A different Mexican frame
#1
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A different Mexican frame
This was in the rafters. I was confused with the Italian words. Thought maybe this was a Canadian model. Then I saw size 21 as in inches. The Suntour dropouts further confused me. I was flummoxed.
found out Carabela is Italian design made in Mexico.
what lugs!!
Was this the first GT? No.
Those lugs
Never seen a tubing sticker like that. At first I thought I was reading Italian
From NYC
Campy cable guides 21 “
Suntour drop outs
Say huh?? Is this a combo cable stop, cable guide, spoke catcher?
Another look at this silliness. No idea.
seriously. What is that thing?
found out Carabela is Italian design made in Mexico.
what lugs!!
Was this the first GT? No.
Those lugs
Never seen a tubing sticker like that. At first I thought I was reading Italian
From NYC
Campy cable guides 21 “
Suntour drop outs
Say huh?? Is this a combo cable stop, cable guide, spoke catcher?
Another look at this silliness. No idea.
seriously. What is that thing?
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Carabela is a marque belonging to ACER-MEX
cycle appears to be same model as the Windsor Carrera Sport
if you check shell you will likely find it to be 68mm in width but Italian threaded
steerer will be 25.4mm in diameter, BSC threaded but made for .833 size stem
the bicycles came with a Gran Compe brand stem
---
while lug pattern resembles NERVEX Professional it is an Agrati one which is sometimes identified as "Bozzi" amongst enthusiasts as it it shown in Bozzi catalogue of 1950
fork crown not shown in photos but wouild expect the Agrati "BRIANZA" pattern N. 000.8038
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Carabela is a marque belonging to ACER-MEX
cycle appears to be same model as the Windsor Carrera Sport
if you check shell you will likely find it to be 68mm in width but Italian threaded
steerer will be 25.4mm in diameter, BSC threaded but made for .833 size stem
the bicycles came with a Gran Compe brand stem
---
while lug pattern resembles NERVEX Professional it is an Agrati one which is sometimes identified as "Bozzi" amongst enthusiasts as it it shown in Bozzi catalogue of 1950
fork crown not shown in photos but wouild expect the Agrati "BRIANZA" pattern N. 000.8038
-----
Last edited by juvela; 11-07-23 at 02:36 PM.
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Looks like an Acer-Mex bike. I had a Windsor, also made by Acer-Mex with SunTour dropouts. Nice bike. I always thought that we might see more of these bikes from Mexico, but it didn't happen.
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The cable stop is also intended to minimize damage to the chainstay from the chain. As shown, it didn't work too well.
I worked in a shop that sold Windsors. We used to call that bottom bracket with English threading and Italian width, a Mexican bottom bracket. It is not too bad if you know what you are dealing with. But if you didn't know....
I worked in a shop that sold Windsors. We used to call that bottom bracket with English threading and Italian width, a Mexican bottom bracket. It is not too bad if you know what you are dealing with. But if you didn't know....
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I will look for the fork
sounds like this may be worth a lil restoring.
sounds like this may be worth a lil restoring.
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in the U.S. market the Carabela marque seems to have functioned as a "B" or second marque for ACER-MEX distributors
after the salesmen from an importer/distributor covered the territory and signed up the Windsor retailers they were going to get they could make a second pass through the same territory offering non-Windsor shops the Carabela line
a means of packing more product into a given area
Ventura served a similar function for the Centurion badge and Juvela for the Mondia name
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in the U.S. market the Carabela marque seems to have functioned as a "B" or second marque for ACER-MEX distributors
after the salesmen from an importer/distributor covered the territory and signed up the Windsor retailers they were going to get they could make a second pass through the same territory offering non-Windsor shops the Carabela line
a means of packing more product into a given area
Ventura served a similar function for the Centurion badge and Juvela for the Mondia name
-----
Last edited by juvela; 11-07-23 at 11:53 AM. Reason: spellin'
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Interesting to see this Carabela "Carrera Sport" model has a Falck tubing decal (plus the Sun Tour DOs) since most Carreras (either Windsor or Carabela, when you find those) were said to be nothing better than gas pipe.
Falck would be a bargain tubeset but still a step up.
Is this a combo cable stop, cable guide, spoke catcher?
Exactly so but to hold spare spokes you need something at the other end into which your threaded ends w/nipples are fixed, at which point your spokes act as "chain slap protection"...win/win/win!
Falck would be a bargain tubeset but still a step up.
Is this a combo cable stop, cable guide, spoke catcher?
Exactly so but to hold spare spokes you need something at the other end into which your threaded ends w/nipples are fixed, at which point your spokes act as "chain slap protection"...win/win/win!
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torn here
this is a co-op bike that I would be selling for the co-op.
I don’t know if there is a matching fork. There are buckets of random forks that could be used.
Is it worth powdercoating?
$80 for chem dip
$150 powdercoating
$35 for decals if available?
to sell for what?
this is a co-op bike that I would be selling for the co-op.
I don’t know if there is a matching fork. There are buckets of random forks that could be used.
Is it worth powdercoating?
$80 for chem dip
$150 powdercoating
$35 for decals if available?
to sell for what?
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"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
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may not be worth it but doubt the OEM fork (with .833 steerer) is any gem, if you have a good Tange fork that fit...especially all chrome, you're ahead of this game.
used to be a PC-er would blast the frame as part of the coating package deal. and if they used sand or other strong media that takes care of the chrome, meaning it's all gone!
I might just keep it cosmetically as-is since it's more interesting and you keep the historical trail intact...but up to you of course.
used to be a PC-er would blast the frame as part of the coating package deal. and if they used sand or other strong media that takes care of the chrome, meaning it's all gone!
I might just keep it cosmetically as-is since it's more interesting and you keep the historical trail intact...but up to you of course.
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A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words, But Only If...
torn here
this is a co-op bike that I would be selling for the co-op.
I don’t know if there is a matching fork. There are buckets of random forks that could be used.
Is it worth powdercoating?
$80 for chem dip
$150 powdercoating
$35 for decals if available?
to sell for what?
this is a co-op bike that I would be selling for the co-op.
I don’t know if there is a matching fork. There are buckets of random forks that could be used.
Is it worth powdercoating?
$80 for chem dip
$150 powdercoating
$35 for decals if available?
to sell for what?
There's probably a Serial Number somewhere which may or may not be informative.
Suspect your example has clearance for substantial rubber.
Only original once...
Though overshadowed by Columbus, Falck fashioned fine tubing;@T-Mar wrote well of it. Falck was the largest manufacturer of non-bike specific tubing in Italy at the time.
"Carabela" is (masculine) Spanish for the Portuguese "Man of War" ships, and the Portuguese Man O' War siphonophore.
Currently making a rider of a ~1973 Carabela Profesional. The Acer-Mex products from the early 70s are interesting.
Thanks for posting this, and thanks in advance for posting a pic of the bike entire. Maybe post one over on the "Acer-Mex" Thread for Posterity?
Last edited by machinist42; 11-07-23 at 02:46 PM.
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torn here
this is a co-op bike that I would be selling for the co-op.
I don’t know if there is a matching fork. There are buckets of random forks that could be used.
Is it worth powdercoating?
$80 for chem dip
$150 powdercoating
$35 for decals if available?
to sell for what?
this is a co-op bike that I would be selling for the co-op.
I don’t know if there is a matching fork. There are buckets of random forks that could be used.
Is it worth powdercoating?
$80 for chem dip
$150 powdercoating
$35 for decals if available?
to sell for what?
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2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
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here are two views of the FALK tubing transfer on another Carabela cycle -
(machine dated by owner as 1974)
here is the VB listing for the discussed chain stay stop -
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...103&AbsPos=742
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here are two views of the FALK tubing transfer on another Carabela cycle -
(machine dated by owner as 1974)
here is the VB listing for the discussed chain stay stop -
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...103&AbsPos=742
-----
Last edited by juvela; 11-07-23 at 04:59 PM. Reason: spellin'
#14
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I had left the building
in central OR
back Tom night.
Thursday I’ll get better pics.
might sell as is…$150? That is if I can find the fork
in central OR
back Tom night.
Thursday I’ll get better pics.
might sell as is…$150? That is if I can find the fork
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I had/have one in good nick.
Gave it away. I didn't prefer it, buddy liked it even less.
I know the garage where it hangs, so I have a ride next time I visit Nashville, Davidson County, TN
Maybe the combination of: Too little BB drop for a large frame on 27" wheels, affordable tires.
Gave it away. I didn't prefer it, buddy liked it even less.
I know the garage where it hangs, so I have a ride next time I visit Nashville, Davidson County, TN
Maybe the combination of: Too little BB drop for a large frame on 27" wheels, affordable tires.
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Last edited by Wildwood; 11-07-23 at 04:15 PM.
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torn here
this is a co-op bike that I would be selling for the co-op.
I don’t know if there is a matching fork. There are buckets of random forks that could be used.
Is it worth powdercoating?
$80 for chem dip
$150 powdercoating
$35 for decals if available?
to sell for what?
this is a co-op bike that I would be selling for the co-op.
I don’t know if there is a matching fork. There are buckets of random forks that could be used.
Is it worth powdercoating?
$80 for chem dip
$150 powdercoating
$35 for decals if available?
to sell for what?
__________________
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that is the way the dropout is made; there is an offset for the part of the dropout with the eyelet
try looking at other machines with this dropout; it is a rational design to provide additional clearance for rack or mudguard mounting fastener
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As for the BB you can just use a modern sealed cartridge BB with a spacer on either side to get get the chain line tread line about right for whatever crank set one builds it up with. So not really problem but as said something to know about.
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here are two views of the FALK tubing transfer on another Carabela cycle -
(machine dated by owner as 1974)
here is the VB listing for the discussed chain stay stop -
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...103&AbsPos=742
-----
here are two views of the FALK tubing transfer on another Carabela cycle -
(machine dated by owner as 1974)
here is the VB listing for the discussed chain stay stop -
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...103&AbsPos=742
-----
The (typically brazed-on) bits that DO grab-hold and permit tight storage of 2-4 spare spokes that work as chain-slap protection have distinct slots for the spoke heads, the ST stop is too slippery.
And speaking of poor performance by design: when correctly positioned it's really too far back on the stay to really help much since most chain slap occurs in the center of the chain-run where "bounce" is most pronounced! Nice try, Sun Tour.
On to next hobby horse: I've seen Falck (associated with the Mannesmann tubing international combine) spelled "FALK" but only on this style of tubing sticker. I'm sticking with "FALCK" since that's how it's spelled 90% of every time it appears in print. I think the artist who made this sticker art just couldn't spell (too 'creative' for such mundane stuff!)
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in this image posted by @Wildwood the Agrati "BRIANZA" pattern fork crown, so widely employed by ACER-MEX at this era, can be seen
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in this image posted by @Wildwood the Agrati "BRIANZA" pattern fork crown, so widely employed by ACER-MEX at this era, can be seen
-----
#23
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I have one that I bought for $15 for the crank arm dust caps. But Aside from the rust and the god-awful saddle, it is all there and original. I tore it down a couple of weeks ago to harvest the rest of the parts, but I kinda decided I like it and I think it will be a winter project for me. Otherwise I would have offered the fork, headset, stem, etc. to you.
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