Hi, normally I´m into pre 95 mountainbikes but I ran into a nice Gazelle roadbike a couple of weeks ago. It was used as a rowingcoach bike to ride along the channel with the boats.
I built up a more usable coachbike for the rowing club and swapped that with the Gazelle.
So the first step succeeded, saving the Champion Mondial. Next step was to restore it. Nice thing was that the bike still had all the original parts on it. In the early eighties manufacturers usually built up the bikes with a mix of parts. Most parts on this bike were Dura Ace 7200, combined with a SR Superbe crankset and Campagnolo shifters. Seatpost, stem and handlebars were all SR.
Since I'm not very well known with racing bikes I had to learn my way into it a bit. One of my conclusions was that bulding it up to original spec wouldn't make me ride it. I never understood the use of the narrow racing handlebars. Obviously because I started with mountainbikes and don't know what's it's like to ride a decent roadbike. But ok, I let go the idea to built it up to original spec again and mounted a more modern and light stem, mtb handelbars, v-brake levers combined with Modolo Professional brakes, a Flite saddle and mtb pedals. I'm keeping the original stuff, just in case.
Gazelle used butted Reynolds 531 tubing for the complete frame and forks. The frame is handbuilt by Gazelle itself. Size is 59 cm.
I did a short testride on it. That felt promising. It must be a great ride for long distances.
I built up a more usable coachbike for the rowing club and swapped that with the Gazelle.
So the first step succeeded, saving the Champion Mondial. Next step was to restore it. Nice thing was that the bike still had all the original parts on it. In the early eighties manufacturers usually built up the bikes with a mix of parts. Most parts on this bike were Dura Ace 7200, combined with a SR Superbe crankset and Campagnolo shifters. Seatpost, stem and handlebars were all SR.
Since I'm not very well known with racing bikes I had to learn my way into it a bit. One of my conclusions was that bulding it up to original spec wouldn't make me ride it. I never understood the use of the narrow racing handlebars. Obviously because I started with mountainbikes and don't know what's it's like to ride a decent roadbike. But ok, I let go the idea to built it up to original spec again and mounted a more modern and light stem, mtb handelbars, v-brake levers combined with Modolo Professional brakes, a Flite saddle and mtb pedals. I'm keeping the original stuff, just in case.
Gazelle used butted Reynolds 531 tubing for the complete frame and forks. The frame is handbuilt by Gazelle itself. Size is 59 cm.
I did a short testride on it. That felt promising. It must be a great ride for long distances.