Not C&V yet, but worth showing anyway (Gazelle content)
#1
Shifting is fun!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,001
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 277 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2182 Post(s)
Liked 4,525 Times
in
1,743 Posts
Not C&V yet, but worth showing anyway (Gazelle content)
I spent some time today visiting bike shops in my area, looking for a particular part. Haven't found the part yet, but since I've reached the point where shop owners and mechanics recognize me as "that man" and see me for what I am: an opportunity to get rid of old stuff, I did find something else. Or rather: something else found me.
This morning I was talking to one of these shop owners about this part. He couldn't help me, I thanked him for his time, and as I turned around to leave, one of his sons was already wheeling in this lovely Brussels blue Gazelle with a hopeful smile on his face. He'd told me a while ago that he might trade in a titanium Gazelle someday, and here it was.
Couldn't say no of course, so I am now the proud owner of one of the last racing bikes to leave the famous Gazelle racing department before it was closed.
It's an early noughties Gazelle Colto. 2001 or 2002.
Titanium Gazelles were introduced in 1998 with the Gazelle Titan Road:
For 2001 they changed the model name to "Colto":
Anyway, this is what I came home with this morning:
Love the color. Fitted with Campagnolo Chorus 9 speed. And needing a lot of TLC. I'll probably also have to flip the stem, as the saddle to bar drop is a little more than I feel comfortable with these days.
This morning I was talking to one of these shop owners about this part. He couldn't help me, I thanked him for his time, and as I turned around to leave, one of his sons was already wheeling in this lovely Brussels blue Gazelle with a hopeful smile on his face. He'd told me a while ago that he might trade in a titanium Gazelle someday, and here it was.
Couldn't say no of course, so I am now the proud owner of one of the last racing bikes to leave the famous Gazelle racing department before it was closed.
It's an early noughties Gazelle Colto. 2001 or 2002.
Titanium Gazelles were introduced in 1998 with the Gazelle Titan Road:
For 2001 they changed the model name to "Colto":
Anyway, this is what I came home with this morning:
Love the color. Fitted with Campagnolo Chorus 9 speed. And needing a lot of TLC. I'll probably also have to flip the stem, as the saddle to bar drop is a little more than I feel comfortable with these days.
Likes For non-fixie:
#2
Overdoing projects
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rotterdam, former republic of the Netherlands
Posts: 2,443
Bikes: Batavus Randonneur GL, Gazelle Orange Excellent, Gazelle Super Licht, Gazelle Grand Tourist, Gazelle Lausanne, Gazelle Tandem, Koga-Miyata SilverAce, Koga-Miyata WorldTraveller
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 783 Post(s)
Liked 1,215 Times
in
677 Posts
That's a very nice bike.
Will you be putting on a coloured TA Specialites chainring again?
Will you be putting on a coloured TA Specialites chainring again?
#4
Shifting is fun!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,001
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 277 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2182 Post(s)
Liked 4,525 Times
in
1,743 Posts
Thank you! I will.
One reason I did not have a bike from this era until now is that I profoundly dislike the color schemes the teams and manufacturers came up with. I applaud the original owner of this bike who apparently stood his ground and ordered this classic Gazelle color.
Likes For non-fixie:
#6
Shifting is fun!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,001
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 277 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2182 Post(s)
Liked 4,525 Times
in
1,743 Posts
This one was assembled in Dieren, although I am not sure where the titanium frames were made. This was just before Derby sold Gazelle, so frame production may have been a collaboration with the people in Nottingham. I checked online to see if I could find any Raleigh-branded versions, but haven't found any, so far.
#7
Banned
88 *They were part of the TI group that included Reynolds, Raleigh & Sturmey Archer..
* my quick tour was seeing brazing lugged race bike frame main triangles, in the old stone building..
* my quick tour was seeing brazing lugged race bike frame main triangles, in the old stone building..
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 1,259
Bikes: Bianchi Ti Megatube; Colnago Competition; Planet-X EC-130E; Klein Pulse; Amp Research B4; Litespeed Catalyst; Trek Y11
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 596 Post(s)
Liked 476 Times
in
258 Posts
Very nice, you'll love riding this one. Some tan or skinwall tyres will really set the frame off - I just put Vittoria Corsas on my Bianchi Ti Megatube and the result was fantastic, both aesthetically and in performance.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,848
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 104 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2302 Post(s)
Liked 2,736 Times
in
1,497 Posts
very nice....does not appear to need too much TLC
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 14,099
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4493 Post(s)
Liked 6,297 Times
in
3,632 Posts
This bike has pure C+V DNA, as well as plenty of history to go along with it.
#11
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,111
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 838 Post(s)
Liked 1,414 Times
in
801 Posts
I am glad for you to have acquired such gorgeous machine that you obviously are so thrilled to have. Classic and historical, a hard to beat combination.
#12
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,680
Bikes: 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1984 Trek 620 - 1980 Trek 510 - Other luminaries past and present
Mentioned: 221 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1553 Post(s)
Liked 2,005 Times
in
984 Posts
Gorgeous! And one with pedigree/part of Gazelle's history. And Ti. What a gem!
#13
Senior Member
Oh that's Nice, like that color too.
#14
Shifting is fun!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,001
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 277 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2182 Post(s)
Liked 4,525 Times
in
1,743 Posts
Thanks for the kind replies, guys. Much appreciated.
Yes, I am quite happy with it, although this is not a bike I'd normally buy. The horizontal top tube and the color have a lot to do with it.
Sadly, it has been neglected for a while and spent some time in a damp environment, which is what the TLC is needed for. Close up, you can see the corrosion:
The bike will definitely get some new tires. I have some 25mm Vittoria Corsas tucked away for a special occasion.
Yes, I am quite happy with it, although this is not a bike I'd normally buy. The horizontal top tube and the color have a lot to do with it.
Sadly, it has been neglected for a while and spent some time in a damp environment, which is what the TLC is needed for. Close up, you can see the corrosion:
The bike will definitely get some new tires. I have some 25mm Vittoria Corsas tucked away for a special occasion.
#15
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,680
Bikes: 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1984 Trek 620 - 1980 Trek 510 - Other luminaries past and present
Mentioned: 221 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1553 Post(s)
Liked 2,005 Times
in
984 Posts
Yup, just picked up a sweet threadless 1" Control Tech stem for my Land Shark. The stem was in great shape, but the bolts looked like that. Just got back from the local hardware store (they stock a lot of metric stuff) with new, perfectly matching bolts! Stem is good now.
#16
Shifting is fun!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,001
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 277 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2182 Post(s)
Liked 4,525 Times
in
1,743 Posts
Yup, just picked up a sweet threadless 1" Control Tech stem for my Land Shark. The stem was in great shape, but the bolts looked like that. Just got back from the local hardware store (they stock a lot of metric stuff) with new, perfectly matching bolts! Stem is good now.
Meanwhile I've done a couple of things: replaced the tires with some 25mm "bleakwalls". And flipped the stem so the bars are at "senior level":
I'm still not sure about the bar tape. I'm leaning towards a simple white, but this light brown faux suede stuff I've got on a couple of other bikes is really nice. Comes in black as well:
#17
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,680
Bikes: 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1984 Trek 620 - 1980 Trek 510 - Other luminaries past and present
Mentioned: 221 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1553 Post(s)
Liked 2,005 Times
in
984 Posts
@non-fixie I think white or black tape would work well. Lets the violet color really stand out. Brown tape would work, IMO, if the bike wasn't so race-y looking (carbon fork, big downtube, fast looking wheels) and simultaneously purple. Competing themes, at least to my eyes.
Most any place (at least here in the NW, or on the west coast, per my experience) has metric here, but there are certain places that have a lot more of it, in a lot more variety. And in bike land, this is very helpful. Inches and feet have their place for me and most everyone here--there are some practicalities inherent to measurements that are roughly within or just outside one's hand span--but I enjoy working in metric. Certainly a huge benefit in working on cars and bikes. As I work in metric often (and with bikes), I'm better at on-the-fly mental conversions from inches...cm's are a little fidgety some times, but mm are my friend. I was watching the highlights of the Tour of California this year, and they'd go back and forth listing miles and km's left to go. Seeing miles there was a bit funny.
Most any place (at least here in the NW, or on the west coast, per my experience) has metric here, but there are certain places that have a lot more of it, in a lot more variety. And in bike land, this is very helpful. Inches and feet have their place for me and most everyone here--there are some practicalities inherent to measurements that are roughly within or just outside one's hand span--but I enjoy working in metric. Certainly a huge benefit in working on cars and bikes. As I work in metric often (and with bikes), I'm better at on-the-fly mental conversions from inches...cm's are a little fidgety some times, but mm are my friend. I was watching the highlights of the Tour of California this year, and they'd go back and forth listing miles and km's left to go. Seeing miles there was a bit funny.
#18
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,640
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2597 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times
in
926 Posts
Congratulations! That’s a lovely looking bike!
What’s that faux suede stuff? I was hoping that the Brooks microfiber tape would be like that- but it seems to be more like plastic-y faux leather.
What’s that faux suede stuff? I was hoping that the Brooks microfiber tape would be like that- but it seems to be more like plastic-y faux leather.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#19
Shifting is fun!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,001
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 277 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2182 Post(s)
Liked 4,525 Times
in
1,743 Posts
WRT the tape: it is this stuff. Ordered it once out of curiosity and to get an order up to the free shipping amount, used it on mrs non-fixie's touring bike and was pleasantly surprised by how good it looked and how nice it felt. Have since fitted a couple of my own bikes with it, and so far it has held up well. I am looking forward to testing it on the Inter 10 above on a couple of longer tours this year.
#20
Shifting is fun!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,001
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 277 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2182 Post(s)
Liked 4,525 Times
in
1,743 Posts
@non-fixie I think white or black tape would work well. Lets the violet color really stand out. Brown tape would work, IMO, if the bike wasn't so race-y looking (carbon fork, big downtube, fast looking wheels) and simultaneously purple. Competing themes, at least to my eyes.
Most any place (at least here in the NW, or on the west coast, per my experience) has metric here, but there are certain places that have a lot more of it, in a lot more variety. And in bike land, this is very helpful. Inches and feet have their place for me and most everyone here--there are some practicalities inherent to measurements that are roughly within or just outside one's hand span--but I enjoy working in metric. Certainly a huge benefit in working on cars and bikes. As I work in metric often (and with bikes), I'm better at on-the-fly mental conversions from inches...cm's are a little fidgety some times, but mm are my friend. I was watching the highlights of the Tour of California this year, and they'd go back and forth listing miles and km's left to go. Seeing miles there was a bit funny.
#21
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,680
Bikes: 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1984 Trek 620 - 1980 Trek 510 - Other luminaries past and present
Mentioned: 221 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1553 Post(s)
Liked 2,005 Times
in
984 Posts
I agree. The faux suede stuff comes in black as well, so I might order a couple of rolls of that. Or maybe go for white after all.
Until I joined this forum I'd never had to deal with imperial measurements. Since then I've learned that I'm 6'1", have a 35" inseam and like 25" frames for a French fit.
Until I joined this forum I'd never had to deal with imperial measurements. Since then I've learned that I'm 6'1", have a 35" inseam and like 25" frames for a French fit.
#22
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,640
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2597 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times
in
926 Posts
The metric system will be taking over the world. At least they told me that in 3rd grade back in 1977.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#23
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,680
Bikes: 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1984 Trek 620 - 1980 Trek 510 - Other luminaries past and present
Mentioned: 221 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1553 Post(s)
Liked 2,005 Times
in
984 Posts
I was told that the construction industry tried to convert to metric in the '80s and it didn't stick for whatever reason(s). A 2x4 for framing or a 4x8 sheet of plywood or sheetrock certainly roll off the tongue easier than a 51x102 (or 50-100 in eventual shorthand, which could actually work...) or 1.25 x 2.5.
Cars are always a bit funny. Designed in metric, advertised in inches. Wheels are in inches, tires in metric, inch, and a ratio (lol). Spark plugs are 5/8" or 13/16"...maybe some things are better left alone as they are part of the fabric of life like that (in a good/harmless way). Imperfections, inconsistencies, and quirks--very human, if at times maddening.
So back to the Gazelle....
Last edited by RiddleOfSteel; 05-20-19 at 09:06 PM.
#24
Shifting is fun!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,001
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 277 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2182 Post(s)
Liked 4,525 Times
in
1,743 Posts
I gave the bike a thorough once-over, flipped the stem, replaced some cables and housing and added modern-ish white bar tape. Me being me, I succeeded in getting it dirty before it even hit the road. Much like I do with new and expensive silk ties.
Anyway, I just gave it a first shakedown ride, and wasn't disappointed. It's quite stiff, so I'm glad I put on a pair of 25mm Vittorias. It feels quite nice.
There's some noise from the drive train that I haven't quite been able to locate yet. It seems to come from the rear, and is only more or less absent when the chain line is perfect. Which is only in two gears. It gets stronger as the angle between chain and rear cog gets bigger. Need to investigate further.
Anyway, I just gave it a first shakedown ride, and wasn't disappointed. It's quite stiff, so I'm glad I put on a pair of 25mm Vittorias. It feels quite nice.
There's some noise from the drive train that I haven't quite been able to locate yet. It seems to come from the rear, and is only more or less absent when the chain line is perfect. Which is only in two gears. It gets stronger as the angle between chain and rear cog gets bigger. Need to investigate further.
Likes For non-fixie: