tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post339146240258291671..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: Antici-pay-yay-tionBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-40631656947634103272020-02-28T11:49:58.859-05:002020-02-28T11:49:58.859-05:00I do think it was possible that a couple of the to...I do think it was possible that a couple of the top-of-the-line Univegas, at least in the first year or two of that brand, might have still been made in Italy. I don't have any evidence for that, but I've heard a couple of people say that their Univegas were Italian-built, and it strikes me as plausible.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07155391319606812982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-15882720969329249702020-02-28T11:32:16.030-05:002020-02-28T11:32:16.030-05:00You had a great informative article some time ago ...You had a great informative article some time ago about Ben Lawee, creator of Italvega/Univega/Bertoni. There was a comment from someone who convincingly believed their Univega was a very early Italian build. There's probably someplace on the web that I can check serial #'s for more info, but I'm thinking the one I got is early 80's because the cables are routed above the bottom bracket (I think pretty much all builders had switched to below bb cable routing by about 83/84), and not Italian b/c of Tange tube sticker. I dabbled in racing back in those days and have a distinct memory of drafting behind a guy who was riding a Univega identical to the one I now possess. I was never able to pass him and he finished well ahead of me, I can remember thinking "maybe I should get one of those", finally - now 35 years later.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10128535006812612000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-73314201202813741222020-02-28T11:04:31.726-05:002020-02-28T11:04:31.726-05:00Yes - by the early 80s, Japanese production bikes ...Yes - by the early 80s, Japanese production bikes had gotten very nice. The Univegas were (you're correct) mostly made by Miyata. Were they ALL? I don't know - and I know that some later ones were probably made in Taiwan. But I've seen some very nicely built Univegas.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07155391319606812982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-85933697352310569082020-02-28T11:01:23.394-05:002020-02-28T11:01:23.394-05:00That's going to be a very nice bike! Your Seq...That's going to be a very nice bike! Your Sequoia build is helping to peak my interest in quality Japanese offerings of the 1980's, diverting my attention from vintage Italian race bikes for a bit. I acquired an early 80's Univega Competizione frame (made by Miyata I think), that is near pristine and will build up with mostly or all Suntour parts. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10128535006812612000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-39080341461413646952020-02-26T11:34:10.386-05:002020-02-26T11:34:10.386-05:00Back in the 1980s, we had a few Franklin frames in...Back in the 1980s, we had a few Franklin frames in stock at the Ski Rack, in Burlington. As I recall, someone from Franklin was in the area and stopped by on a cold call. Not only were they super-nice people to deal with, I really liked the no-nonsense value in both their frames and their repair/repaint services. I was hoping we could use them as a tandem supplier, as Santana's approach was decidedly not small dealer friendly. I was hoping that moving customers to Franklin would result in fewer road trips to Montreal. While I always enjoyed dealing with the folks at Marinoni, I was tired of the long, monthly drive, and too many customers were doing an end-run around the dealer and buying their Marinonis direct. I always felt bad that we didn't generate more business for Franklin. I think we only sold one frame, finally shipping the others back, as they were on consignment. The brazing and painting were excellent, and I'm glad they've stayed in business all this time. At the time, we were paying Marinoni a ridiculously low $35 CAD for a sweet, though brittle paint job, and that included the prep. Franklin's price on a more durable Imron job was also an dxcellent deal, and far cheaper than CyclArt, but when the shipping was added in, the vast majority of people opted for a Marinoni repaint.Steve Barnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05141738452735566462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-73980103229040000392020-02-24T15:58:16.751-05:002020-02-24T15:58:16.751-05:00That is a beautiful finish!
That is a beautiful finish!<br />Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-90518333352963652272020-02-24T11:26:58.843-05:002020-02-24T11:26:58.843-05:00Very nice. I'm hoping to do this on several of...Very nice. I'm hoping to do this on several of my frames as time and finances permit.Andy in Germanyhttp://www.workbikes.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com