jjhabbs 

Hey guys,
You've heard of N+1, Well. This time it's N+6. I picked up a new bike at the Madison swap, an early 60s Frejus, and then went to Tennessee to look at a bicycle collection to purchase! Wow. awesome bikes!

You Tube

Chombi1 

I think it's pronounced "Free-yoos"....or Frey-yoos....
for the rims, yes Nisis or Fiammes.....

juvela

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Frejus -

you mentioned possibly using Campag Nuovo Tipo hubs for the wheels

they are a little bit late for the bicycle having launched ~1967

one interesting Campag hub which could be employed, as it is period correct and only infrequently encountered, is the Sportman model

this is the forerunner of the Nuovo Tipo and was current for a relatively brief period in the early 1960's

it used the same quick release skewer as did the Record model hub





[images courtesy of VB]


flange height is unique for Campag, smaller than Nuovo Tipo and Record large flange

not offered in small flange

the model is somewhat of an "orphan" with respect to catalogues; it launched just after publication of catalogue Nr. 14 in 1960 and had been discontinued by the time of publication of catalogue Nr. 15 in 1967

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plausible spokes for the wheelbuild would be light gauge butted inox from either Alpina or Radaelli Lario

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curbtender

Had a similar Frejus that dated around 61'. I was told the brake levers went to plastic quick release in 65'. Had Sheffield pedals.

Robvolz 

Nice collection.

For me, I guess it comes down to if they are your size or not. If you can't ride it, then why buy.

That being said, they are all stunning in their own right.

Robert

jjhabbs 

I prefer 59 to 60.. I can do a 61cm..

John

icemilkcoffee 

That's a pretty impressive collection you just bought- "all killers, no fillers"

bibliobob

Nice bikes, and looks like a fun trip! Harry Quinn was a nice builder out of Liverpool, and the shop was taken over by another builder in the mid '70s.

It will be a nice haul, for sure. I'd be interested in the Condor if you decide to pass it on...

poprad

Weirdly it's pronounced "Fray-zhooose"
...unless the town is pronounced differently from the cycle brand, but now that I (sadly) don't live in France I can't ask a local.

It's also a town on the Cote d'Azur that I visited when on deployment on a big gray USN tub full of Marines. We were the first ship to make that port of call in a very long time, none of the locals could recall ever seeing U.S. troops.

Another great vid John, keep them coming!

sd5782 

My 1964 Frejus had those Campy Sportsman hubs. They are attractive and spin nicely. That bike was too large for me and now resides with another member.

75lechamp 

One of my favorite bike books, which I bought in 1973 and still have, is "Richard's Bicycle Book." I was always fascinated by the bike on the cover, which is EXACTLY like that Condor in your collection! I wonder if it could be this exact same bike?

Andy

steelbikeguy

That's the book I was thinking of! Thank you.
I was trying to remember if it was on the cover of The Complete Book of Bicycling or what.

My copy is in a bit better shape, and I can't imagine anyone in the 70's looking at that and not thinking "Wow!".




Steve in Peoria

Kilroy1988 

The Condor is a Superbe model, with the lugs designed by Bill Hurlow while he was working with Condor. Considering it was very unusual that two bicycles of that caliber were built exactly the same, I think it's safe to say that it is the same bicycle as the one on the cover of the book. Very lovely collection!

-Gregory

mpetry912 

The first version of that book, he had the bike upside down I think.

this version he is doing something to the seat or seat post using a crescent wrench ?

oh wait, it's not a campagnolo post.

steelbikeguy

My copy says it is the first printing... but maybe they made some changes to the cover in the process?




It is an interesting book, if only for some of the ideas in it.
For instance, how to tell if a frame is stiff enough....




Those were the days!

Steve in Peoria

chain_whipped

Campagnolo tool set was over most heads and the MAFAC six to ten piece tool kit was a use once and toss away. The book cover depiction of MacGyver and his 'two' sizes adjustable 'hammers' is why most old bikes found today have aerodynamic rounded off fasteners.

Chombi1 

I remember as college kids back in the early 80's, our local bike shops did not really appreciate my brother and I doing what's shown on the book to check out frame stiffness on their showroom area.....

Chombi1 

I remember as college kids back in the early 80's, our local bike shops did not really appreciate my brother and I doing what's shown on the book to check out frame stiffness on their showroom area.....

SurferRosa

Not sure what he's doing with the adjustable wrench but I like his barcon routing.

calamarichris

Dooodooodooodooodoodoooodooooooo, Frejus is just alright, woah-yeah!

P!N20

Don't think so, the seat stay connection to the seat lug appears to be different, and John's Condor has clamp-on cable guides.

Hoping John can restore his facial hair to resemble the gentleman on the cover though.

tkm

Dude was sporting a man-bun and facial hair 40+ years before it was popular! So I'll give him a pass on the adjustable wrench, lol.

John E

Why that cheapo padded saddle on such a great machine, which deserves a Brooks Pro?

Pompiere

Yep, a Fuji with crimped brake cables. It looks like he used several different bike photos over the years.


I first became aware of his books when I got my FW Evans. He used one for the cover photo and apparently praised them in the book which led a number of Americans to buy them and bring them back to the US.

cinelliguy 

You mean the rare Cinelli Unicanitor Pleated saddle?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/116048008064

Guy