Very cool, David. As I mentioned recently, I just finished rebuilding an early 80's Cuevas myself. All the same distinctive frame details you mention, except mine is green, and a lot shorter at 56 cm. In tribute the Francisco's Spanish/Argentinian/American background, I rebuilt it with mostly Spanish components - Zeus, Triplex, Super Olympic, Arius, Stroh - plus Hi-E hubs and American Classics (nee Weyless) seatpost.
Cuevas wound up in America because he didn't relate well to fascist dictators, first Franco in Spain, then Juan Peron in Argentina. Certainly not the first time America has welcomed a genius fleeing political oppression elsewhere ( can you say Albert Einstein?). I hope it won't be the last.
You've inspred me to take some photos of my own Cuevas, though I'm sure they won't be as well produced as yours.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX
"David G. White" <whiteknight@burlingtontelecom.net> wrote: I've put up some new photos of my circa 1980 Francesco Cuevas bike. It's worth looking at the photos I've tried to get to show some distinctive Cuevas touches -- the cross braced head tube, the swallow tail stay ends, the scalloped front fork ends, and my personal favorite -- the very sweet fluted seat stay caps that twist over the top tube. They are not simply straight as on a Masi or Colnago. These actually both curve over the top tube and have a twist that is hard to discern in the photos. I've never seen it quite like this from any other builder.
See the photos here:
My Cuevas is: seat tube 65cm c/c; top tube 59cm c/c.
My date estimate is based on: hubs are both marked 1980, rear derailleur is 1972, crankset is 1978, and it came with a new logo Cinelli 1R stem that was first available in 1978.
The previous photos (a few of which I've left up) were all taken by the seller. My new ones are better, but still not ideal. I generally prefer to set up a photo studio type setting --ala Ray Dobbins (but with no pretenses about achieving Ray's level of quality!). But My garage where I usually set up the photo shoot is currently filled with building supplies for the renovation project that's underway. So these photos were taken in my back yard with lots of distracting fall leaves I've yet to get around to raking up.
Enjoy!
David
David G. White
Burlington, VT