80s Aero 3Rensho

[DCilliams]

With some (more than generous) facilitation by M_Sasso, I acquired this beautiful 3Rensho from its owner in Vancouver. The original owner, his friend, purchased it while visiting Japan sometime in the 80s.

The frame is chromed underneath the vibrant paint - - thin as watercolors. The drops are Shimano, and there's a Campagnolo stamp on the BB shell. The serial number is 029, I think.

The lugwork is superb, but most curious to me are the odd holes on the fork. They look more like Dracula's handiwork than a rogue drill.

What say the experts???

[veggieburger]

Holes are only on one side?

[DCilliams]

Originally Posted by veggieburger

Holes are only on one side?

Yes, only the side pictured.

[marinoni62]

It is interesting to see fender mounts at the drops and fork tips on a 3rensho. I haven't seen that before. I wonder if it was custom built for somebody.

Not sure about the holes on the fork. Do you know if the fork is original to the frame? For whatever reason, i think most of the forks that come on 3rensho were painted.

I love the lug work at the seat stays and bottom bracket. Really nice.

[velomateo]

Interesting. I find it curious that an aero frame has dropouts that include eyelets. It's possible this was a custom order.

Are those wholes threaded?

Beautiful frame, BTW.

[eBAUMANN]

nice frame! had a similar one years ago that i found on CL, same "aero" mount DT shifter thingy...nice that yours actually has some proper shifters for it as they are kinda a pain in the ass to find these days.

those holes are weird, maybe for collecting rain water?
can you see if the chrome extends down onto the inside edges of them? (to determine if done pre or post chroming)

[fiamme red]

I have two 1980's bikes with Suntour symmetric shifters, a Schwinn Le Tour Luxe (touring bike with cantilevers) and a Univega Viva Sport (sport touring bike).

[austex]

And adjusters on vertical drops? How much adjustment could there be?

[DCilliams]

It’s hard to tell if the holes are threaded, don’t see chrome inside.

[OperaLover]

Any markings on the fork tips? That frame has to be late 70's early 80's. By 85-86 the frames had "super ends" socket fork tips an dropouts. The one piece aero chainstay bridge definitely says 3Rensho.

[brewsmith]

Originally Posted by DCilliams

It’s hard to tell if the holes are threaded, don’t see chrome inside.

Aero routing for an old-school, wired computer?

[DCilliams]

Originally Posted by brewsmith

Aero routing for an old-school, wired computer?

That's what I was thinking; if true, that's getting a little precious with the "aero" thing isn't it?

[DCilliams]

Originally Posted by OperaLover

Any markings on the fork tips? That frame has to be late 70's early 80's. By 85-86 the frames had "super ends" socket fork tips an dropouts. The one piece aero chainstay bridge definitely says 3Rensho.

Fork tips say Shimano

[veggieburger]

Could those holes have facilitated some sort of repair?

[brewsmith]

Originally Posted by DCilliams

That's what I was thinking; if true, that's getting a little precious with the "aero" thing isn't it?

For sure, but when you consider that the aero craze was essentially the precursor to weight weeniesism and we know how dear those grams can become, I can't say I'd be all that suprised....