The Data Book

The Data Book is one of my favorite cycling books. It was originally published in September 1983 in Japan by Noguchi-san, president of the Yoto Ringyo company. It culminated Mr. Noguchi’s long work as a collector and propagator of illustrations of early European bicycle components and accessories. This volume is a reprint edition of the original Japanese publication: ’83 The Data Book.

Some of the materials had earlier been published by him in four separate volumes, referred to as Data Books 1, 2, 3, and 4, and a subsequent compendium volume (though significantly less inclusive than the current work), which he referred to as The Joyful Bicycle.

This authentic reprint edition is identical to the original in all respects, including binding style, trim size, and page numbering. In addition, it contains English translations of the Japanese texts found on the introduction page and elsewhere in the book.

It contains more than 1,200 illustrations of every conceivable detail of the bicycle. And it spans the period from the origins of cycling in the early 19th century through the 1970s. Hundreds of the line drawings are by the famed French illustrator Daniel Rebour.

If you want to know where we get our ideas for new old parts, here is the main source. $39 in the Velo Orange Store

The Mysterious Death of Ottavio Bottecchia

Ottavio Bottecchia was the first rider to lead the Tour de France from start to finish, winning in 1924 and 25. He was known as "Le Macon de Frioul" (the Mason from Frioul) and was a hero to all of Italy.

But this post is not about Bottecchia's racing career, but about his death. In 1927 Ottavio died under mysterious circumstances. He had gone on a training ride and was found bloody and beaten by the side of the road near a vineyard. He soon died of his injuries.

Some in the Italian press claimed, based on the official police report, that he had crashed. But Bottechia's bike was propped up neatly at the side of the road undamaged.

Others said he had stopped at the vineyard to eat a few grapes and was beaten up by a furious farmer, but the grapes had not yet ripened. Though some say a farmer confessed to hitting him in the head with a stone.

It is far more likely that Bottecchia was murdered for political reasons. Italy was in the midst of a Fascist take-over. As so often happens in difficult times, some people were willing to trade freedom for a sense of security. And, predictably, the right wing had stepped in to take advantage. Benito Mussolini and the Fascist Party badly wanted the support of Italy's great sports hero. They had already been using him as a role model for their vision of a fascist Italy.


But it seems that Ottavio Bottecchia was no facsist. Some said he was a socialist and was willing to speak out about his beliefs. And for this the fascist thugs had good reason to murder him. His injuries included a fracture at the base of the skull, a broken clavicle, and many bruises. Yet no one dared call his death a murder.

And so the Fascists came to power and launched a senseless war in Ethiopia; it is easier to consolidate power during a war. Soon Mussolini joined Hitler in an attempt to conquer all of Europe. And he eventually was excecuted and hung from a street lamp in Milan along with others of his ilk.

Some time later, in New York city, an Italian immigrant, on his death bed after being stabbed, confessed to being hired to murder Bottechia. The priest who administered last rites to Bottechia confirmed this story from his own death bed in 1973.

Framemaker Teodoro Carnielli, a longtime friend of Ottavio's, created frames bearing Bottecchia's name. These frames, later produced by Carnielli S.P.A., have been ridden by five Italian champions and four world champions. Greg Lemond rode a Bottecchia when he won the 1989 Tour de France.

I am the proud owner of a 1989 top-of-the-line Bottecchia.

A Randoneusse for the Common Jacques

Even in the glory days of French cycling, not everyone could afford a Singer or a Herse. So what was the French lunch-box-kind-of-guy to do when he wanted a randonneusse. One option was to get a Peugeot PX50, a production randonneur bike.

The photo shows a 1962 model. It's equipped with Nervar cranks, a 4-speed freewheel, Simplex Prestige derailleurs, Mafac cantis, Lyotard pedals, and those chubby 650B tires. It's just the thing for a rough French country road. The front rack is perfect for a handlebar bag and the rear would take small panniers. Also note the Cibie lighting system and the cool brake levers. The saddle is an Ideale 41. Replace that rear changer and you'd have a dependable and superbly capable all-arounder.

I see that the first catalog to list this model is the 1953 edition. It seems to have disappeared sometime between 1963 and 1969. Apparently not many made it to North America, but they were sold in Japan. Here's a link to a Japanese catalog. The photo and information is taken from Cycles Retro Peugeot , a wonderful collection of Peugeot catalogs from 1929 to 1989.

Now look at the second photo. What the heck is that little lid on the down tube for?

It occurs to me that the modern version of this bike might be the new Kogswell Randonneur/Porteur.

More on Toe Clip Covers

How do you like this toe clip cover? I'm thinking of having a die made so we can produce these. Not only do they look cool, but they should keep your toes a little warmer in the winter. I suspect their original purpose was to protect the polished leather cycling shoes that were worn back in the day.

I wonder if I should include the holes that the originals have? Since this would be a fairly expensive die, I'll only make it if a number of you express an interest in them. I think the cost of the covers would be between $10 and $15. What do you think?

By the way, the image is from the Classic Bicycle site, http://members.aol.com/satorumas/, which offers a wealth of information and photos. Of course, it is in Japanese.

In other toe clip cover developments, I made a set of covers for myself from a thick honey-colored leather I'd bought for chainstay protectors and flashlight covers. It's thick enough that I had to wet it before sewing it on, but it looks super. Left untreated it is the color of the original Christophe leathers, but with a little neetsfoot oil rubbed in it exactly matches my Brooks honey saddle, exactly. I'll make these a new item in the Velo Orange store later today.


The last photo shows an old PATURAUD No.38 PIESCHO toe cover.

Top Tube Protector

I recently made a top tube protector for a customer. Kristopher wrote this wonderful description which I'll post in it's entirety.

" I won't be the first to note that one of the very best things about track bikes is their simplicity. I'd be loathe to add anything to my simple and clean old Panasonic, even if the velodrome officials would permit it. But a top tube protector is one track bike accessory is that makes sense. You see, with neither significant trail nor a rear brake cable to slow their momentum, the bars of a parked track bike can swing around in the blink of eye and easily dent the bike's gorgeous, skinny top tube. The damage isn't usually structural, but it's right there in the single most visible spot on the bike, reminding the rider forever not of some glorious crash but of a moment's inexcusable inattention. Who wants that? Even Japanese Keirin riders--who are notoriously hard on and indifferent to their equipment--clip top tube protectors over their track frames.

You can buy the same NJS-approved top tube protector that the Keirin boys use. It's made by Kashimax of rubbery plastic and steel, sold by a handful of North American shops, and costs an eye-watering $50.00. It looks cool in the package, in that odd Manga/microcar/Hello Kitty way that mostly serves to remind that our aesthetic cultures are not yet a perfect marriage. The Kashimax protector ages badly, though, with the plastic layer quickly yellowing and bubbles forming underneath.

With all this in mind, I requested of Chris Kulcycki that he make me a top tube protector in the spirit of the other products he's been introducing via his Velo Orange site. I received the prototype of thick leather two days later. The cowhide is reminiscent of that used by Giles Berthoud for bicycle mudflaps, but softer. The edges are cleanly cut and nicely chamfered. Chris had cut holes for stitching and enclosed some heavy wax string, two stout needles, and stitching directions. As a left-coast America-hating liberal (or so I'm told), I was momentarily stymied by the suggestion that I use a baseball stitch. Eventually a helpful daughter wrestled a baseball away from the dog and brought it to me. Five minutes later and the top tube protector was in place.

And is it gorgeous! The deep tan leather looks fantastic on my old black Panasonic. It's hard to imagine a bike whose looks it wouldn't improve. And it's nice to know that another decade of use might enrich the bike's patina, but that won't include any nasty old dents. I think the leather band makes a statement with which I'm comfortable; something about how I not only acknowledge that I'm riding a bike older than most of the riders against whom I am competing, but that I appreciate the fact. That I might actually seek out, rather than be settling for, an old machine. And that I deserve that bike, because I know how to treat it right.

Not a bad effect for twenty-or-so grams, a few dollars, and five minute's work. Highly recommended for any track bike or fixie lacking a rear brake."

These cost $12 in the Velo Orange store.

Beeswax

Many riders consider beeswax an essential shop tool. It's used as a retainer for screws, bolts, and dust caps that loosen. It's used to coat twine on handlebar tape. A bit at the end of your screwdriver or allen wrench will hold a screw destined for a hard to reach spot. It even lubricates thread for sewing.

We've been buying honey and candles from Joe, the local bee keeper, for years. He also makes these little cakes of pure bees wax for use in the shop or sewing room. $3.00 in the Velo Orange Store. By the way, if you've never had fresh unpasturized honey, you're missing a real treat.

Those Cute Little Mafac Racks

I'm glad to see recent interest in Mafac mini-racks.  These racks are not only adorable, but they're well made and effective, so long as your load is fairly small.

Of course, they do require that your bike have Mafac center pull brakes. But that's hardly a hardship. When I first started riding, the rule was, "Campy brakes for racing and Mafacs for touring." With modern pads Mafac brakes have superb stopping power and wonderful modulation. There are numerous models, most of which provide loads of reach and clearance for wide tires and fenders. They can be bought cheaply since so many were made and they will fit almost any bike. For many years the Mafac Racers were found on the cheapest gas-pipe clunker and on the finest constructeur specials. How many components can you say that about?

But back to the racks: the main complaints about them is that they don't mount level, they're very small, and they restrict fender clearance. Well they don't mount level; okay, fair enough. And they are small, but they are just perfect for supporting a handlebar bag. Which is what a front rack should do. They also have two thin bars that go under the calipers so clearance is restricted by a tiny amount. But my city bike has 27" wheels, it's made for 700s, and wide fenders-- there is still tons of clearance.

So if you want to spend $90 on a Nitto front rack, or a couple of hundred on a custom job, that's fine; I have. But I just bought my second new-old-stock Mafac rack for a lot less.

Here's a 1979 poster showing various Mafac brakes, quite a selection.

Decaleur du Sac, ready to ship - UPDATED

I wanted to let everyone who reserved a Velo Orange decaleur du sac that they are here. I'll give them a light buff and inspect each one today and start shipping tomorrow morning. So you can paypal at your convenance. The price for those who reserved them is $48 plus $4 for priority mail postage. I think we'll have just a few extras and I'll put those in the Velo Orange Store soon. The second production run will be ready in about 2 weeks.

UPDATE,

All the decaleurs we've recieved payment for have been shipped. There are now some in the Velo Orange store. These things are so shiny that they are hard to photograph.

Black Mudflaps, Quality Control, and a Red Recall

We've had several requests for black mudflaps, but I've been unable to find 1/4" thick black hides to cut them from. I did, however, find some very stiff 1/8" to 3/16" leather that we used to make a small run of black flaps. They are very nice and also a little cheaper than the uber-thick honey flaps. $8 in the Velo Orange Store.

All of our leather product have been hand cut up to now. While this is quaint, the quality was worrisome. Sewing holes in the toe clip covers were not always perfect and the mudflap mounting holes could be out of square. So we invested in a die cutting machine and had dies made for our leather parts. These dies are laser cut with incredible precision and the press presses with 5 tons of pressure. You should see a huge improvment in the quality of our leather parts starting today.

Now for the recall: a customer has told us that the black finish on the red/black toe clip covers wears off easily. He is right! That was a bad choice of leather. We now have a new high quality black leather, made for motorcycle jackets. If you bought the black/red and want the new black leather toe clip covers, just e-mail. There is no charge for replacement and no need to send back the old set.

Sewn-on Handlebar Covers

Finding the right leather for our Velo-Orange handlebar covers has been a challenge. It has to be thick with good cushioning propertries and stretchy enough to form around the bar's curves without wrinkling. I've tied numerous cowhides tanned in various ways, but either they were too stiff or too thin. Deerskin seemed promising, but it is simply not thick enough to provide the level of cushioning I wanted. Finally my leather supplier suggested elk hide; it's absoulutly perfect. The cushioning seems as good or better than cork tape.

Actually elk hide is so soft that it is very hard to cut by hand. I tried a razor knife and even special scissors made for cutting fiberglass and kevlar cloth, thus the slightly ragged appearance of the prototype (click on the photos to enlarge).

The production handlebar covers will be cut using a special die on our brand new die cutting press and so the edges and fit will be much better than that shown in the photos. We'll also ship it with a thicker thread.

The other problem with this grade of elkhide is that I've only been able to find it in honey and white so far, but we're searching for a source of black and brown.

As for installation, figure about 2 hours if it's your first time. Put a good movie in the DVD player and stitch as you watch. The stitch used is not a baseball stitch, but a cross stitch that, I think, looks nicer. Comprehensive illustrated instructions will be included.

We should have the first production covers ready in about two weeks. The price will be $28 per set.

What about NERVAR?

Many connoisseurs of fine French bikes seek out old TA Specialties and Stronglight cranks. This is understandable as both companies made beautiful and practical cranksets that were fitted to the finest bicycles. But there is a third brand, Nervar, that also made top quality components and whose cranks were occasionally used by even the best constracteurs.

The relative anonimity of Nervar cranks makes them a bargin. I bought the crankset in the first photo for about $20 on E-Bay. Yet it is as well made and takes the same chain rings as a TA Cyclo-Tourist or a Stronglight 49D crankset, either of which usually sell for over $100. As for appearance, I think the the 49D is a bit more elegant, but I find the Nervar prettier than a TA.

An additional benefit of Nervar cranks is that they use standard-taper axles and standard crank removers, no special tools required. And yes, they work fine with 9 or 10-speed drivetrains.

The great thing about this 50mm-bcd bolt pattern is that you can run a wide range double, say a 46 and 30. This means that with a modern 9 or 10-speed 12-27 cassette you'll have the equivalent of a triple with only two chainrings and standard cage derailleurs. And most riders will find that they stay in the big ring 90% of the time with plenty of gears on either side of a normal 16-19 mph cruising speed.

The lower photo shows what may have been the last model of crank Nervar produced. They are pretty 122-bcd cranks that makes a fine single on my Motobecane. They are very light, lighter than Campy record cranks, or so I've read. I paid $15 for them.

Flashlights for Bikes

A lot of readers have e-mailed asking about the flashlight I use and show in the Velo Orange flashlight bracket. It's a Task Force 3-watt LED light. We don't sell it, but you can order one from Lowes. I've found this light to be very effective and probably the best value in LED lights available. There is a review of it here.

One of the reason I prefer a flashlight to a purpose made bike light or generator, beyond the cool retro look, is that I can pop it out to look for the keys I dropped, or to sneak back into the B&B after a late night out. With a set of rechargable batteries it's also very economical

I decided to make a leather cover to replace the rather pedestrian rubber grip that comes standard. It only took about 10 minutes to install and really improves the appearance of the light. If fact I like it so much that we now offer them in the Velo Orange Store for $6

The lower drawing shows a traditional flashlight and bracket.

Leather Chainstay Protectors

At the suggestion of a couple of Velo Orange blog readers I made a few leather chainstay protectors. They are self adhesive peel and stick. So far I have one on my Kogswell and on my Motobecane city bike.

Right now we have a few in chocolate brown; honey and black versions will be ready early next week.

These really are so much classier than those fake carbon fiber stickers or thick packing tape you see on some bikes. $8 in the Velo Orange Store.

The Velo Orange Web Store is Open

Right now it only works with paypal credit card acceptance. We'll have the regular credit card system set up in a few weeks. Also please let me know if you find any bugs.

Technical Bulletins, Racks, etc

Two small issues we've had questions about:

1) On some of the brass bells the little aluminum spacer stays stuck on the mount when the mount is unscrewed. A sharp tug will remove it, allowing you to put it back on the bell's stem before screwing the bell into a Velo Orange spacer mount.

2) Yes, by all means feed your mudflap some Brooks Proofhide, Snow Seal, leather oil, or whatever leather treatment you have handy. Re-apply it a couple of times each year to keep your mud flap happy and healthy.

In other developments:

The decaleurs are in production and I've been told they will be finished in less than 2 weeks. The price will be $48 for all who reserved them. But the manufacturing cost is higher than we estimated so the long term price will be $52.

300 bells in both brass and aluminum are being made for us by those dedicated Japanese bell-smiths. They will be here in a few weeks.

I'll take a crack at making a prototype of both a front and a rear rack. They will be of a minimalist design and heavily influenced by Rene Herse's racks. They will have adjustments, but look like custom racks The customer will be expected to drill the holes in the mounting tangs so the fit really will be custom. If things go well, both 700C and 650B versions will be available this summer. Here is a link to a photo of a Herse rack and here is one from Singer.

Decaleur du Sac, part 2

I've gotten a lot of e-mails about the decaleurs and it has been a painful development process. But the production version of the Velo Orange decaleur du sac, or handlebar bag holder is just about ready. A few very minor changes and we go into production next week.

I am very pleased with the quality. The shop making them is the best in the area. All parts are 304 stainless steel and the welding is first rate.

The decaleur consists of two parts. There is the part that fits on the bag, as shown in the second photo; these will fit any bag. The part that goes on the bike is available in two main versions.

The first is the traditional constructeur type shown at the top of the first photo and also on my Motobecane. It can be ordered in a long drop or short drop version (the long drop is shown). The drop is simply the bag's distance below the handlebar and we've not yet settled on the exact distances that would be best.

The second version is welded to a 3 mm (1/8") stainless steel spacer and mounts on the headset stack. It is available in a 1" version and a 1-1/8" version.

Like the first version it can be bent to fine-tune the height and ensure your bag rests on your front rack. I have done this on my Ebisu as shown in the last two photos. The U-shaped part is solid rod, not tube, so it can be safely bent.

The first production run will be very small and I suggest that if you want one, you reserve your's soon. No deposit is require.

The price has yet to be determined. My best guess now is between $40 and $50 for the complete unit. I'll know the exact cost next week when the welder and machinist give me their final numbers based on the couple of very minor changes we'll make.Separate bike and bag mounts will also be available should you want to switch a bag between bikes. Delivery should be in two to three weeks.

On a related note. The Velo Orange E-store will be operational sometime next week. Thanks for all the suggestions, encouragement, and orders.

Look what the Easter Bunny brought

We'll be shipping brass bells tomorrow, ding ding! $9 each.

And the flashlight brackets arrived ahead of schedule. They are thick electro-polished 304 stainless made for us by a well known manufacturer of yachting hardware. $12 in C or AA size. Please read my post about why flashlight mounts are so practical.

The photo on the lower below shows the flashlight bracket on a TA/Mafac rack.

Shellac, Honey Toe Clip Leathers, and Mudflaps

We have three new products. The fender mud flaps are made of almost 1/4"-thick saddle-maker's leather and come with mounting hardware. They are about 6-1/2" long and about 4-1/2" wide. But, best of all, they don't cost $35 (like some leather mud flaps); they cost $9.75.

We now have our toe clip leathers in thick honey-colored suede, in black, and in lipstick red neubuck . No, I'm not kidding; I found a side of upholstery leather that's black on one side and bright red on the reverse. $5.

And we have shellac kits that include enough de-waxed blond, orange, or garnet flakes to do a bike's worth of handlebars with enough left over for touch-ups. A brush and instructions are also included. $6.50.

Click on the photos to enlarge. Shipping is still $2 for any order. And I'm off on a bike ride.

What We Have

It's spring and products keep popping up like flowers. Until we get the E-store up, and I am working on it, I'll keep taking orders via paypal and check, but it's getting a little confusing and I've gotten a lot of e-mails asking if we have certain items. So here is a list of what we have in stock, or soon will, with prices. By the way my ordering system is still crude,so if you don't get something in a week or so, please e-mail and I'll make sure it went out.


Bell mounts: 1" silver: $5 - in stock
Bell mounts: 1-1/8" silver: - $5 in stock
Bell mounts: 1-1/8" black: - $5 in stock
Brass bells: $9 - sold out, but more being ordered
Toe clip leathers, brown: $5 - in stock
Toe clip leathers, black and red: $5 - in stock (black on one side, red neubuck on reverse)
Toe clip leathers, honey suede: $5 - in stock
Blond shellac flakes: $6.50 - in stock (includes brush and instruction)
Orange shellac flakes: $6.50 - in stock (includes brush and instruction)
Garnet shellac flakes: $6.50 - in stock (includes brush and instruction)
Simichrome polish: $8.50 - in stock
Flashlight bracket C: $12 - in stock
Flashlight bracket AA: $12 - in stock
Mud flaps $9.75 - in stock
Leather chain guards: $?? - next week
Decaleurs, traditional: $39 - in two weeks, I hope
Decaleurs, 1" spacer mount: $39 - in two weeks, with luck
Decaleurs, 1-1/8": $39 - in two weeks, god willing
Leather bar wrap, brown: $25 (or so) - ask me next week
Sewn leather bar covers, brown: $25 (or so) - ask me next week
TA style bags: ????
Doily seat covers: by commision only ;<)

Shipping is still $2 for any order. I'll update this page as stuff arrives or sells out.

Bike Candy?

We each have ideas about customizing our bikes. My wife, is an avid and very skilled knitter. She makes fisherman's sweaters, felted handbags and such. She found this doily seat cover pattern in a knitting magazine and made it last night. This morning it was on her Gitane mixte city bike.

I think this is a joke. Or is this a new Velo Orange product? Feedback is always welcome.

On another note, the Velo Orange flashlight holders will be made next week by an old and respected manufacturer of sailing and yachting hardware. They will be available for C-cell, and AA-cell sizes. The material is 304 electro-polished stainless steel with a soft leather lining. $12.

Canals and Tow Paths

Many of us, as we advance in years and add a few kilos, find that riding up mountains no longer holds the allure it once did. A nice flat trail along the water, with plenty of villages and canal-side cafes where one might stop for a glass of wine and un sandwich jambon is more to our liking. And a nice B&B with real down duvets at the end of the day is not unwelcome. Perhaps there will be a patio overlooking the canal where we can sip an after-dinner Calvados and exchange pleasantries with the barge men.

So we discover the civilized pleasures of canal towpaths. Some wide tires, a handlebar bag to carry our wallet, camera, and jacket, and off we go for the day. Or add a saddle bag with a pair of light trousers and a polo shirt and moccasins, and we're ready for a four-day trip. It may be on the Canal du Midi in the south of France or on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Maryland and West Virginia. There are wonderful towpaths in Germany and New York, in Britain and Denmark, and, of course, Holland has a few as well. But wherever you go, you can be sure your granny ring will stay clean.

More photos here.

Simichrome Polish

I bought some old Dia Compe 980-R brakes on E-bay last week. They were made in 1983 and didn't seem to have been cleaned since. So I poured a glass of wine, sat down in the big leather chair, and started polishing one of them with Simichrome. In about 10 minutes it looked like... Well click on the photo to enlarge it and see for yourself.

The trick is to first use a scrap of very fine sand paper, about 400-grit, to get rid of any deep scratches. Then dap a drop of Simichrome on a piece of soft cotton cloth, like an old t-shirt and start polishing. The cloth should be about 6" x 6". Keep using the same piece over and over because the little Simi-particles build up on it and make polishing even faster with use. It doesn't take long to get an amazing shine.

Simichrome polish is made in Germany and it's not cheap, nor is it easy to find. But it is the best and a little lasts a long time once your cloth is saturated. It does a great job on non-anodized aluminum, chrome, brass, stainless steel, and silver. It also leaves a thin film that protects the metal. I've ordered a small case of 50 gram tubes for those of us who can't get it locally. It's $8.50 a tube and the usual $2 shipping for any quantity.

Now Shipping (Updated)

I wanted to let everyone who ordered a spacer bell mount know that they are all packed and will ship in the morning via first class mail. There are more available in both 1" and 1-1/8" sizes; $5 each. Shipping is $2 for any quantity.

The toe clip leathers will ship Friday. I've decided to offer these at the lower price of $5 for now. Again, shipping is $2 for any quantity.

Thanks for the orders and please e-mail if you'd like any spacers or leathers. The photo is of the Canal du Midi.

UPDATE: All the leathers have shipped, in fact they have been flying out the door so fast that I ran out. I'll have more by next Tuesday. I'm running low on bell mount spacers too, but more are ordered. We'll have black 1-1/8" bell mounts next week for you post-modern types.

A Decaleur du Sac for 1-1/8" Forks?

Since the first Velo Orange Decaleur is at the welder's and an initial production run looks pretty certain, I've turned my attention to a decaleur for modern bikes. Those of you with stems for 1-1/8" forks know that none of the traditional decaleurs will work. The same is true with several modern quill stems.

My solution is to weld the U-shaped piece (see the lower left-hand photo at the link above) piece to a stainless steel spacer. This will offer the functionality of a traditional decaleur on modern bikes. I'm still waiting to hear from the shop that will, I hope, CNC the spacers, but I think the idea is sound. As always I welcome any feedback or suggestions.

Also, please note that I've updated the Product Update. And we are starting to think about a dedicated web site for sales.