Gazelle? Does anyone know anything about them?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4542365807_3cbe4ffd67_b.jpg

Not often seen Zeus-crown fork

Not often seen Zeus-crown fork

These ZEUS fork crowns were the usual parts on AA frames, before Gazelle started using the pantographed Bocama crowns.
Perhaps the influence of Luis Ocana in his Frisol/Gazelle days...

Dear Gazelle experts,

Did the 531c frames take 27.2 seatposts? I've been riding with 27.2 posts, but they're fucking tight. In addition, the frame was scratching the hell out of my posts. I ended up taking a file to the inside where some sort of metal bur had formed along the "cut" in the tub where the clamp is. This had made things easier, but I wonder if maybe it's built for a 27.0?

Normally it's a 27.2 as far as I know but I'm sure Cheese will know more.

I read somewhere that all 531c tubes were 27.2, but who knows. Just seems a little tight, so I wanted to make sure.

a campy 27.2 is a bit snug
an easton ea50 27.2 is if anything a bit loose

go figure 27.2 is the official tube diametre

'tis campy I've got in there now.

Usualy it's 27.2mm.
Maybe very old ones take a smaller post, but I'm not certain.
For sure since 1984 it was 27.2mm.
I think 753 has had different diameters.

Some exceptions: mixte frame, 70cm A frame, tandem, maybe some TT frames could be made for 26.xxx posts, because they've used plain gauge seat tubes for strength reasons.

Just have the seat tube reamed out at 27.2mm.
It will save you from a lot of trouble now and in future and it will not weaken the frame.

Cheers Dutch Cheese. This is a late 80s/early 90s frame (I think? The newer blocky type, was originally [again, I think] built with c-record), so should be 27.2 then.

I wonder if anyone can help me identify my old race bike from the early 80's.
Desperately trying to get hold of one identical to this. It's one of my goals to have all my old race bikes again.

1 Attachment

• Gazelle.pdf

Any better pics, more detailed?
Could be AA or AB.
Both are 531
AA has investment cast BB shell (probably Roto), AB has plate BB shell Bocama.

What kind of bridges between c/s and s/s ?

Colours are former Gazele team colours.
Ivory 81 with head tube and seat tube panels in baikal(?)blue 68.

I am going home to The Netherlands (Dieren, Gelderland) at the end of the month, for 10 days.
I want to buy a Gazelle frame then. Does anyone know where I can find a classic looking frame to start a new fixed gear project when I return to London?

Probably everywhere except in Dieren.
Just walk into a shop a bike shop that sells roadbikes (racing bike specialist). Every dealer may have one or more.
But perhaps the chance is bigger (and price lower) when you buy it from private people.
The auction site Marktplaats.nl has almost a monopoly in NL.

Just check out http://kopen.marktplaats.nl/fietsen-en-brommers/fietsen-racefietsen/c464.html
and try to make appointments with the sellers in the areas you're going to visit.

When you are in the area of Dieren, you have a good chance at larger dealers like De Pedaleur (Doetinchem) and Goossens (Borculo).
In the past there were authorized Gazelle Race Dealer, who had exclusive rights to sell Gazelle Champion Mondial, but Gazelle is almost dismantled when it comes to race bikes. So, the actual Gazelle dealer network doesn't make any sense.

No chance that you can buy something from Gazelle directly.
Even a company tour doesn't make a lot of sense, I think.

Probably everywhere except in Dieren.
Just walk into a shop a bike shop that sells roadbikes (racing bike specialist). Every dealer may have one or more.
But perhaps the chance is bigger (and price lower) when you buy it from private people.
The auction site Marktplaats.nl has almost a monopoly in NL.

Just check out http://kopen.marktplaats.nl/fietsen-en-brommers/fietsen-racefietsen/c464.html
and try to make appointments with the sellers in the areas you're going to visit.

When you are in the area of Dieren, you have a good chance at larger dealers like De Pedaleur (Doetinchem) and Goossens (Borculo).
In the past there were authorized Gazelle Race Dealer, who had exclusive rights to sell Gazelle Champion Mondial, but Gazelle is almost dismantled when it comes to race bikes. So, the actual Gazelle dealer network doesn't make any sense.

No chance that you can buy something from Gazelle directly.
Even a company tour doesn't make a lot of sense, I think.

Yeah I have been checking out Marktplaats. I did indeed not expect to find anything in Dieren. I will try to get my dad to drive me to Doetinchem and check that store out. In the meantime I will keep stalking Marktplaats.

Thanks man!

Want!

http://fietsen-brommers.marktplaats.nl/fietsen-racefietsen/342876852-champion-mondial-tvm-bison-gazelle-team-frame-531c-reynolds.html?return=eJw9jt0KgzAMRt9F0LtZfzovKjL0TbpaZ7HV0kQ2HHv3peAGuTgn30eIFKV4G1G0IKqqFgloGdTczoheMLZsXq%2B5k2FBb6VEyFfLJqMR9HqhuYfNOR3gvwtS6ZOZ4g3PZ3T29rJdmY3Q4ZbWfZnWg98JCgJL1nN%2BjVhFbDjhaAhjzf9qSHAY0gGmEc4Uz9TF2rrTI0aRLk/Shzy0tZp0g3ityrzfuyJpP19Ve0uk&df=1&fta=eNo1kFtuAjEMRfeSD76dx2QyjthCt4A8edBRhxI1Q0Eg9t7E0L%2BjY8u%2BuoQjPio6FJef9fBLaxW%2B4qRQ3Na93MW6384ofbkg%2BFWiMYNfFRprfFzQl9L1hvel%2BJpjbWZr5lTw%2B3JKP0vwX1c80j2ta/LnuqDalXLZQ/9hUBQ6JuGXdr%2BiRrFEfq7GlkYqAjlEfZNmNC4EaGBlzHJiAyTHDtoGSh1Utiq%2BAMgxRD0ODCEayUDBvEYkzczgZlIMA43toJ7zNGlgo2PoI21hHoiNTDZ3aDEs51ETvI11c2AYsjQMSgXbAfKYOCFMGfgpOHJ8EJRSHAykBg4PEIe%2BY3MKeniBmg1DtM71emRrajsXivWwpu/j9vnf4ITiRLdDL7X1GHHqXaKgq/Afb/wVnhDw8Xz%2BARo2kQk%3D&fta_ind=30&fs=1

And: http://fietsen-brommers.marktplaats.nl/fietsen-racefietsen/342873736-gazelle-champion-mondial-jubile-reynolds-531c-frame-60cm.html?return=eJw9jt0KgzAMRt9F0LtZfzovKjL0TbpaZ7HV0kQ2HHv3peAGuTgn30eIFKV4G1G0IKqqFgloGdTczoheMLZsXq%2B5k2FBb6VEyFfLJqMR9HqhuYfNOR3gvwtS6ZOZ4g3PZ3T29rJdmY3Q4ZbWfZnWg98JCgJL1nN%2BjVhFbDjhaAhjzf9qSHAY0gGmEc4Uz9TF2rrTI0aRLk/Shzy0tZp0g3ityrzfuyJpP19Ve0uk&df=1&fta=eNo1kFtuAjEMRfeSD76dx2QyjthCt4A8edBRhxI1Q0Eg9t7E0L%2BjY8u%2BuoQjPio6FJef9fBLaxW%2B4qRQ3Na93MW6384ofbkg%2BFWiMYNfFRprfFzQl9L1hvel%2BJpjbWZr5lTw%2B3JKP0vwX1c80j2ta/LnuqDalXLZQ/9hUBQ6JuGXdr%2BiRrFEfq7GlkYqAjlEfZNmNC4EaGBlzHJiAyTHDtoGSh1Utiq%2BAMgxRD0ODCEayUDBvEYkzczgZlIMA43toJ7zNGlgo2PoI21hHoiNTDZ3aDEs51ETvI11c2AYsjQMSgXbAfKYOCFMGfgpOHJ8EJRSHAykBg4PEIe%2BY3MKeniBmg1DtM71emRrajsXivWwpu/j9vnf4ITiRLdDL7X1GHHqXaKgq/Afb/wVnhDw8Xz%2BARo2kQk%3D&fta_ind=31&fs=1

Right, same seller, will contact him and see if he will have anything similar available when I go there at the end of the month.

AA-Super

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4577404859_df33953bc4_b.jpg

Typical for the SWB AA-Super, the indent:

Very nice! If only it had a bit of chrome ;)

With AA-Special fork ?

By he way, this frame had at least the seat post binder repaired.
The brazed-on block is the newer type, while the shifter cable routing is from the 1st series.
Looks very nice.

DC,

If it is indeed the case that the clamp was repaired at some point, I must say the refinishing is very accurately performed. Absolutely not like with many other refinished Champion Mondials I've seen. Proper job by Gazelle. By you maybe?

Btw this very lush AA-Super shows the same cable guide - seat clamp combination: AA-Super with 50th Anniversary

If that AA-Super is really a 1983 model, like that site mentions, we could be sure there is a refinishing performed on that one, already from another perspective: The Italic lettering is a little later.

Lush >>

Nice bike, despite the saddle position (nose up).
Definately a repaired / resprayed one.
First AA-Super was made in 1984. I had one of these, when I joined the company.
I doubt if AA-Super was commercially available before 1985. Pretty sure it wasn't. '83 is impossible. It's even not a prototype or pre-production model, because these didn't have pantoed fork crowns or semi-vertical dropouts. These parts were only used for the series production, not earlier.
Letter type on the picture is a couple of years later. Don't recall exactly which year, but it was the 1st result of the co-operation with industrial designer Peter van der Veer.
Same goes for pantographed seat clamp and the cable routing. The 1st few years, Gazelle used a flush design. The later ones had the "arrow / triangle" design at the sides. Even the quite unique wishbone was replaced by regular twin seat stays.
Due to all the trouble with the fixation of the wishbone and the seat post clamp, quite some AA-Supers were repaired under warranty at Gazelle at got a new paintjob incl. decals. This is certainly one of those.

Personally I did't do the repairs. I just co-ordinated the stuff a bit. My brazing skills were too poor. Repairing frames is a highly qualified job. In those days, the expert was a man called "De Kater". A nice, but a bit odd/eccentric person. Just a few teeth left, bachelor, stubborn, wearing a winter coat in the middle of the summer, hermit- kind of guy... Liked him a lot.

With AA-Special fork ?

By he way, this frame had at least the seat post binder repaired.
The brazed-on block is the newer type, while the shifter cable routing is from the 1st series.
Looks very nice.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you - my frame has that style cable guides, and seat-clamp system? Mine is a special though.

Here's a pic from before I built it up.

Was about shifter cable, not the rear brake cable.
And you're right, the same seat post clamp was used on later AA-Specials.

Your rear brake cable guide is also of a later model.
The 1st years (until 1987 or so), it was the pipe through the top tube, the outer casing went in for approx 1 - 2 cm at both sides. And a rubber "seal" on both sides.
After that it was a thinner pipe with 2 chrome plated metal connectors as on your picture.
Both versions sucked. Water, corrosion, friction...
I prefer(red) 2 stoppers below t/t.