Gazelle Champion Mondial Special AA project
02-12-22, 03:44 PM
#1
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Gazelle Champion Mondial Special AA project
Recently acquired this frame, Gazelle Champion Mondial Special AA. Last owner imported the frame from the Netherlands, don't see these in Canada very often. Reynolds 531 tubing (my first), very cool details throughout -- clean lugs, internal routing, pantographs, rounded seat stay caps and silver to pink fade paint. Strangely, no second water bottle bosses on the seat tube.
Paint is in great shape and while it's a bit of a flatter finish, I love the colourway. 126mm rear spacing. Stay tuned here for a neo-retro build, hope it will squeeze some 28s. Feel free to share your experiences with these frames, currently deep diving in the search. Sorry for the huge pictures, I have no idea how to make them smaller here.
DriveSide shot
Cool fade and internal routing
Good details and pantographs
More nice pantographs
Aero (?) Cinelli BB - english thread
Campagnolo dropouts
Paint is in great shape and while it's a bit of a flatter finish, I love the colourway. 126mm rear spacing. Stay tuned here for a neo-retro build, hope it will squeeze some 28s. Feel free to share your experiences with these frames, currently deep diving in the search. Sorry for the huge pictures, I have no idea how to make them smaller here.
DriveSide shot
Cool fade and internal routing
Good details and pantographs
More nice pantographs
Aero (?) Cinelli BB - english thread
Campagnolo dropouts
Last edited by thedriveside; 02-13-22 at 09:30 AM.
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02-12-22, 04:23 PM
#2
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quite a beauty.I have this Tour de lAvenir that was also brought to N. America from Holland by its previous owner.not as high end as yours but still a 531 w/very good craftsmanship.I spent a couple months in Ede in the 70's & found the culture is very bicycle dependent.actually was stopped for riding no hands by a bicyclist policeman.good luck on your build.
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02-13-22, 04:17 PM
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02-14-22, 09:42 AM
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Nice frame! The "Special" means it is an AA frame with a hanger added for the front changer and through the top tube cable routing. Those decals were first used in 1988, I believe.
You can find pretty much everything there is to know about the Champion Mondial on this site: The Original Gazelle Champion Mondial
You can find pretty much everything there is to know about the Champion Mondial on this site: The Original Gazelle Champion Mondial
Last edited by non-fixie; 02-14-22 at 10:50 AM. Reason: typo's
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02-14-22, 11:56 AM
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Beautiful frame! I have an '86, and even 25mm tires are tight in mine, so I don't think you'll have any luck with 28's.
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02-19-22, 04:56 PM
#7
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A few updates!
Nice frame! The "Special" means it is an AA frame with a hanger added for the front changer and through the top tube cable routing. Those decals were first used in 1988, I believe.
You can find pretty much everything there is to know about the Champion Mondial on this site: The Original Gazelle Champion Mondial
You can find pretty much everything there is to know about the Champion Mondial on this site: The Original Gazelle Champion Mondial
Thanks for that resource non-fixie , very helpful! Based on the frame details and colour, I believe this an 89. Made some progress today, here are some updates - polish, wax and tire/wheel mock-ups.
Started polishing & waxing the frame today. Pleasantly surprised by the clear coat has come to life.
Rear stay clearance with 28s. Michelin Classics, which measure at true 28s. No dimpling at seat stays so I have the for a little squeeze...30s perhaps? hmm. Brake bridge is a-ok for clearance.
Front fork seemingly fine, will install a caliper in the coming days to make sure.
A cute surprise, presumably the colour code '4060 Rose'.
Next up: cold set to 130mm *devil emoji*
Last edited by thedriveside; 02-20-22 at 10:19 PM. Reason: typo
02-20-22, 03:50 AM
#8
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A really well preserved frame, lovely! For the exact year please look under the bottom bracket, where the frame nummer is located. It should start with an 8 for 1988.
02-20-22, 04:46 AM
#9
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Gazelle Tour de lAvenir
quite a beauty.I have this Tour de lAvenir that was also brought to N. America from Holland by its previous owner.not as high end as yours but still a 531 w/very good craftsmanship.I spent a couple months in Ede in the 70's & found the culture is very bicycle dependent.actually was stopped for riding no hands by a bicyclist policeman.good luck on your build.
I have 2 NOS Gazelle frames that I've never gotten around to building up. A 1973 Champion Mondial A frame and a 1994 Champion Mondial AB frame. both are well made. I got them from a seller on eBay who special ordered frames and bikes from Gazelle. He had closed down his shop and selling off his remaining stock.
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Last edited by verktyg; 02-20-22 at 04:51 AM.
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02-20-22, 04:59 AM
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Great looking frame can’t wait to see progress reports. That x28 tire is likely to be the max tire size. Be careful it doesn’t rub after you sit on it, and if the wheel goes slightly out of true you’ll have trouble with it. Bikes like this were intended to have x21or x23 tubulars on them.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
02-20-22, 05:30 AM
#11
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Wowzers. Gorgeous frame!
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02-24-22, 08:50 PM
#12
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Cool! Thanks for sharing, I love the fluorescent paint on the 94.
I ran across someone riding one of those Tour de lAvenir model Gazelles out on the trail last month. Stopped to chat. He brought it back from The Netherlands about 30+ years ago and had been commuting on it ever since. It showed the wear from all those years and a few components had been replaced but it was still in use.
I have 2 NOS Gazelle frames that I've never gotten around to building up. A 1973 Champion Mondial A frame and a 1994 Champion Mondial AB frame. both are well made. I got them from a seller on eBay who special ordered frames and bikes from Gazelle. He had closed down his shop and selling off his remaining stock.
verktyg
I have 2 NOS Gazelle frames that I've never gotten around to building up. A 1973 Champion Mondial A frame and a 1994 Champion Mondial AB frame. both are well made. I got them from a seller on eBay who special ordered frames and bikes from Gazelle. He had closed down his shop and selling off his remaining stock.
verktyg
02-24-22, 09:00 PM
#13
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Thread Starter
Great looking frame can’t wait to see progress reports. That x28 tire is likely to be the max tire size. Be careful it doesn’t rub after you sit on it, and if the wheel goes slightly out of true you’ll have trouble with it. Bikes like this were intended to have x21or x23 tubulars on them.
Thanks! I'm loving the paint. I did another round of polish and it really glistens now.
----
Build will be SRAM Rival 10, black. Black rimmed, spoked wheels as well, so I picked up some functional (& aesthetically pleasing) pieces -- VO stem and VO Moderniste bottle cage:
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02-25-22, 07:19 AM
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Wow, what a beauty! Not sure how I missed this earlier. Can't wait to see this one come together.
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02-28-22, 09:43 PM
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Ran into a little snag today (wouldn't be a fun build without them!)...Picture attached.
Couldn't get this VO stem further than about 12cm/ 4inches into the steer tube. Presents some issues of getting the bars as low..ugh...high as I planned. After some research, learning more about butted steerer tubes which I haven't some across - I'm guessing that's my issue. Cleaned the steer tube, no abrasions or imperfections. Tried a few other stems, same issue, same spot. Other then, 'use a shorter stem', any tips? Will do some more research before I consider cutting the stem down, threading the stem bolt, etc.
Couldn't get this VO stem further than about 12cm/ 4inches into the steer tube. Presents some issues of getting the bars as low..ugh...high as I planned. After some research, learning more about butted steerer tubes which I haven't some across - I'm guessing that's my issue. Cleaned the steer tube, no abrasions or imperfections. Tried a few other stems, same issue, same spot. Other then, 'use a shorter stem', any tips? Will do some more research before I consider cutting the stem down, threading the stem bolt, etc.
03-12-22, 02:49 PM
#17
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I had been putting off cutting this stem in haste, but ended up going for it after too much thinking - it gives me the height that I'm looking for. Went at it with patience, but it was much more work with the file, to get the wedge snug, than I expected (...yup, would have measured and marked differently to start with new experience).
I don't have a tap and die kit to thread the old bolt, but had an old SR stem bolt that should work fine after I turn down the bolt a tiny bit. The rest of the build *should* be straight forward...but this part was fun with lots of learning -- butted steerer tubes!! ha.
Cutting in process
Cut, filed town and bolt replaced
I don't have a tap and die kit to thread the old bolt, but had an old SR stem bolt that should work fine after I turn down the bolt a tiny bit. The rest of the build *should* be straight forward...but this part was fun with lots of learning -- butted steerer tubes!! ha.
Cutting in process
Cut, filed town and bolt replaced
