My Crow Has Landed!

[dcama5]

After the eagles that landed recently: Nick's gorgeous Kirk, Weisan's great Merckx, and R3's spectacular English, my new-old-stock Havnoonian is a crow. However, remember that the crow is one of the brightest birds out there.

Maybe you remember Harry Havnoonian. He built craftsman level steel frames out of the rather ordinary Reynolds 525 tubeset back around the year 2000. Well, interestingly, I owned one about 16 or 17 years ago and it fit perfectly and rode just as well as it fit. I sold it because I was (and maybe still am) kind of dumb!

Anyway, Harry no longer builds but still has a bike shop near Philly (Cycle Sport in Media, PA) and has about 10 of these NOS tig-welded frames on ebay for $200 each. I almost bought a Black Mtn after talking with Nick but pulled the trigger on another HH when I saw this auction. This is going to be a parts bin build with cost and fit being primary. Our buddy, Peter Chisholm (Old Potatoe) is building me a rear wheel and anyone that has a wheelset by Peter knows, as I do, that he builds wheels to absolute perfection. I will post again when the build is complete.

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/dcama5/IMG_0610_zpsmnijbftc.jpg (http://s1204.photobucket.com/user/dcama5/media/IMG_0610_zpsmnijbftc.jpg.html)

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/dcama5/IMG_0603_zpstpjpfymk.jpg (http://s1204.photobucket.com/user/dcama5/media/IMG_0603_zpstpjpfymk.jpg.html)

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/dcama5/IMG_0605_zpsywks1yuk.jpg (http://s1204.photobucket.com/user/dcama5/media/IMG_0605_zpsywks1yuk.jpg.html)

Oh, before you tell me the rear caliper is on backwards, no, that's the way Harry did things back then - works perfectly!

[Andy sti]

Great frame and cool that you had one in the past. That'll be a great ride!

[weisan]

http://landsofdream.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Crow.jpg

[vav]

Very nice. Do you have a link? The only Havnoonian on Ebay is this one with this weird rear brake placement. The bike is beautiful though

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harry-Havnoonian-Professional-New-Paint-New-Shimano-600-Tricolor-STI-Group-/332107768000?hash=item4d532a60c0:g:VasAAOSw4DJYjl--

[R3awak3n]

dang, that paint is gorgeous. I think blue bikes is my new thing.

what crankset is that?

I also looked on ebay but could find nothing but the red havnoonian

[ColonelJLloyd]

Nice. I've always liked the Topline crank's slender arms.

I remember seeing Havnoonian titanium frames as well.

[oldpotatoe]

After the eagles that landed recently: Nick's gorgeous Kirk, Weisan's great Merckx, and R3's spectacular English, my new-old-stock Havnoonian is a crow. However, remember that the crow is one of the brightest birds out there.

Maybe you remember Harry Havnoonian. He built craftsman level steel frames out of the rather ordinary Reynolds 525 tubeset back around the year 2000. Well, interestingly, I owned one about 16 or 17 years ago and it fit perfectly and rode just as well as it fit. I sold it because I was (and maybe still am) kind of dumb!

Anyway, Harry no longer builds but still has a bike shop near Philly (Cycle Sport in Media, PA) and has about 10 of these NOS tig-welded frames on ebay for $200 each. I almost bought a Black Mtn after talking with Nick but pulled the trigger on another HH when I saw this auction. This is going to be a parts bin build with cost and fit being primary. Our buddy, Peter Chisholm (Old Potatoe) is building me a rear wheel and anyone that has a wheelset by Peter knows, as I do, that he builds wheels to absolute perfection. I will post again when the build is complete.

Oh, before you tell me the rear caliper is on backwards, no, that's the way Harry did things back then - works perfectly!

Thanks for complement, wheel should be done this WE..

When in the shop, I used to OVH ERGO levers for that shop. Never really understood why, since it is pretty simple. BUT..

[soulspinner]

Nice find. Many happy miles.:beer:

[dcama5]

Very nice. Do you have a link? The only Havnoonian on Ebay is this one with this weird rear brake placement. The bike is beautiful though

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harry-Havnoonian-Professional-New-Paint-New-Shimano-600-Tricolor-STI-Group-/332107768000?hash=item4d532a60c0:g:VasAAOSw4DJYjl--

Maybe the auction ended, but they still have about 10 frames in various sizes and colors, so I would guess the auction will be restarted. You can call Cycle Sport at (610) 565-9535 and ask about the ebay auction for the tig-welded Corsas or maybe just purchase one from the shop. They were on ebay for $200 plus $60 insured priority shipping.

[dcama5]

dang, that paint is gorgeous. I think blue bikes is my new thing.

what crankset is that?

I also looked on ebay but could find nothing but the red havnoonian

Actually, it's a Tune Bigfoot with a 110 BCD spider for a 50/34 set of chainrings.

[icepick_trotsky]

I've only seen one of these before, but it looked cool. A tandem with a great fade and an odd fork crown. I think you'd need three hands to operate all the brakes at once.

http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/vv138/bimmerpnk/4runner/Bikes/20150511_135549_zps5ivgabs5.jpg

[ColonelJLloyd]

Actually, it's a Tune Bigfoot...

My mistake. Good looking crank.

I think you'd need three hands to operate all the brakes at once.

Prior to modern disc brakes 70s-80s tandems often had a rear auxiliary disc brake threaded to the NDS of the rear hub (Phil Wood or Aria) used as a drag brake on descents. Almost always this was controlled via a friction shifter.

[dcama5]

Maiden voyage for the Havnoonian - parked here with my wife's Serotta. It behaves well, like most steel road bikes. Again, the build focused on fit and cost and was largely a parts bin build. The back wheel was built by Peter Chisholm, and, as usual, it's perfect. The ebay auction is up again and these NOS frames are being blown out for $200 plus $60 insured shipping. The things to remember are: 1" headtube, the rear caliper goes on as shown which means you have to reverse your pads (right on left and visa-versa), short reach calipers, 27.2 seatpost, English threaded BB. The tires I have on are 700X28. The auction includes an aluminum fork w/ threaded steerer but I asked them to keep it because I was not going to use it.

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/dcama5/IMG_0631_zpsttnq54ns.jpg (http://s1204.photobucket.com/user/dcama5/media/IMG_0631_zpsttnq54ns.jpg.html)

[PacNW2Ford]

very cool HH. Is that an Igleheart TNESF on the Serotta? Excellent.

[dcama5]

Exactly! Good eye! Christopher Igleheart built that fork in the New England segmented style using Reynolds 853 for the blades and it's the nicest fork we have ever owned. It's nearly as light as carbon but way, way better in every way. Christopher Igleheart is the man!

[likebikes]

never understood the reversed rear brake on a hh's.

[dcama5]

I agree, I never did either. I guess Harry thought it was important. Way back about 15 years ago, I asked Harry why he designed for the rear caliper to be backwards and he said that he wasn't backwards, everyone else was. So, who knows? Anyway, it rides nicely and is stable when riding no-hands.

[GParkes]

Harry was the US distributor of Vitus steel tubing in late 80's, early 90's. He had a guy named Dennis that worked for him. GREAT people. He sponsored a Cat 3 team I raced on by giving me 5 Vitus GTI tubesets with Silva lugs for $100 per set. I built the frames up and we raced that year in style. He was also the certified repair center for Vitus aluminum frames (of 979 vintage) in US. Nice to know in bike biz.

[AngryScientist]

those are two very nice looking bikes! enjoy the ride.

hows the weather down in Va right now dc?