It started a few weeks ago with a phone call from my brother. "You said you wanted to build a fixie? I got a bike for you!" "I am clearing my basement and my wife doesn't ride anymore. You can have her old bike." When I saw it, I knew right away that this was no ordinary bike and that this beauty wasn't going to become a fixed gear: in near mint condition, all that was required was a good cleaning, chain lube and a men's saddle!

Built in 1996 by the renowned frame builder Marinoni in Lachenaie, Quebec, Canada, this lugged Columbus SL steel frame has a chromed rear triangle with Columbus dropouts and a green and purple paint job. The straight fork is chromed Columbus. The gruppo is Sachs New Success; from what I have learned on this rare gruppo, the levers where made by Campagnolo but the freewheel is Shimano spacing.

Components are as follows:

Brifters: Sachs (Campagnolo) 2 x 8
Handlebars: Cinelli EUBIOS
Stem: Cinelli Grammo 100mm (titanium)
Headset: Shimano 600
Brakes: Sachs New Success
Brakepads: Shimano 600
Front derailleur: Sachs New Success
Crank: Sachs New Success
Gears: Campagnolo
Pedals: Look Carbo Pro
Rear derailleur: Sachs New Success
Freewheel: Sachs 11-23
Cables: Campagnolo
Seatpost: Syncros Stainless
Salle: Specialized Toupe
Hubs: Campagnolo
Rims: Campagnolo Omega V
Tires: Vredestein Fortezza 700x23

When I picked up the bike, I was just about to leave for summer holidays; I quickly decided that this bike was coming along and that the carbon racing machine was staying home... We had a great time together on the coast of Maine!

Jerome, Montreal, Qc

jmcroteau@yahoo.com