Wildwood 

I'm no good at 'build threads', but I thought I should document this frameset for the ...... well, for the heck of it.

Brief story is that it came to me from a collector on Bainbridge Island, WA. He built it and rode and liked it but it was a bit large for him. Supposedly belonged to a family member of Ted Ernst, the racer, shop owner, etc. in S. Cal. I was told it was from 1959, so a relatively early Rickert.

531 butted f&f incl stays, 60 X 58.tad (ctc), with 17cm on headtube. Campy dropouts/forkends. Pointed seatstay caps, Nervex BB. Rollers at BB for derailleur cable routing. Repainted (primer and paint seem thick) about 25 years ago. Frameset felt so light, but they all do before adding stuff.

Pics tell the story. All comments welcomed, any information appreciated.

Decals available on ebay. I should search to see how accurate these are.

easily clears 33mm w/ knobs - rear wheel about 1/2way into dropout, so can go wider with longer wheelbase.








Nervex BB, and I think the 'Pro' lugset.


Paint on BB is too thick for me to distinguish the numbers/letters.

Wildwood 

The 'Plan' - as always - is to build it up affordably, ride it, decide if it is worthy of upgrading.

First build is Huret Svelto rd, Huret fd & shifters, Universal side-pulls, Galli levers, Ambrosio stem, 3ttt bars, tubular wheels w/ black rims. Crank is German Thun with black rings drilled. No name headset & BB. If it's all I hope, an upgrade to Campy Gran Sport might be in its' future.

Your thoughts on build always welcomed, even if not heeded.

Some pics with bits


25mm tires. Saddle and stem height about right

33mm cyclocross tires

This will be the crankset.


and with the Svelto der. The crank, derailleurs, shifters presently on a Frejus that I can't make fit well because of a very short top tube.

Wildwood 

Hoping to acquire an original headbadge. But if not original then something new reproducing this:


To my eye, original and patina'd is sooooo much more appealing

Lascauxcaveman 

You've got a few parts I've never actually seen on a bike; interesting stuff. I didn't know Rickerts went back that far. Anyway, cool project

Charles Wahl

That's a very appealing frame. Waiting to see more.

martl

Very nice frame there! Rickert is one of the most desirable German frame builders and there are a few specialists over here in Germany, one was a regular at Rennrad-news.de if you want I can check whether he's still around and establish contact. Don't think you need the frame number when the history is backed by Ted, what he doesn't know about Rickerts isn't worth knowing

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much reliable information around about which decal style matches which year of build, and also no original decal sets are available. Velo cals has a set but I think these would be too new for yours.
Oh and please loose the thun crankset, it is way too new and also a horrible piece of junk, they bend when looked upon angrily.

Wildwood 

Thanks @martl - if the Bainbridge Island collector I purchased from called it a 1959 Rickert, then I believe him. Had been looking for a German bike and had been looking for a bike from my birth year - so I relented on the year requirement and it's from my birth decade, close enough. Kills 2 birds with one stone.

I'm quite certain the bike warrants full Campy Gran Sport group- but I don't have such today. So first build is from what I have around. The Thun crank seems universally rejected as an acceptable bicycle part. At nearly 70yo, breaking or bending it would be worth 'bragging rights'. The Thun goes on 1st build with motivation to mash it. I have a Campy crank that needs a lot of polishing for build #2 .


There's just not much info on Rickert bikes. Hugo worked alone, so the volume must be low. Glad it is mine, a perfect fit for riding is the icing for this German indulgence.

martl

This thread at Rennrad-news.de contains a plethora of information about Hugo and his wife:
https://www.rennrad-news.de/forum/th...spezial.81752/

(Google translate should help)

As countless pros rode Rickert to countless wins/gold medals, And Hugo developed the elusive Hi Lo hub endorsed by Campagnolo, any level of Campagnolism is justified.








Hennes Junckermanns Batavus said to be made by Rickert

Feldman

The Rickert take on a Hetchins is a big surprise to me. I used to ride with a number of Rickert owners and the bikes were all--ghis is in the 1970's--austerely detailed race bikes with little or no chrome.

martl

I was surprised as well mine is quite plain, too (and a great ride - currently, it's a bit bucket, I am thinking it may merit a modern-classic build with a Potenza one day..)

non-fixie 

Subscribing!

Feldman

Yeah, yours is very typical of what I remember.

Wildwood 

@martl what year is yours?
Trying to identify the years that headbadge may have been used. Or at least the first year it was introduced. And if your decals are appropo for early 60's..

The headtube on mine has no holes, so likely a decal was applied in 1959/60. Perhaps it would have been the classic 'R'?

Is putting a metal headbadge on an originally decaled headtube - sacrilege? bad judgement? poor taste?? I could produce a replica headbadge without holes and 'glue' that on. Or have it tapped for screws.

martl

Honestly - no idea. I'd say mid to late 70ies, maybe early 80ies, but that is just a guess.
I'll try to figure out a rough estimate about decal and headbadge style according to vintage.
Rickert built Rickert, Ric, le Teaurau, Rufa at some time... May be hard to find out.
When enthusiasts began to show interest, Mr Rickert (1928 vintage) had suffered from a stroke and his wife Doris (who was responsible for applying decals and lug lining, done in her kitchen) was occupied caring for him, not available for research.

Wildwood 

Now I must search these brands (i have read of Ric Special name dispute) to see if rollers on BB for cable routing was a regular feature.



Unfortunately, I will not have time to translate/read that thread for a while. But thanks a million for the reference - i WILL get back to it.

martl

The rollers are a feature on Rickerts from a certain era, i remember to have read about them but can't find the source atm.

Ted Ernst once wrote a pice on Rickert on (i believe) the CR list. Excerpt:

„Rickert first used a standard round plate that said Rickert Dortmund on it, until he hit upon RIC.
It was short lived, as there was a German children’s scooter company, that nice one with the 12×2-1/4 air tires which just happened to be called Ric.
The scooter company notified Rickert to cease and desist or face a law suit. That’s when he changed to Rickert and used that until his retirement […] He only used Ric for maybe 1-1/2 years or so […]„


Rickert started his business in 1951 and continued to build frames until 2002. He passed away 2011, aged 83.
His wife Doris was in charge of applying decals and hand lining. These twin lines on the rear seatstay cluster are a bit of a trademark



Heres a nice specimen from the late 50ies/early 60ies with Altenburger gear:

Wildwood 

With names, I like a face.
Here's a pic of Ted Ernst (center) and the gentleman/collector who sold me this frameset is on the right.


https://classiccycleus.com/home/late-1950s-ricert-super/
Sorry, no pic of Hugo Rickert or his wife.

And here is an interesting blog by an American with Rickert info:
https://jongehman.blogspot.com/2016/...t-spezial.html

martl

Great find about the blog page! Since you asked, some pics of the man and his wife!