Embarrassment of riches

[tsarpepe]

Has anyone come across this photo thread:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33588433@N04/5599839725/in/photostream/

I just did. It blew my mind. I don't know what is more astonishing: the bikes this guy has, the places he has been with them, or the photos he has taken. It's worth clicking on each of his 200 pics.

[cole91]

wow. those are awesome bikes. and places. is it Sacha? Or someone from Speedvagen?

[jrflanders]

I've seen his de salvo pictures before, but never the full thing. I needed to stop; I could feel the gravitational pull on my wallet...

[tsarpepe]

I also thought of the Speedvagen folks, but it appears that this fellow is from Germany or Austria.

[A1CKot]

Wow indeed. How does one amass such a collection let alone store and ride all of them?

[Waldo]

That's quite a gallery of places and bikes. I kinda got hung up on the blue baby Peg Marcelo with Campy crank and SRAM shifters/derailleur combo. What's up with that?

[tsarpepe]

That's quite a gallery of places and bikes. I kinda got hung up on the blue baby Peg Marcelo with Campy crank and SRAM shifters/derailleur combo. What's up with that?

I don't know how his life is enough to put all these bikes together, so I won't be quick to criticize the way he selects the components...

[cole91]

^ haha too true. Well at this point he must know the exact feel of just about every component in the industry so I'm sure he knows exactly what he likes.

[xjahx]

From the horse's mouth:

Yes, it's still Campy/SRAM even with a Campy front der.... The lightest and best working combination I've been on so far

Amazing bikes.

[tsarpepe]

We gotta invite this guy to the forum. He does have a couple of Serottas, and his photos will give a big boost to our picture gallery.

[bicycletricycle]

that dudes got a lot of bikes that are too small.

[cole91]

Anyone know how he makes the red flags on his Red shifters black? I guess the obvious option is to cut out vinyl but I'm just curious.

[steveo]

I think he's a member across the hall, not positive though. I've seen his stream previously, can't recall where I stumbled upon it.

[mxpdx]

I'm pretty sure this is Vanilla Speedvagen flickr. Mike Desalvo also builds Speedvagens for Sacha and they are all deep appreciators of their fellow builders.

[d_douglas]

I believe that this fine gent is a forumite and he may chime in. If I recall correctly, he lives just on the Swiss/German border, not far from me. Perhaps I need to 'pay him a visit' (heh, heh, heh).

Yes, those are STUNNING bikes and quite conveniently, MY SIZE!!!

I too try to imagine how someone can amass such a collection; I am fanatical about bikes, but this is a whole other level of fanaticism. I love it and it frightens me a bit as well.

That Vanilla cross frame makes me cry just a little bit. It is perfect.

[Birddog]

That Brooks Swallow saddle with the side stitching was just tits (among a few other highlights of course).

[MattTuck]

This guy must have the worlds most flexible lower back. WOW. Look at the drop on some of those bikes.

[Hawker]

But seriously...how does he decide which one to ride? I used to own two motorcycles at one time and that choice drove me nuts.

[fiamme red]

Nice setting for a Serotta:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1362/5125994179_f4fcd04404_b.jpg

[tsarpepe]

If I recall correctly, he lives just on the Swiss/German border

I think I can guess on which side of the border his bank account is :D :D :D

[feta99]

What a beautiful setting. And look at the 3 other cyclist doing the climb. Makes me yearn for a biking trip to Europe...Is there anywhere in NA that has climbs as picturesque as this?

Nice setting for a Serotta:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1362/5125994179_f4fcd04404_b.jpg

[firerescuefin]

That's quite a gallery of places and bikes. I kinda got hung up on the blue baby Peg Marcelo with Campy crank and SRAM shifters/derailleur combo. What's up with that?

That's the best you've got after looking through those pictures.......You are certainly a glass is half empty type of guy.

Cool to see the Yasec on there. I lived in Hungary for 3 years and had him build me a mountain bike (yasec.hu). He is based out of Sopron, which is a beautiful town. I have never seen one outside of Hungary.

Dude has taste...which doesn't always accompany money. Glad he took those and thanks for posting the link. :beer:

That guy just "brunked" Jack....serves Jack right. ;)

[fiamme red]

It would be more aesthetically pleasing if he sized up on his classic bikes. Too much seatpost showing.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4670053464_25bfcd4f3f_z.jpg

[Climb01742]

insanely impressive (or impressively insane? :D ) whichever, simply wow.

[xjahx]

...Is there anywhere in NA that has climbs as picturesque as this?

Go West, young man. Although, you will not have the 500+ year old villages.

[PoppaWheelie]

Yeah, he's here. I won't out him by his real name...used to post under the handle "Speedvagen", although now he's something else. I sold him the Vanilla cross last year. Nice guy...think he hangs out on the Velocipede board more often than here.

[d_douglas]

Damn - you offered that to me !! What was I thinking?!?!?!

That is such a nice bike. So nice.



BTW, the person of interest in this thread seems a very cool guy - we have corresponded a few times. Ask questions, and my guess is that he will answer, though maybe not if lectured about his saddle to bar drop . ;)

If it works for him, then it works, period, folks.

[sc53]

Nice setting for a Serotta:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1362/5125994179_f4fcd04404_b.jpg
Well, I picked the same paint scheme for my Ottrott--that's about all we have in common!

[4Rings6Stars]

Go West, young man. Although, you will not have the 500+ year old villages.

If by 'go west' you mean to head west from Boston to Western MA and Vermont then you're right!

Some very beatiful countryside with rolling green hills in Vermont, reminds me a lot of the Basque region of Spain.

[vsefiream]

Nice, I was just in Northern Italy and southern Germany last week. Not only is the scenery breathtaking but the number of people on high quality bikes riding around is incredible. I am taking my bike over next time I go weather permitting.

[wtex]

Beautiful collection. Life is good when you have your own snow bike. Or very snowy, I guess.

[cody.wms]

I'm pretty sure this is Vanilla Speedvagen flickr. Mike Desalvo also builds Speedvagens for Sacha and they are all deep appreciators of their fellow builders.

Nope, Vanilla's photostream is here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/42587323@N08/. It's an individual, and he's across the hall for sure. Haven't seen him post on the Serotta Forum, though he may be here.

[Germany_chris]

and isn't southern Germany just beautiful!!

Nice, I was just in Northern Italy and southern Germany last week. Not only is the scenery breathtaking but the number of people on high quality bikes riding around is incredible. I am taking my bike over next time I go weather permitting.

[firerescuefin]

and isn't southern Germany just beautiful!!


Aren't you a little biased.......GERMANY chris ;)


Germany is incredible.....as is Croatia, Italy, Austria, Slovenia.....and a bunch of places that I haven't been. Europe rocks :beer:

[benb]

Saddle to bar drop looks about right to me.. what's the sense in all those bikes if you can't beat them to death!

I would definitely go completely out my mind trying to dial in, ride, clean, and maintain that many bikes. So I'd never do it even if I had the money.

But if I had the money I'd definitely try to ride all those places...

[uno-speedo]

He goes by the online persona of Speedvagen (and yes lives in Germany) and is a good friend of mine. He is extremely fortunate to be in the position he is in, and fully realizes how lucky he is. A very modest person and a good rider.

[tsarpepe]

This is just breath-taking!

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j79/tsarpepe/3811240090_59c88f24c0_z.jpg

A photo that no manufacturer would be ashamed to put in their catalogue.

[Black Dog]

Some of the best bike porn I have ever seen.

[moran]

He sure does have great taste in bikes. Hard to choose a favorite. Cinelli Supercorsa? IF Piss Off? Speedvagen SM? Wow...

[dnades]

gives me hope. incredible. thanks for the link.

[rickbb]

He's not too shabby as a photographer, either.
Thanks for pointing out the site. Sigh...

[tsarpepe]

Oh yes, and Leica is not too shabby of a camera either...