Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Bought something really neat today -- one of Connie Carpenter's old track bikes

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Bought something really neat today -- one of Connie Carpenter's old track bikes

Old 09-06-21, 01:09 PM
  #1  
Dylansbob 
2k miles from the midwest
Thread Starter
 
Dylansbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,990

Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times in 446 Posts
Bought something really neat today -- one of Connie Carpenter's old track bikes

First off, let me thank my wife for letting me jump on these various CL deals. As luck would have it, I'd just moved a few things and had some profit money that she let me keep playing with.

On to the bike. The PO was a bit coy with the listing, only saying that it was custom made for a Puch sponsored rider to use in track events as Puch didn't offer a track model. He did include a photo of the bottom bracket shell with the rider's name stamped. Putting together my knowledge of that time period (and a quick google search), leads me to believe this is one of Connie Carpenter's former bikes from the early 80s. The PO also said that he'd gotten it from a seller in Colorado this year, further linking it.

Then there's this article from this spring about Eisentraut having built a frame for her during the same time period. Some of the details don't match, but it was still obviously done by a "builder of quality", as the saying goes. https://www.cyclingnews.com/features...er-that-wasnt/

pics:

blue anodized Campy Tipo hubs

Not the same seatstay treatment as the Eisentraut frame, but still very nice.

Cinelli SC bb shell, stamped "Carpenter"


Campy track ends

Sunlight didn't want to cooperate
Dylansbob is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 01:27 PM
  #2  
xiaoman1 
Senior Member
 
xiaoman1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: City of Angels
Posts: 5,152

Bikes: A few too many

Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1359 Post(s)
Liked 2,173 Times in 1,178 Posts
OOH that's a nice bike!!!!!!
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire

Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors



xiaoman1 is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 01:58 PM
  #3  
daverup 
Senior Member
 
daverup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Michigan USA
Posts: 902

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes.

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 265 Post(s)
Liked 821 Times in 396 Posts
Nice find! Love the green!
daverup is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 02:28 PM
  #4  
Dylansbob 
2k miles from the midwest
Thread Starter
 
Dylansbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,990

Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times in 446 Posts
First ride report

Wow, very nice. A bio I found listed CC as 5'9", so an inch shorter than me but with likely longer legs. Frame is a 57 st c-t-t, 56.5 tt.

edit:: I just realized there is a faint FMA stamped along the bottom bracket. I wonder if that might be a clue as to the builder.



obligatory "fixed gear on a fence" photo

Last edited by Dylansbob; 09-06-21 at 03:07 PM.
Dylansbob is offline  
Likes For Dylansbob:
Old 09-06-21, 03:03 PM
  #5  
konakai
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 102
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 34 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times in 41 Posts
great score, this is what excites me, being able to tie a bike to its long lost rider, especially if that rider was of note
konakai is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 03:19 PM
  #6  
Dylansbob 
2k miles from the midwest
Thread Starter
 
Dylansbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,990

Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times in 446 Posts
Originally Posted by konakai
great score, this is what excites me, being able to tie a bike to its long lost rider, especially if that rider was of note
That's why my wife let my buy it.

The fact it has the provenance of an Olympic gold medal winning rider, plus whoever the builder was had to be someone of note made it too good of deal to pass up. There's a good chance I'll swap wheels out. While the blue ano Campy hubs are cool and about right period wise, they're Tipo instead of Record. There's a strong chance I can sell off the hubs for most of the bikes purchase price.
Dylansbob is offline  
Likes For Dylansbob:
Old 09-06-21, 03:21 PM
  #7  
Chombi1 
Senior Member
 
Chombi1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,457
Mentioned: 102 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1629 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 814 Times in 527 Posts
The frame kinda looks bigger than a 57 cm C-T......
I remember being able to look at her bike closely during races she raced in Milwaukee in the 80's and I always thought Connie rode a bigger frame, something maybe at least 58 - 59 cm.

Last edited by Chombi1; 09-06-21 at 03:27 PM.
Chombi1 is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 03:38 PM
  #8  
HM70
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Los Angeles County
Posts: 32

Bikes: Bertoni SLX (Daccordi)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts
Amazing find. The bike may have been lost but not the rider. Still a voice for women's cycling and Parkinson disease awareness. Not to mention her son Taylor Phinney who retired in 2019.
HM70 is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 03:43 PM
  #9  
SurferRosa
señor miembro
 
SurferRosa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 8,237

Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo

Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3846 Post(s)
Liked 6,437 Times in 3,183 Posts
Sweeet. How about some blue tape and blue toe clip straps to go with those hubs!
SurferRosa is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 05:02 PM
  #10  
jamesdak 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,824

Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,

Mentioned: 154 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2300 Post(s)
Liked 4,766 Times in 1,725 Posts
Found this.

https://pages.facebook.com/Puchrad/p...pe=3&source=48
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
jamesdak is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 05:04 PM
  #11  
3speedslow
Senior Member
 
3speedslow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 9,339

Bikes: A few

Mentioned: 117 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1937 Post(s)
Liked 1,043 Times in 627 Posts
Puch had it going on during that time period! Any thought as to reaching out to the CC for a confirmation or stories about the frames races?
3speedslow is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 05:26 PM
  #12  
P!N20
Senior Member
 
P!N20's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wurundjeri Country
Posts: 2,452
Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1073 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times in 924 Posts
Connie is on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bikecamp

But this being C&V, I expect you to write her a letter.
P!N20 is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 05:33 PM
  #13  
Dylansbob 
2k miles from the midwest
Thread Starter
 
Dylansbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,990

Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times in 446 Posts
Originally Posted by jamesdak
I saw that. I couldn't quite understand the translation google gave me, if that meant that she had already commented on it

There is also a culled ebay photo on a redirect site that shows it with a different cockpit. The above photo shows it with the undersized 26.8 Kalloy seatpost that I bought it with. I could tell the ears were too tight. After a few minutes of work, I was able to easily slide the 27.2mm post that I suspected it would have taken.
Dylansbob is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 05:35 PM
  #14  
iab
Senior Member
 
iab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,156
Mentioned: 200 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2993 Post(s)
Liked 3,710 Times in 1,393 Posts
What is especially cool is now you have a reason to reach out to Connie Carpenter. (Who btw is another alumnus of the park where I skated as a kid, along with Eric Heiden, Beth Heiden and Mark Johnson. All great memories of those folks)
iab is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 05:59 PM
  #15  
jamesdak 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,824

Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,

Mentioned: 154 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2300 Post(s)
Liked 4,766 Times in 1,725 Posts
Originally Posted by Dylansbob
I saw that. I couldn't quite understand the translation google gave me, if that meant that she had already commented on it

There is also a culled ebay photo on a redirect site that shows it with a different cockpit. The above photo shows it with the undersized 26.8 Kalloy seatpost that I bought it with. I could tell the ears were too tight. After a few minutes of work, I was able to easily slide the 27.2mm post that I suspected it would have taken.
I didn't know if that would lead to more details on it. Sometimes the hunt for info and half the fun.
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
jamesdak is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 06:35 PM
  #16  
JohnDThompson 
Old fart
 
JohnDThompson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,936

Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.

Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,367 Times in 1,916 Posts
Originally Posted by Dylansbob
The PO was a bit coy with the listing, only saying that it was custom made for a Puch sponsored rider to use in track events as Puch didn't offer a track model. He did include a photo of the bottom bracket shell with the rider's name stamped. Putting together my knowledge of that time period (and a quick google search), leads me to believe this is one of Connie Carpenter's former bikes from the early 80s. The PO also said that he'd gotten it from a seller in Colorado this year, further linking it.

Then there's this article from this spring about Eisentraut having built a frame for her during the same time period. Some of the details don't match, but it was still obviously done by a "builder of quality", as the saying goes.
Nice bike. I concur it's probably a custom build re-badged as a Puch for sponsorship reasons.


Cinelli SC bb shell, stamped "Carpenter"
This style Cinelli BB shell was made before about 1981. The later shells had the "winged C" logo instead. Of course, the shell could have been old stock and built into the frame at any time.

Looks like Campagnolo BMX hubs. I don't see a lockring on the sprocket.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
camp-bmx.jpg (40.6 KB, 91 views)
JohnDThompson is offline  
Old 09-06-21, 07:34 PM
  #17  
Dylansbob 
2k miles from the midwest
Thread Starter
 
Dylansbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,990

Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times in 446 Posts
duh, I forgot to even look at closed ebay. Listing doesn't really do it justice as I would consider *most* of the patina to totally be acceptable, with the exception of the back of the forks. The measurements given were off a bit as well.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/40299356854...p2047675.l2557
Dylansbob is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.