koenbro 

I know there is an Ideor Asso thread, but I have a question about an Ideor Super that my wife picked up locally on OfferUp.
Serial number is 348033. Any idea what year is it from?
The older gentleman we got it from was the original owner but he could not remember when he bought is. Said the original group set was a "cheap" Campy that wore off and he threw it out, replacing it with a Shimano. Brakes appear original. Handlebar is Ambrosio.

repechage

Cannot tell from the image of the rear derailleur but if there is a small through hole between the derailleur mount and the axle slot then early 60’s at the latest.

the geometry of a number of their models was the same. A nice riding bike.
calm, stable.
a good “gravel” bike basis.

repechage

That saddle angle hurts to look at.
make sure the stem is inserted 5cm into the steerer too. Looks on the verge of too high.

obrentharris 

Nice bike!
I believe the MAFAC "Dural Forge" calipers without the red plastic washer, like these, date from the mid fifties to the early sixties. The aluminum stem indicates later rather than earlier in this period. The brake levers might be Universal model "61" intruduced in 1961.
Perhaps Maestro @juvela will be along soon to help us out.
Brent

noglider 

Nice bike. I'd say 1960s but that's just an educated guess.

koenbro 

That’s what i found on the interwebz from a 1962 catalog.

juvela

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Congratulations on this wonderful find.

Thank you for sharing it with the forum.

Outstanding condition for being roughly six decades of age.

Ironically the Super model was the bottom of the range. One thing which shows it on the frame is the absence of chrome on the head lugs. All road models above the Super are constructed of Columbus tubesets & exhibit chrome head lugs.

Frame built of modified Agrati "AM" pattern lug set.

Remaining original fittings include Ideor-Magistroni headset and seat binder collar w/bolt, brakeset, Ambrosio Champion stem & bar set, Sheffield (Noli-Cattaneo) model Sprint 658 pedals, Campag chainstay stop Nr. 636, bottom bracket cable guide Nr. 626, plain steel saddle pillar.

In case it may be of interest forum member Gus Salmon offers replica Ideor transfer sets:





Cycle produced by Fratelli Torello of Savona. Poster of 1939:




At one time a full range of models was offered including juveniles, practical town machines and folders.

Marque goes back at least as far as the interwar period. Here is a road example from the 1930's:




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merziac

H**Y CRAP!

Great score, very cool.

A guy walks into the bike shop and says "my wife picked this up on offer up", I passed out on the spot and had to be revived.

My wife actually has also brought a bike home but she had no idea what it was, great condition BSO Columbia 5 speed that we moved along as a wedding present, she got an A for effort.

koenbro 

Wow, just got to look at the replies. Already knew that Bikeforum is a great resource (helped me immensely as I started in the bike hobby while rebuilding a Trek 520) but this surpassed any expectation I could have had. Grateful thanks to you all!

My wife and I are toying with the idea that -- should Covid ever end, and a semblance of normality ever return -- we'll participate in the L'Eroica California next year. That's how we ended up looking for old bikes on CraigsList/OfferUp. I also picked up a (probably 1987) Bianchi, but not the sexy Italian, but the distinctly non-collectible Japanese kind; it rolls and shifts smoothly though.

Is it realistic to hope that I can find a Campy GS derailleur and other parts for this Ideor? Or is it not worth restoring seeing how it is the lower model? Also the current group set works well for our purposes, and my experience with the Trek 520 is that you can trigger of domino chain you never wanted to tackle with one such change. I love the sleek look of the frame best, and I feel it is the gateway drug into a passion for classic bikes.

juvela

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full name for manufacturer Torello was Soc. Acc. Torello G. & C.

production of Ideor bicycles nominally ceased in 1963

have seen two examples marked with the name which were clearly later than this date so perhaps someone purchased the rights to the name and kept it going in some fashion for a time

Torello also produced cycles under their own name; see head emblem below






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fittings to put cycle back into original configuration are readily available from online sellers and from forum members

sourcing required fittings should not be difficult should you elect to go in that direction

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repechage

Go to 700c wheels, front brake is not correct for the 27" wheels on it.

koenbro 

Great catch, I put on a 700c front wheel that I had from my other bike and the breaks adjust a bit better. The back will be more challenging, as the opening is only 120mm. Want to put a 7 speed, so might need to cold set by 15mm. Alternatively, what is the narrowest 700c 7 speed rear hub I can find today?

repechage

Should spread OK, the chainstays are long.

dddd

Most any 7s freehub that is 126mm can be taken down to 124mm just by removing a 1mm washer from both ends of the axle assembly.

Beware of any aftermarket 7s wheels that might be spaced at 130mm (or 135mm for hybrid use).

I would not spread any wider than 124mm myself, because I would never have to, although 126mm would not be problematic.

koenbro 

I want to revive this thread, because, as mentioned in post #9 we will participate in L'Eroica California in September; as a newb, I registered for the short, 36 mile ride. I have started riding the bike, with a new Brooks B17 saddle. The bike rides very smoothly and shifts surprisingly well. The brakes OTOH are pretty much trash. The handles are square and very uncomfortable to ride "on the hoods." The mechanism is sticky and the braking power is, let's just say enough for a gentle deceleration. The original owner allso switched the sides -- the right handle pulls the front break. My final gripe is the handlebar only has a fabric tape.

In preparation for the event, I would like to freshen it up, while keeping the original look and staying within Eroica rules. In reading the rules, the organizers allow aero brakes, so will swap some old Shimano RX100.

Questions:
1. What should I soak the brakes in? I normally use Zep 505 just wondered if aluminum is ok with that
2. What grease should I use with the brakes after the soak?

Thank you.

pastorbobnlnh 

Zep 505 says it can be used on aluminum for cleaning, but I've never used it so don't really know if it is safe. Test it first on the back of one of the MAFACs.

Just use a thin layer of good grease (I prefer Super Lube synthetic) on the pivot posts to lube your brake calipers prior to reassembly.

IMO, the original levers would be more "Heroic." Jus' sayin'. The color and lugs on the bike are stunning.

juvela

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note for Ideor fans -

there is a currently active thread on a tiny juvenile Ideor track machine over at thecabe




https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/mi...-these.193002/

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jdawginsc 

Just my two cents...
0. Clean the brakes with a toothbrush to get most crapola off, then Soak the brakes in evaporust. I have found it dissolves some rust pieces in the pads, and does no harm to anything...!
1. Keep the old levers for Eroica! I understand you may wish to have padding though on the tops. You might be able to find some later MAFACs or CLBs with hoods that would be cool as well.
2. Definitely a bike that would look awesome with Gran Sport or Huret geartrain...but that is obviously pricey.
3. Awesome bike.

koenbro 

Thanks! I think it's awesome, too!. I'd love to keep the old levers but after riding 18 miles, my hands disagree, and it's hard to find rubber hoods for the old style square Mafac levers. So will keep them for an eventual restoration, but for now, have broken down and ordered a pair of drilled Gran Compe non-aero levers from Velo-orange. They are probably not period correct but I hope will be comfortable; but at least the color will match the Brooks saddle and the handle bar tape.

jdawginsc 

Those are very nice...they are very much in the spirit of the bike era, and what you are trying to do! Great choice.