Yet Another Cycling Forum
Random Musings => Gallery => Topic started by: Southy on 06 August, 2021, 03:44:46 pm
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Having lurked on the forum for years I thought it was time to tap the collective knowledge, seeing as I have not felt I have much to add.
I purchased a bike back in 2011 with a view to taking part in the occasional Audax and then End to End, which I rode in 2012. The bike I used was a second hand buy from the CTC Forum and is painted up as a Condor, at the time the seller said he didn't believe it was, so there was no dishonesty there.
After End to End the bike sat in the garage for some years and I recently fished it out with a view to getting out on it occasionally. It's at this point I thought it would be a good time to actually work out more about it, specifically what make it actually is.
There are stamps on the rear dropouts that say "Allez". Simple then, it's a Specialized Allez, but more research shows this is unlikely. Having been down the rabbit hole a bit there was some evidence it could be Holdsworth. But then the frame has 3290 stamped under the BB so it looks unlikely based on the frame numbering I have found online.
At this point, I have drawn a blank. I cannot find any other obvious markings on the frame to give any particular clues and it may be a mystery that cannot be solved, but I have dropped some pictures here (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MOZo3GdcZH8fELZtwOxHUj1dj8FX3Tsx?usp=sharing) in case the "Allez" clue or the frame numbers might trigger something with someone.
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goggle drive requires a sign in. I do not possess one.
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I’m signed in but it says I need permission as well
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Ditto, or should that be tritto?
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Sorry, my mistake, this should work:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MOZo3GdcZH8fELZtwOxHUj1dj8FX3Tsx?usp=sharing
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Yup. That works. But sorry, can't help.
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Maybe contact Condor? It might not actually be a Condor, but that would at least rule one possibility out.
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Thanks. Will give Condor a try and see what they say but looking at most of their retro frames, they appear to have Condor stamped on them somewhere.
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Have compared the bike to the sections here: https://www.condorcycles.com/pages/condor-vintage-frames-and-bicycles
Top eye matches - but nothing etched in
Brake bridge detail - no C etched in
Italian lug design
Have emailed Condor with Frame number and reference to Allez (plus link to pictures) so will see what they come back with.
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Dave Yates would know. He would definitely have come across the dropout. And he built a lot of older Condors. He might even have built this one. The 'Allez' may denote a French dropout manufacturer, e.g. Huret or Simplex. Dave has a thread for asking him such things https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=48975.0 If you post there I suggest sending him a PM to alert him.
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Allez-marked dropouts were used by Holdsworth in the 80s, but also by Falcon and probably others in that group. It’s not a Spesh frame (3rensho). It does look like a decent frame, though.
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Mystery solved, thank you Porkins for highlighting the thread
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=48975.450
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As a Sherlock Holmes fan, I'd just like to say this is one of the most satisfactory threads I've seen on this forum. Well done to all concerned!
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Indeed.
Now, can we have a similarly successful “Has anyone seen my keys?” thread, or a “How can I make it better?” thread?
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With any mystery steel frame, the first question to ask is "did Dave make it".