Zieleman

Of course since my last purchase I decided to put N+1 in the freezer and be satisfied with what I already have. But that's obviously unrealistic, especially when an offer comes around one cannot refuse.

So I picked up today, my first C&V bike that's NOT Dutch. Guess what, it's from the US of A:

Specialized Allez Epic with full 7-speed Campy Athena gruppo












Picked it up in Dordrecht and rode it back home to Amsterdam, while getting lost almost every couple of km's. But I wasn't in a hurry anyway.

Zieleman

The weather was superb: 25 centigrade and with Aeolus on my side I had a pretty strong tailwind all the way home.


Must have seen a hundred windmills


Took a ferry to cross the river Lek:


Someone else got lucky as well today

Zieleman

Wanna see some Dutch roads?




Wasn't allowed to take it inside the bakery store:

Zieleman

I know, I know, it's all FLAT. After last weeks 170km in the Belgium Ardennes I was happy to have some flat roads to consume. Speaking of consuming: When I had about 30km to go I started to feel very hungry. Just a minute later I saw this on the side of the road:


Seven lolly pops which used to be my favourite when I was a youngster. Five were still ok and I may not be a guy who takes his food off the tarmac, but this felt like a gift from above



I ate those things within 5 minutes. It was enough to get me to my goal, the local pub.


All in all a perfect day for sure. Only flaw was that my buttocks are not best friends with turbo saddles, but it'll live through I guess.

bikemig 

Nice bike and I'm a big fan of turbo saddles! Great, great pics and fun story. Not quite sure about lollipops and beer but what the heck gotta try something new when it comes to getting hydrated and your sugar level up once in in a while, . So I used to live in a small village near Putten and your pics bring back some great memories.

jish1969

That is one nice lookin' ride!

Zieleman

Thanks! I was around Putten a couple of weeks ago, on a trip with my gf to Hoenderloo. Took a couple of pics of the ride and I'll post them here if you like.

On the bike: Surprising how good the ride is. Almost like steel, it's not superstiff, but not as flexible as a chinese gymnast in training for the olympics. Feels a little lighter, but since I won't be climbing any mountains around here that's not going to be of any help.

The condition of the components is amazingly new, almost nos. The guy selling it (wearing a real redneck type mullet btw) told me it was his boss' bike who rode it twice and when he got it for a song he himself rode it five times. These were not marathon rides I suppose. The inner chainring had never touched a chain untill I took it easy today. The tubular Campy Omega rims have 22 year old Specialized 20mm tires mounted, of which I was a little scared they wouldn't hold even though they look absolutely brandnew. They don't look very highend though.



Nice detail is the lbs-sticker IMO

Italuminium

Score!! Beatiful bike. Your appartment must be pretty crowded by now

kflagg 

very nice! your very lucky to live in such a beautiful place

Elev12k

Very nice report of the collection of this mint N+1 bike. Thanks. Lucky guy you were with the lollipops. I usually have to do with road kill

bikemig 

If you lived a little closer, I'd swap you for that turbo saddle. Sure post some putten pics. I liked riding in the Veluwe as well.

Chicago Al 

Great story and pictures. Some of the pics look very familiar, at least generally. I know that my wife and I took a ferry over the Lek, maybe the same one, when touring in 2011. In fact it was a similar series of pictures (by Elev12LK) that had inspired my idea of us taking an 'easy' bike tour in the NL. We went Haarlem-Leiden-Delft-Gouda-Schoonhoven-Amersfoort-Amsterdam...at a much easier pace than yours obviously. Thanks for bringing back the happy memories. And cheers on the new vintage ste...er...bike.

shoota 

Gotta love lugged carbon, damn that is a sexy bike. I would wonder how much it weighs.

afilado

Good looking!

I rebuilt the same frame with all Mavic. I like mine a lot. There's a certain freshness about the ride. I described it as a high class steel with a touch of wood. And, I agree with you, it's plenty stiff enough for what it is today - a performance-capable pleasure ride.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...bon?highlight=

Fine examples are collectible, as far as I'm concerned.

J

northbend 

Nice score and and a great ride home to top it off! Congratulations.
I have fond memories of Holland. I spent some time in Hovelaken on a temporary work assignment. Beautiful countryside

Gary Fountain

What a nice bike and such a fantastic ride into the Dutch countryside. I wish I was there to ride along with you. Fine windmills, fine food and drink as well. What a pity you weren't able to take a photo inside the bakery - I suppose you can't give away industrial secrets though.

shoota 

Is the fork alloy? This would be one of the few vintage frames a carbon fork would look right at home on.

RubberLegs

I would be a bit afraid to take something that had been sitting....and just jump on the road with it....GLAD you made it home, some beautiful riding there.

Zieleman

Thanks Alan! The ferry was actually at Schoonhoven, cost me 65cents. It's a small world innit? Well, let's just say The Netherlands is kinda small

Zieleman

I think I like the alloy fork. Like the chrome ones on proper steel bikes, this frame has alloy lugs&fork. Quite striking IMO.

Zieleman

I was scared for sure. But I've done worse, riding a bike from '78 with tubulars the same age through dirt roads and such. I was euforic that I made it all the way back. That beer was a GOOD one

Zieleman

I get what you mean by the touch of wood. It sort of absorbs bumps very different in comparison to steel. Steering is amazing as well, though that could be due to the nice headset.

Chombi

YAY! another new member of the C&V CF bike club!
Congratulations on the new aquisition!
Note everyone, that his Epic did not spontaneously asplode when he rode it home!

Chombi

[QUOTE=Zieleman;15971225]Of course since my last purchase I decided to put N+1 in the freezer and be satisfied with what I already have. But that's obviously unrealistic, especially when an offer comes around one cannot refuse.

So I picked up today, my first C&V bike that's NOT Dutch. Guess what, it's from the US of A:

Specialized Allez Epic with full 7-speed Campy Athena gruppo


/QUOTE]
I wouldn't change a thing on that bike! It just looks so right to me, even the aluminum forks as most of them had them. CF forks kinda came in a little later.
But I guess I'm kinda biased. because I have such a similar bike:

Best handling but also one of the most comfortable bikes I have!

Zieleman

Wow, that's an amazing looking Alan, Chombi! Is it all Mavic? And the stem/seatpost?