PFeiffer PFrames by American frame builder Mary PFeiffer
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PFeiffer PFrames by American frame builder Mary PFeiffer
Hi to all, I decided to start a new thread for this bike, as I felt that it deseved it! This bike was custom built for the gentleman that I bought it from! It was built in Central Florida probably in the early 90's. The frame is beautifully lugged and constructed of all Reynolds 653. The color is a lovely dark purple, and even the stem is custom made with this color and panto at the top. The bike appears to have been ridden very little, as it shows very little signs of use. Please read the below two links that will provide you with more information about the frame and Mrs. PFeiffer. Thanks as always for your thoughts, feedback, opinions, and recommendations. They are always truly appreciated.
https://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...bike-that-fits
https://www.aboutus.org/KoolBikes.com
Flash
https://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...bike-that-fits
https://www.aboutus.org/KoolBikes.com
Flash
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Oh my that bike is a beauty.
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I agree great looking bike! I like the double eyelets and the rack mounts, nice touch.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#4
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That stem!
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Great pics and interesting articles; that's quite a bike. I like the color scheme a lot and what a great name for a custom builder.
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Yet again, another interesting American builder that I've learned about on the forum.
We were talking about Stan Johnson at the shop today and now we can add Mary Pfeiffer to the mix.
This bicycle really speaks to me and is actually quite similar to a design I have sitting here from a local builder.
Both of the Merckx bicycles are gems, but this is the one I would consider keeping around for the long haul.
Gorgeous.
Now I'm envious as well.
We were talking about Stan Johnson at the shop today and now we can add Mary Pfeiffer to the mix.
This bicycle really speaks to me and is actually quite similar to a design I have sitting here from a local builder.
Both of the Merckx bicycles are gems, but this is the one I would consider keeping around for the long haul.
Gorgeous.
Now I'm envious as well.
#7
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Cool Pframe! And great story. It reminded me of Mary Colter, an American architect who designed buildings for the Fred Harvey Co. in the early 20th century. Known primarily for her work at the Grand Canyon AZ, she was a women working, as was Mary Pfeiffer, in a "man's profession". Obviously, these were talented, and determined women pursuing perfection in the craft they loved.
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Beauty. Maybe it if the photos/camera/lighting/screen but to me that is more of metallic navy blue. I would put the C-record stuff on it!
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1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
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Thanks to all for your kind and generous comments! I sincerely appreciate them!
I know that Mrs. PFeiffer would be very thankful as well to have her work appreciated! Note: The last pic shows what appears to be a paint blemish by the drive side shifter, but Mrs. PFeiffer put some sort of clear and durable tape (?) there and by the cable guides to help protect the bike from damage. It is actually that piece of tape thats raised. Thanks again!
Flash
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Very interesting. I'd love to find out who made that paint for her, it looks an awful lot like what I call Bottecchia Blue, which is a purple-ish dark blue, similar to cobalt blue, but more purple-ish. I drove some poor girl nuts, trying to match that color for me, but it's a very unique paint, hard to duplicate.
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Pretty.
I was secretly hoping that with the 2 EM you would possibly overlook & discard this one. Somehow I doubt you will after seeing the pics.
I was secretly hoping that with the 2 EM you would possibly overlook & discard this one. Somehow I doubt you will after seeing the pics.
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That looks really blue and really green and as a Seahawks fan and a lover of great looking bikes, I'm totally into it.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
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Need to wear some PF Flyers while you ride it...
The colors are right and everything.
The colors are right and everything.
#15
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Agreed, awesome looking bike! Is she still building? Web site doesn't appear to be there from what I could tell (KoolBikes or pfeiferpframes.com)
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I think she quit in the mid-'00s or thereabouts. I tried to buy some foil Gitane decals from KoolBikes about that time, had some back & forth with [digital]samples, and all of a sudden I did not get any responses.
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Since the original photos seem to be victims of photobucket, I can't sell what the OPs bike looked like.
But, I found this while clicking around eBay and thought I'd do a PSA of sorts. It sounds like a close match, and, it's pretty darn cool. I wish it was smaller!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Road-Frames...292a%7Ciid%3A1
But, I found this while clicking around eBay and thought I'd do a PSA of sorts. It sounds like a close match, and, it's pretty darn cool. I wish it was smaller!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Road-Frames...292a%7Ciid%3A1
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Back from the dead...
Visiting the BikeHaus swapmeet today in the Elk Grove region of South Sacramento, The OP's Florida-sourced Pfeiffer frame turned up for sale, complete with headset and that original Panto'd-clamp 110mm stem.
Measuring it up, it has fairly steep angles, between 73- and 74-degrees, a 59C-T seat tube and 58cm top tube.
Frame spacing is 127mm, indicating that this is a late-1980's build, especially with the particular 653 decal and it's original C-Record-era Victory components which have all gone missing.
Tire clearance looks good for 32mm tires.
I got a security warning when I clicked on the link to the Orlando Sentinel article, didn't go there.
Condition still very good, and I suspect that multiple buyer's have simply found that this frame's top-tube length and seat tube angle conspire to give too much reach(?).
I'll give it a quick build using a short-reach handlebar and see how it rides. I also sourced a zero-offset Thompson post from the same seller, will go with that!
The stays are well into the sport-touring length range, with long dropouts having double eyelets.
Rare bikes these!
I also bought a 58cm SR Maxima, all original with full Superbe kit including pedals and hubs. Great overall condition but with some scratches in it's deep-blue chromovelato paint over chrome. Paid slightly less for it than for the Pfeiffer frameset.
Measuring it up, it has fairly steep angles, between 73- and 74-degrees, a 59C-T seat tube and 58cm top tube.
Frame spacing is 127mm, indicating that this is a late-1980's build, especially with the particular 653 decal and it's original C-Record-era Victory components which have all gone missing.
Tire clearance looks good for 32mm tires.
I got a security warning when I clicked on the link to the Orlando Sentinel article, didn't go there.
Condition still very good, and I suspect that multiple buyer's have simply found that this frame's top-tube length and seat tube angle conspire to give too much reach(?).
I'll give it a quick build using a short-reach handlebar and see how it rides. I also sourced a zero-offset Thompson post from the same seller, will go with that!
The stays are well into the sport-touring length range, with long dropouts having double eyelets.
Rare bikes these!
I also bought a 58cm SR Maxima, all original with full Superbe kit including pedals and hubs. Great overall condition but with some scratches in it's deep-blue chromovelato paint over chrome. Paid slightly less for it than for the Pfeiffer frameset.
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Pfeiffer Pframes had a pretty good reputation in this area of South Carolina c.1998-2000 or so. I contacted them at one point about some frame work, primarily alignment stuff, and the take I got from that was they were already beginning to move away from building and painting bikes. If memory serves, she DID repaint a local rider's early '70s Follis. The paint job was excellent, but the removal and refitting of the metal headbadge was sub-optimal.
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