Tuesday 31 January 2012

Lotus 110 monocoque

A Lotus 110 monocoque that was a prototype. As you can see it's in two halves and was not finished.from here- http://www.flickr.com/photos/uno_speedo/

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Sannino vintage Time Trial bike on matuzmaster.hu

Sannino is an Italian brand built by Mauro Sannino. He was taught framebuilding by his grandfather and spent about 10 years apprenticing to other framebuilders before starting his own business in 1979. He earned his reputation by supplying bicycles to the Polish and Russian national teams. (In the excellent film "American Flyers" the Russian team are riding Sannino frames.) Production was fairly limited, with about 1500 frames per year in the mid-1980s. A trademark of many Sannino models were steeper geometries. Seventy-five degree seat tubes and seventy-seven degree head tubes were used on the mid-1980s Professional model! Mauro Sannino is now building the Corratec frames in Munich Germany. He moved away from Turin about 10 years ago. This time trial bike was a very popular model in the early 1980's, the small, 24" front wheel size was used by F. Moser, who set th hour record. It helps to decrease wind drag, and allows a more aerodynamic body position

Monday 23 January 2012

Euro - Australia

Brian Hayes built Euro Sport pursuit bike. The frame is one of four built for the Australian Pursuit team to compete with at the 1993 World Track Championships. The four riders managed to take the gold at the event on these bikes while setting a new 4000m mens team pursuit World Record. The Frame is a work of art with the gussets, hourglass chain stays, wishbone seat stay, and keel that extends through the BB and is a true testimate to the quality of frame builder that Brian Hayes was. info from Velospace.org

Sunday 22 January 2012

and De Rosa - Milano Since 1953

In 1974 Francesco Moser engaged De Rosa for his Filotex team, and went on to win the World Championship. Later, in 1982 De Rosa sponsored the Sammontana team led by Moreno Argentin and Giovanbattista Baronchelli. From 1985 to 1989 De Rosa worked with the Ariostea team - a small start-up team which would later become dominant in European racing. http://www.blogger.com/www.derosa.it


Friday 20 January 2012

De Rosa from Naples not Milan

The Fabbrica Biciclette De Rosa was founded in 1940 by Raffaele De Rosa. Immediately after WWII there were only two road bike frame builders in the Campania region: Raffaele De Rosa and Luigi Greco. Raffaelle's son, Achille, began helping his father at age 10 and by 15 was able to build a complete frame. The family tradition of frame building continues today with Antonio, son of Achille, who also constructs full carbon frames. The family is very proud that framebuilding is now into its third generation. De Rosa of Pozzuoli bikes can be usually identified by a circle/dot in the O of De Rosa more here- italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/11/other-de-rosa.html


Thursday 19 January 2012

The Lotus 108 - UK.

The Lotus Type 108 (originally known as LotusSport Pursuit Bicycle) is an Olympic individual pursuit bicycle. The revolutionary frame is an advanced aerofoil cross-section using a carbon composite monocoque. Burrows' design was initially rejected by British cycling manufacturers. However, it was to be received more enthusiastically by the British Cycling Federation. The design was considered illegal by the UCI. Therefore the project was prematurely shelved in 1987. In 1990, the UCI revoked the ban on monocoque frames. Shortly after this, Lotus Engineering became involved in the project through a friend of Burrows who took his design to the Lotus factory. The potential was evident and Lotus’ knowledge and aptitude at using carbon fibre techniques allowed the design to finally realise its potential. By February 1992, Lotus Engineering had acquired the rights and marketed the bike as the LotusSport Bike. In addition, the design was modified and perfected through a series of wind tunnel tests, by the Lotus aerodynamics specialist Richard Hill. more here- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_108


Wednesday 18 January 2012

D. Salmon - Velo Revolutionaire

The first model of this bike was built in the mid-to-late 70s, by Daniel SALMON, and was he claimed, the first ever low-profile bike of modern times. It was used by the French National Amateur team. Because Salmon thought it was quite revolutionary he called it just that - le Velo Revolutionnaire,a nd even to this day his down-tube transsfers still have this name written in them. The bike in the photo id very interesting with its smaller diameter front wheel, probably a 26"(or 650), although he is known to have used 24" as well. One fascinating feature is the deeply fluted seat-tube, which, as if this is not enough to shorten the wheelbase, is curved towards the bottom as well. Note the mounting of the front brake behind the front fork crown - a position pioneered by Manufrance in the 1930s. from here- http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclecrank/2197587758/

Tuesday 17 January 2012

more British time trial style

more random images of British time trials, back in the day-

Friday 13 January 2012

Moser chilling in his garage

Eroica CIcli  recently visited Moser in his garage.  check out the full story here -www.eroicacicli.com/


Thursday 12 January 2012

Somec - Romagna Italy

Oliviero Gallegati, began in 1973 to manufacture exquisite custom road bicycles. SOMEC is the name that Mr. Gallegati decided to give to his new enterprise. SOMEC comes from the Italian "Mechanic's Society" acronym, "Societa' Mecchanica". In the beginning the bikes were sold to local cyclists but with increased exposure at international bike shows, SOMEC received orders from many foreign customers fascinated with the work of SOMEC's superbly skilled artisans. http://www.somec.com/





Wednesday 11 January 2012

Brian Rourke -Stoke - England

Rourke Cycles has been built up by Brian Rourke himself who has an impressive CV in cycles and cycling - 25 years of road racing, amassing National Road and Track Championships and five Veteran Road titles. Brian has also ridden in the UK Milk Race 3 times and in numerous International events. Jason, Brian’s son now runs the Shop and enjoys riding mountain and road cycling. http://www.brianrourke.co.uk/