New to me Austro Daimler Vent Noir
 

And here is my late 70s vintage but new to me Vent Noir fresh off eBay. I tested one of these back in 1981 and even though I loved it, I went with another model instead that I thought would make a better tourer. I always regretted passing on that Vent Noir back then. Now, I have one and I want to get it set up for this year’s Cino ride. I replaced the original crispy tires with a set of big ol’ 35c Rene Herse tires but lots more to do before Cino.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c5aa71df9.jpeg

This bike has a mix of early Dura Ace and Campy components. Does that head badge look crooked?
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...087a57fc1.jpeg

GB stem and handlebars. The handlebar spread seems narrow (36cm ctc) but I like it. Nice wrap job on the old Benotto tape too but no idea what someone was thinking about the hoods.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...70b205346.jpeg

Drillium rings - 42-53. I have a set of DA 39-50 rings (black but not drilium) on the way that I want to try.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9db3e9a80.jpeg

14-32 free wheel and long cage Huret derailleur. The original (?) long cage Crane derailleur (has a wobbly jockey wheel) was also included. The Huret w/ DA lever combination shifts great - quiet and solid.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8970fff8e.jpeg

Two sets of wheels were included. One is a set of Super Champion Gentleman (pre Wolber?) rims with Campy high-flange hubs. The other set were concave Weinemann rims laced to Dura Ace hubs - a few photos down.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f7a143183.jpeg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7f1d779c4.jpeg

Here’s the long cage Crane RD and the original pedals (MKS w/ Campy clips) that were also included. I’m using a set of Deore XT platform pedals for now
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6792f481f.jpeg

These were probably the original stock wheels.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9e18d5a61.jpeg


The best surprise was the Brooks Professional Select saddle that came with it. There’s an old thread somewhere here that said that there were only 500 of these produced. Nicely broken in but still as rock-hard as when new. I put on an old Cinelli Unicanitor for better comfort and to preserve that Brooks for a while.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...07448b888.jpeg

That' a really nice looking ride.....:thumb:
Best, Ben

Bonus points for the wide tires and for having an Austrian bike. :) I really like it.

Nicely done! This was the one in Wyoming IIRC...? I have been holding out for an Ultima if I choose the AD way, but what a beautiful Vent Noir!

Correct. It also came with the original paperwork, including the warranty and maintenance brochure. I tested an Ultima back then too, good choice, and it was very fine but beyond my means.

In a large size this frameset is one all-time favorite of mine.
VN and Olympian.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...06ad2d9195.jpg
Campy&Stronglight drivetrain
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...36e659944d.jpg
Sachs/Huret rear derailleur on the Olympian. Nervar crank.

The crank looks long for the frame. Maybe the pedals create an illusion.

Cool bike. I like 35c tires for gravel riding; that's what I'm running on my 1973 Motobecane Grand Record. I like that Huret long cage RD. I used one when I toured across the country. It can handle a lot of chain. You do have to baby it a bit when shifting under a load. That's true with any RD obviously but this one is a bit more fragile. You really don't want to shift it under a load if you can help it. At least that was my experience. Of course I was carrying a fair amount of weight as well as this was a cross country tour.

Beautiful. The Weinmann rims weren’t stock; it came with gold Fiamme tubulars laced to DA black hubs.

As long as we’re posting Vent Noirs, here’s mine, which I modernized and rode on PBP 2019. Love this bike and I ride it more than any other.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fd1e4b785.jpeg

Was it a long drive to get it?

Superleicht and Ultima are beyond my means as well. Among a few others I could have bought had I focused on one or two bikes rather than a bunch!!!

The cranks are 170s. I think you’re right, those chunky mtb pedals kind of throw things out of proportion.

The old A-Ds and Puchs didn’t have the panache of the Italian bikes but they sure rode nice and still do. I got to try out most of the A-D models and they just got better and better as you went up the line (I guess that would make sense). I ended up choosing one of heavier and cheaper touring models - the Alpina. I planned on punishing it. One of the sales-pitch lines was that it had “mostly” European components 😏. I rode it for years and hung onto it. It still rides smooth, fast, and quiet. Never got rid of the dork disk but at least it’s clear.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...877518772.jpeg

Great looking bike!

Yeah, it was a “pick up only” sale and I was planning a road trip to down to Denver (Cheyenne is maybe 600 miles or so from here and right on the way) but had to change plans. The seller was nice enough to agree to drop it off at a bike shop for for packing and shipping.

“ Does that head badge look crooked? “

No, it’s the camera angle. Here are two pics of the head badge on my SL. The crooked one wasn’t exactly lined up.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cece03000.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3564bfac8.jpeg
I need to dust off this bad boy and put some more miles on. Enjoy your new Vent Noir.

majmt That Vent Noir is a beauty!
Here's another headbadge,

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fb8feb43db.jpg