Even more exciting…

My Racer Rosa

So it’s been quite an exciting week. Mainly because on Monday evening I picked up my new bike from Diego at Racer Rosa. She’s gorgeous.

I say ‘new’ bike but of course in line with Racer Rosa’s philosophy, there aren’t actually many new bits on her. The frame’s an old steel Reynolds 708 which I picked up on eBay and which Diego had powder-coated in the Racer Rosa Lombardi Blue. The groupset is refurbished second-hand Campagnolo Veloce (apart from the front derailleur which is ‘new old’ stock), the hubs are secondhand Campagnolo Chorus (and beautiful…possibly my favourite bit of the whole bike!) laced with double-butted spokes to new Mavic Open Pro rims, handlebars are used 3TTT Competizione, headset is a used steel Campagnolo Record, saddle a San Marco Ponza…the list goes on.

She rides like a dream and I’m very proud of her. Massive thanks to Diego and Racer Rosa.

You can see more pics on Flickr here.

Racer Rosa work in progress

Diego at Racer Rosa emailed me a few sneak pics of my bike coming together. He’s still sourcing a few bits and pieces but it’s getting there. Can’t wait!

New (old) bike progress report

I haven’t got a bike in London, which is something I’ve wanted to sort for a while. It’s something I’d use to commute on and probably go on a few longer rides here and there when I have the time.

There’s little point in me going mad on the London bike though, so rather than buy something brand new I really wanted to find something second-hand that Diego at Racer Rosa could refurbish for me (I came across Racer Rosa a few months ago and was very impressed…hence the effusive blog post at the time!)

Well, a few weeks back I bought what looked to be a pretty solid old Reynolds 708 steel frame on eBay, and got it shipped directly to Diego. He arranged for it to be powder-coated in the house colour, Lombardi blue (which is now a bit darker than previously. And is really lovely) and I popped in there last Saturday morning to see it and chat about the build.

After much deliberation, I’m going to have the bike built up as a road bike using refurbished and “new old” stock wherever possible, which will hopefully be pretty much everywhere apart from the rims. Diego’s a master at sourcing parts and I really love some of the new old stock. The little green box you can see here contains a vintage Campagnolo headset which is still wrapped in its original waxed paper and never been used.

It may take a little while for Diego to find all the right bits and build it up for me, but I’m not interested in it being rushed. Equally, I can’t wait for it to be finished so I can get out on some rides, perhaps even with friends from Les Veloistes Gentils and G.S.GAZZETTA.

Racer Rosa Bicycles, London

I journeyed to the northern tip of the Victoria Line this afternoon to visit Racer Rosa Bicycles in Walthamstow. I only came across Racer Rosa about a week ago via Twitter – and the business itself has only been going for three months – but I was so taken with the spirit of the company that I really wanted to pay a visit. I’m very glad I did.

Racer Rosa was established by Diego Lombardi – who I met today – and his wife. Diego’s Italian (as you might have guessed) but has been living and working in London for the past six years. He’s passionate about cycling – his interest was sparked as a child by his father, Piero. There’s a lovely picture of Diego’s dad on the wall in the studio. It was taken in 1949 and he’s standing by his road bike on the side of a picturesque Italian mountain. (Some brands spend tens of thousands of pounds trying to create the illusion of authenticity, but when it’s real, it’s real!)

Racer Rosa positions itself as an ethical bike company. The most obvious manifestation of that is the fact that they will happily take an old steel bike and completely refurbish it; using as many of its original parts as possible and using ‘new old’ bits and second-hand where things need replacing.

But the ethical stance goes much further than that. Racer Rosa can build you a custom steel frame, handmade in Italy. The craftsmanship is outstanding. The frames are steel because it’s more environmentally friendly than producing bikes in aluminium and even when you have a new frame made, they’ll build it up with ‘new old’ and refurbished bits. Nothing is air freighted between Italy and London either. It’s about as green as a bike gets.

Most of the bikes Racer Rosa creates, however, are blue. It’s a colour that Diego created and therefore carries his name: Lombardi Blue. They’ll happily do any colour you like, but I think it shows how immediately people are connecting to the brand that most go for the house colour.

In the pictures here (and excuse the quality – the only camera I had with me was the one on my phone!) you can see an old white frame. Diego’s refurbishing it for a friend in Italy who was given the bike by his own father. The frame’s a Berma, manufactured in 1967 in Padova, Diego’s hometown. Honestly, the place – tiny as it is – is just dripping in cycling romance!

I’ve got an old Viscount steel bike which I’m going to try and get down to Diego when I’m next in town with a view to Racer Rosa refurbishing it for me. I had been thinking I’d get it painted in Véloiste green, but now I’ve met Diego, I really can’t see past Lombardi Blue! See what I mean..?

Honestly, it’s well worth a trip up to Walthamstow for a visit and chat with Diego. He makes a very decent cup of coffee too. Racer Rosa deserves every success.

Look 695 – cutting edge and classic

Look has unveiled its new 695, which the Cofidis team will be using during the Tour de France. You can read all about it on Bike Radar. Look is such a brilliant cycling brand and in true French fashion has never become as mainstream as some other big bike manufacturers (and is all the better for it IMHO).

On July 14th, Bastille Day in France, the team will be riding a special version in the utterly iconic Mondrian colour scheme. Doesn’t it look brilliant?

Italian steel

So here’s a thing. I went up to my local dump today to drop off a load of grass cuttings and came back with a new bike. I only noticed it as I was leaving, propped up against a railing. Stopped the car, jumped out for a look and as soon as I saw ‘Campagnolo’ on the rear derailleur, knew I’d be taking it home.

At the time I picked it up I had no idea who the frame manufacturer was. From the faded graphics on the downtube and a bit of online research, I know now a bit more about Torpado, the Italian company which made the frame (and which is still going). As it happens, the frame’s in Torpado’s traditional celeste blue, which is nice.

The front and rear derailleur are Campagnolo’s Nuovo Gran Sport, which started being produced in 1974 and ended in 1983, which dates the bike fairly accurately.

The bike as you see it here is exactly as it was at the dump. It’s dirty, sure, but everything’s in working order and overall in pretty good nick. OK, so the Varese handlebars seem to have been covered in electrical tape but that’s easy to sort, and the Arius Gran Carrera Special saddle has seen better days (which is a shame, because they look lovely when they’re new). The Rigida rims are in good shape and for some reason I’m really taken with the logo on the Michelin Select Sport tyres.

I think it’s a 54cm frame so way to small for me. I’ll be cleaning it up and moving it on I think. But for a freebie I’m not complaining!

Left at the bloody dump…I ask you.

You can see more pictures here.

La Gazzetta Della Bici jersey

Definitely worth the wait. It arrived this morning and I’ve taken it for a spin into Saintes this afternoon. It really is very classy indeed. Kudos to Simon and the guys at Shutt Velo Rapide. 50 notes well spent.

Vanilla Bicycles

I’ve just come across Vanilla Bicycles and I think I’m a little bit in love. Some of the details are achingly beautiful.

Well I say

There’s no place for this in cycling. Pure filth. (Via Velorution.)