[CR] More on Mondia

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2002)

Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:15:50 -0800
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR] More on Mondia


Based on some offlist conversations with CR Monida experts, I have learned that my recently acquired Mondia Super (or Super Mondia?) can be positively dated as 1978 because that was the only year Mondia had chromed cutout Prugnat headlugs. Earlier years had Nervex while 1979 and later had painted headlugs.

In Sept 2008 I bought a Mondia Super frameset off eBay that I have yet to build up. It also has the chromed Prugnat headlugs, so it seems my two Mondias (not counting a Juvela frameset) are both the same year, 1978. Researching further, I find that the frameset I bought in 2008 is in fact the same one as the CR site database of Mondia serial numbers lists as being owned by Ken Toda, although I did not buy it from Ken. Classic bike collecting is a small world after all.

Perhaps Ken can clarify a mystery concerning the fork. The frame is a 3-color fade gray/dark blue/black, although the black band is hard to distinguish from the dark blue. The fork matches this paint scheme perfectly. BUT the fork crown is a chromed flat-top Nervex with no cutouts or engraving, while my recently acquired 1978 has a chromed semi-sloping cutout Prugnat fork crown matching the headlugs. It is also engraved "Mondia". I was already a bit suspicious that the fork was nonoriginal despite the paint match, as it has eyelets, while the rear DO's do not. Perhaps Ken knows the history of this frame and fork.

That brings up the interesting point that while my most recently acquired 1978 Super Mondia has eyelets on the rear DO's, the one previously owned by Ken does not. Neither is a cyclocross frame, but did Mondia perhaps make more than one road model with the same "Super Mondia" headbadge? I have not taken measurements, but there is no obvious difference in geometry between the two frames.

Regards,

Jerry Moos