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

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, when Giovanni Gerbi and Alfredo Focesi founded Cicli Gloria Milano in 1922 Francesco Galmozzi became the technical director. He designed the Gloria "Garibaldina". The Garibaldina was the bicycle that won the 1923 world championship with Liberio Ferrario. In 1932, Attilio Pavesi won two gold medals, time trial and team, at the Los Angeles Olympics on a Galmozzi-Magri bicycle, as did many riders at the Montlhery world championship the following year.

It was up to Francesco Galmozzi to start in 1938 production under the families name in the shop of Via Melchiorre Gioia in Milan, where they stayed until its closure in 1986. 

Due to Signore Paolo Sterpi and since Francesco was a close friend of Gino Bartali the 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

1968 - Köthke Champion

The german city Cologne is better known by the cheerful bustle of carnival then for sports and classic lightweights. But if lurking behind the facades of this bustling town you might come accross of some very interesting german frame builders.

Rudolf Faust and Fritz Köthke were two of these men who were closly associated with cycling.

Fritz Köthke, who was more merchant then a frame builder, had a little workshop in Colognes Niederichstraße. His lightweights were highly sought after in other european countries.

The future Olympic champion Toni Merkens was teached by Köthke, Cologne cycling greats such as Victor Rausch, Godfrey Hurtgen, Paul Oszmella used frames from Köthke. Arie van Vliet and Jan Derksen of the Netherlands, were regular customers also.

Because Köthke was actually a merchant, he shopped all parts he needed for his lightweights, but only in the very best quality he could get, especially from England and the United States. His brother Heinrich ran the velodrome in Cologne Riehl for many years

Fritz Köthke retired at the beginning of the 60s and his workshop was run by one of his former empolyees.

Recently I came accross this blue 1968 Köthke Champion. It has to be restored. Thus this documents the condition as found only. After restauration it will be set up with periode correct parts.

Bottom Braket: Stronglight Competition

Headset: Shimano Dura Ace

Crankset: Stronglight 93

Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Valentino

Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Gran Sport

Shift levers: Campagnolo Record bar end

Brake Lever: Weinmann

Brakes: MAFAC Racer

Wheelset: Campagnolo Athena with anodised Nisi tubular rims

Saddle: Brooks Professional
Seatpost: steel
Stem: Favorit - a lousy Scheeren copy
Handlebar: Cinelli
Pedals: steel

Frame tubing: Reynolds 531
Fork tubing: unknown