Proud owners of Steelies

It wasn't that long ago in the history of Homo sapiens that the two triangles and front fork, in order to pedal on two skinny wheels, colloquially known as Pushies, were built of steel tubing.

BankTeller's first 'la bicyclette' in the mid '80s was an Italiano Benotto with Italiano Columbus 'Cromor' steel tubing and Italiano Campagnolo 'Victory' ensemble.
Until the advent of aluminium, titanium and plastic frames, la bicyclette was made of either steel double butted or triple butted 'screwed and glued' or just 'screwed' -

Steelies in the above seven pics are unashamedly owned by Alan aka Pharlap.
The penultimate pic is Alan's Eddy Merck Team Panasonic bike with Columbus 'slx rifled tubing'.

The final pic is Alan’s latest acquisition, a Paul Blom frame with nervex lugs and Reynolds’ British tubing.

Alan's wife, Sharyn's 1957 Speedwell Ranger 26 with a Bell 80 wattle embossed saddle. Alan informs that the Speedwell's factory was on the Cnr. of Pitt and Bathurst Sts. and it is now a heritage listed building.
Golly gosh, Australia used to manufacture cricket bats, tennis rackets, golf clubs and bicycles. But not anymore.

Two above pics of Scott aka PatterMaker's 'pride and joy' his Colnago with C-Record groupset that sits in his living room, with a .338 Winchester Magnum double barrel Elephant Gun, and Albert a Hungarian Vizsla, to safeguard it

Below are five more pics of vintage memorabilia that Albert, armed with an Elephant Gun, patrols 25 x 7

Scott reports that Ezio Abeni emigrated from Italy to Sydney in the 70’s. As a master frame bike builder he hand made the Abeni brand and imported and assembled Europa bikes. His emblem proudly displays the flying kangaroo on the Italian flag.

Scott sighted and snavelled a tired old Abeni with ugly mustard rattle can spray (in the above pic) at Vinnies. But they wanted $20 for it, so Scott had to reduce his 'home brew intake' for a few weeks - what a sacrifice!

He painstakingly stripped back bare and coated with a two pack in Vauxhall Green the English Reynolds 531 frame (below pic).

Meanwhile all Campagnolo 980 (named so, as it was released in September 1980) Gran Sports components were polished for many hours and beers.

The Biopace crankset and generic brake levers were replaced with Campagnolo. Finally a Brooks saddle and bar tape was fitted 'cause he likes traditional leather. Every time Scot rides this bike it just makes him smile. Friction shifters are so much fun.

Above two pics of Scott's proud blue Look 233 (circa mid-80s) with Columbus Gara tubing and fitted with Ultegra 6500 ensemble, 'cause -

Smooth rounded chrome groupset he likes the swashbuckling, cavalier appearance.
Modern 9 speed STI have the last of external routing which is clean, crisp precise with great brakes.
Scott had that groupset just lying around gathering dust'.

Albert, Scott's Hungarian Vizsla, is dutifully 'on guard'. If Albert didn't eat like a horse, and demand unbounding attention 18 hrs a day, he'd be a cheap bodyguard.

Right hand pic - A close up of a clean, germ free, glug free rear cassette

Separate, Scott provided the following information:

Subject: Colnago Master Piu

Master Piu was the third model in evolution of much coveted stable of Colnago. First there was Mexico, then Master, Master Piu and finally Master Olympic.

Piu had the evergreen 4-sided “master profile”, Columbus-Gilco design, Profilo S4 tubing. More chrome, internally routed rear brake cable, alluring three pointed lugs set it apart. Later model incorporated straight Precisa forks and twin boss sets for two bidon cages.

Adorning such a frame is the much appreciated C-Record groupset along with iconic Delta brakes. Many say they are Kardashian brakes as they are pretty to look at, lusted by some, exorbitant price tag and never worked. Is this a classic case of form over function?

C-Record hubs laced with lively Ambrosio hoops and gumwall tubs. Super light Tecnologia del Tubo Torinese bar and stem up front, later becoming the 3TTT brand. Not ignoring your other touch point, the classic studded Sele Regal saddle completing opulence alongside performance.

Finished off in Malvor Sidi Colnago livery. The great Beppi Saronni raced with his brother Alberto for this team in 1989.

One of Pete aka CampyAficinado's Steelies. Pete purchased this red Italian Conti in 2002, with Araya rimes, but has hardly ever taken it for a spin, as the frame is a tad too small, whereupon the tip of Pete's foot can scrape the rear of the front wheel if he is turning, so a little chancy. Pete cogitates that was originally a six or seven speed. Now it is an eight speed.