1986 - Olympia Competizione Superleggera

Founded in 1893 in Milan by Carlo Borghi, Olympia is the third oldest Italian bicycle manufacturer still making bikes today (Bianchi dates from 1885, Preziosi from 1892); in the beginning they made motorcycles also.

In 1925 Signore Borghi turned into racing together with Dunlop as a co-sponsor and Gilli Gianbattista beeing the first rider for Olympia followed by Bresciani, Dinale, Lazzaretti, Menegazzi, Pancera and Pucci in the following year or Pio Caimmi in 1929 as well as Luigi Marchisio and Karl Altenburger in 1933 and Vito Ortelli in 1948.

However, wearing those white with a black stripe Olympia jersey between 1939 and 1941 Enrico Mollo, reached second place in the Giro d’Italia (1940) and Pietro Chiappini wins the Milan-Turin race (1941).

In 1959 Antonio and Pasquale Fontana bought the company in order to compliment their other, less exalted marques Winter, Willes and San Remo nd moved production from Milan to to the Veneto region. Olympia gave them an opportunity to compete with the best bikes on the market back then.

Frame builder Augusto Daniele built their Competizione model, which was equipped with the top Campagnolo components. They featured carefully filed lugs, excellent torch work, short, upright geometry and a variety of bottom bracket cut-outs. Visually, it was distinguished by its long chromed, concave seat stay caps.

The three top models (Competizione Superleggera, Special Piuma and Sprint Junior) had an unusual, fragile pearlescent finish. Unlike modern finishes, it used natural pearlessence, as found in nail polish, instead of metal or mica flakes. These bikes were antique white through the early 70s, then other base colors were used under the pearl (yellow, copper, blue and possibly others).

By the late 70s, the hand painted head badge and natural pearlescent paint were gone, replaced by a decal and a more prosaic (and durable) top coat. Later on the head badge was changed to one that´s milled directly into the steering tube. The quality of those high performance frames remained very high until end of its production in the late 80´s. Thus all Competizione models were equipped solely with Campagnolo Nuovo oder Super Record.

That´s the parts list that´s planned to be used for the re-build and setup so far

Bottom Braket: Campagnolo Super Record
Headset: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Crankset: Campagnolo Super Record Olympia pantographed
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record
Shift Levers: Campagnolo Super Record
Brake Lever: Campagnolo Super Record Olympia pantographed
Brakes: Campagnolo Super Record
Wheelset: Campagnolo Super Record with NISI rims
Saddle: Cinelli Unicanitor
Seatpost: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Stem: 3ttt Olympia pantographed
Handlebar: 3ttt
Pedals: Campagnolo Super Record

Frame tubing: Columbus SL
Fork tubing: Columbus SL

1979 - Zeus 2000 Superchronos - Espana Olé

There are many different and contradictory stories told about Zeus. Which really are true I can´t say.

Nevertheless, Zeus Industriale SA was established in the Basque region in 1926 by Don Nicholás de Arregui in Eibar. Initially they produced small parts, then components and finally complete bicycles. In addition Nicholas de Arregui filed a few up to some patents until 1964.

Starting with 1958 a man called  José Luis Eibar, who was acclaimed to be the owner of Zeus in an 1961 advert published in Le Cycliste did the same until about 1969.

Furthermore and in order to increase confusion, both Eibar and Arregui are names of Basque towns also.

Thus it fits well when one of the unprooven stories about Zeus tells, that Zeus invented the parallelogram derailleur in the 30s and therefore many years before the 1951 Gran Sport was introduced by Tullio Campagnolo, and prior to Cervino or Nivex and others also.

Well, Nivex had a parallelogram derailleur in 1938 that was produced in numbers. Disraeligears shows one from the french JIC or Super Inax company called Super Inax Sport Derailleur that dates back to 1946.

Surprisingly Zeus patents shown at Disraeligears start in the 40s only and show more likely copies of the Simplex Tour de France derailleur and derivations of the old pull-chain design. Same with the Zeus Gran Sport patent which dates back to 1952 making it more likely a copy of the 1951 introduced Campagnolo Gran Sport derailleur than the original beeing copied by Tullio.

Next some sources claim something like a secret up to a not really published (commercial) relationsship between Campagnolo and Zeus. On one hand Zeus should have been sub-contracted for ‘difficult’ production work like titanium axels, on other hand Zeus should have carried out design work for Campagnolo.

Again I can´t proof these stories but there could be something in some of this. It would be surprising if Campagnolo did not use sub-contractors for some component parts especially when demand was exceedingly high.

The third story surrounds Luis Ocaña´s 1973 victory at the Tour de France by claiming he won on a Zeus bike using Zeus gears, but the team Ocaña was riding for was sponsored by the French consumer goods company BIC and got their bicycles from Géminiani or Motobécane.

Indeed Ocaña rode for Fagor in 1968/69, beeing a Basque company and team, that might have been supported by Zeus.  Thus it might be valid claiming that Ocaña won the spanish Championship in 1968 riding a Zeus and Zeus gears.

Nevertheless we reach out the seventies, when Zeus decided that instead of slavishly copying Campagnolo (with their Gran Sport and Criterium derailleurs and group sets) it might be a better idea to make the pace rather than following it.

In the mid of the seventies they introduced the Zeus 2000 group set

and their top of the line bicycle Zeus 2000 Superchronos.

Sometime in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s Zeus seemed to have ceased production. Orbea, also based near Eibar, had bought the name and produced a variety of parts and bicycles branded with the Zeus name until about 2002.

But back to this 1979 Zeus 2000 Superchronos bicycle:

Bottom Braket: Zeus 2000 Superchronos
Headset: Zeus 2000 Superchronos
Crankset: Zeus 2000 Superchronos
Front Derailleur: Zeus 2000 Superchronos
Rear Derailleur: Zeus 2000 Superchronos
Shift levers: Zeus 2000 Superchronos
Brake Lever: Zeus 2000 Superchronos
Brakes: Zeus 2000 Superchronos
Wheelset: Zeus 2000 Superchronos with MAVIC rims
Saddle: Zeus 2000 Superchronos
Seatpost: Zeus 2000 Superchronos
Stem: 3ttt
Handlebar: 3ttt
Pedals:Zeus 2000 Superchronos

Frame tubing: Reynolds 531 SL
Fork tubing: Reynolds 531 SL

That´s the condition the Zeus was found by a friend of mine. The photography on top shows the state I´ve got it from this friend.

1968 - RIH-Sport Super Course - as fast as the wind

Amsterdam Bustraan brothers Willem (Wim) and Joop started their business in about 1921 and gained first reputation with Jan Hijzelendoorn riding one of their creations in sprints with finishing as the new dutch champion in 1924 and becoming RIH Bustraan the first Dutch frame builder that could build lightweight frames.

There´s much guessing about the companies name. Some argue RIH standing for Rijwiel Industrie Holland. However, one of the founders noted in an interview that RIH was named after Kara Ben Nemsi's horse, a character from the books of Karl May.

In 1928 the company moved to the well known address in Westerstraat. In 1948 the brothers handed over to Willem Jr. and Wim van der Kaaij started as an apprentice, who became the new owner in 1973 when the Willlem Jr. Bustraan retired and made frames until the companies end in 2012. He passed away at the age of 77 in 2014.

Between the start of the sixties and 1970 when Fongers was acquired by Batavus-Intercycle they built lightweights in series under the RIH name. Round about 1972 Willem Jr. started a collaboration with the Cové Fietsfabriek from Venlo, where bicycles and frames were made and sold under the brand name RIH.

That´s the reason, why you should have a closer look to the frames head badge and other details of the frame in order to separate the high quality frames build in Amsterdam from those budget frames made at Fongers or Cové. Cové frames are recognized by Venlo mentioned on the head badge for instance.

When during the 1950s large sponsored cycling teams entered the stage, RIH's successes because henceforth the sponsors decided which material was used. This was a major change in the peloton, because until that time the individual riders took that decision.

Among RIH's customers was Gerrit Schulte, becoming pursuit world champion in 1948 against Fausto Coppi, Arie van Vliet (Berlin and Zurich 1936, Amsterdam 1938, Amsterdam 1948, Zurich 1953), Jan Derksen, Jan Pronk and Hennie Kuiper (1972, 1975) as well as Keetie van Oosten-Hage (1968, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979), Galina Tsareva, Galina Yermolayeva and Valentina Savina.

During his professional career, Peter Post for instance rode the track and on roads solely on frames built by Willem Bustraan. Even when riding for Willem II-Gazelle and Flandria, the RIH-built frames were rebranded.

Later on and between 1989 and 1996 RIH became material sponsor for the Dutch national cycling federation Royal Dutch Cycling Union (KNWU).

However, Amsterdam RIH Bustraan bikes were ridden successfully by women and men in 350 national championships, in 63 world championships and Olympic gold medals in both road and track events.

That´s the partslist that´s planned to be used of it´s rebuild and setup

Bottom Braket: Campagnolo Record
Headset: Way Asulto
Crankset: Campagnolo Record
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Record with cable stop
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Record
Shift levers: Campagnolo Record
Brake Lever: early Weinmann
Brakes: early Weinmann 999 center pull
Wheelset: Campagnolo Record with MAVIC rims
Saddle: Brooks
Seatpost: Campagnolo Record
Stem: 3ttt
Handlebar: 3ttt
Pedals:

Frame tubing: Reynolds 531
Fork tubing: Reynolds 531

More to come soon. Stay tuned

1986 - Gios Professional restauration

In 1948 Tolmino Gios, born in 1916, started the family business with a shop in province of Turin. At the start of the seventies they get specialized towards high end racing frames and became the supplier of several well known racing teams.

Many will remember the very successful years with Roger de Vlaeminck or Patrick Sercu at Brooklyn or team IJsboerke. De Vlaeminck won Paris - Roubaix three times, Mailand - San Remo, the Flanders tour and the tour of Lombardia riding a Gios Torino Super Record. Further on he became second in road world championship an several stages as well as two times the dotted jersey of the italian Giro. German stallion Didi Thurau rode on a GIOS Torino also.

It was back then, when the famous coblat blue color was created in order to match Brooklyns blue, white and red brand logos best. From now on one was able to order a Gios Torino frame at any color as long as it was painted cobalt blue.

Same with the predecessor of the model Super Record. When modell Professional was started it was available with original cobalt blue paint only. In 1984 the frame could be ordered in white color also, in 1985 black paint and a fully chromed modell were added. Finally in 1986 the Gios prooven special red color (Rosso GIOS) appeared to the market.

Model Super Record was produced in three slightly different generations. First and between 1973 and 1977/78  they served the Brooklyn team with frames and build with the folloing specifications:

• Roger de Vlaeminck Decal set with white lettering directly on the cobalt blue GIOS paint
• engraved "GT" fork crowns and bottom bracket shell
• Columbus SL tubing
• Campagnolo Record components

In 1978 some changes were made:

• The "GT" fork crowns were replaced with a the typical GIOS coin crown, which basically covered the air-holes used during the welding process of the forks. The coins were silver
• on bottom bracket shell the GT engraving was replaced by the GIOS writing
• the decal set changed to well known GIOS torino white stickers with black letterings on the seat tube, down and the top tube

In 1979 

• the famous GIOS torino coin crown was changed again, Due to the slightly different shape the coins were changed also, coins from now on in gold

In 1981/ 82 finally was changed

• fork crown and brake bridge changed to fit modern Campagnolo Record brakes with recessed bolts.

Modell Professional came with 

• Columbus SL tube set
• braze on for the front derailleur
• derailleur cable routing below the bottom bracket shell
• an internally-routed rear brake cable
• a fully-chromed fork with fully-sloping aero crown leading to a slightly changed geometry because of the difference in length of fork blades between a flat crown and a sloping crown also. 
• In addition there might be another reason for a slightly geometry change lying in the use of the newer microfussion sleeves. 

However I´m not quite sure if anybody who´s not a pro rider will recognize those little changes while pedaling with ease.

Time changes.

It´s not quite easily to get to know when and why family business get separated between the two brothers Aldo and Alfredo but in accordance with italian cycling journal the final cut between both brothers was done in 2009 with moving a brand called Gios by forming something like a joint venture with a japanese contractor and founding Gios Torino by Aldo and his son Marco in Volpiano.

Aldo and his son Marco continued to be committed to the old frame building traditions creating finest and highest quality steel frames as Tolmino did in the past. Thus you might get in touch with them on many historic cycling race events like the Eroica and their cycling jumble areas.

Thus I´ll met them this year in Gaiole. Until then I´ll be collecting some parts for a quick first set up in tuscany. But as it looks and with many thanks to Wolfgang from Venediger Au (appropriate wheel set, tubulars and front derailleur), to Alexander Strese of for-your-radl shop and others, all parts seems to be already together.

For those planing a GIOS Torino restauration or already started a restauration project of a classic GIOS Torino and beeing on the hunt for color support beeing said, that the genuine cobalt blue paint is gone for ever since real cobalt can´t be used as a part of the paint mixture anymore. Recepies for the genuine GIOS Torino Rosso are gone as well for ever. Even Aldo can´t help with the correct recepies.

But Aldo and Marco do have a solution for the famous GIOS cobalt blue in hands and will restore your frame to it´s original glory if asked to.

Just be smart and ask those who know best.

Onother word to all the guessing about color codes and paint recepies. As long as Aldo told me that there was one single recipe for the cobalt blue in the past and there is one single recipe for the new GIOS Torino (cobalt) blue today all your guessing about multiple changes in the paints recepies seems to be misleading. There was one single change in painting color that´s directly linked to the mentioned environmental regulation only. But I missed to ask Marco or Aldo when the ingredience cobalt and its usage was forbidden and they had to change their paints recipe.

That´s the partslist that´s planned to be used of the set up in tuscany

Bottom Braket: Campagnolo Super Record
Headset: Campagnolo Super Record
Crankset: Campagnolo Super Record GIOS pantographed
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record
Shift levers: NOS Campagnolo Super Record
Brake Lever: Campagnolo Super Record
Brakes: Campagnolo Super Record or Super Record Cobaltos
Wheelset: Campagnolo Super Record with MAVIC superlegere rims
Saddle: Cinelli Unicanitor
Seatpost: Campagnolo Nuovo Record GIOS pantographed
Stem: Cinelli
Handlebar: Cinelli wrapped in white leather
Pedals: Campagnolo Super Record

Frame tubing: Columbus SL
Fork tubing: Columbus SL

More to come in autumn. Stay tuned

1968 - the milan unsung champion - the Galmozzi Super

Unfortunately there´s not much known about Galmozzi outside of italy. But round milan and if perfoamcne, speed and quality was the right measure for a racing bicycle up to the seventies riders spoke about Cinelli, Galmozzi, Masi and Pogliaghi only.

Nevertheless, he founded Cicli Gloria Milano in 1922 with Alfredo Forcesi and was one of the best italian frame builders up to the 1970s

It was up to Francesco Galmozzi to start production under the families name in the shop of Via Melchiorre Gioia in Milan, where they stayed until its closure in the seventies. 

Due to Signore Paolo Sterpi and since Francesco was a close friend of Gino Bartali the track bicyclces used by Gino when he rode for Legnano were made by Galmozzi.

Beside the funny brands badge (becoming a decal later) with a rooster staying on a bicycle hub, there are other genuine characteristics that indicate a frame to be made by Galmozzi. Slotted steering tube sleeves and slots with a centered drilling an each side of the fork crown are indicating the frames origin.

Since Francesco Galmozzi served many brands with his creations and was guided by building frames with highest quality and performance the output branded with his own name was very limited. Thus I´m very lucky to geet a younger brother for my late 40th, early 50th cambio corsa frame.; actually it´s build up with a mix of early bronze and early Nuovo Gran Sport parts.


Bottom Braket: Campagnolo Nuovo Gran Sport
Headset: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Crankset: Campagnolo Nuovo Grand Sport
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Gran Sport
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Gran Sport
Shift levers: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Brake Lever: Universal Super 68
Brakes:  Universal Super 68
Wheelset: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Saddle: Brooks Professional
Seatpost: alloy
Stem: Cinelli
Handlebar: Cinelli
Pedals: Campagnolo Record

Frame tubing: Columbus
Fork tubing: Columbus

1978 - One for the show, one for Dittelbrunn Sachs, SKF and Hercules - Hespelein

Back in the seventies and early eighties Dittelbrunn in Franconia/ Bavaria had a good reputation in the national cycling sports. Ludwig Geyer, Otto Schenk, Günther Ziegler, Otto Karrlein, Andreas Ziegler, Bernd Jänicke, Dieter Burkhardt who rode for RSG Franken Katzwang (later renamed to RSG Nuremberg (Rennsportgemeinschaft Nürnberg e.V.)) and Hercules, Philipp Ziegler, Hans Markert, Erich Hespelein and Remig Stumpf.

First attention to Dieter Burkhard was given, when he was a very young man and rode for SG Dittelbrunn. For my knowledge Erich Hespelein was a generation older and founded his bicycle shop in Dittelbrunn in the early seventies already. He started with selling bicycles and making repairs; later he started to solder frames by himself, which are very well known in the local area and in sports. 

Those Hercules Ajaccio made exclusively for RSG Nuremberg have been made by Hespelein in the early years; later that kind of pro gear should have been soldered by Nöll from Fulda.

Let´s have a closer look at this lovely Erich Hespelein Frame I was lucky to aquire:

Please stay tuned for next steps with more information about RSG history as well as pictures of the upcoming Hespelein re-build.