The Larz Anderson Bicycle Show!
Today was the 14th Annual Larz Anderson Grand National Bicycle Super Meet in Brookline, Massachusetts and I am pleased to report that I was able to attend.
I intended to take documentary-style photographs of the show... But that did not work out so well, as it was just too crowded with too much going on! Nonetheless, here are some shots of bicycles that I especially enjoyed and you might too.
Having seen pictures from previous years, I expected the Larz Anderson show to be full of antique roadster-style bicycle, but this year there were only a few. This one is an Elgin loop frame.
Wooden fenders, wooden chainguard and netted dressguards on another loop frame!
And dramatic upside-down North Road handlebars (or are they track dropbars? a hybrid of the two?) on a Sterling roadster.
A Columbia truss bridge bicycle!
I examined it up close, and it is definitely welded, not lugged - though I am not sure whether this was true of all early truss frames.
A Dunelt Roadster with baby chariot. These look so much nicer than the modern Co-Pilots! But are they road legal?
An unusual Concord mixte in a beautiful shade of slate blue.
The lugwork on this one was gorgeous and it was in exactly my size. What strength of will I have!
I was told that Concord was a Dutch manufacturer [edited to add: looked it up on bikeforums, and it is actually Japanese].
Could that explain the atypical spelling of "mixte"?
And how about this fully equipped Raleigh Sixteen? - a folding bicycle like the Raleigh Twenty, only with 16" wheels.
Green frame, fat cream tires and dynamo lighting! I am envious of who ever ended up taking this beauty home!
The star of the show was this enormous, forest green, original Dursley Pedersen bicycle.
Dursley Pedersen headbadge.
Crocheted saddle (or seat in this case?).
Wooden grips with inverse brake levers.
And, of course, an antique headlamp! This bicycle was truly a spectacular sight.
My personal favourite in the show, however, was this stunning bicycle from the 1960s, which belonged to the wife of Cino Cinelli. To my dismay, I was not able to get any good full-size pictures that capture its glamour to the extent it deserves, but maybe some hint of it will come across here!
Ever seen a step-through Cinelli before? This one was apparently Mrs. Cinelli's personal ride, and it is exquisitely made. I am wondering what is the history of this particular style of frame; is it specifically Italian? I have been admiring similar designs from Abici and Bella Ciao, and would love to learn about their vintage origins.
The colour is just the right mix of pink, beige and champagne to be feminine and glamorous, yet understated. The lines are curves are as graceful as can be.
One piece handlebars and stem, with cream grips.
Cinelli crest on the stem! Just stunning.
There is a "his"model as well, and these bicycles were displayed as a pair. Riding these around town must have been a sight...
In addition to the exhibiting and selling of bicycles, there was a brisk trade in components, accessories, and vintage clothing. It was enough to make my head spin. This time around, I neither brought a bicycle to exhibit (I was trying to be incognito), nor, thankfully, did I purchase a bicycle. But next year perhaps I will plan things better and spruce up one of my vintage beauties for show and tell. The Larz Anderson Bicycle Show is a must if you are in the Boston area and love vintage bicycles.
I think "Concord" was an Asian import. "Concorde" was a different, higher end manufacturer that often gets confused with the other.
ReplyDeleteThose handlebars above have a name but I can't remember what. I want to say Luntaweiser or something like that but I know I am way off.
I can't decided whether I like the "mixtee" with its exquisite gold outlining on the lugs, or Mrs Cinelli's mint condition stunner! Must have been a fun day out :-))
ReplyDeleteRe the Concord: Ah, how silly of me not to have consulted bikeforums. It is a nice Japanese bike. See here.
ReplyDeleteThe Cinelli step through is my personal favorite with the Pedersen a close second!
ReplyDeletePut me down for thinking the Elgin and the Columbia are lovely bikes, but if the Cinelli stepthrough were lipstick red it would be to die for.
ReplyDeletekfg - Oooh I disagree! I think the colour is part of its exquisite charm. Any ole hag can slap on some red and look noticeable. But that champagne pink colour is fit for a princess.
ReplyDeleteI have that Concord in the same color. The brand name is printed on the rear stay- Kawahara. I'm surprised to hear that it would be considered unusual. I'm actually donating it to Free Ride this week. How random.
ReplyDeleteTiny Homestead - Being somewaht mixte-obsessed and having seen lots of them around, I find the Concord unusual in several ways: It is better constructed than the typical mixte I see in its price range, and the lugs are much more elaborate. Also, the manufacturer itself is not frequently seen, compared to the usual Japanese suspects of Nishiki, Shogun, Miyata and so forth. It's great that you are donating this bike; I hope the future owner appreciates it!
ReplyDelete"Oooh I disagree!" - Color me unsurprised. :)
ReplyDelete"Any ole hag can slap on some red and look noticeable."
This is true, as I have noticed, but just because it's wearing lipstick don't mean it's a pig.
"fit for a princess."
Ah hain't got much use fer princesses. Ah keeps a pea under muh two inch thick mattress to keeps from a gittin' fooled; again.
"the usual Japanese suspects"
I've mentioned that I'm trying to acquire a suitable one of those (and having the usual American male problem of size availability), but what I'm really looking out for is one of those cream Puchs of the early 80s. Very proper European race geometry they are, beautifully made - and would look real purdy resprayed in lipstick red.
Contrary to the line of crap the owner of the Cinelli's was selling everyone, they were not Cino Cinelli's bike. I happen to own Cino's bike from 1973, with full provenance. It is 57 cm. If you ever saw Cino Cinelli, you would realize that he would never ride a bike as small as the one shown at Larz.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:52 - A few thoughts come to mind:
ReplyDelete1. We cannot really debate this until we know Cino Cinelli's factual height (after all, the bike you have may not have been his either).
2. To me, the men's pink Cinelli bike looks like it very well could be a 57cm frame. That's not a large frame size. I am a 5'7" woman and can fit a 54cm roadbike.
3. To be fair, I am not sure the owner claims that the men's bike belonged to Cinelli; only that the lady's bike belonged to his wife. One thing that occurred to me looking at the two bikes together, is that they could have both been hers: a relaxed step-throguh for the city and an aggressive roadbike for sporty trips.
It looks like the seat/saddle on the Dursley Pedersen is woven, not crocheted. Could you tell what it was made of? It seems like it would be very bouncy.
ReplyDeleteI love the Concord's lugwork too. That's probably what drew me in the most about it. It's a very comfortable bike to ride too. Can I ask what its "price range" is? I'm just curious...I'm pretty sure I overpaid since mine was only in fair condition when I got it. I'm hopeful that its new owner will love it too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a novel concept, an old bicycle and vintage clothing sale. Being from the frontier of the West Coast, where we are still fighting indians I don't believe I have ever seen an organized sale such as this, but being a male I may have not sought notice of such.
ReplyDeleteHow you must have held the reins of restraint, and how I wait for the pictures you must still have unposted of this event, a crocheted seat? here it would have rotted from the damp conditions.
Matthew -- actually, you're not far off. Those are Lauterwasser bars, popularized by Jack Lauterwasser, a top British racer of the 1920s.
ReplyDeleteVelouria -- that Raleigh is an RSW 16 (for "Raleigh Small Wheel"). I've never ridden one, and Sheldon Brown wasn't a fan, but I agree -- it looks super cool. Raleigh actually built that frame into a terrifying little moped called the Wisp.
Interestingly, according to Sheldon, the RSW was Raleigh's somewhat lame attempt to compete with the small-wheel bikes Alex Moulton had started to build -- employing none other than Jack Lauterwasser, who had previously worked for Raleigh. Very interesting obituary of Lauterwasser here: http://www.bikebiz.com/news/21581/Jack-Lauterwasser-bike-pioneer-and-racer-dies-age-98
PS: package rec'd. Thanks!
I was just looking at that Concord on CL--at least pretty sure it's the same one, with that lovely blue. Owner is asking $225 firm.
ReplyDeleteSorry to have missed this show--sounds fascinating.
david - Oh yes, Restraint is my middle name : ) ...It was that and the fact that I've somehow acquired 3 other bicycles over the past couple of weeks...
ReplyDeleteHomestead & Sarah - It really depends on the are where you live; prices can differ radically. In Boston I'd expect such a bike to be offered at $200-300 in unrestored, un-updated condition.
Looks like a fun meet! Those are the droppiest bars I've seen on an original Dursley-Pedersen. That must have been one of the racing models.
ReplyDeleteThe paint on the Cinelli step-through reminds me of a mid-80s Univega color; I nearly bought a NOS frame painted in a very similar scheme to replace my murdered Peugeot in 1986. I think the frame dated from 1984.
Wait...*three* other bicycles? Wherever will the cats be staying?
Corey K
Corey - Sigh. Stay tuned for my next post, or several posts.. where I will make attempts to rationalise it all : ) But in my defense, a Lovely Bicycle bike sale is on the horizon as well.
ReplyDeleteAmy - It seemed to me that the seat/saddle was made of rope. Normally the ones I see are suspended leather.
BG - The bike was also heavier than the Raleigh Twenties I've tried. An oddball creature for sure, and I regret now not having test-ridden it. Glad you received my package!
ah, my favorite is Mrs. Cinelli's as well - do you know if it was being offered for sale or just there for show?
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't for sale unless "four zeros were at the end of the offer." :)
ReplyDelete...of course, the owner did not specify where the decimal point in relation to those four zeros had to be : )
ReplyDeleteThat Cinelli is lovely, the one-piece stem and bars is amazing and super rare itself!
ReplyDeleteMy first time to the show, but what treats to behold, i was like a kid in a candy store. My wife and i agreed the Cinelli's were beautiful, does anyone know the owners contact info? The same goes for the red Harry Quinn frame, does anyone have that owners contact info?
ReplyDeletegreat pics by the way!
Stop it! I need to stop looking at the computer but every photo is so fascinating I can't! Thanks a lot.
ReplyDelete