[CR] Speedwell Titanium 1973 - riding characteristics

(Example: Framebuilders:Masi)

Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:59:56 -0700
From: <norris.lockley@yahoo.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR] Speedwell Titanium 1973 - riding characteristics


In the late-80s I was asked to build a very ight, as light as possible, basic road racing frame for a long-term customer ie very short light lugs Prugnat Victoires, an extremely light Haden internal crown, cropped-of rear drop-outs and whatever was Columbus's lightest tubing set at the time...just before Genius, I think. The customer himself was pared down to the bone in terms of spare flesh.

To get the customer in the right mood to ride his new steed I ofered to lend him a 22 inch Speedwell frame, built up with Zeus 200 or was that 2001 drillium chainset etc.

Only a week, and one 80 mile road race later he brought the machine back to the shop, looking very sheepish.

Clearly all had not gone well with the Speedwell...light enough..but the ride quality..? What was it really like if you have to sum it up in a few words?

Well... I have never rideen a paper bag stuffed full of rubber bands...but I guess that that would just about describe the Speedwell.

He continued to race on his Bespoke Camus TL08 PG-tubed training bike until the Extralight was finished.

Thoses were the days.

Norris Lockley Settle UK