Thought I'd start a build thread for my recently acquired Concorde MAX FB (at least I think that's the model) which came from here. The auction was rather vague however when the frame arrived it is a rather impressive item. The paint is nicely done, even the names appear painted on. The MAX tubing is elaborately shaped and looks extremely purposeful, the fillet brazing is flawless. Even the forks are MAX which is something I'd not picked up on, had assumed they'd be SL since these seem to be supplied on the MAX frame in the catalogue here.

The plan with this is to build with a Dura Ace 7700 groupset currenly adorning my TSX tubed Pinarello Gavia and use it very much as a rider. Had a slightly small Merckx Strada frame I was going to use but the Concorde is somewhat more suitable. Going to be interesting to compare MAX vs TSX vs SLX (and hopefully 753 too when I pull my finger out).

If anyone has anymore details on these frames be interested to know. Assume they are bilato buily? Droputs are ultech if that gives any pointers.

To get started a couple of pics from the original auction.

Nice bike, with a quailty frame,
I know in the early 80's the Concorde frames were built by Ciocc, but then production was taken up by the Bilato brothers. Built them cheaper, i expect.
The frames have always been shipped to Belgium/Holland in the raw, with all the paintwork and chroming done in belgium/Holland, to a very high standard. I can't remember the name of the firm though.
I think Concorde were a import/buying group, rather than a single person or bike shop.
Hope this info is of some interest.
Mike

Checked my records, and it appears the frame's were sprayed by Van Yperzeele, i think they also did the Paganini frames.
And at sometime, Concorde were a partnership between La Plume Vainqueer bike shop in ghent, and a dutch importer. Maybe the dutch guys on the forum could tell us more.

Lovely frame John

Chhers for the info mavesyn.

Need to get cracking on this build now it's stopped snowing / raining.

Lovely looking frame John, I had a look at this too but went for a colnago offered on the 'bay at the time...

Looks big - is it your usual size?

Lucky you John

but Colnagos are nice too of course

On the Bilato/Ciocc tie: To my information Bilato built both the Concorde and the Ciocc ...among others, like for example Lemond

The import/buying group Mavesyn mentions must be Veltec with base in Holland and several branches worldwide. I do know Plum Vainqueur and their bikes, I am unaware of a link with Concorde, but that could just be me.

The bike is a 59. Normally ride a 58. A touch taller than I'd prefer but top tube is ok so reckon it'll fit. The pics make it look bigger than it is. Have a 57 merckx strada sat next to it in the garage, kind of hoping the two will spawn an MX Leader one night but no luck yet...

Tried the same with Master & Alan... No C40 yet...

Really liking that. The frame looks big(headtube length) but short in the toptube? V.nice

Not really, it's a 59 seat with 58 top. Pretty standard stuff. The MAX tubing is quite elaboratly shaped though, hence perhaps the relatively tall headtube.

Managed to get the bike together over the weekend. No chance to ride properly yet, however feedback after a quick spin was good. Only real issue is the size, somewhat stretched with my preffered 13 stem on (any less is unprofessional of course). Could probably ride it ok with an 11 but is it just too big?!?

Anyhow the pics. Not great so apologies, didn't help the fact we actually have quite harsh sunlight for once here in the UK..







Note tiny clearance between headset crown race and caliper - actually had to file some material off the washers of the caliper in order for it to fit!


Buld is more or less straight up Dura Ace 7700. Only exceptions are the wheels which are hope ti-glide onto cxp-33. Will do a full spec later. Guess the frame dates to around the mid 90s so the gruppo is a fair match (came out around 97 iirc).

More pics here > http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/mai ... emId=73983

Tidy bike although to my eyes a more traditional quill stem would look better - wasn't ahead around for road bikes in mid 90s though?

Impressed that the tyre and rim logos are nicely matched up and that you've carefully rotated the wheels in the photos so they aren't perfectly matched, a nice touch that inplies a lack of pedantic detail while actually signifying the opposite.

I'll be fitting a regular cinelli at some point given the grammo is too long. Ahead mid 90s was pretty rare on road bikes. Started to become more common late 90s but even then I recall building bikes with quill stems. Lance even won his first Boucle with a nice quill stem...



the 'photoshoot' was somewhat rushed so nicities like logo alignment, composition and exposure were neglected. The main reason for this is pictured on his bike, bottom right, making yet another bid for freedom onto the road...

Hi John,

Very nice

Mr Edwards doesn't like the stem, but my initial thought was 'good pick!' Profiled as well, period and quite cutting edge. How opinions can differ.

I hope you can make it fit you. Maybe try a stem right in between 11 and 13: 12cm Than it probably looks as good as it rides. Near perfect ..or maybe even better!

I think that frame would benefit from those early 90s high flange Campag rims (Shamals) ...but that would probably have been best if the rest would have been Campag too.