Attention riders: Show us your fastest classic steel work-out machine
05-22-10, 01:05 PM
#26
My '97 Pinarello Vuelta (maybe the last year Pinarello did production lugged steel?) w/ '09 Campy Centaur. It makes me feel fast:
05-22-10, 01:28 PM
#27
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,884
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
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My "go fast" is a Gianella made by Marinoni. With my knee cartilage it can also be "go last".
Attachment 151989
and yes the saddle needs adjusting. I just swapped out the Swift to a Champion Narrow for fun.
Attachment 151989
and yes the saddle needs adjusting. I just swapped out the Swift to a Champion Narrow for fun.
05-22-10, 01:36 PM
#28
Senior Member
Used to dish out and receive pain on this Ciocc...
Then I realized I'm no longer flexible enough to ride such an aggressively small bike (stem in picture is as high as it should go; used to be "slammed"); the fact that the wheels are fetching $$$ on eBay didn't help. So, to run fatter tires and raise the handlebars a bit, I got this...
Despite the hoopla, the handling of the Colnago didn't really impress me that much. It's a good bike, but I like the Ciocc's handling better. So nowadays, I sometimes go on group rides with this...
OK, just kidding. It's actually this...
Although the thing weighs a proverbial ton, I haven't been able to blame it for any lost wheel. In fact, because it looks so innocuously slow, I had surprised quite a few people when they discovered that I was still in the mix after a few hard hits. It's not about the bike.
Then again, I don't race with that.
Then I realized I'm no longer flexible enough to ride such an aggressively small bike (stem in picture is as high as it should go; used to be "slammed"); the fact that the wheels are fetching $$$ on eBay didn't help. So, to run fatter tires and raise the handlebars a bit, I got this...
Despite the hoopla, the handling of the Colnago didn't really impress me that much. It's a good bike, but I like the Ciocc's handling better. So nowadays, I sometimes go on group rides with this...
OK, just kidding. It's actually this...
Although the thing weighs a proverbial ton, I haven't been able to blame it for any lost wheel. In fact, because it looks so innocuously slow, I had surprised quite a few people when they discovered that I was still in the mix after a few hard hits. It's not about the bike.
Then again, I don't race with that.
05-22-10, 01:57 PM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,223
Bikes: 2012 Moots VaMoots-74 Peugeot Mixtie U018-73 Peugeot U018
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Gios Cinelli
My Cinelli is quick, agile, climbs and descents, takes corners like a Duccati!!! 95 with SLX and Campagnolo Record Carbon Equipped.
My Gios is an all around bike, does everything as the Cinelli, but little heavier, and great for long rides. 85 with SL and Campagnolo Record C equipment.
I also have TI Litespeed Classic and a platic bike Orbea Onix
My Gios is an all around bike, does everything as the Cinelli, but little heavier, and great for long rides. 85 with SL and Campagnolo Record C equipment.
I also have TI Litespeed Classic and a platic bike Orbea Onix
05-22-10, 02:11 PM
#31
Banned.
05-22-10, 05:53 PM
#33
Senior Member
05-22-10, 07:36 PM
#35
Addicted to Pavement
Join Date: May 2008
Location: SE WI
Posts: 336
Bikes: '99 DBR X2, '98 DB Response, '84 Raleigh Marathon, '80 Raleigh Reliant (fixed/single)
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My Elance. Not a race bike by any means, but when the motor is working well, it's plenty fast - and super-smooth to boot 
05-22-10, 08:27 PM
#36
Señor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 18,072
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
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I don't feel appreciably faster on one than another. I do have one or two that are a bit slower. That's all relative though. I'm no speed demon on anything.
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In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
05-22-10, 08:30 PM
#37
Senior Member
05-22-10, 08:55 PM
#38
Building a better Strida
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: toronto, canada
Posts: 1,106
Bikes: bianchi brava 1988. fuji track 2007, 2006 Bianchi Pista, 1987 Miele and a strida knock off
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Warming up for the first incline on the Donut ride in Toronto.. gotten up to 70+km/h in double pace line formation for a few minutes at a time....
and when the rider is too pooped to rip on it:
Only bike with brifters and its sorta a mishmash of gruppo.... I call it a "poor-aspiring racer-wannabe" build.
Last edited by trueno92; 05-22-10 at 08:59 PM.
05-22-10, 09:18 PM
#39
Senior Member
Such beautiful bikes in this thread!
This looks interesting...
This looks interesting...
05-22-10, 09:23 PM
#40
Senior Member
This bike rolls fast for me.
05-22-10, 09:24 PM
#41
Senior Member
these are my two fast bikes. the raleigh is a tad smaller and gives me a more aggressive riding position. the trek is lower end (all shimano 105) but is just as fast as the raleigh, and snappier handling.
05-22-10, 09:45 PM
#43
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,450
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
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Nice bikes but none looked fast at all. As near as I could tell they were all sitting still.
(It's the rider, not the bike, remember?)
(It's the rider, not the bike, remember?)
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
05-22-10, 09:58 PM
#45
sultan of schwinn
Remember very lividly and this season, broken toe, major focus on running and racing further, inability to swim 'cause of the afforementioned toe, a plus 20 lbs (no excuses) and a hiatus from tri events until I up yet another age group next season makes any 10 year old on a Varsity faster than me on any bike but I can waddle long still...
and this season, broken toe, major focus on running and racing further, inability to swim 'cause of the afforementioned toe, a plus 20 lbs (no excuses) and a hiatus from tri events until I up yet another age group next season makes any 10 year old on a Varsity faster than me on any bike but I can waddle long still...
05-22-10, 11:13 PM
#47
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
05-22-10, 11:46 PM
#48
Mostly Mischief
Thread Starter
Not quite truthful in my opening post (thought the Merckx pic would have higher mass appeal), but this Gazelle in 753 tubing and DA 8 speed is the bike I consistently clocks the fastest times on.
It took me a few thousand miles to finally tame it. The extra-long top tube and short wheel base does funny things to the ride, and at first I was at odds with the twitchy feel. But now, ohh how sweet it is!!
It took me a few thousand miles to finally tame it. The extra-long top tube and short wheel base does funny things to the ride, and at first I was at odds with the twitchy feel. But now, ohh how sweet it is!!
05-23-10, 01:36 AM
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: In transit
Posts: 1,897
Bikes: 07 Vanilla, 98 IRD road frame built up with 25th Ann DA, Surly cross check with 105 comp, 78 Raleigh Comp GS, 85 Centurionelli
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This one WILL be my fastest steel steed, once I get back to the world and build it:
But for now (also in storage) my fastest built up lugged is, like RobbieT, my Centurionelli:
But for now (also in storage) my fastest built up lugged is, like RobbieT, my Centurionelli:
Last edited by poprad; 05-23-10 at 01:47 AM.
05-23-10, 02:11 AM
#50
Full Member
This is my 1989 Bottecchia Team ADR replica. It was the top of the line bike at the time. Fully chromed Cloumbus SPX under the paint with long point lugs. I don't know if I just got lucky with this one, but the workmanship is superb. Much better than any other bike I've owned and most that I've seen. It's got a seat tube angle of 73 and head tube angle of 75.3. Pretty steep but for some reason it works really well. It's a great riding bike. The steering is very responsive but I can descend twisty mountain roads with a lot of confidence. It never feels twitchy or out of control. It is the smoothest riding bike that I own even though the other bikes have slacker head angle and it is fast. It is a perfect example of an Italian racing bike. Full Shimano 600 Ultegra tricolor 7 speed, which works flawlessly. With the Kool Stop salmon pads these brakes acutally stop better than my Dura Ace 7800 brakes.
My original post got deleted when I tried to change the photo from a thumbnail to a regular photo.
