non-fixie 

RIH is one the great C&V brands, and now production has ceased (per June 1st 2012), I think it deserves its own thread. How many other brands can boast of a total of 63 world and olympic titles?

I thought it would be nice if there were one place on the interwebs where one could find everyting there is to know about RIH bicycles. Let this be the place. This first post is dedicated to dating a RIH. Below is a chart with frame numbers and build dates. I will update it as information becomes available.

Please post your RIH here, along with any information you may have. And you know, knowledge is like love: the more you give, the more you receive!






History
Joop and Willem Bustraan started producing bicycles in the Westerstraat in Amsterdam in 1921. They were very successful and in the early 60's when demand was starting to exceed supply, they outsourced part of the production of to Fongers in Groningen. Mainly sports bikes, but Fongers made some fine racing bikes as well. This deal ended when Fongers was taken over by Batavus in 1969. Subsequently the production of RIH sports and utility bikes was licensed to Cové in Venlo in 1972. At about the same time the shop in Amsterdam, that was still producing the high-end competititon bikes, was sold to Wim van der Kaaij, who had been working for Bustraan since the late 60's.
Since then Cové has been producing the more mundane models (and some nice road bikes, such as the Elan and the Mistral), whereas the Amsterdam shop produced the high-end handmade stuff, such as the bikes for Leontien van Moorsel's world titles in the 90's. Not all wins were credited to RIH though. Many a Gazelle or Flandria ridden in anger was actually a repainted RIH.
Per June 1st 2012 the production of racing frames in Amsterdam has ceased. RIH sports and utility bikes are still in production at Cové, who have owned the RIH name since 1982.

Famous Dutch singer Willy Alberti holding his Fongers built RIH:


The RIH name
Not Rijwiel Industrie Holland, but named RIH (supposedly meaning "faster than the wind"), after the black stallion of Kara Ben Nemsi, a literary figure from the books of German author Karl May.

Dating a Fongers RIH
Fongers added a letter to the serial number identify the build year. For the period that they built bikes for RIH, from 1964 to 1970, the following codes were used:

1961 M
1962 U
1963 B
1964 X
1965 A
1966 Z (letter following the serial number from this year on)
1967 K
1968 H
1969 T
1970 A

Until 1966 the letter preceded the serial number. From '66 onwards they started reusing the letters, but put them behind the serial number.

non-fixie 

Number 7698 (1965).

As I bought it:



After preparing it for the RIH Tribute Ride in May this year:



The original receipt:

non-fixie 

Number 4749. Estimated as a late 1948 or early 1949 frame number by Wim van der Kaaij.

In sports mode, with 26" wheels, as I bought it:



The (almost) bare frame:

lotek 

1974 RIH serial number 8909
verified by Wim van der Kaaij, this was one of the first bikes
he worked on as an apprentice with Willem Bustraan.

Marty

pullup

1973 RIH Nr: 8776 Bought the frame from Elev12k and build it with Nuovo record parts

pullup

Late model stamped and delivered at April 1 2008 and therefore 080401

This was a bike he made for friends of the family who apparently all chose this particular paint scheme, I could get it because the very last bike Wim build in 2012 was for the lady who owned this and she (reluctantly because this was such a nice ride) agreed to sell her old one.

non-fixie 

Thanks! But I got you listed as 8902/1975, according to this thread. Which is correct?

lotek 

yup the 1975 serial # 8902 is correct, shouldn't post on interwebs post surgery, say some interesting things...
sigh.

Marty

non-fixie 

Oh well, at least you got your name right. Good luck with the recovery.

wolfhardt

Serial #8758 on lower part of head tube. Would 1974 be a good guess considering 1st generation Dura Ace Group Set as original equipment.

rootboy 

REALLY nice looking bikes you have.

non-fixie 

Thank you.

Vonruden

Such nice bikes, one day I hope to have one grace my stable.

non-fixie 

Thanks for posting these Wolfhardt. I'd say '73 or early '74. I know that #8863 was delivered on July 10th, 1974.
I'd love to see more when you've built it up.

non-fixie 

YouTube vids showing Wim van der Kaaij building a RIH in his workshop in Amsterdam:

Part 1:


Part 2:

non-fixie 

Steinbra's Model Campagnolo: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...agnolo-Rebuild

Discussion about RIH builders: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-RIH-late-70-s

Report on the May 2012 RIH Tribute Ride: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-(RIH-content)

Pullup's baby blue RIH: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...msterdam-build

Dutch bikes in general, but with lots of RIH's: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...r-DUTCH-bikes)

Betty Swollocks

I have an original paint red/chrome RIH frame number 8214 would this place it as a 60's built frame?

non-fixie 

Hi Betty, welcome to the forum! Nice bike! The frame numebr suggests late 60's, maybe '70? The cable guides on the toptube make me wonder though. A later addition maybe?



BTW, I like the eclectic mix of parts.

wolfhardt

Originally Posted by wolfhardtSerial #8758 on lower part of head tube. Would 1974 be a good guess considering 1st generation Dura Ace Group Set as original equipment.
Thanks for posting these Wolfhardt. I'd say '73 or early '74. I know that #8863 was delivered on July 10th, 1974.
I'd love to see more when you've built it up.

Thanks for the reply Non-fixie,
I had salvaged this baby from the scrapper. I still cannot believe someone would do this to a frame. I had to remove the stem and headset which were Campagnolo. The front deraileur was seized and had to be bent off because it was TOTALLY frozen on with rust. The BB was the biggest challenge of all to remove. It took me 2 weeks of soaking in penetrating fluid and then I still needed to do precision grinding to remove it. To bad it was also Campagnolo.
The crank was still on it. I managed to save it. It is a Sugino 171 with 52-49 drilled rings. I thought that was kinda weird configuration.
It is a 531 Reynolds frame with Campagnolo dropouts. The lugs are the smooth rounded out ones (Bocama perhaps?)
I am going to have it gently sandblasted and then powder coated.
I want to have some RIH decals put back on but have no idea where to procure them in Canada.
Because I know I cannot do a correct restoration , I plan on doing a modern Campagnolo 10 speed Record build that is worthy of such a iconic frame.
I already have another RIH that I have partially restored that has a very similar paint scheme but I had originally figured as a 1984 model.
Now I really am not sure because of the serial number and lugs.

Betty Swollocks

thanks for your welcome and kind comments, I was told by the last owner that the frame was 1978 so the fitted components are mainly late 70's/early 80's Campag (apart from the brake calipers) but since acquiring I have a niggling feeling the frame is earlier so ultimately would like to re-fit correct period bits once I can positively date it......either way it rides beautifully!

non-fixie 

@ wolfhardt: I'm glad you saved the bike; sorry about the Campagnolo parts.
The 52-49 chainring combination (or at least the three teeth difference) was pretty common in the old days. They provide a half step between the ratios of the rear cogs.

Regarding the decals: you might try to contact Wim van der Kaaij, the man who probably built the frame. Although he has retired earlier this year, his new address and phone number are in the header of his website. He may still have a set available.

wolfhardt

Found this bike on Ebay today.
The seller is Dutch and claims the bike is a 1980 model.
Note the serial number is a 5 digit. #
80162
The number is located at the base of the head tube and the numbers are together
not spaced apart between the 2nd and 3rd numbers from the left.
Also it is labelled on the head badge HOLLAND, not AMSTERDAM
Note the top tube rear brake cable braze ons.
It also has a braze on on top of the BB for the FD and on the bottom for the RD.
It also sports a Bustraan Amsterdam decal on the down tube.

non-fixie 

Thanks for the heads-up, wolfhardt! Serial numbering changed after Wim van der Kaaij took over at RIH, the new format starting either with YYserial ot MYYserial. I've seen both.

Zieleman

Hey Maarten,

Have you included the Rih located on saarf.net? You can read the serialnr from the pics.
Saarf is also on BF and on Velospace (johnfixie).

Cheers!

non-fixie 

I have now, thanks. It's hard to make out the number though. 80259? In that case it would be close to the ebay-bike above.