Grail Bikes
 

What's your grail bike? Have you gotten your sweaty little hands on it?

I have a few. To start here's the first one I got. Back in 95 Bicycle Guide tested the Bianchi Ti Mega Tube. Columbus Hyperion tube set with the down tube made from two sheets of Ti foil shaped over S shaped ribs. Being a Bianchi guy I set my sites on that. I was able to pick one up off eBay in 97 and have been riding and upgrading the components ever since. It's my go to bike and I'll never part with it.

I posted this topic here even though the first one may not be considered vintage, but the rest will be.



More to come for me. What's yours?

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Interesting. I really wanted one of those Ti MegaTubes in '95, they were actually the 110 anniversary bike, but being a poor bike shop employee I simply couldn't afford it. I finally found one in 2009, a used and neglected '97. aside from the usual, tires, bars/stem and saddle it's how I found it.

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A bike I wanted since I read a review about one in '89ish was a Hetchins. I finally tumbled on a frame my size in 2011 and then I think I did something stupid by putting these cruiser bars on it instead of drop bars.
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There are several bikes/frames I wouldn't mind trying but I'm not sure I'd call them grail bikes. I am however very keen to find a good quality tall Mixtie

I can not afford my first tier grail bikes (Baylis, Columbine), but of the production ones, Ciocc Mockba (got it), and any decent Celeste Bianchi (got it).

I too own my grail bike. But when I got it, I didn’t know it was my grail. I previously owned a 1986 Paramount, but sold it after college. I had never seen a nicer bike. After I got married I got back into cycling. Went to see my old bike shop boss to see if he had anything interesting, and he sold me a NOS Super Corsa frame he had in the shop attic for cost.

I knew Cinellis were top end frames, but it wasn’t until I started looking at the details and design and studying Cinelli history (and not seeing anyone else with one) that I realized I had something really special. It’s nicer in many ways than my Paramount.

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I’m a long time tandem rider and back in the mid to late 80s I read an article on Otis Guy and Joe Breeze’s cross country record attempt aboard their Ritchey tandem, the “Anchor Steamer.” I’ve coveted a Ritchey road tandem since then. Sometime in early 2000s I actually saw the Steamer for sale but it was just too large for me and I couldn’t justify it as a wall hanger.

Several years later, I was visiting the Marin Museum of Bicycling and I saw a deep red Ritchey Tandem on display…that was love at first sight. A couple years ago while scanning Craigslist I saw a Ritchey road tandem for sale…low and behold it was the red one I saw hanging in the museum and I bought on the spot. My Ritchey tandem also has great ownership history, having originally been owned by famous cycling scribe and racer, the late Owen Mulholland. The craftsmanship is unparalleled and its an absolute joy to ride.

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…and the Anchor Steamer as seen in the Marin Museum of Bicycling in about same spot where my Ritchey once hung:

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New, for 1934. Considering there was a depression going on, this bike was probably rare, even back then:

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There are a few for me. A British lightweight with nice curly lugs. A frameset custom made for me. I guess a Mercian would check off both of those boxes. A pre-WWI safety decked out in shiny nickel components. I happen to own a Breezer Lightning, which definitely is up on that list for me. A Colnago, DeRosa, Cinelli, or Pinarello that fits me perfectly would certainly fit the "grail" criteria for me.

I guess , I would have to say , is my 1975 Colnago Super . I have posted pictures of it many times here . It came to me in a patina state and I rode it that way for a year , just to be certain it would be as good as I had hoped. I then took it apart and had Franklin Frame restore the bike to better than new ( the original paint on these was never this nice) . There are other bikes that I can lust over , but this one is really my “grail bike”. Joe

For a long time, I have wanted a British touring bike from a smaller maker and early this year I found one, an FW Evans. With the Nervex Professional lugs and Campagnolo dropouts, I knew it had to be a decent frame. and for the $40 asking price, I couldn't go wrong. I had to google the name to find out what it was. FW Evans bikes were made in the basement and sold upstairs out of one shop in London. All were made from Reynolds 531 tubing. They were never offered for sale in the US or anywhere else that I know of. I stumbled upon it in an antique mall in Alabama while on vacation. It rides great, and will look the part once I get the paint done. I haven't determined a year, but I think it may be from the late 1960s to early 1970s, based on the Campy dropout style.

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FW Evans as found at an Alabama antique mall

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FW Evans as ridden all summer

There are top bikes.
Grail is an interesting term.
I have three by this Mario guy.

Peter Gilbert has one I saw nearly 5 decades ago, he found it before I did. He presented it at one of the Classic Rendezvous events.
There was another that John Pergolizzi got his hands on, sold to John Warner, an interesting artifact in my size and favorite color, when I had my chance much later, my wallet remained shut.

A high-end Jo Routens would be nice one day. I have a mid-tier one awaiting restoration in storage.

A CS Hirose would be tremendous. As an American it's definitely unlikely I will ever have the opportunity.

On the easier side, I've always wanted one of the Serotta-built titanium Paramounts from the late 90s cause I think they're neat. If one ever comes up at a reasonable price in my size...
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When I started getting into bikes, even the idea of any 531 framed bike was beyond me. I never saw them, or saw them in my size.

The first bike I lusted after and set up CL searches and hounded after was a 1986 Trek 400 Elance. What mattered to me is that it was a 531 frame, had a 531 sticker and it's a beautiful bike with the most beautiful paint job. Never mind that it was pretty much entry level for Trek for that year. I drove in excess of 200 miles round trip and way overpaid for it. But I got it, it's beautiful and I still have it and love it.

But as far as really desirable bikes... I like old touring bikes- The mid 80s came with the tourers with the premium tube sets with the most premium components and accessories- and to my mind, in terms of design, tubing and components- the Trek 720 really stands out from all the other tourers. It was designed to ride the balance between graceful and badass and it does a really good job- but probably defers to "graceful" easily enough. Every once in a while I would look for one, but there were either none- or none in my size. Anywhere. One day I just got a wild hair and plugged trek 720 into the local CL- fully expecting either nothing or one of the early 90s hybrids... But there was a 1985 Trek 720 staring at me. And I had the money.

Over the years I've replaced most everything on it- so it's really just a 1985 Trek 720 frame, fork and headset... but loaded with some of the very best components ever.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...298973a8_b.jpg1985 Trek 720 w/ New Berthoud Saddle by 1969TGB, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/4734/3...4b77138c_b.jpgIMG_2377 by 1969TGB, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/4646/2...28f7ddf0_b.jpgIMG_0616 by 1969TGB, on Flickr

I'm on a slightly different page with the Grail bike but...

While browsing FB Marketplace, fully knowing nothing good ever comes from browsing FB Marketplace, I stumbled into an early 90's Specialized mountain bike. Seller listed at S-Works M2, not a Stumpjumper M2 either. After three weeks of working to make the transaction happen, I was the proud owner of a 1994 S-Works M2 19" frame bike. It still had the original S-Works wheels/seat post/ Specialized FutureShok Ti/CF fork, Ritchey bars, and titanium stem along with XT derailleurs/crank and upgrade XTR brakes.

Big changes include shorter stem, New Albion 165mm crank, and modern air fork. It's crazy light and really nimble on the trails.

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Marketplace pic 1
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Marketplace pic 2
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After the upgrades

A steel Colnago in Mapei colorway - mainly because Mapei is my 4 year old daughter's favorite cycling team. She doesn't understand they aren't still racing with Colnago since I usually just watch old 80s/90s racing...

Original owner of a 1993 Bridgestone XO-1. Road geometry means by nature its quite nimble - but not twitchy, and demands your attention. I grew up racing BMX and cyclocross so I actually enjoy spirited bikes.
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One day, I like to find a deal on a complete (or nearly so) Grand Tour level bike from 1956-7 which is the last year riders raced unsupported.

A 1938 Raleigh Superbe with a TCW gear hub.

I don't know if I really have one...because of my longer legs and short upper body it's very difficult to find an old bike that fits me perfectly. I need a 58cm down tube and a 55cm top tube, ctc. I'm a little over 5'10" but have the legs of someone 6'1". After 10 years of looking at bikes...I don't think those are really available 'off the peg' from the vintage selection.

I think I could probably find a 70s Raleigh International that would do the job if I looked long and hard enough, they came in enough 'custom' sizings from the factory that there's bound to be one in my dimensions ;) And, that would be my bike style of choice. Sport touring, clearance for 32mm tires + fenders.

edit: Wait a tic, I'm forgetting. Another NOS 1988 Miyata Ridgerunner team. Loved it, broke it :'(

I don't know if just expensive qualifies as a holy grail. King Arthur could not just sell half of the kingdom and go buy one from the Byzantine emperor. What made the holy grail well, a holy grail was that it was made of pretty much unobtanium.

For me on holy grail status would be to find a Hetchins magnum Opus on my size and geometry. Even if I had the money it would take me quite some time to find one. Same-same for an early Rene Herse randoneur in the right size/shape and original condition.

An early Colnago Master X light with the crimped tubbing and the Campy group set with the delta brakes would be stupidly expensive but not that hard to source. Kinda holy grail, but more of a means thing.

My McLean was a lucky find and its former owner lived here in Minnesota.

It has been a joy to own.


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The bikes I ride all have frames I lusted after as a teen and could not hope to obtain. Now I have them. In the order that I obtained them, they are: 1967 Paramount; 1982ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; 1965ish Cinelli SC (in Campy 10sp triple); and another 1965ish Cinelli SC (Eroica/Cino compliant but not period-correct).

I guess they are all grail bikes, more or less, and I love them all. But the silver Cinelli with the Campy 10sp triple drivetrain is my grailissimo.

my experience with grail bikes
1) they have to fit. I got a beautiful (too beautiful the only new bike my wife as ever noted...something about de rosa red) de rosa from gomango it was just a bit to big and for me was good but not great so it got moved on to SJX426 who did a super nice build and gets the great

2) i have bikes that I would like that are not grails bikes but are interesting to me for some reason or the other, like a torpado super light. Also someone please buy rccardr richard Sachs so it is not there tempting me (am deciding if I am retired or looking for job after being recently downsized so trying to hold of on acquisitions of this quality)

3) decide if close is good enough. i am looking at a Torpado super racing which is a step down from a super light. SL vs SLX I am going for it if they will do frame, fork, seatpost, stem and handle bars...it currently has superb pro on it, but would want to do this bike in Campy more to the super light spec (super record) course if any is interested in superb pro group i could get it and part it out...hmmm)

4) I do have my grail bike in a custom Kirk..... I would suggest that if it is in your budget (or long term saving plan) doing a custom with a builder you like is a super good thing.
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I own Breezer #2. The first series of Breezer bikes were probably the most important bicycles of the 20th Century. Here I am the day I took delivery in 1978.


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there is grail and iconic..... this is super Iconic :giver: