Somewhat of a mystery . . . well, really a mystery! Eugene Hood?
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Somewhat of a mystery . . . well, really a mystery! Eugene Hood?
Update on this thread:
After talking a bit more with the guy who has this bike now, I have some answers. Apparently, the owner of the bike was a guy named Eugene Hood. He had the decals applied to the bike when he had it put together (maybe he wanted to be like Eddy Merckx). The bike frame was originally an orange-painted Crescent frame from the 70s - a pretty decent 531 Swedish frame. I checked some Crescent bikes out on a couple sites, and it looks like the lugs and a few other things match up. He didn't like the orange color, so he had it stripped and repainted its present color. He had some of the best components of the day installed and rode it for years, but for the past few years, it has resided under a porch. The guy who has it now (Eugene gave him the bike) isn't sure what he'll do with it, but I have first dibs if he decides to get rid of it. It would be a fun project, I think.
A friend got this bike the other day, and I thought it looked interesting. I only had a few minutes to look it over, so I didn't get any real good pics. I've done a quick search for info but haven't found anything. Any ideas about the era, builder, or any other wild-ass guesses as to the heritage of this bike? it looks pretty cool - even with the grime, rust, and cobwebs.
After talking a bit more with the guy who has this bike now, I have some answers. Apparently, the owner of the bike was a guy named Eugene Hood. He had the decals applied to the bike when he had it put together (maybe he wanted to be like Eddy Merckx). The bike frame was originally an orange-painted Crescent frame from the 70s - a pretty decent 531 Swedish frame. I checked some Crescent bikes out on a couple sites, and it looks like the lugs and a few other things match up. He didn't like the orange color, so he had it stripped and repainted its present color. He had some of the best components of the day installed and rode it for years, but for the past few years, it has resided under a porch. The guy who has it now (Eugene gave him the bike) isn't sure what he'll do with it, but I have first dibs if he decides to get rid of it. It would be a fun project, I think.
A friend got this bike the other day, and I thought it looked interesting. I only had a few minutes to look it over, so I didn't get any real good pics. I've done a quick search for info but haven't found anything. Any ideas about the era, builder, or any other wild-ass guesses as to the heritage of this bike? it looks pretty cool - even with the grime, rust, and cobwebs.
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Last edited by ddeand; 05-08-16 at 06:53 PM.
#2
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Not familiar with the frame builder but it is nicely decked out with components.
A good cleaning and lube is needed.
A good cleaning and lube is needed.
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Yeah, the bar ends were interesting. This would be a fun bike to work on and bring back to life.
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Eugene is a city in Oregon (and a not so uncommon name).
Hood is a mountain in Oregon.
Perhaps it is related.
Hood is a mountain in Oregon.
Perhaps it is related.
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Gonna clean up niiiiiice.
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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“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.
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There was another thread about a bike with the same graphics a few years ago. I think the thread was called "mystery frame." Try searching for that.
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Thanks, everyone. I'll try the "mystery frame" search.
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Sorry, I was being snarky! A lot of people make this mistake: but for best results, in the long run, put the key words in the thread title. In this case, the important words are "EUGENE HOOD" and now, 12 posts in, no one has typed them into this thread yet. You might even request a moderator to rename the thread, something like "Eugene Hood, frame builder?" suggests itself. It won't reveal instant results, but the next time someone searches for that term, maybe they'll get a hit that will help you out.
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I'm gonna say this is a repaint/custom decal with a braze-on modification someone did to make it bar end shifter specific a couple decades ago.
What diameter is the seat post?
What diameter is the seat post?
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I have done the search on this forum as well as a general google search, and I only get Oregon references when I type in Eugene Hood. The bike is most likely a custom build given the shifters, component mix, and lettering, and as far as I know, the lettering might even be the iwner's name. I don't have access to the bike, so I can't get any more specs right now? I'd love to own this bike - it would make a great project.
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Very sage advice from @rhm re putting key terms in threads. Another useful tip when searching is to type "Eugene+Hood" in the search fields. This will limit searches to instances when those words are used together and help filter out unwanted results talking about Mt. Hood being near Eugene, OR. I know nothing of the builder, but when I searched for ""Eugene+Hood" I came up with a bunch of pictures of bikes by a photographer named Eugene Hood. Perhaps a lead worth investigating: https://www.flickr.com/people/hood/
I dig the bike, too.
I dig the bike, too.
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It would help to show more detailed photos of the frame itself, rather than the components, if that's what you're interested in IDing. Head lugs/head tube area (which you have) but also fork crown, seat lug area, bottom bracket, fork and stay ends, brake bridge, and anything else that looks a bit odd/unique/uncommon/singular. Also all decals and any numbers. My first thought was also a custom although it could be a standard production frame that had custom fittings added later.
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added Eugene Hood? to thread title.
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So it's a Crescent 531 frame that got customized. That orange wasn't to everyone's taste, but certainly the bikes were fine, so it kind of makes sense now.
It's very well equipped. I always liked those Lyotard platform pedals. I'm sure by now everything needs an overhaul....
It's very well equipped. I always liked those Lyotard platform pedals. I'm sure by now everything needs an overhaul....
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Different Hood, but there were a few Hood cycles made and raced in Southern California in the 70's.
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