John Pergolizzi wrote:
Steven and all, WOW! That's what I've got to say. After seeing this bike in person during sensory overload weekend at Cirque and now getting a chance to give her a second once over, I've got to say that this bike is MAGNIFICENT!
If Sig.Esposito was to be able to be convinced to once again build a bike like this, one of such incredible detail, I'm sure he would find a ready market her in the U.S. Perhaps demand would even surpass that of some "recreation" bikes; those made to satisfy the whims and fantasies of the buying public. Price wise, I could see a savvy connoisseur paying ten grand or more for this kind of old world workmanship. Man, if it could only be built today! What an incredible effort.
http://www.wooljersey.com/
John T.Pergolizzi La Jolla, Ca.
I think this is a very interesting and well-made bike, but I can't quite share John's level of excitement. While I agree that there is a market for bikes like this, I can't quite imagine anyone paying $10k, particularly if they seek old world workmanship. To me, this looks like a very nicely executed late 80's or early 90's Italian race bike, built entirely with microcast parts. Sure, there is a lot of interesting engraving in the lugs, and on the dropouts, but is that really fine handwork? I thought that details like that could be farmed out to any pantographing outfit. There are some unusual design details, such as the round blades and the use of 1010's where you'd expect 1010B's, but these details are only odd, not necessarily desireable (or undesireable).
A lot of the attraction of this bike rests on the componentry, with all the panto work and lightening mods. While the modified parts are really neat, I'd have preferred that they not come from such a broad range of vintages. I see everything from the very rare first-gen SL pedals (1971?) to the last version of the SR post (1985), a late 80's Regina chain, 70's rims, far newer tires... If you set aside the issues of vintage, and assume that the goal was to make a really light bike while still using Campy parts, I'm left wishing that it had SR pedals and rear der (the alloy mounting bolt on the modified NR rear is cool, but it begs for a ti or aluminum pulley cage bolt). The nutted front brake caliper just seems wrong. I'm not trying to be a jerk, and I think it's a really neat bike, but it seems like there was a lot of attention lavished on the parts, but a few things slipped past. Of course, not everyone has sets of SR pedals just laying around, but this bike seems to have enjoyed all sorts of love and attention, and the few things that are not quite right just stand out all the more.
Finally, what's the story with those brake pads? They appear to be marked "Super Record" rather than the standard "Campagnolo." Anybody?
Tom Dalton Bethlehem, PA, USA
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