There used to be a time when Snake Alley crawled with handmade frames from Waterford, Wisconsin. I took particular pride during those years of joining the crew from Michael’s Cyclery with their collection of Waterfords and Paramounts. It was great to pick up the phone and talk to Richard Schwinn and his crew and build the perfect rig.
I picked up my 1996 Waterford 1200 from Rasmussen Bike Shop on Thursday afternoon. Sterling did a great job putting it back together with a Dura Ace 10 speed drivetrain, 105 crankset, and Alex wheels. If you’ve been keeping track (which I haven’t), I think this is the fifth time this bike has been rebuilt.
- Campagnolo Veloce / Chorus 9 speed parts kit
- Campagnolo Daytona 10 speed parts kit
- Shimano Dura Ace / Ultegra 9 speed parts kit
- Single Speed (really bad idea)
- Shimano Dura Ace 10 speed
Back in 2000, after I crashed the Waterford in Rock Island and broke the top tube, I rode a few pretty disposable rigs, but always wanted to come back to riding a stable steel rig with some history. So, in writing the ex/bikeracer ethos, returning to the original steel rig is where it is at. It has to be said that knowing your frame builder is choice.
I’ve always been disgusted with the price escalation in the bike biz and think it is pricing the majority of the market out of enjoying the sport. When I started racing ten years ago, I picked a Schwinn Circuit off of the used bike rack for $125 and competed. Now, I think it is more around $1250 to scratch the bottom of the barrel for a decent rig.
ex/bikeracers are the perfect group to bring back this commitment to the sport and don’t worry about technology. Eddie Merckx didn’t and he rode like a freaking animal. Show up at the next group ride on something that sticks out like a sore thumb and ride it like you stole it. I know I will.
Here’s a pic of Speedy when I got it back from Harlan at Waterford eight years ago – new pics to come soon.
