Cycling UK Forum

A beautiful frameset. Check out the chromed lugs, the front mudguard (was this to stop a bar bag from touching the front tyre, I wonder? Or some weird legal requirement?), the beautiful slim steel cranks, the dark finish on the spokes, the enormous amount of paint missing from the inside edge of the chainstays, the 'sticky-tape cable guides', the tyre saver, the 'close clearances' (see where the brake blocks are in the calipers?), the neatly glued tubs, the 'high' mudguard stay mount in the fork blade, etc.

Oh yeah, and his natty mitts!

all rather classy. More here; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/9714156/Fausto-Il-Campionissimo-Coppi-the-Italian-cycling-legend-in-pictures.html

cheers

For some reason the slide show won't work for me...but the two pics I could see are great....very atmospheric and of the era.

Why can't we have race frames like that today, with guard clearances and mounts....yes his bike would have been more like a modern audax bike, but it's a pity so many top end bikes have no mg clearance as I'm sure that the average rider would feel no difference to the ride if they did (apart from being more comfie in the winter).

in case the slideshow doesn't work; more;

























cheers

Brucey

You didn't mention the pump! It really was a different era when even the top pro riders still carried the means to keep racing if they punctured.

Coppi was at the end of his career when I first took an interest ( became crazy about) cycling. He was still racing - in his late 30's. (Before anybody mentions it, I do know about the likes of Zootemelk even though I may not be able to spell it.)

His premature death - aged about 40 IIRC - was really sad.

thirdcrank wrote:Brucey

You didn't mention the pump!

oops!

Interesting that Faustino in still the Campinisimo (full of drugs) whereas the next post down is all about what a right b******d Mr Armstrong was/is.

Is it because drugs were legal in Coppi's day?

Nice pictures though.

Some from my hard-drive:

More:

Wiki article here;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fausto_Coppi

includes a section on drug taking.

Another (cycle sport website) biography here;

http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/riders/rider_bio.asp?rider_id=13

with no such discussion. Perhaps they will have one on LA that doesn't mention it in years to come, too.

cheers

I love this one best.

His bike handling skills were somewhat better than average....



And it's not well known that Fausto and Fiorenzo Magni founded the Interflora delivery service.

Thanks for posting great photos and a great era for cycle racing photography.

Nice set of photos Brucey - but you forgot to mention the integrated headset that Bianchi built into their frames. And the Campagnolo Paris-Roubaix rear gear (see the levers on the seat stay).

I wonder if he's just been to the shop across the road in the second photo............................................

Kaysbloke wrote:Nice set of photos Brucey - but you forgot to mention the integrated headset that Bianchi built into their frames. And the Campagnolo Paris-Roubaix rear gear (see the levers on the seat stay).

-oh yes... tsk tsk obviously not trying... -that explains all the missing paint on the chainstay I expect....

I wonder if he's just been to the shop across the road in the second photo............................................

surely he'd be carrying a big bag of some kind?

cheers

Brucey wrote:

Kaysbloke wrote:Nice set of photos Brucey - but you forgot to mention the integrated headset that Bianchi built into their frames. And the Campagnolo Paris-Roubaix rear gear (see the levers on the seat stay).

-oh yes... tsk tsk obviously not trying... -that explains all the missing paint on the chainstay I expect....

I wonder if he's just been to the shop across the road in the second photo............................................

surely he'd be carrying a big bag of some kind?

cheers

Not necessarily, just for some cream for an insect bite.............................