is this a Columbus MINIMAX bike?
01-18-21, 02:28 PM
#1
Strong Walker
Thread Starter
is this a Columbus MINIMAX bike?
i bought this frame a few years back, and i would like to find out what tubeset that is.
The facts:
Brand: "Learco Guerra" - bought it as such from italy, fork crown has "LG" engraved, BB has "GUERRA" stamped in. Billato says they didn't make it. (clearly a "label" brand)
Tubes are partly ovalized and oversized, compared to a SL or similar. Similarities to MAX, but it isnt it, see below.
The Upper Tube is ovalized "vertically" at the front and "horizontally at the end
The Down Tube is ovalized on the front, but round on the lower end
The Seat Tube is round
the diameters are smaller than MAX would be:
Diameters:
Upper tube: 32,5 x 24mm at the front, 25x32,5mm at the rear end
Down Tube: 32x24,5mm at the front, 28,6 at the end
Seat Tube: round 28,8mm
Rear triangle:
Chainstay: front oval 15,5 x 23,4mm
Seatstay: 12,6mm round
it is lugged and the lugs fit *very* well, this is no amateur job.
Since such tubersets require the matching lugset, i think i can rule out a "bastard" frame made from different tubesets, or "homemade ovalizing"
Question: Could this be Columbus MINIMAX? I found one source that says MINIMAX was only made for Merckx and never (or very sparsely) available to other builders (?!)
Dropouts are (very pretty) Columbus with the dove symbol cast in.
can anyone shed light on this?
The facts:
Brand: "Learco Guerra" - bought it as such from italy, fork crown has "LG" engraved, BB has "GUERRA" stamped in. Billato says they didn't make it. (clearly a "label" brand)
Tubes are partly ovalized and oversized, compared to a SL or similar. Similarities to MAX, but it isnt it, see below.
The Upper Tube is ovalized "vertically" at the front and "horizontally at the end
The Down Tube is ovalized on the front, but round on the lower end
The Seat Tube is round
the diameters are smaller than MAX would be:
Diameters:
Upper tube: 32,5 x 24mm at the front, 25x32,5mm at the rear end
Down Tube: 32x24,5mm at the front, 28,6 at the end
Seat Tube: round 28,8mm
Rear triangle:
Chainstay: front oval 15,5 x 23,4mm
Seatstay: 12,6mm round
it is lugged and the lugs fit *very* well, this is no amateur job.
Since such tubersets require the matching lugset, i think i can rule out a "bastard" frame made from different tubesets, or "homemade ovalizing"
Question: Could this be Columbus MINIMAX? I found one source that says MINIMAX was only made for Merckx and never (or very sparsely) available to other builders (?!)
Dropouts are (very pretty) Columbus with the dove symbol cast in.
can anyone shed light on this?
01-18-21, 02:58 PM
#2
Sunshine
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Originally Posted by martl
Perhaps that is a necessary design because of the tubing?...but if not and it is a signature of the builder, maybe that will help narrow down who made it.
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01-18-21, 03:29 PM
#3
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Jicafold may be able to weigh in re: Minimax. I’ve never had any kind of Max tubing frame, so idk, but I think he did. 
Very cool!
Very cool!
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01-18-21, 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by martl
I found one source that says MINIMAX was only made for Merckx and never (or very sparsely) available to other builders (?!)
Anyway, you could check your tube sizes against the Minimax data:
Last edited by P!N20; 01-18-21 at 05:46 PM.
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01-18-21, 05:40 PM
#6
Strong Walker
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by shuru421
Post more pictures of the frame as a whole.
this is what I have right now (it's night here) - can make some better ones of the stripped frame tomorrow!
Last edited by martl; 01-18-21 at 05:50 PM.
01-18-21, 05:46 PM
#7
Senior Member
Originally Posted by martl
this is what I have right now (it's night here) - can make some better ones of the stripped frame tomorrow!
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01-18-21, 05:56 PM
#8
Strong Walker
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by shuru421
Yes, that could possibly be a MiniMax frame. 1 thing..please relieve it from that current build..does not do it justice.
I liked the way it rode,and I wanted a Fixie with some NJS parts at that time... The pics in the first post are the current state,it will get a nice paint job in Porsche frozen blue, and a Campagnolo Athena graphite groupset.
Last edited by martl; 01-18-21 at 06:00 PM.
01-25-21, 01:53 AM
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Minimax was not custom-built for EMC
EMC did not build the frames with Columbus Minimax
In the kit produced for EMC (Columbus Mxl) only TT came from Minimax (and was assembled in reverse)
EMC did not build the frames with Columbus Minimax
In the kit produced for EMC (Columbus Mxl) only TT came from Minimax (and was assembled in reverse)
01-25-21, 10:07 PM
#10
Senior Member
Hi martl ,
Have you considered Columbus EGO tubing? Perhaps your frame is built with this tubing. You say ovalized, but not quite MAX tubing. I have a Concorde frame with Columbus EGO tubing, but my top tube is oval on the vertical at both ends (at head tube and seat tube lugs). Same with down tube, oval on the vertical at both ends. Just wanted to throw this suggestion out there. Hope you figure out your tubing.
aceves
Have you considered Columbus EGO tubing? Perhaps your frame is built with this tubing. You say ovalized, but not quite MAX tubing. I have a Concorde frame with Columbus EGO tubing, but my top tube is oval on the vertical at both ends (at head tube and seat tube lugs). Same with down tube, oval on the vertical at both ends. Just wanted to throw this suggestion out there. Hope you figure out your tubing.
aceves
