1960ish Olmo Gran Sport
03-20-16, 04:05 PM
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1960ish Olmo Gran Sport
This bike popped up on the C&V valuation forum a few days ago so I wanted to give @valleyguy77 a shout out for selling me the bike, rather than selling it to @big chainring who has never seen an old European road bike that he didn't immediately fall in love with and who even threatened to take a road trip to Des Moines to buy the bike but I beat him to it, 
Beer is on me if you ever make it to D.M.
I also wanted to give a shout out to @juvela, @gugie, and @dddd all of whom helped me ID the bike when it popped up on CL and who know a heck of a lot more about old bikes than I ever will.
The bike is sweet. The tubing is falck and the drop outs are campagnolo. Pretty much all the decals are still on the bike and the paint is in very decent shape for a 50 plus year old bike; the chrome is in great shape. I'm not sure of the date but the components place it in the early 60s. I swapped out the replacement saddle that came on the bike with a brooks pro but the rest of the parts appear to be original:
(1) campagnolo nuovo record high flange hubs; the front rim is a fiamme, the rear a mavic sport;
(2) campagnolo gran sport derailleurs (no date code, though
);
(3) regina freewheel, 14-26;
(4) ambrosio stem and bars (the bars are 26.0 but the stem is too short and looks to be a 22.0,
)
(5) sheffield sprint pedals;
(6) Weinmann vainqueur 999 center pull brakes and levers;
(7) magistroni steel cottered crank with alloy rings, 49-46 (3 teeth is probably all the gran sport front derailleur can handle).
I haven't quite decided what to do with the bike. I need to overhaul it first and rebuild it. Part of me wants to leave it alone; it's not often you see a bike this old which is almost completely unmolested. Part of me wants to turn it into an "eroica" bike with a TA cyclotourist crank, a campagnolo rally rear derailleur, and nuovo record front derailleur and shifters. I could run this 3 x 5 with half step gearing and I have the parts to do this. We'll see what I end up doing.
I've always wanted a bike right around my age and this is it. That's why I'm thinking of modding it so I can take up the biggest damn hills I can find (and there are some tough climbs in Wisconsin).
And now for some pictures,
Beer is on me if you ever make it to D.M.I also wanted to give a shout out to @juvela, @gugie, and @dddd all of whom helped me ID the bike when it popped up on CL and who know a heck of a lot more about old bikes than I ever will.
The bike is sweet. The tubing is falck and the drop outs are campagnolo. Pretty much all the decals are still on the bike and the paint is in very decent shape for a 50 plus year old bike; the chrome is in great shape. I'm not sure of the date but the components place it in the early 60s. I swapped out the replacement saddle that came on the bike with a brooks pro but the rest of the parts appear to be original:
(1) campagnolo nuovo record high flange hubs; the front rim is a fiamme, the rear a mavic sport;
(2) campagnolo gran sport derailleurs (no date code, though
);(3) regina freewheel, 14-26;
(4) ambrosio stem and bars (the bars are 26.0 but the stem is too short and looks to be a 22.0,
)(5) sheffield sprint pedals;
(6) Weinmann vainqueur 999 center pull brakes and levers;
(7) magistroni steel cottered crank with alloy rings, 49-46 (3 teeth is probably all the gran sport front derailleur can handle).
I haven't quite decided what to do with the bike. I need to overhaul it first and rebuild it. Part of me wants to leave it alone; it's not often you see a bike this old which is almost completely unmolested. Part of me wants to turn it into an "eroica" bike with a TA cyclotourist crank, a campagnolo rally rear derailleur, and nuovo record front derailleur and shifters. I could run this 3 x 5 with half step gearing and I have the parts to do this. We'll see what I end up doing.
I've always wanted a bike right around my age and this is it. That's why I'm thinking of modding it so I can take up the biggest damn hills I can find (and there are some tough climbs in Wisconsin).
And now for some pictures,
Last edited by bikemig; 03-20-16 at 05:58 PM.
03-20-16, 04:18 PM
#2
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Nice!
46-49 is a good range for those GS DRs. They can't handle too much of a teeth difference with the front being an out and back set up.
If you compare the rear DR to the different yrs it was produced you will get a more Definately yr range. Disrealigears is a good source.
Did the PO bend the fender mount for a reflected on the drive side ?
Congrats on the old bike, old man.
46-49 is a good range for those GS DRs. They can't handle too much of a teeth difference with the front being an out and back set up.
If you compare the rear DR to the different yrs it was produced you will get a more Definately yr range. Disrealigears is a good source.
Did the PO bend the fender mount for a reflected on the drive side ?
Congrats on the old bike, old man.
03-20-16, 04:22 PM
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Congratulations on your success in making this beauty your own! 
Thank you for the excellent new photos.
Minor point of information: hubs are "Record", not Nuovo Record. They did go forward to become part of the Nuovo Record road ensemble later on, so it is a bit confusing.
There were no Nuovo Record components when this machine was constructed.
Her pedals are Sheffield Sprint Model 658:
Thank you for the excellent new photos.
Minor point of information: hubs are "Record", not Nuovo Record. They did go forward to become part of the Nuovo Record road ensemble later on, so it is a bit confusing.
There were no Nuovo Record components when this machine was constructed.Her pedals are Sheffield Sprint Model 658:
Last edited by juvela; 03-20-16 at 04:31 PM. Reason: addition
03-20-16, 06:37 PM
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This should be the start of an oldest, most reasonably well preserved, attainable thread. Very well done
03-20-16, 06:45 PM
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Very pretty! A few points....
The hub cone locknut have dates. Between them (there are four, after all) you should get a reasonably accurate date. Do the hubs say "record" or not?
The gran sport front derailleur can handle a lot more than three teeth! I switched the smaller ring on my stronglight 57 from 45 to 38, and the derailleur has not complained. You can certainly get a smaller chain ring for that crank, the 116 mm bcd rings are not that rare.
Does the serial number start with a 6? Maybe the first two digits are a plausible date? That's true of some of those Italian bikes, anyway....
Anyway, congratulations! I hope you don't change it too much.
The hub cone locknut have dates. Between them (there are four, after all) you should get a reasonably accurate date. Do the hubs say "record" or not?
The gran sport front derailleur can handle a lot more than three teeth! I switched the smaller ring on my stronglight 57 from 45 to 38, and the derailleur has not complained. You can certainly get a smaller chain ring for that crank, the 116 mm bcd rings are not that rare.
Does the serial number start with a 6? Maybe the first two digits are a plausible date? That's true of some of those Italian bikes, anyway....
Anyway, congratulations! I hope you don't change it too much.
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03-20-16, 07:51 PM
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Very pretty! A few points....
The hub cone locknut have dates. Between them (there are four, after all) you should get a reasonably accurate date. Do the hubs say "record" or not?
The gran sport front derailleur can handle a lot more than three teeth! I switched the smaller ring on my stronglight 57 from 45 to 38, and the derailleur has not complained. You can certainly get a smaller chain ring for that crank, the 116 mm bcd rings are not that rare.
Does the serial number start with a 6? Maybe the first two digits are a plausible date? That's true of some of those Italian bikes, anyway....
Anyway, congratulations! I hope you don't change it too much.
The hub cone locknut have dates. Between them (there are four, after all) you should get a reasonably accurate date. Do the hubs say "record" or not?
The gran sport front derailleur can handle a lot more than three teeth! I switched the smaller ring on my stronglight 57 from 45 to 38, and the derailleur has not complained. You can certainly get a smaller chain ring for that crank, the 116 mm bcd rings are not that rare.
Does the serial number start with a 6? Maybe the first two digits are a plausible date? That's true of some of those Italian bikes, anyway....
Anyway, congratulations! I hope you don't change it too much.
Good to know about chainring availability for the 116 bcd cottered crank on the bike. It does seem a shame to muck around with the parts on this bike even if the parts I was thinking of using are age appropriate. I think I will leave this original but I may shop around for a smaller chainring.
Can the gran sport FD handle 10 teeth? Velobase doesn't have much useful info on this and google isn't turning much either.
Last edited by bikemig; 03-20-16 at 08:22 PM.
03-20-16, 10:42 PM
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That's a real beauty, glad you got your hands on it. Next "old timer" ride let us know the reactions from your gang.
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03-21-16, 12:46 AM
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About that Ambrosio stem, the stem quill of such stems often measures as small as 22.0mm, but your bike's steerer ID will fit any 22.2mm stem quill.
The French stem quills often measure as small as 21.8mm or so, so a 22.0mm diameter quill can be suitable for either French/metric or standard fork steerers.
Here's a modern, $20 Origin8 alloy 10cm stem that has a 25.4mm clamp diameter and a 22.0mm quill diameter that just fits into a French/Austrian fork steerer. I reamed the clamp to match 26.0 handlebars.
The French stem quills often measure as small as 21.8mm or so, so a 22.0mm diameter quill can be suitable for either French/metric or standard fork steerers.
Here's a modern, $20 Origin8 alloy 10cm stem that has a 25.4mm clamp diameter and a 22.0mm quill diameter that just fits into a French/Austrian fork steerer. I reamed the clamp to match 26.0 handlebars.
03-21-16, 05:16 AM
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About that Ambrosio stem, the stem quill of such stems often measures as small as 22.0mm, but your bike's steerer ID will fit any 22.2mm stem quill.
The French stem quills often measure as small as 21.8mm or so, so a 22.0mm diameter quill can be suitable for either French/metric or standard fork steerers.
Here's a modern, $20 Origin8 alloy 10cm stem that has a 25.4mm clamp diameter and a 22.0mm quill diameter that just fits into a French/Austrian fork steerer. I reamed the clamp to match 26.0 handlebars.
The French stem quills often measure as small as 21.8mm or so, so a 22.0mm diameter quill can be suitable for either French/metric or standard fork steerers.
Here's a modern, $20 Origin8 alloy 10cm stem that has a 25.4mm clamp diameter and a 22.0mm quill diameter that just fits into a French/Austrian fork steerer. I reamed the clamp to match 26.0 handlebars.
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...uill-stem.html
That's a good looking leather saddle. What is it? Even the brooks pro that I'm using looks a bit "modern" on this bike. I have an ideale 39 that I could use but it hasn't been broken in yet.
Last edited by bikemig; 03-21-16 at 05:20 AM.
03-21-16, 06:17 AM
#11
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One of my bikes has the same front derailleur and a 42 - 52. No problems at all
Another one has a 45 - 53 (151 bcd) and also without any problem
Another one has a 45 - 53 (151 bcd) and also without any problem
03-21-16, 07:32 AM
#12
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I was already on my way to pick this bike up. Was riding my Raleigh Comp. and pulling a Burly trailer to haul the bike home. I figured about three days each way. Good thing I was on BF and learned that Bikemig had purchased it. I am now around Rockford, heading home.:cool:
03-21-16, 07:50 AM
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I was already on my way to pick this bike up. Was riding my Raleigh Comp. and pulling a Burly trailer to haul the bike home. I figured about three days each way. Good thing I was on BF and learned that Bikemig had purchased it. I am now around Rockford, heading home.:cool:
A little faster and you would have made it in time for a beer or two or three,
04-03-16, 05:28 PM
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Decisions, decisions. @SJX426 got me motivated to post some build pics.
I've overhauled the bike and the bearing surfaces (gran sport rear derailleur pulleys, headset, bottom bracket, record hubs) were all in great shape. I was impressed with the cottered spindle on the magistroni crank; it has really high quality ground and polished bearing surfaces.
Now it's time to start building the bike and I have a few decisions to make. The hubs on the original wheels were in great shape but the tubular rims (fiamme and mavic sport) are not. I have a set of more or less period correct clinchers that will work: record hubs and milremo rims. I even have a pair of campy skewer covers in white.
I managed to build a 5 speed suntour winner freewheel (I was surprised that I had the rights parts to build a freewheel), 13-16-19-22-26. The crank has 49/46 rings so this will give me a pretty decent old school half step gearing:
I need to decide on the stem. The original stem is a pretty cool steel ambrosio stems but at a 7 it's too short. I have a 3T stem that is the right length but it's too "new" for the bike. I think I'll go with the right length but a steel stem just seems right for this bike in a way that an alloy one does not:
I need to make a decision on the pedals. The original sheffield pedals are in decent shape but I have a pair of campy NR pedals that I think I'll use. They're too "new" for this bike as well but I just overhauled them and they're in great shape.
I'll need to decide on the saddle. I put on a brooks pro which is broken in but for some reason does not look quite right to me. I have an ideale 39 that looks "right" to me but I'm not too excited about breaking it in. I could just sell it and pick up a B17; for some reason the large rivets on the brooks pro just don't look quite right on the bike:
One of the things I really like about this bike is how good the decals look even though they're probably right around 56 years old. I more or less dated the bike; the hubs are from 1960 and the rear derailleur and brakes are no later than 1961-62. I'm calling it a 1960 bike since that's a nice round number. The bike has a really cool very old school campy sticker and a very cool falck tubing sticker:
I've overhauled the bike and the bearing surfaces (gran sport rear derailleur pulleys, headset, bottom bracket, record hubs) were all in great shape. I was impressed with the cottered spindle on the magistroni crank; it has really high quality ground and polished bearing surfaces.
Now it's time to start building the bike and I have a few decisions to make. The hubs on the original wheels were in great shape but the tubular rims (fiamme and mavic sport) are not. I have a set of more or less period correct clinchers that will work: record hubs and milremo rims. I even have a pair of campy skewer covers in white.
I managed to build a 5 speed suntour winner freewheel (I was surprised that I had the rights parts to build a freewheel), 13-16-19-22-26. The crank has 49/46 rings so this will give me a pretty decent old school half step gearing:
I need to decide on the stem. The original stem is a pretty cool steel ambrosio stems but at a 7 it's too short. I have a 3T stem that is the right length but it's too "new" for the bike. I think I'll go with the right length but a steel stem just seems right for this bike in a way that an alloy one does not:
I need to make a decision on the pedals. The original sheffield pedals are in decent shape but I have a pair of campy NR pedals that I think I'll use. They're too "new" for this bike as well but I just overhauled them and they're in great shape.
I'll need to decide on the saddle. I put on a brooks pro which is broken in but for some reason does not look quite right to me. I have an ideale 39 that looks "right" to me but I'm not too excited about breaking it in. I could just sell it and pick up a B17; for some reason the large rivets on the brooks pro just don't look quite right on the bike:
One of the things I really like about this bike is how good the decals look even though they're probably right around 56 years old. I more or less dated the bike; the hubs are from 1960 and the rear derailleur and brakes are no later than 1961-62. I'm calling it a 1960 bike since that's a nice round number. The bike has a really cool very old school campy sticker and a very cool falck tubing sticker:
Last edited by bikemig; 04-03-16 at 05:32 PM.
04-03-16, 05:58 PM
#16
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I'm impressed. Very nice work and attention to details.
Wish the chrome on my Italian was that nice looking.
Wish the chrome on my Italian was that nice looking.
04-03-16, 06:54 PM
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Very fine work bikemig!
She is moving right along most nicely.
A few posts back you mentioned your thoughts about doing something with the stem & bar.
Considered you might like to know what the original raiments would have been since she looked to be wearing a set of Hunt-Wilde wrap and plugs when purchased.
For over a quarter century Olmo fitted all of their road machines with REG soft plastic handlebar end caps and Gaslo adhesive cloth tape. The REG (Rampinelli) caps are part nr. 273 and were offered in several colours:
[special thanks to Peter_B for these images]
The Gaslo wrap was similar to Tressostar and Tressorex but a bit thinner. It came in a number of colours.
Last week was taking a look at an Olmo midliner from the mid-seventies, roughly fifteen years later than your machine, and it still exhibited this combination:
Yesterday ran across this restored Olmo Gran Sport from near your machine in time. Scroll down to view pictures.
60 cm Early 60's Olmo Gran Sport Vintage Italian Steel Road Bike Refinished | eBay
She is moving right along most nicely.
A few posts back you mentioned your thoughts about doing something with the stem & bar.
Considered you might like to know what the original raiments would have been since she looked to be wearing a set of Hunt-Wilde wrap and plugs when purchased.
For over a quarter century Olmo fitted all of their road machines with REG soft plastic handlebar end caps and Gaslo adhesive cloth tape. The REG (Rampinelli) caps are part nr. 273 and were offered in several colours:
The Gaslo wrap was similar to Tressostar and Tressorex but a bit thinner. It came in a number of colours.
Last week was taking a look at an Olmo midliner from the mid-seventies, roughly fifteen years later than your machine, and it still exhibited this combination:
Yesterday ran across this restored Olmo Gran Sport from near your machine in time. Scroll down to view pictures.
60 cm Early 60's Olmo Gran Sport Vintage Italian Steel Road Bike Refinished | eBay
04-03-16, 07:22 PM
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Those white caps look cool; I'm using tressostar tape for sure. I have some chrome ends that will look fine.
04-04-16, 01:42 PM
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Tip:
Keep an eye out for some pre-CPSC Record QR skewers to use with those hubs. The late production Nuovo Tipo/Nuovo Gran Sport skewers that are in there are a good two decades late for the cycle.
Keep an eye out for some pre-CPSC Record QR skewers to use with those hubs. The late production Nuovo Tipo/Nuovo Gran Sport skewers that are in there are a good two decades late for the cycle.
04-04-16, 01:53 PM
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04-04-16, 01:55 PM
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@bikemig - thanks for the reference! Great looking bike. I would like to find a 50's or 60's bike to add to the collection. I really like the references to the Olympics in the decals. Very fine looking machine!
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04-04-16, 02:33 PM
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04-04-16, 03:09 PM
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04-04-16, 03:45 PM
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Don't forget to append them to the handlebar plug thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...end-plugs.html
04-04-16, 03:54 PM
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