Drillium Dude 

I'm assuming this to be a Galmozzi; work in progress?

DD

Drillium Dude 

I found this Sparrow frame on Ebay late in 2010; as luck would have it, it was available locally at a small shop in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. Before the auction ended I was able to talk to a shop employee to get some details, and confirm local pickup, too. Serial number suggests 1979 production, from a builder who torched out of Missoula, MT for less than a decade. Won the frame for around $250, then began building it up with Campy NR/SR - and a somewhat special wheelset. I'd found a pair of Weinmann A124s (concave section) which were anodized black(!) and laced them to a NOS pair of Phil Wood hubs; the rear was a Hi-Low.

The first ride was an eye-opener: the fat chain/seat stays and something about the fork made for an extremely stiff and responsive bike. It especially excelled at climbing; each pedal stroke seemed to transfer 100% of the power directly to the rear wheel - and not a hint of BB flex. However, it was fatiguing to ride over 30 miles as the frame transmitted everything and really did beat you up. Because I rarely rode it (and because I had three orange bikes), I began the process of trying to sell it way back in 2018, first as a full bike, later as frame/fork/BB/HS. It finally went out the door in early 2021, to a new owner who'll hopefully give it more exercise than did I.



DD

Fredo76

Fredo at Black Mesa

gaucho777 

'86 LOOK during a race at the old Ziggurat building in Laguna Nigel circa '87. Still gets ridden a lot.


The TT bike, long gone.


I also put some racing miles on the Parkpre.




A few others that I've acquired since my race days ended but are still race-worthy even if I no longer am.

'73 Speedwell Titalite


'80 Colnago
Untitled by gaucho777, on Flickr

'85 De Rosa in da roses.

'
90 Merlin

El Chaba

Peugeot Pro 10, …1981

SJX426 

I see what you did there DD!
I will start with the oldest and work my way up. Shouldn't take long.
Although this isn't ridable any more, It still exists on the wall and in parts bins. It was the top of the line in 1972. It really doesn't need a description, nor do any of the others that will follow.
However, it is a bike that survived my ignoring it for nearly 30 years as it was transported from garage to garage with occasional attempts at riding it. Then when the situation was ripe, it enabled me for a couple of months until a stupid young woman pulled in front of us at 6:30 in the morning while we were enjoying a ride to work at about 21 mph on Baseline in Beaverton OR. Purchased in 1973 used, it has less than 1000 miles on it with me. Parts are in really good shape except the wheels that were bent and the saddle that is wearing time.
1972 Motobecane Le Champion 24" on Flickr

styggno1

I would like to add to that "no list" a wish for a certain proportion/difference between saddle height and stem height if going pure racing. I have difficulties when seeing what could be pure racing bike - with the stem level or above saddle height.,,

El Chaba

Gios Compact Pro, 1991 with Sachs New Success and Stronglight …as per team Tonton Tapis…

daverup 

I don't race, but I'm pretty sure both of these bikes have,

Wildwood 

Early 70s
Bottecchia & Zeus


Almost all original on this ‘72 GdI. But nothing original on the Zeus

Wildwood 

Mondia Super from 1980. 531SL frameset




Photo by thread starter @Drillium Dude

Wildwood 

Pinarello Super Record 1984 or 85. SL frame.


OK, baby blue handlebar wrap doesn’t exactly scream Race

Wildwood 

1985 Merckx SLX (repaint) and 1989 Falcon 531c

joesch

Cant argue this model infact I can +1 as I have the same model and it is as fast and racy as any other steel I have including my Colnago Master's which I love to ride AFAP (As Fast As Possible) incase this is not a commonly known acronym which really means I limit the machine.

rccardr 

Well, there's this:

And this:

ascherer 

Falcon San Remo

styggno1

Pompiere

This made me think of the Amish near me, who sometimes buy retired harness race horses to pull their lightweight buggies.

pastorbobnlnh 

The only bike I'm riding at the moment (3-4 days each week) is my '82 Lotus Super Pro Aero.

Wildwood 

Then there is this one - yet to roll on my local roads, but soon

1986 Bianchi Vittoria (or Trofeo)

JohnDThompson 

1980 US Olympic Cycling team frame:

Aardwolf

1982 Holdsworth Avanti,
but I've replaced the original Regina 14-19 freewheel, and it's got Mavic Monthlery tubular rims instead of Super Champion 58.

SJX426 

Next up in age is the Bottecchia. Originally bought in 2014 because it had chrome head lugs and chrome, it is a Giro D'Italia and transformed into a Professional with the components that would fit from the crashed Le Champion. It is a nice ride and a good replacement for the Le Champion. Decals need to be added. Another one of those oldies that had longer wheelbase and often eyelets but still top of the line for the brand. The difference between the Pro and the GDI is not the frame but what was hung on it. The next one will have a more traditional racing geometry. And to @styggno1 point about saddle height relative to handlebars. All my drop bar bikes have about a 2-inch drop of the bar.
The seller was a guy who cruised estate sales and found this bike. He didn't know what he was selling, and I didn't know what I was buying. He preferred the cleaner look of the decals removed. Rats.

1972 Bottecchia Giro D'Italia (Professional conversion) on Flickr

Drillium Dude 

How to keep a thread alive 101

Nice to see the (sadly no more) Le Champ here as your first entry; looking forward to the rest!

DD

Shrevvy 

Great thread. I will contribute soon.

I was looking for the "Add to Cart" button on several that have been posted...

The TS Isaac is wonderful. Love the color. Mine doesn't qualify for the thread.