The San Remo Equipe certainly goes back to the early 1960s. The CR website carries a review of a 1962 version and I own a 1963 model which was an actual team bike, painted in black, with white head tube, all chrome fork, chrome headlugs and half chrome rear stays. That year, the team bikes were fitted with Huret gears. In 1964, they changed to Campagnolo, back to Huret in 1965 and then back to Campagnolo in 1966, where they stayed. I am not sure when the pale blue color came in on the team bikes, but I think it was c1966/7
Hugh Thornton
Cheshire, England
From: dkernan@mindspring.com <dkernan@mindspring.com> Subject: [CR] Falcon San Remo To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Cc: ""tim Parker"" <tim.parker@att.net> Date: Sunday, 14 March, 2010, 14:26
Tim,
I exchanged some emails with Nigel about Falcons around 2008. He emailed me with some suggestions for improving the piece on Falcons I had written that Sheldon graciously posted on his site.
I hope he does respond as well, but from the description you provide this does sound like a San Remo, and likely the 76/276 model, because of the sloped Cinelli crown on the fork.
I have been working over the problem of the model designations--and have come to the same conclusion as others--Falcon was not consistent, and they expanded the San Remo name to include lesser models as time went on. Marc Bulgier has the 1974 catalog posted where you can see this.
Highest on the pecking order though, circa 1969-72 was the San Remo Equipe that was spec'd like the professional team's bikes (this you can see on CR site). Flattened full wrap-over seat stays, Cinelli crown, campagnolo dropouts and spearpoint lugs.
(Earlier AFAIK the top end San Remo had a flat fork crown and a wrap-oever stay that was not flattened--and this stay treatment was continued on the later Olympic...) Typically, half chromed rear stays and full chrome fork.
Team colors were powder(azure) blue, with white panels top tube and down tube with a script Falcon name in red. They looked much like the similar generation Holdsworth Professionals that also mirrored that team's pro bikes with the same panel top tube/down tube decals. That said, I have seen examples where the panelling is only on the down tube.
Seat tube treatment was inconsistent(or at least I have not been able to discern a pattern if one existed). Some I have seen have had the foil panels (as were on the lesser models like the Olympic)as my 1969/70 276 did. Others I have seen had a white panel that matched the top and down tube. Under the seat tube was a second smaller white panel that had the maker's information.
Rear stays had a brush script "Designed by Ernie Clements" applied--and this was more graceful than the one that appeared on the later Olympic models.
Mine came with a contrasting head tube in what the Brits would call "red flam"--a rich red metallic. Others I have seen have not had the contrasting head tube.
Mine as shipped had all Campagnolo including brakes seat tube, and bar end shifters, Clement tubulars (I think Ernie like d the idea that the name was the same), Campy hi-flange hubs, (? can't actually remember this) possibly Fiamme red label rims, and a Brooks pro saddle.
The eBay seller Cyclomundo has replica decals including the "Designed by Ernie Clements" (for which I sent a few photos I had of surviving decals)and H. Lloyds also has had some.
PM me if you want some pictures--I have at least one great shot of an earlier pristine San Remo that shows the decal placement quite well (although it is in flamboyant green), and several good shots of the original blue.
Cheers,
Dean Kernan
Pomona, New York