Carrera Podium 1992/3

Came across this very nice Carrera Podium frame/forks recently. Columbus Genius, 1992/3ish.

Top quality, Italian steel this one is.
Long back story here, but I built it up as below to see how it performs.

Columbus Genius tubing, (from 1991 on) & unicrown, almost shoulder-less forks, which are not original

I believe this to be pre 1994 because Red Rose Imports, North American distributors of Carrera since 1994, have no knowledge of this frame. Very little information online & the company website seems to have changed. This is Redrose Imports current range in North America.  (https://carrerabicycle.com/the-brand/)


I love the frame. It is simply "Quality" in super-good order: )

These are rare machines in UK, since Halfords own the rights to the name here & so this one is likely a personal import.

Later (June 18 2019)
Still getting nowhere with history, except for Podiums on Youtube running in the TDF in grainy footage. What a shame the current company seems not interested in their own history...
But, perhaps, I have not done enough research yet; )

August 25 2019.

Decided to rebuild this machine with basic Campag components & its own wheel-set.

Found a reasonable pair of Mavic Open Pros with black anodising that suit it well, I reckon.
Then:
Campag 10 speed cassette.
Veloce 10 speed RD.
Veloce 10 speed Ergopower Brifters.
Veloce brake calipers.
Campag 10 speed chain.
Pair of 700x28 Schwalbe Delta Cruisers. (For the corrugated roads around here.)

All new, except the Ergopowers.

August 30 2019.

Now assembled & running. But not ridden yet...
Reason why?

Out in the evening sun for a photo.

Seat-post is being difficult & will not insert further than here, so I've removed 3" & all is fine. (Except that I now wonder what is happening to the inside of the seat tube... Genius tubing is quite delicate...)

The saddle will be changed shortly also. Needs a slightly shorter stem for me.

These 28 tyres just clear & provide a comfortable ride on our rough city roads.

 

I do like the effect of the chrome & black, but I think a black/dark grey chain-set at some point would improve it. Black needs to dominate more in my opinion.

The reflective stripes on the tyres looked slightly odd to me at first, but now I realise that the stripes disguise the 'heavy-ish' 28 profile: )

After some slight adjustments, here it is this morning (2 Sep 2019) performing very well: )
I love its lightness & agility. It soaks up minor path & road bumps in a most comfortable way & still rolls nicely at 80psi.

These tyres are really much too heavy for this machine, but it is interesting to try grippy 28 Delta Cruisers in this super quality road frame. A super quality 'Gravel Bike'?

Weighs 24.2lbs here with the Delta Cruisers, but with skinny 25s it's a good bit less. (I'm looking for the tyre weights next.)

The 28 tyres do suit our local rough roads, gravel, canal paths, etc.

For the smooth stuff 25 tyres transform the bicycle: )

Dalesman by Claud Butler. 531st.

1982ish Claud Butler Dalesman. Reynolds 531ST & a big 24.5" frame.

Came with North Road bars & short reach stem. My first thought is to revert back to drops for this Traditional English Tourer.

Out for a test ride once I got the gears & brakes connected...

Not as big as I thought it was. Fits me well: ) But just a little close on the Nutcracker Suite area...  Stand-over I mean.

Bar wrap? Not leather, but rubber: )
Front end is temporary until I get the correct stem.

This might be better with straight bars.

Looks a bit mad right now, but I want to see how it rides, check bar positions,etc.
Watch this space.

That fat saddle is definitely sacked.

Saturday 1st September.

Here with new SR stem.
Bars need dropping, saddle levelling & that drooping rack looks sad!
Pedals need changing also....

Stronglight Compact Double is excellent. 44 & 30 front, 14  28 rear gives a range of :

29 to 85" is broad for a 7 speed tourer, & could go lower with a MegaRange block, for example...

Moulton F frame 1964 deluxe

Recent arrival now getting treatment is this nice Moulton deluxe.

Looking a little tired here, but still wearing its original white tyres.
One previous lady owner. A petite lady who needed a short stem from new. Nearly 50 years later it arrives at mine. A 'Suitable Case For Treatment'?

I think so. What you reckon new owner? : )

Paint way too far gone, so...
Found a front rack for it. Thanks Peter.
Painted it, serviced it & made it roadworthy.
Looking much better now IMHO.
Moulton F frames deserve to be preserved & used.

The blue Japlaq looks good. Nutrak tyres running at 80psi roll well with grip when needed.

This is yesterday after a test ride: )
It rides very nicely now, with good braking. And you can 'tread on it' when you feel like it.... 

It'll ride OK for a good while, but the rear wheel will need some frozen spokes replacing at some point.

Really the rear wheel needs respoking/rebuilding in order to align it. But if we go for a rebuild it'd be better with another, better rim.

Peter has the ideal solution though. A spare wheel in good condition with a 3 speed instead of 4. Like he has done with his. The later 3 speed is better in several ways.

I have the guards & original back light, but no front lamp.

Latest pic of it is here working for its living, & ready for a certain person: )

I was intending to refinish it in white....
Like this one I gave to my favourite niece; )

I put the straight bars on for Rach, (& removed the front rack) but I think the drops are much better for more aggressive riding.

Now I finally got the photos of our Bush Inn Pub Crawl Ride, here's the best one. (Don't ask for the others...; )

With 4 small wheelers & 4 big ones; ) Six guys & two girls?
No gender balance here.

We on a trip to the Camp Pub at Grimley.
Peacocks and all...

We had no previous stimulants, apart from alcohol, (at least I didn't: ) but I just saw, & remember, lots of peacocks! Could've been pea-hens?
Me not sure. They made lots of noise: )

How mad is that?

Crazy 7 mile ride home in the dark later...
I only fell off once.
And that was Ellens fault for distracting me.