Hello all! I have been creeping around on the mailing list for a while admiring your fine vintage bikes, wishing I had a project of my own. Although I have had numerous vintage American bicycles, I have only had one vintage lightweight. It was a late 50's Lenton Grand Prix, which I sold a while ago. Recently I have been racing in some local track racing at the CSU oval, where the oldest races are held in Colorado. I've been riding some Raleigh mystery road frame made of 531, and converted to fixed. I have been doing well in the races, and figured I should get a real track bike. A friend (who has an original paint bright red 1948 Alex Singer!) offered me one of his projects. It is a late 40's or early 50's 58cm Sieber Track bike. It has very curly nickle plated lugs, which I have found none others like on the internet. The craftsmanship is fantastic. The lugs are filed ultra thin. The seat stay bridge was mangled, and the fork had a hole for a break, but it was drilled off center. These issues were repaired by Mark Nobilette. The current owner has replated the lugs, fork crown, and seat stay caps. It really could use a paint job, as it is rust colored with nice and shiny accents!
For $400 the bike comes with The frame, fork, and original Magistroni headset. For $500 it comes with the original fluted Magistroni cranks and hollow spindle bottom bracket as well (English thread). I usually like to try to keep old bikes as original as possible, but are the cranks and BB worth the extra $100? They really need to be replated, and Im a student on a very tight budget. Im going to be using the bike for its intended purpose. It is going to be raced, not hung on a wall. Im going to build it up with functional vintage parts that aren't necessarily period. What do you folks think? Keep the old cottered cranks, for which I don't have a cotter press, or just find some groovy Stronglight, or TA's? Thanks!
-Luke Murray-
Fort Collins CO
United States