What it's called. Pretty brown, right? I should race for UPS.
I took a picture of the frame decal but it didn't come out. It's basically a chrome color sticker with something like "special tubing" on it in some foreign looking language. It's nothing special.
Superbe Pro rear hub, with the heaviest spokes known to mankind connecting it to the Sun M17 rim. I don't know why I used those spokes.
I had a Fiamme Gold Label front wheel but it got lost somewhere. Or maybe it was the rear wheel and I relaced it. Either way, the Gold Label is gone.
The other side. Note the dust accumulation. I've basically stored this bike for 15+ years.
As a testament to how old it is, I had just clipped the harness for an Avocet 45 computer. For those of you that don't know Avocet computers, consider yourself lucky. For many years a certain Greg Lemond rode with an Avocet on his bars. However, I doubt it worked because for many years, every single Avocet computer would go blank. Usually this happened in the middle of that century you were doing and now you had no idea how many miles you had left.
The 45 was one of the Avocets that actually worked, and I relagated it to the track bike when I became a big Cateye fan. So the 45 harness was a NOS harness (I have a spare, still in the bag, just in case). I saw the 45 computer during the move but it's gone for now. So I will get by with a yellow Cateye that I won last year.
The 45 was one of the Avocets that actually worked, and I relagated it to the track bike when I became a big Cateye fan. So the 45 harness was a NOS harness (I have a spare, still in the bag, just in case). I saw the 45 computer during the move but it's gone for now. So I will get by with a yellow Cateye that I won last year.
No rear brake. The rear tire is new, been on rollers a couple times. Lots of dust. I took the tire I had on it originally to use it on one of my race wheels.
Fork crown to tire clearance is minimal. No brake hole either. Note Aerolite pedal.
Superbe Pro crankset, with a broken Aerolite pedal frozen in the crank.
I need new cranks. I lost one of my blue chainring bolts (BMX pieces from the fab 80s) so there's a normal one in there. I also don't have a 15 mm thinwall socket wrench anymore so I can't get the stupid crank off. Grr. I do like the "UDrillM" super light chainring. Combine a bike racer with more chainrings than he knows what to do with, a drill press, and lots of time allocated to "making my bike better" and you end up with a number of drilled out chainrings. Unfortunately only one came out right.
The left side. Not as pretty as the right side.
Bike in its glory.
It's a 51 cm although the headtube looks more appropriate for a 54 cm. Level top tube track bikes do that for some reason, I think this is because the top tubes are usually shorter, the front end (front hub to BB distance) is shorter due to steep head tube angle.
The front wheel is a new one, got it yesterday as I can't find my track axle for my TriSpoke. I also put on an uncut Michelin Pro2 tire on it since I figure I won't see too much glass on the track. I even went and looked for a short valve stem tube so I don't use a precious long valve tube on a box section wheel.
The bike, with "race wheels", weighed 17 pounds back in the day. When I finish it up I'll see how it is now. The front wheel, I have to tell you, is an anchor - no blowing around on that thing.
The front wheel is a new one, got it yesterday as I can't find my track axle for my TriSpoke. I also put on an uncut Michelin Pro2 tire on it since I figure I won't see too much glass on the track. I even went and looked for a short valve stem tube so I don't use a precious long valve tube on a box section wheel.
The bike, with "race wheels", weighed 17 pounds back in the day. When I finish it up I'll see how it is now. The front wheel, I have to tell you, is an anchor - no blowing around on that thing.
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7 comments:
That's a neat little bike - it does look big for a 52, but high bottom brackets will do that. Based on glances at your other bikes I was surprised at first that that bike would fit you, but then again a lot of track folks ride too-small bikes with sky-high seatposts.
Falk tubing - interesting. I know very little about it. Straight-gauge (no wonder the set weighs 7 pounds!) but used in some nice production frames. But for $90 bucks it's still a steal, especially with that SSP hub! They're lovely.
I see plenty of people - even powerful sprinters and serious riders, not just casual competitors - riding old steel at Kissena and Trexlertown (and, I imagine, Londonderry as well). So the older bike won't put you at a serious disadvantage the way riding lugged steel with dt shifters might in a road race these days.
I'm eager to hear about your experience at the track, when you do go. With your affinity for criteriums I imagine you could take to track racing like a fish to water.
Falk, I didn't even see that. I did enjoy my night at the track - see the next post :) Oh, and it's a 50 cm, but now I want to measure things to be sure. Bike is still in the car but I'll pull it out and take pictures of it in its completed form.
It's really hard to find a Riggio online. You're one of a few people I've seen that own one. Wish I had more info on mine.
I too wish I had more info on my Riggio, but really, I don't know anything more than what I see and that one catalog link I got from a friend.
I just recently bought a 'Riggio' on ebay. How can you say no to a bike with your last name on the frame.
It is a project that I will have to start working on to restore it. An opportunity to own another is something I would definitely consider if anyone else is selling one.
I also own a Riggio Americana. I purchased it in 92 and is still a perfect road bike and in mint condition. When I look at new bikes, I get tempted for a moment and realize the Riggio is still a top contender.
I loved my Riggio tracky. Bought it at Bicycle Renaissance in NY City, velodromed it, and did 100 mile training days along the Hudson. It handling was perfect, tracked like on rails and was plenty fast. I use to cruise at 30 mph no problem. One day , I chained, case hardened big NY chain , grabbed a coffee and came out and it was gone. Heart broken and still miss it. Great frame with the right amount of give in the right places.
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