1973 Windsor Profesional
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1973 Windsor Profesional
I have an opportunity to purchase a Windsor Pro in my size. I read all the stuff on this bike, it has a real interesting history. This particular bike has been changed slightly with Suntour Bar End shifters( I will change back to Campy downtube) and a newer stem. Other than that the rest seems to have survived ( Campagnolo Nuovo Record Group). It also has a nice Brooks Saddle. The hubs are Phil Woods sealed type, I would change back to Campy High Flange. Any thoughts on value? Joe
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One thing to check on these is the interior of the shell. There was a batch which came through right at this time with heavy rust inside the shell.
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Most members will be reluctant to offer an appraisal without pictures, as condition is a major factor in value. When you say that it has a Campagnolo Nuovo Record group, does that include the brakes? Typically, the Windsor Pro came with Universal 61 or 68 brakes and an upgrade to Campagnolo Record brakes would warrant a notable increase in value.
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I don't know much about Windors but you sure it's a Professional? My low end Windsor Carrera Sport came with Suntour bar ends.
Seems like every time someone sells a Windsor, they always say it's a Professional.
Seems like every time someone sells a Windsor, they always say it's a Professional.
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...post some photos. I have two of them, from different years, and can tell you what I paid for them here four or five years back. An orange one in excellent original cosmetic condition with tubular rims (original) cost me 500 dollars cash money, and needed a complete overhaul, which is not unusual for me. A champagne beige one that had been stripped of decals, but still had the original components (mostly) was a real find at a yard sale here for 125 dollars. Repro decals are readily available, and pretty close to the originals. Close enough if you ride fast, anyway.
There was one on the SF Bay area CL a couple of weeks back for 1200 bucks, which is about twice what one in pristine condition ought to bring, but that whole Campy gruppo on e-bay insanity has probably driven up the price.
For 1200 bucks you can buy some pretty fine Italian or British small production bikes here, and the Windsor Pro originally sold for about half of those.
But I have to admit that both of the bikes I have are excellent riders, in the Italian/Columbus framed tradition. The lugs on a Pro ought to look like faux-Cinelli, with the little holes drilled in them.
There was one on the SF Bay area CL a couple of weeks back for 1200 bucks, which is about twice what one in pristine condition ought to bring, but that whole Campy gruppo on e-bay insanity has probably driven up the price.
For 1200 bucks you can buy some pretty fine Italian or British small production bikes here, and the Windsor Pro originally sold for about half of those.
But I have to admit that both of the bikes I have are excellent riders, in the Italian/Columbus framed tradition. The lugs on a Pro ought to look like faux-Cinelli, with the little holes drilled in them.
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mine was a windsor touring elite. awesome columbus sl/sp bike. it had an odd fade paint job (with some rattle can mixed in), and i sold it earlier this year for $500 with a leather saddle and a nice clincher wheelset.
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I am having trouble uploading pics of the bike. I am sure it is a Profesional , the seller is a bike mechanic who bought it from the original owner. It has the campy dropouts Cinelli like lugs and seat cluster . Campagnolo headset and b.b. ,crank, derailuers , seat post , and still has the flat record type skewers . The paint(silver) is fair and the decals are 80% intact, the chrome on the lugs still looks nice. It is scary how much it looks like an early Cinelli! The present owner rode it in the Eroica event last year. It is a 61cm frame size. Joe
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I forgot to mention that it has Universal Center pull brakes and early Cinelli bars. Joe
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I am having trouble uploading pics of the bike. I am sure it is a Profesional , the seller is a bike mechanic who bought it from the original owner. It has the campy dropouts Cinelli like lugs and seat cluster . Campagnolo headset and b.b. ,crank, derailuers , seat post , and still has the flat record type skewers . The paint(silver) is fair and the decals are 80% intact, the chrome on the lugs still looks nice. It is scary how much it looks like an early Cinelli! The present owner rode it in the Eroica event last year. It is a 61cm frame size. Joe
If this one is fair paint and 80% on the decals, and working well (belongs to mechanic), and you don't have to build wheels for it, I'd put it at 500 bucks, +/- 100. A lot depends on where you are.
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Thank You for that. I think I saw that bike on eBay too. The paint is nicer on that one , the decals on the one I am looking at are a bit better...maybe. The Brooks saddle is new(he says $200 it is a B17). He is asking $300 and seems to be firm. It is a long drive to where the bike is and I am driving down Saturday to do final inspection. He sent 7 or 8 pictures of the bike . I am not hot on the center pull brakes , but they seem to be common for the early 70's. Joe
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Thank You for that. I think I saw that bike on eBay too. The paint is nicer on that one , the decals on the one I am looking at are a bit better...maybe. The Brooks saddle is new(he says $200 it is a B17). He is asking $300 and seems to be firm. It is a long drive to where the bike is and I am driving down Saturday to do final inspection. He sent 7 or 8 pictures of the bike . I am not hot on the center pull brakes , but they seem to be common for the early 70's. Joe
...the brakes work fine. They were the original dual pivot brakes, and work better than a lot of the single pivot side pulls from that era. I guess you could "upgrade" them to Campy sidepulls, but I've never felt the need. Universal centerpulls modulate as well as anything contemporaneous, and with the right setup and pads, will lock your wheel if you feel the need. If there's a drawback, it's in finding hoods that fit them, but yours might be good.
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Price
...the brakes work fine. They were the original dual pivot brakes, and work better than a lot of the single pivot side pulls from that era. I guess you could "upgrade" them to Campy sidepulls, but I've never felt the need. Universal centerpulls modulate as well as anything contemporaneous, and with the right setup and pads, will lock your wheel if you feel the need. If there's a drawback, it's in finding hoods that fit them, but yours might be good.
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This one has no hoods on the levers. One thing I noticed is a bit of rust on the BB area as a previous member mentioned. It appears to be surface rust and not structural as inside the shell area. I think I would pull the BB and sand/grind and epoxy primer and paint as best I can to match the rest of the bike. I have asked for a price adjustment and have not heard back, so we'll see. Do you think$300 is fair for one that needs a little work ? i know it is hard without seeing pictures , but I am having trouble uploading with the new format. I am not a computer guy and am not familiar with the URL thingy they keep asking for! Thank you for all your help, I really like the look of these bikes and would love to own it but do not want to get into something that would eventually fail.
From your description, it is a Columbus tubing frame with enough Campy and Phil parts on it to be worth 300 bucks or more even parted out. So that's what I'd be thinking as the seller.
I personally am not worried about some rust in the BB shell, they are pretty solid parts in the frame.
The reports you read about BB failure are related to some of the early production due to overheating in brazing by the inexperienced Mexican workers. By the time 1973 rolled around, they had plenty of experience.
But paint means a lot to me in a project bike. I hate painting, and it's a PIA. Then you have to set it aside for a while so it's dry when you work on it...less of a problem in California summers. I am reluctant to take on any more projects that require much painting, and have even taken a few frames to a local powdercoater here...so if it needs that figure another 125 bucks in your project costs. Plus 40 bucks for decals. If you are set on Campy brakes, hubs, etc. it might end up costing you more than you want to invest.
Again, I can't see how good or bad the paint appears. Good luck with it.
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Thank you I think I am going to get this bike. You are right about the parts adding up to cover the $300 investment.The brooks saddle is pristine and the rest of the Campy parts with todays eBay prices would probably turn a profit. Thanks again
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Be sure to drop the fork and inspect the steerer brazing.
Yes, the brake bolt will hold things together.
These bikes were a deal back in the day, bought as a budget pro level bike.
Some were decent, some were scary, all were inexpensive.
More than one guy bought one then later bought an big name Italian frame and transferred the components.
Yes, the brake bolt will hold things together.
These bikes were a deal back in the day, bought as a budget pro level bike.
Some were decent, some were scary, all were inexpensive.
More than one guy bought one then later bought an big name Italian frame and transferred the components.
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Well I now own a 1973 Windsor Pro! What a great ridding bike. I ended up changing the bar end shifters to Campy down tube type, wrapped the early Cinelli bars with blue and yellow tape , polished the rear wheel , checked the bike out and decided this morning to put it back together and go for a ride. The bike was raced heavily through the 70's. The original owner was a racer who , unfortunately was dying and decided to pass the bike along to a young man in a bike shop. The bike was just a little too tall for him so he sold it to me. The old man is now gone , but his spirit is still on that bike. I feel it when I am riding, seriously. I just rode 17 miles to my office and checked my mail. After writing this I am heading back home, maybe the long way?
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Well I now own a 1973 Windsor Pro! What a great ridding bike. I ended up changing the bar end shifters to Campy down tube type, wrapped the early Cinelli bars with blue and yellow tape , polished the rear wheel , checked the bike out and decided this morning to put it back together and go for a ride. The bike was raced heavily through the 70's. The original owner was a racer who , unfortunately was dying and decided to pass the bike along to a young man in a bike shop. The bike was just a little too tall for him so he sold it to me. The old man is now gone , but his spirit is still on that bike. I feel it when I am riding, seriously. I just rode 17 miles to my office and checked my mail. After writing this I am heading back home, maybe the long way?
I am just finishing up a restoration/ city wheels modification to an olde Carabela track bike, which came from the same manufacturer. It had been rode hard and put away wet bu the time I got it, but I'm looking forward to finishing the whole project this week or next and putting some miles on it.
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