meet the ladies

Cecil, the love of my life, a handbuilt Strawberry, lugged steel from a builder in Portland, OR. I purchased this bike from a craigslist seller in Portland(where I'm originally from). When I first got her, she was built up with Nitto Mustache bars and some cheapy components. First things first, I swapped out the bars for a pair of vintage Nitto drops (anybody want to buy a practically new pair o' mustache bars?). She was in fantastic condition when I first got her and her paint was immaculate. She is a royal blue that fades to white on the fork, seat stays and chain stays.



I worked as a bike messenger on this bike for many years and alas, during the years the paint has become more scratched and parts gradually broke or wore out and were replaced. At one time, the rear triangle was compressed slightly and the rear wheel was toast. Luckily its high quality steel, and the amazing Dean over at Bike Central was able to straighten her back out. The wheel was replaced with one given me by a friend, a vintage Dura-Ace hub laced to a Mavic CXP-30.



Cecil was the bike I took with me to tour around Southern France in September and although she's not looking as mint as she used to, she is still in beautiful condition and solid as a rock. Its hard to argue with the logic of a handbuilt, lugged steel frame and while she now sports Speedplay Zero pedals (as she is my main roadbike) she will eventually go back to clip and straps when I get my bike for road season.

Vital Stats:

Frame: Strawberry lugged steel
Fork: Strawberry steel
Headset: Chris King threaded
Stem: Nitto Pearl NJS
Seatpost: Nitto NJS (I can't remember the name but it looks like a frog mouth)
Front Hub: Shimano Deore
Rear Hub: Shimano Dura-Ace
Front Rim: unknown box rim
Rear Rim: Mavic CXP 30
Front Derailleur: Mavic somethin' or other
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT
Cranks: Sugino somethin' or others, 165
Shifters: Shimano bar end
Brakes: Shimano 600




1984 Pinarello covered in Campagnolo Nuovo Record. This is my latest love. Bikes come and go in my life, but I can tell that much like the Strawberry, this little lady is around to stay. She has been repainted (very nicely) and although the components are not the original ones, the previous owner did a lovely job of finding period correct components.



She is literally dripping in Campy, down to the Campy Nuovo Record hubs laced to tubular rims (a first for me). I really must learn how to fix them myself. One of my favorite parts of this bike is the front derailleur, with the three cutout holes. 1984 is the year that the summer Olympics were won on a Pinarello. I plan on making a couple changes to her in time, including a set of arc bars with cork grips, a Brooks saddle and a snazzy front bag from Velo Orange. I really want this lady to look as classy as possible.



Vital Stats:

Frame: Columbus lugged steel
Fork: Columbus steel, crowned
Headset: Campagnolo
Stem: 3TTT
Seatpost: Campagnolo
Front Hub: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Rear Hub: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Front Rim: Montreal Ambrosio Medialle D'Or tubular
Rear Rim: Montreal Ambrosio Medialle D'Or tubular
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Cranks: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Shifters: Campagnolo Down Tube
Brakes: Campagnolo

As I said, bikes have a way of coming and going in my life and there a couple hanging on the periphery right now, including a Cannondale SystemSix that I currently have listed on eBay, a Fuji track that currently resides out of state but I plan to bring here and use as my everyday round-towner, and a 1987 Cannondale ST-400 touring frame that I can't decide whether I want to sell it or ride it myself. I literally change my mind daily. On the wish list is a Terry Valkyrie (maybe I can purchase it over the summer?) and the bike I intend to buy for road season, which is the Cannondale Six Feminine 4.