Saturday, August 30, 2014

CIOCC San Cristobal 1983

Mr Pochez from Vintage Luxury Bicycles in Spain recently displayed his beloved early 1980's Ciocc San Cristobal bicycle that is fitted with a very special Campagnolo Groupo from 1983.

This superb example of a Ciocc San Cristobal steel frame has been dipped in 24 karat gold paint. Campy Super Record parts commemorating the 50th anniversary of Campagnolo have been fitted. The build was then finished with a Cinelli special edition saddle, saddle bag, stem, and handlebars. 

It's a very unique piece of Italian cycling culture that would be a treasured possession for any vintage cycling enthusiast. 


CIOCC San Cristobal



The group set used for this build was released in 1983 to commemorate Campagnolo's 50th year in business (1933 - 1983). Coincidentally, this was also the year that Campagnolo's founder, Tullio Campagnolo, passed away at the age of 82 years.

About 15,000 sets were made. Group set #00001 was retained by the Campagnolo museum and set #00002 was presented to Pope John Paul II. All sets were presented in a commemorative black case and were issued with a numbered Campagnolo membership card.



The group set was based on the Super Record set which sits at the top of the Campagnolo series. Each piece has significant touches such as the gold Campy shield and an engraved signature of Tullio Campagnolo. Most pieces also carry an etching of the Campy 50th logo as below.



The proud owner of this set has taken the next step by plating each piece in 24 karat gold. The Ciocc frame has also been treated with gold karat plating.

A special edition Cinelli Unicanitor saddle was also produced to compliment this series......and what a beautiful saddle it is.




Cinelli Unicanitor special edition saddle.









Ciocc, Campagnolo, and Cinelli, a fantastic trifecta of Italian cycling history. 

Until next time, safe riding.

James @ PVC.  

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Brooks Multi Tool MT21

Brooks (England) are famous worldwide for their beautifully crafted leather bicycle saddles. They have recently expanded their product range and have included a multi tool in their new line up. 

The Brooks multi tool contains an impressive 21 assorted tools. It is a very well crafted tool that would suit any cyclist. It's unique design includes two Brooks badges that are similar to the badges that are fitted on the rear of their saddles. As well as including a good range of functional tools, it is a good looking piece of equipment. 


The 21 tools attached to this multi tool are:

3 Screwdrivers:
   -Small Flat Head Screwdriver
   -Phillips Screwdriver #2 (Medium Head)
   -Phillips Screwdriver #1 (Small Head)
7 Allen Keys / Hex Wrenches: #2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
3 Torx Wrenches: T10, T20, T25
4 Spoke Wrenches: #0, 1, 2, 3
1 Chain Tool
1 Bottle Opener
1 Spanner for Brooks Saddles
1 Knife




This tool is designed for a more modern bicycle rather than a vintage bike. Modern bicycle components are generally fitted with hex keys and this tool includes a good range of hex key sizes. The tool also has 3 Torx wrenches. These are for particular bolts that are used on disc brakes that you'll find on some mountain bikes. Apart from the hex keys and the Torx wrenches, all other tools are useful to the vintage cyclist - the bottle opener probably being the most valuable!

My favourite tool on this device is the knife. Many bicycle multi tool manufacturers often overlook the inclusion of a knife. I've been on longer rides where I have needed a knife that I didn't have, so I'm so happy that Brooks have included a good sized blade on their version.




...and of course it's hard to imagine a Brooks product that doesn't have any leather in it's design. Brooks have included a leather sleeve for their multi tool that fits very nicely around the tool to protect it. The cover has a 'world traveller' logo stamped onto it and is available in a choice of three colour options; black, brown, or ochre (yellow).





If you are prepared to pay about US$70 then this will be a good option for you. There are similar multi tools available for a much better price, but what a nice way to compliment your Brooks saddle!

Weighing in at nearly 300 grams it's certainly not the lightest multi tool on the market - but it is one of the best. It would be a great gift idea too!

Safe riding,

James @ PVC