Newbie with Columbus Tubing identification issues

[NeilM]

I don't know about Thron, but Aelle is better tubing than a lot of people give it credit for.

I have a Concorde made in Aelle R and it rides like an absolute dream, much less harsh on rough back lanes than my Raleigh made in Reynolds 853.

Matt, did MS stand for Mental Steel?.... I'll get me coat. :facepalm:

 

[David B]

Fantastic. Thanks for that. I don't know why I'm so keen to know, but was Thron good quality or cheapo?

Peugeot made a lovely Thron CX frame back in the late 90s/early 00s. Good enough to bag Les Lloyd of Didcot Phoenix a national vets' title, IIRC.

David

 

[Diamant_Don]

Thanks for the replies!

So this is what I'm thinking - I'm 90% sure that Diamant made these frames from both Thron and Aelle and following the good advice on here I'll be measuring the seatpost tonight. If it's 27.2 I'm saying it's Thron, if it's 26.8 it's Aelle. Either way, it's a lovely ride!

NeilM - any pics of the Concorde? I'm a sucker for these Belgian beauties!

 

[NeilM]

NeilM - any pics of the Concorde? I'm a sucker for these Belgian beauties!

Strictly speaking Concorde's were not Belgian, as the company themselves were Dutch and the frames were said to be made in Northern Italy, some (allegedly) by Ciocc, but at least two other frame builders names were linked to Concorde. Mine bears more than a passing resemblance to a Basso.

As it happens, mine was sold in Belgium when new, which is where I got it from, it is a lovely bike to ride and when I was in Gloucestershire with it this summer, I rode up / down Prescott hillclimb.

Link: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=236589&hilit=astore

I have kit to match the bike, which I am told is LOUD... well, a chap likes to be seen. :facepalm:

 

[Diamant_Don]

That is some seriously sexy paint work, NeilM!

I had been looking at Concorde, but couldn't find a cool one, which is why I went for the Diamant. Yours is impressive!

Information on Diamant is pretty scant considering the company was - apparently - the Belgian equivalent of Raleigh. I read somewhere that their frames of this period were Italian and it certainly has that feel up close.

You have kit to match the bike? Tell me it's not a Captain America costume.

 

[NeilM]

You have kit to match the bike? Tell me it's not a Captain America costume.

Not quite. I found a company in the US that had some really nice stars and stripes jerseys and gilets, so bought one of each, I then found some team Saxo Tinkoff bib shorts from some American championship which gave me the complete ensemble.

Fortunately, I mostly ride by myself. :mrgreen:

I think people have recently discovered Concorde, as when I bought mine they were nowhere near the price of other European bikes. This summer they have slowly crept up in price and although there are still bargains, they are mostly on a par with the more well known Italian makes. I would quite like a Prelude or a Squadra, but as I have a couple of race geometry bikes already, I think I'll stick with my Astore.

 

[Diamant_Don]

Not quite. I found a company in the US that had some really nice stars and stripes jerseys and gilets, so bought one of each, I then found some team Saxo Tinkoff bib shorts from some American championship which gave me the complete ensemble.

I can't judge :xmas-wink: I'm already thinking of the right red/white kit to complement my Diamant! Maybe I should go for a Polish national strip?

Cheers for the help!