Retronck Project - cybernck's retro bike works :-)

About time I've started a topic about this (only a couple of years late!).

Some of you may be acquainted with my car and bicycle projects already but if not,
take a look at http://photos.cybernck.com and http://projects.205gtidrivers.com/205mi32

Anyway, here's a story about my dynamic retro bicycle collection and experiments.

Although I had been lured by old bicycles for a number of years, this is the very one
that had started my voyage into the seductive world of vintage road and mountain bikes.

Why exactly this one then? Because I had just built my latest carbon fibre road racing bike
with Dura Ace groupset while this Columbus-tubed oldie was equipped with full period Dura Ace
groupset as well. And I must add I was very pleasantly surprised by its function.

Old vs new - it felt pretty cool to own such a pair of bikes, although I later found out that
I had seriously overpaid the old one. Oh well... :-)

(to be continued)

Full-size and more photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/retronck

Very soon after my initial purchase, I stumbled across something I really wanted - a "LoPro" frame. As a bonus, it had turned out to be a very rare 1987 Fuji Team.

The reason I wanted one is to build a track-esque single-speed bike, so I threw some parts together to make one.

I was seemingly "on a roll", as I also picked up this nice little Bianchi Vento 602. Nothing special, Columbus GARA tubing and Shimano Exage groupset but it was practically new and 100% original... and kind of nice :-).

As the time progressed, it had become apparent that my collection would simply have to be a dynamic one, as I couldn't keep up with having so many bikes. Luckily, a friend was after a road bike for his Randonneur rides.

Having custom-built all my racing bicycles, I thought "why not, I can do it for someone else as well." We had then figured out his desired specs and I picked up a full Shimano RX100 groupset, modern ergo handlebars and Campagnolo Omega rims with Shimano 600 Tricolore hubs.

There you go - an updated retro bike with custom livery, dubbed PBP 1200 associating it with Paris-Brest-Paris 1200 km Randonneur event that it was built for.

(to be continued)

Full-size and more photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/retronck

The next bike that had come along was to become the crown jewel of my collection:
1985-ish De Rosa Professional SLX unfinished project. I instantly fell in love with it!

Some NOS and VGC parts thrown at it...

My vision complete - De Rosa Professional SLX with cybernck touch :-).

Full-size and more photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/retronck

Meanwhile, I built this stunning Luciano Paletti bike for a customer. I had originally
envisaged it with Campagnolo Veloce or Athena groupset but Shimano mid-level
components were requested instead. Oh well, it still ended up as a very nice bike :-).

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/retronck?page=2

That de Rosa is so hawt! You could try to get the brake lever hoods a bit whiter by using cleaner for white wall tires or bathroom cleaners with a little bit of bleach in it. Worked for me, no guarantees tho