'd lugs and chrome, but were commonly made with aelle tubing..
maybe the brand-distinction was sprinter-like-durability?
12-03-12, 03:16 PM
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Cool! I love the look of these bikes. I'm jealous of you denizens of Benelux countries where Concordes are thrown in the dump! The re-chroming looks nice; I'll be watching to see how the project unfolds.
12-03-12, 06:56 PM
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its aelle tubing.
im not sure why, but even Concorde's higher end bikes with details on the headtube lugs were always made of the slightly heavier aelle tubing.
OR,
Concorde's mid/lower end bikes had panto'd lugs and chrome, but were commonly made with aelle tubing..
maybe the brand-distinction was sprinter-like-durability?
im not sure why, but even Concorde's higher end bikes with details on the headtube lugs were always made of the slightly heavier aelle tubing.
OR,
Concorde's mid/lower end bikes had panto'd lugs and chrome, but were commonly made with aelle tubing..
maybe the brand-distinction was sprinter-like-durability?
12-04-12, 02:45 AM
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There's a lot of Aelle tubed Concordes about, and most of them are very ornately decorated. I think that was done to add Italian flair in heaps to this otherwise Dutch brand - kinda like those Chianti bottles and plaster Roman statues in tacky Italian restaurants 
. Besides, the stout Aelle is well suited to the combination of tall frames and crit racing in the low countries. BTW mine is SL and it rides very stiff and taut. Commuting at an easy pace on it feels rather weird, but when in a rush the frame just flies.
. Besides, the stout Aelle is well suited to the combination of tall frames and crit racing in the low countries. BTW mine is SL and it rides very stiff and taut. Commuting at an easy pace on it feels rather weird, but when in a rush the frame just flies.
12-04-12, 08:23 AM
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I have a tall 531 framed bike that seems to come alive just before 30kph - AD Olympian.
Sorry for the diversion. Now, back to Concorde.
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12-04-12, 08:53 AM
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I rode some mid-end chromo Giants and Peugeots, which perform fine from 10-40 km/h, but never feel "special" anywhere in that range. Just great allrounders.
My ALAN has the weird characteristic of being nice at every speed, but it really, really shines in the corners. Just no bike I've ridden turns as nice. But still, no "sweet spot" in the speed range.
My modern, fat alu Principia is just meant for pushing hard. I rode it in a slow century and it completely beat me up.
05-10-13, 04:17 AM
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Alright! Back from the painter who did an excellent job!
Weight (with paint and chrome) is now 1835 grams for the frame and 612 grams for the fork.
I measured the seat tube and it is 27.2, no helicoils in the tube so I'm pretty sure it's made of SL.
Weight (with paint and chrome) is now 1835 grams for the frame and 612 grams for the fork.
I measured the seat tube and it is 27.2, no helicoils in the tube so I'm pretty sure it's made of SL.
05-10-13, 06:27 AM
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Well, some were TSX: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/...93/c8.jpg.html
And others mention they have an SL version.
Weight is too low to be Aelle, the tubes for Aelle alone weigh 2345 grams vs 1925 grams for SL.
And others mention they have an SL version.
Weight is too low to be Aelle, the tubes for Aelle alone weigh 2345 grams vs 1925 grams for SL.
05-10-13, 09:19 AM
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Well, some were TSX: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/...93/c8.jpg.html
And others mention they have an SL version.
Weight is too low to be Aelle, the tubes for Aelle alone weigh 2345 grams vs 1925 grams for SL.
And others mention they have an SL version.
Weight is too low to be Aelle, the tubes for Aelle alone weigh 2345 grams vs 1925 grams for SL.
Nice frame btw.
05-10-13, 09:29 AM
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And to finish it off, i had the saddle restored!
It came out great. I've found someone who does a great job, unfortunately he lives in Kenya! I have relatives that help me with the logistics, will get a batch back in a few months...
05-10-13, 11:09 AM
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Wow - that's really nice!!!!!!! Can't wait to see the final build!!!!!
05-10-13, 11:28 AM
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Pretty. That's crazy going to Kenya for a seat recover, but I guess you've gotta do what you've gotta do.
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