Nobilette Custom 70's Vintage Racer

[Classicvelo]

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This a fun project I did with Mark Nobilette a couple of years ago.
Full 1970's race geometry and clearances.
With this configuration of water bottle mounts and no brake cable guides, we designed this to be a 1976 race bike
All NOS Campagnolo long dropouts w/ fender eyelets, cable guides, cable stops
NOS tubing, fork crown, BB shell, lugs, etc.
Italian BB Threading
1" threaded steerer
Standard '70s-'80s tubing diameters
Wet paint
130mm rear spacing
Except for the 130mm rear spacing, this is a 1976 race bike.
I've changed the parts on this thing many times. This configuration works the best.
Campagnolo Record Triple 10s Drive Train w/ down tube index shifters (30/42/50 x 13-26)
Ambrosio Nemesis rims on Campagnolo Record hubs and Challenge Paris Roubaix Tubulars
Campagnolo Record medium reach brakes (pre-1978) w/ new Kool Stop pads. NR levers
Cinelli bar and stem ('80s)
Brookes Professional Saddle (still trying to break it in...)
MKS Supreme pedals w/ MKS Deep Toe Clips with vintage Alfredo Binda toe straps
Peter Chisholm has been so generous with his amazing help in keeping this rig rolling. He built the wheels and more.
Outstanding Ride

[osbk67]

That is a supremely cool race bike tribute.

[jimcav]

have you already posted before about the choice to do this versus ride a, say, '76 Masi, or something else from the era with the rear re-set to 130?

[rccardr]

That’s pretty slick.

[Pegoready]

Incredibly cool! Looks like a blast to ride, classic looking yet practical.

I can't help but ask what's up with the bar tape job? Otherwise, the bike is so dialed.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Pegoready

Incredibly cool! Looks like a blast to ride, classic looking yet practical.

I can't help but ask what's up with the bar tape job? Otherwise, the bike is so dialed.

Seen and worked on this rig and it really is sweet...Mark did a fantastic job making this bicycle..as for the tape...I keep tellin' him to let me do it...

[mcteague]

Epic fail! That RD is certainly not 70s era. Just kidding... it looks amazing...except as Peter noted.

Tim

[unterhausen]

I didn't notice the tape. I think OP is just trying to make me feel better about how badly I do it.

[Spaghetti Legs]

Very cool - a Modretro?

[alexihnen]

Love everything about this. Nice work.

[Classicvelo]

Originally Posted by Pegoready

Incredibly cool! Looks like a blast to ride, classic looking yet practical.

I can't help but ask what's up with the bar tape job? Otherwise, the bike is so dialed.

It actually was fine for a while. But I ride this thing on some fairly steep hills around here, so I'm reefing on the bars a bit. Jut been too lazy to fix it. )

[Classicvelo]

Originally Posted by jimcav

have you already posted before about the choice to do this versus ride a, say, '76 Masi, or something else from the era with the rear re-set to 130?

I wanted a very specific layout with respect to braze ons, and I knew the configuration existed, but only on service course bikes. I wanted a 70's geometry with fender eyelets, double bottle mounts, and clip on top tube brake cable guides. This existed on Gimondi's 1976 Giro winning Bianchi (minus the fender mounts). I know Mark well, and this was a fun project and he had all of the materials available. Plus he gave me more clearance. I can run 36mm tires. )

[jimcav]

Originally Posted by Classicvelo

I wanted a very specific layout with respect to braze ons, and I knew the configuration existed, but only on service course bikes. I wanted a 70's geometry with fender eyelets, double bottle mounts, and clip on top tube brake cable guides. This existed on Gimondi's 1976 Giro winning Bianchi (minus the fender mounts). I know Mark well, and this was a fun project and he had all of the materials available. Plus he gave me more clearance. I can run 36mm tires. )

That is specific!

[osbk67]

Originally Posted by Classicvelo

I wanted a very specific layout with respect to braze ons, and I knew the configuration existed, but only on service course bikes. I wanted a 70's geometry with fender eyelets, double bottle mounts, and clip on top tube brake cable guides. This existed on Gimondi's 1976 Giro winning Bianchi (minus the fender mounts). I know Mark well, and this was a fun project and he had all of the materials available. Plus he gave me more clearance. I can run 36mm tires. )

Another trick of Gimondi’s race Bianchis, although I think it was earlier than 1976, was brazed on brake centre bolts, negating the need for retaining nuts behind the fork crown and seatstay bridge. A very clean look on the finished bicycles. Of course, this dates back to when Campagnolo side pull brakes were de rigueur for Italian pro teams, and especially Bianchi-Campagnolo.

[coffeecherrypie]

This is very cool. For those of us ignorant in such matters—what are the hallmarks of 70s race geometry?