My completely nothing special Italian bike boom gaspipe nostaglia build.
04-19-20, 04:10 PM
#1
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Thread Starter
My completely nothing special Italian bike boom gaspipe nostaglia build.
It may not be @Mad Honk's fault, but it started there......
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...9-labonne.html
I looked at the pictures and was waybacked to 1972 and my first road bike, a bottom-tier Atala. I rode the snot out of that bike, all over Westchester and Putnam counties and southwestern Connecticut. Wore out the plastic Simplex bits and replaced them with SunTour and rode some more. Rode it even after driver's license and cars. It passed to my younger brother when I enlisted, and he promptly got it stolen. The Labonne isn't identical to my Atala, but I bet the pricepoint was within five 1972 bucks. I got in touch with @Mad Honk and the bike came to Maine.
Starting the tear down.
The original bars, stem, and levers were trash. @Mad Honk supplied adequate replacement bits, but I had something more appropriate out in the barn.
Kinda scruffy,
Same brake set as on my old Atala!
Why did Tullio hate his son?
Filthy bugger.
Back from my $50 frame and fork powdercoat guy.
Velocals had graphics. Not perfect, but good enough.
I had a set of Balilla levers with hoods to match the calipers.
Drive side cotter came out like a gent; NDS not so much.....
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...9-labonne.html
I looked at the pictures and was waybacked to 1972 and my first road bike, a bottom-tier Atala. I rode the snot out of that bike, all over Westchester and Putnam counties and southwestern Connecticut. Wore out the plastic Simplex bits and replaced them with SunTour and rode some more. Rode it even after driver's license and cars. It passed to my younger brother when I enlisted, and he promptly got it stolen. The Labonne isn't identical to my Atala, but I bet the pricepoint was within five 1972 bucks. I got in touch with @Mad Honk and the bike came to Maine.
Starting the tear down.
The original bars, stem, and levers were trash. @Mad Honk supplied adequate replacement bits, but I had something more appropriate out in the barn.
Kinda scruffy,
Same brake set as on my old Atala!
Why did Tullio hate his son?
Filthy bugger.
Back from my $50 frame and fork powdercoat guy.
Velocals had graphics. Not perfect, but good enough.
I had a set of Balilla levers with hoods to match the calipers.
Drive side cotter came out like a gent; NDS not so much.....
__________________
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
Last edited by top506; 04-19-20 at 04:20 PM.
04-19-20, 04:16 PM
#2
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Very cool. There is something just right about a very practical bike like this which is nothing fancy but it gets the job done.
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04-19-20, 04:18 PM
#3
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Thread Starter
Morning light and a build to finish!
Set up centerpulls?.....
No problem!
Same saddle as on my old Atala BITD.
Ready for a test ride!
Definitely an improvement over the Derlin Simplex FD.
Not so sure about this, though.
The current wheelset are placeholders until I can lace the original North Star three piece hubs to alloy rims.
Top
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You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
Last edited by top506; 04-19-20 at 04:27 PM.
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04-19-20, 04:18 PM
#4
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WOW, you got busy !!!
Nice work. The lugwork and Campy Valentinos are nice touches.
Is that Molteni Orange?
Nice work. The lugwork and Campy Valentinos are nice touches.
Is that Molteni Orange?
Last edited by branko_76; 04-19-20 at 04:22 PM.
04-19-20, 04:26 PM
#5
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Nice job!
I bet you could get that rear derailleur to play nice(r) if you bought a modern 5 speed freewheel with ramps. I know nothing about old italian hubs and if their thread pitch is compatible.
I bet you could get that rear derailleur to play nice(r) if you bought a modern 5 speed freewheel with ramps. I know nothing about old italian hubs and if their thread pitch is compatible.
04-19-20, 05:18 PM
#6
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Checking in... "nothing special italian gaspipe boom bike" those words tick a plethora of my bicycle interests boxes. I have a Corsa tucked away somewhere that I bought in hopes of getting it going someday; same steer tube luggy thingy. Does the frame have an "ESGE" rear brake bridge?
Last edited by uncle uncle; 04-19-20 at 06:33 PM.
04-19-20, 05:24 PM
#7
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top506,
Looky here now, don't be blaming the victim!
You have made a great bike out of that sow's ear. Congrats on a great restore from back in the day! I trust it rides like you remember. Smiles, MH
Looky here now, don't be blaming the victim!
You have made a great bike out of that sow's ear. Congrats on a great restore from back in the day! I trust it rides like you remember. Smiles, MH
04-19-20, 05:41 PM
#9
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You even found hoods for the most uncomfortable levers ever made. 
I love it.
I love it.
04-19-20, 07:01 PM
#10
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NICE! Hang a vintagy price tag on it. Easily worth every cent of $106.00. I wish I could remember the brand of my first road bike. (A red one with 3 piece hubs, wing nuts, Simplex, etc.)
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04-19-20, 07:12 PM
#11
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04-19-20, 07:55 PM
#13
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Oh, twitchy memories of the Chiorda I rode to death in '72-73. Balilla centerpulls, rock-hard Grand Prix saddle, Simplex Prestige, steel serrated rims...I must have stripped and rebuilt that bike weekly. I can't remember what the heck happened to it once I bout a Zeus Pro. I may have given it to my best friend (who didn't ride) so he could give his Raleigh Sports to my older sister. She got the better deal, but I have no idea what happened to that bike either. The mists of time get thicker and thicker. top506 do you remeber where you got the Atala? Stuyvesant, perhaps?
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
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04-20-20, 05:17 AM
#14
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Thread Starter
That is what I was shooting for
???
The brake bridge is unmarked.
@juvela is of the opinion this is a Chiorda contract build.
Quite possibly the Atala came from Stuyesant's, as Dad was working at the Con Ed Eastview yards at the time, right next to Scarsdale.
Top
???
The brake bridge is unmarked.
Oh, twitchy memories of the Chiorda I rode to death in '72-73. Balilla centerpulls, rock-hard Grand Prix saddle, Simplex Prestige, steel serrated rims...I must have stripped and rebuilt that bike weekly. I can't remember what the heck happened to it once I bout a Zeus Pro. I may have given it to my best friend (who didn't ride) so he could give his Raleigh Sports to my older sister. She got the better deal, but I have no idea what happened to that bike either. The mists of time get thicker and thicker. top506 do you remeber where you got the Atala? Stuyvesant, perhaps?
Quite possibly the Atala came from Stuyesant's, as Dad was working at the Con Ed Eastview yards at the time, right next to Scarsdale.
Top
__________________
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
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04-20-20, 06:53 AM
#15
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Clearly not the ESGE plate, the photos show a standard bridge. For those who've never had the pleasure:
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
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04-20-20, 07:39 AM
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It really looks great and the decals really pop on the orange.
Last edited by greg3rd48; 04-20-20 at 07:43 AM.
04-20-20, 08:16 AM
#17
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What a great project. Amazing transformation - especially with the powdercoat. 
For the sake of the chain, that freewheel could stand a bit of cleaning to get that grit off.
For the sake of the chain, that freewheel could stand a bit of cleaning to get that grit off.
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04-20-20, 08:30 AM
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Agrati has their own plate style bridges for chainstay and seat stay. That is what Chiorda built machines receive which employ plate style bridges. The Agrati ones are unmarked.
here is an image of their plate style seat stay bridge on a Chiorda built J.C. Penney's machine ca. 1971. there is also a model which includes provision for rack mount.
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Last edited by juvela; 04-20-20 at 11:46 AM. Reason: add picture
04-20-20, 08:31 AM
#19
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$50?! That's a deal - looks sharp!
Gaspipe? Who cares. If you like the geometry and the feel then you've got a winner.
I recently weighed my late-model 'adventure' bike - which I love - and it probably weighs at least 5 lbs. more than your rig. This gives me some perspective re: the discussion about weight.
Have fun!
Gaspipe? Who cares. If you like the geometry and the feel then you've got a winner.
I recently weighed my late-model 'adventure' bike - which I love - and it probably weighs at least 5 lbs. more than your rig. This gives me some perspective re: the discussion about weight.
Have fun!
04-20-20, 08:36 AM
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04-20-20, 09:12 AM
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love the color choice! you're going to need a new freewheel. the chain will "jump" on those worn cogs under force.
best to get a new chain at the same time. -cheers-
best to get a new chain at the same time. -cheers-
04-20-20, 09:21 AM
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04-20-20, 09:36 AM
#24
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Love it!!!
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04-20-20, 12:09 PM
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You have certainly done an outstanding job here; looks wonderful!
It's great that you have the "before" images. Project would make a fine post to the "before and after" thread.
---
wrt wheels which came with bike -
where did you find the North Star hub name? new one to me. there is a New Star brand of hub produced by Etablissements Perrin. it is only offered in a five-piece steel large flange edition.
notice that the wheels are mismatched. the rear is built with a serrated rim and a five-piece hub while the front is built with a RIGIDA SUPERCHROMIX smooth rim and a one-piece alloy hub.
you mention rebuilding wheels with new alloy rims. one thing suggest checking prior to reuse of rear hub is drive side flange. these large flange five-piece rear hubs often manifest the sympton that the swaging of the drive side flange works loose. if there is play would not reuse it. you could save the hub against the possiblilty of reusing the axle set.
wonderful job with both the project and with the documentation!
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