datlas 

Hi,

I am new here. Just saying hello. My bike is a 1986 made-to-measure steel frame built for me by Fred Kelly of Alpine Cycles, Rockville Maryland. Fred got out of the business several years ago and now sells real estate. I had the bike repainted several years ago so NO DECALS. Everything on the bike is from the 80's, including the avocet cyclometer....the only update I gave in to was new tires. I also included a close-up of the cutout lugs at the headset/fork.

Anyone else here ride an Alpine?

Doug

datlas 

Also, while I have your attention, the gum on my dura-ace brake hoods has deteriorated. Any ideas on how/where to find replacements? (I dont want new hoods, just the gum/rubber).

Thanks!

Doug

Lamplight

Never heard of Alpine before, but it looks like a fine machine. I love the simple but elegant lug. I'm not sure what to tell you on the hoods, though I have seen an ebay seller who had a lot of non-aero Shimano 600 gum hoods for sale that may work. I can't remember who it was but maybe someone else will.

buddyp

my ex has a fillet brazed Alpine with the best paint ever -- it fades from pink in the front to blue in the back thru all in between shades like lavender and purple. Fred said he'd never do that again that because it was way too much work. It is really a sweet looking bike. I told her if she ever wanted to get rid of it I'd take it and just hang the frame up. Its really small -- like 48cm.

I see Fred once in a while. He hurt his back and doesn't ride anymore. Too bad -- I think he was a Cat 2 back in the day.

luker

generally, the gum rubber part is the hood...this looks like 7400 series dura ace? There are vendors on eBay that have 'em, and they are cheap, compared to campy...

datlas 

Luker, I dont want new hoods or levers, just the rubber/gum cover (if that is possible)....and yes these are dura ace from approx 1986, which i believe is 7400 series.

So can I just get the rubber/gum part or do I have to buy the hood/levers?

Buddyp, please tell fred kelly I said hello, he may not remember me it's been 20 years.

Doug

sevencormorants

oooh! I've got one!

I've been wondering about mine for some time now.

Sorry I don't have any pictures of it built up. You guys would just laugh at it anyway -- it's a fixed gear with tutti fruity bar tape.

this review at wooljersey.com and this bikeforums thread
lead me to believe that it may be a rebranded Eisentraut Limited.

yellowjeep

The gum/rubber cover is what is called the hood.

Cafe De Velo has a set of black non-aero hoods.

https://www.cafedevelo.com/index.php?...&productId=136

And also a set of Gum non-aero hoods.

https://www.cafedevelo.com/index.php?...&productId=136

datlas 

yellowjeep....thanks for the info and the links

datlas

Poguemahone

I have an Eisentraut built CID, which was Alpine's other brand.

crich

Finally see another Alpine, I have an Alpine I abought on 1980. Beautiful orange

cb400bill

Could you post some pictures please?

ollo_ollo

I had an Alpine but I'm not sure how closely, or if it is at all related to the others that have been posted. I got the bike from an old fellow in Burien, WA. He bought the frame set from Georgetown Cyclery in Wash D.C. back in the mid 70's. He bought the frame for his wife, it was very small, 45 cm CTC. A few years after purchase, he had the frame built up with Shimano 600 by Bill Stevenson of Olympia, WA. He said his wife seldom rode it & it was still in new condition. The bike has "Alpine" decals on the downtube and the following encircles the seat tube approximately 1/3 down from the top, "Eisentraut::Oakland". I e-mailed Albert and he confirmed building "a few, less than 30" Alpine frames for Georgetown. He added that the shop closed about 1976. The lug work was beautiful & quite different from others pictured here. I kept the bike for my grandaughter but when she outgrew it, I eventually traded it for my 1984 Specialized Expedition. Here are a few pictures. Don

Primadogga

I bought a 50 cm Alpine criterium frame in 1976, imported a few years previously through Georgetown Cycle Sport. It had a high (11") bottom bracket and 16.25" chainstays, with vertical dropouts. I showed it to Bill Boston (framebuilder from NJ) once on a training ride, and he said that the geometry suggested that it was likely built by Mason (of Metcalf-Kitching-Mason or MKM fame). It was silver with red highlights, but, alas, someone painted it over with house paint when it was briefly stolen, and I had to strip it. I will likely be trying to sell it soon - would probably be a decent track frame, or training bike...

turbodrabbit

Reviving an old thread. Does anyone know what Fred Kelly is up to these days? I have two friends who both own Alpine frames, and both need repair. They were considering taking it to Bilenky to have them repaired, but thought if Fred might be up to the task...

Flakyfoont

Recently got my 80's Alpine back on the road; it's a beauty and rides great! Bought the frame (61cm) from Fred, had it painted anthracite, got a deal on a SR-900 Cannondale parts box while working at Adam's Bicycles in Gaitherburg, Md, and built it up. Will try to post some photos.

thumpism 

One of the legendary bikes of the Richmond cycling scene was an orange Alpine track bike. It was a 22", as I recall, and was brought to town by one of the local racers. He sold it and that began its rounds on the market for the next several years. It always sold for $200 and I almost bought it two different times for that price but it was just a bit too small for me. Don't know what became of it.

bikebikebike

Is this the same as the "Alpine Cycle Group"
I got a new find on an old steel bike and am trying to find what it is
I have a Taiwaese bike with shimano RX100 groupo 2x7 tagged as a Grand Spirit

merziac

So be advised, this is a 3 year old thread, nothing wrong with that, just sayin.

bikebikebike

LOL They said the same thing about Homer.

Its a 24 year old bike , most likely
Why is it so old? It takes that long.

Aw I really like the stories behind the old hardware and that is information that is , um, thinly traded

My first "real" bile was a 2x6 steel frame CNC, made in St Denise, an industrial suburb of Paris and I bought it during the cycle boom of the early 70's
Frame like a rubber band, steel wheels, and I rode the piss out of it for 40 years.
Love the old bikes , love their stories, love the way they taught about things to come
You find that out from what was, you go searching out the stories and the story tellers

merziac

Absolutely

rando_couche

It is definitely a relabeled Limited. Hard to do much better than that. Albert knows his stuff! (Yes, I know he didn't build it. But he DID design and spec the Limiteds.)

bikebikebike

I am a bit befuddled between the "Alpine" bikes and the " Alpine Cycle Group" Taiwanese bikes
they lack the cut outs and fork crown of the bikes you are discussing
with curved full sloping fork tubes attached directly to the stem without a lug
Nothing supports their being the Alpine brand here, but if anybody has a story about this it would add to the tale
It's not like anybody has a lock on the name Alpine.

Tom Miller

Yes, I do. Late 80s, Campy equipped, 61cm. Yours is even bigger!
Tom

datlas 

Nice! Once you have 10 posts, please show us some pics??

I still have my Alpine, but since I bought my Habanero, the Alpine is serving duty on the trainer.