1985 Chris Kvale
03-07-15, 03:27 PM
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1985 Chris Kvale
Many of you know I am ga-ga over American builders.
I am refocusing my small collection here and putting the spotlight on a handful of builders that really speak to me.
One of those builders is Chris Kvale. I now have three of his bicycles and a frameset to keep me company.
Chris Kvale Cycles
Chris Kvale main page
I took this one out for a short spin today, as the roads are finally starting to release their winter death grip here in Minnesota.
Here are some snapshots.
Untitled by gomango1849, on Flickr
Untitled by gomango1849, on Flickr
Untitled by gomango1849, on Flickr
Untitled by gomango1849, on Flickr
Untitled by gomango1849, on Flickr
I am refocusing my small collection here and putting the spotlight on a handful of builders that really speak to me.
One of those builders is Chris Kvale. I now have three of his bicycles and a frameset to keep me company.
Chris Kvale Cycles
Chris Kvale main page
I took this one out for a short spin today, as the roads are finally starting to release their winter death grip here in Minnesota.
Here are some snapshots.
Untitled by gomango1849, on FlickrUntitled by gomango1849, on FlickrUntitled by gomango1849, on FlickrUntitled by gomango1849, on FlickrUntitled by gomango1849, on Flickr
03-07-15, 03:44 PM
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Amazing!!!! You know my love for the Americans, one day I will find a 60-61 Kvale...yours is a beauty for sure...love those lugs.
03-07-15, 04:04 PM
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03-07-15, 04:11 PM
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The seat cluster stood out to me also. It just all comes together so nicely.
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03-07-15, 04:21 PM
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Glad I didn't see you out riding today, I'd have sprained my neck looking at that one passing by...
03-07-15, 05:07 PM
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Grady, I'm honored you carried over you-know-what. Really looks superb; I'm another big fan of those immaculately-thinned lugs! What a stunner.
DD
03-07-15, 05:19 PM
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Sweet looking bike. That has to be one of the few saddles I've seen that make it easy to work with a NR seatpost! The roads must be better in Minneapolis than in Des Moines. I took out my XO-2 with 26 x 1.5 tires and fenders and it was still a mess. Beautiful day and I like the mud and snow and water everywhere . . . . lol
03-07-15, 05:21 PM
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That is a beautiful bike. The work on that seat lug is awesome.
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03-07-15, 05:27 PM
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I'll add my amazement, that's a stunner. And you own multiple Kvales? That strikes me as unfair.
03-07-15, 07:51 PM
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Love your Kvale's!
03-07-15, 07:58 PM
#16
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Beautiful bike Grady.
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03-07-15, 08:57 PM
#18
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on the Chris Kvale. Chris is an awesome guy. If you check out page 2 of "Recent Work" the red Masi and Blue Legnano are mine.
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03-07-15, 09:12 PM
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He was a real pleasure to deal with on some fork work for my RRA. I've seen pics of one of your other Kvales Grady, and would love to own one. Beautiful bike above as well.
03-07-15, 10:10 PM
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Fantastic bike! The paint, the lugwork, your build. I haven't felt the N+1 urge this strongly in a while.
Side note: How did you get that NR post looking so nice?
Side note: How did you get that NR post looking so nice?
03-07-15, 11:05 PM
#21
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Gee I wonder where he got the idea for that seat cluster. Albert Eisentraut, maybe?
Albert was doing 'em that way in the early 70's.
SP
OC, OR
Albert was doing 'em that way in the early 70's.
SP
OC, OR
03-07-15, 11:06 PM
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I've always admired your bicycles.
Thanks Grady
Thanks Grady
03-07-15, 11:14 PM
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03-08-15, 04:49 AM
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It's no wonder to me why I look constantly for the right Eisentraut frameset to build for my permanent collection.
I'll ask Chris what he thinks about this comparison next time I see him.
Chris was racing in the mid-sixties and didn't start building until the mid-seventies.
Story around here is he is self-taught.
We have to remember he was a Category 1 racer first and then the building came later.
However, he continued to race.
Heck, I still see him riding down Mississippi River Boulevard in the summer. He's in his seventies and still commuting to his shop.
Here's a little more background.
About Chris
BTW Thanks for the nice comments everyone. I'll address them a little bit later when I am done with soccer !!
A vintage shot of Chris in his workshop. This comes from his webpage and is loaded with great info.
Also, an interesting background article.
https://biciak.blogspot.com/2012/12/chris-kvale.html
Last edited by gomango; 03-08-15 at 04:57 AM.
03-08-15, 05:35 AM
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Great looking bike.