Modern vs Vintage & Antique Road Racing Bicycles: Calfee Tetra Pro, Frejus Supercorsa, Claude Delage

[@nielskjr5432]

Great video, thank you! When I started racing in '69, I bought a second hand bike very similar to your Frejus. That same year Merckx won his first Tour. Soon everybody copied Merckx. No leather saddle, no center pull brakes. He went totally crazy when he started to drill holes all over his bike. 😊

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hi Niels and thanks for watching! I remember when everyone started to drill holes in their components. :) I didn't know that Merckx was the one to change the style of the bikes at that time! Thanks for the information!

[@charlesfosterkane8034]

Thick gloves? I started laughing when I saw Francesco Moser wearing those thick gloves in the Paris Roubaix. They worked and it was a smart move. Also the antique bicycle is more than just a bicycle, it’s a time machine that makes you smile.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

I agree one-hundred-percent, CFK!

[@taiwan1895]

"Way back in the late 80's and early 90's" That comment just made the varicose veins in my legs look even worse.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Ha! Yep, that's ancient history in the "bike tech" world. Now if you don't upload new software to your bike's group, you're a luddite. :)

[@phyllisboone8957]

Thanks for posting this enjoyable video. Very nice!

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Thanks very much for watching, Phyllis!

[@IS-xk3iq]

An outstanding video! Have been looking for a Frejus when I came across this video. You covered all good points.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Thanks very much for the comment and thanks for watching!

[@dinodaniel2237]

Great video! All the best!

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Thanks very much for watching, Dino!

[@markfeldman6509]

Great educational video essay. Those old guys had to be strong as hell to get 33 pounds through the mountains with one gear. Thanks for sharing the research. The riding kits were just perfect, also.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Thanks Mark! Yep, they must have had legs of iron! I'm still trying to figure out how they rode those mountain stages with these horrible brakes. Maybe put your foot out? :)

[@markfeldman6509]

@@bikestrikesrazors they rode them Fred Flintstone style. Yabba dabba do when going downhill! And praying a lot.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

@@markfeldman6509 Yep, I was just talking to my brother, and he had read that the early cyclists would stick tree branches in their pedals and drag large tree branches downhill behind the bikes to slow them down. Wow. :)

[@robkunkel8833]

🩼🌴⌛️⛩As an old guy on a new vengeance, (to RIDE again), this is becoming my favorite channel. I can’t get my (“new”) 64 Schwinn 3 speed middle weight bike up most hills but I am eyeing that 9 speed Calfee road bike as something that can. Our hills in St. Thomas/St. John USVI are gruesome, sometimes 40% grades. Have people ever considered having an event here in the Caribbean? I’d be ready. Question: What’s a century ride?

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hey, Rob! There are two types of century rides: a 100 kilometer ride (metric century) and a 100 mile ride (imperial century). Forty percent grade! I don’t even think I’d try that on a road bike. My brother has done it on a recumbent trike. It was tough but at least on the trike you won’t fall over if you can’t make it. :) Thanks for watching!

[@lakaumbucha]

Nice bike collection. I would ride the antique bike around town. It looks like a $15 salvation army junker. A dirty bike thief wouldn’t even see it parked unlocked at the party store.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

You could ride it around town if the brakes were better. :)

[@joeb564]

Thanks for the great information.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Thanks for watching, Joe! I'm learning a lot about the really old bikes lately. It does really make you appreciate the modern bikes! :)

[@dougbikntrik]

I'm just a bike geek I like them all🤗But l love my Trike much safer for me. Thanks for great video.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Thanks Douglas! I go through phases. For about six year I rode nothing but trikes and I kept looking at my road bikes and thinking I should really sell them. Then I got on a road bike kick for about a year and now I'm back to trikes. Just started getting into the antique bikes, but so far, at least with this bike I have now, they don't look all that rideable. Maybe for very short and flat rides. :)

[@garyseckel295]

BT&R's videos are totally stand alone in the cycling Internet world! The open mind of BT&R is also incredibly stand alone. BT&R's recumbent trike videos are what first caught my attention. BT&R knows single-track and tricycle recumbents! BT&R also does not ridicule delta recumbent trikes, which is a common theme among tadpole riders. Own/ed single track, tadpole trikes, and now only ride delta decumbent Hase brand trikes here. Greatly prefer better ride, comfort, suspension (even if only dual tires, directly under rider), and easiest getting side-saddle on/off of delta trikes. Even from a wheelchair (not there yet). A tadpole IS required if higher speeds, downhill riding, faster taking of curves is your thing! Have never tipped over either my tadpoles or my deltas since starting on recumbents in about 1990. Not an athlete, but rather a hobbyist rider here. Cannot get on/off my tadpoles anymore (both balance and arthritis issues!) Delta can be 2WD with traction directly under rider's weight, even 3WD if front geared hub motor. 'Once Rohloff, always Rohloff' for me! Thank You, for your educational, artistic, and tasteful background music videos! No one else even comes close to your incredible videos and their incredible visual and educational content!

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Thanks very much for the kind words, Gary! I've got a Rohloff on my GTO and it's been a joy. I've been on the lookout for a good deal on a Delta trike and when I find one, you'll see lots of Delta videos! :)

[@hlheutte6554]

A neighbor gave me her 70s Frejus, ive been wondering what to do about my 14-22 gear ratio, good to know there's some ways to make climbing easier.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Oh, yeah! I’d try to get at least a 28 on there! Thanks for watching!

[@Olyphoto7]

I’m definitely a trike convert. I really enjoyed this video. Ergonomics and weight reduction seems to be the biggest changes. I remember a friend of mine showing me his carbon bike about 10 years ago (easy two finger lift) which compared to my crossover bike that suddenly felt like it weighed four tons. Great job as always!

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Thanks Dan! Yep, most of my longer rides are on trikes now.

[@robkunkel8833]

This channel is the first that made me curious about trikes. The heat is so miserable during the day in the hilly region where I live that a trike seems like a nice alternative to trucking a two wheel to a more level ground, which is what I must do. Thanks for replying. I’m also eyeballing your costume (sorry, I’m an 2 bit ex-actor) .. racing clothing as sensible, including seat protection. Thanks for being in shape and looking fit. Some bike channels are not famous for fitness, that’s for sure.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

@@robkunkel8833 Hi Rob! Remember, there are no ex-actors, just a lack of acceptable roles! :) I live in a hilly area as well but the roads in my area are not great for riding anything (narrow roads with no bike lanes), so I usually have to transport my bikes and trikes to a more favorable area. Trikes can be easier on the hills as you can take your time and you can't fall over!

[@evanking920]

I like the fact you prefer mechanical components. You basically are part of the bicycle and more cerebral pathways are firing with the mind-body connection. I think it is analogous to reading a book instead of a computer screen or pen and paper writing instead of keyboard typing.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

I agree. I also have so many things I have to plug in and charge, I don't want my bike to be one of them. :)

[@evanking920]

@@bikestrikesrazors Well said.

[@guymorris6596]

The only bike of mine that I'll be putting disc brakes on will be my Gary Fisher Mamba mountain bike. Those will be SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes and rim brakes for my three road bikes.

[@evanking920]

@@guymorris6596 The right tools for the job, I would like to see that set up...

[@thebutcher1412]

I have a frejus with Mavic GP4 rims. Man I have no information on this bike. I have a Frame, box of all the original parts(excluding handles parts and a seat post and seat) , and the rims. What tires can I use ? When I look them up it stays the mavic gp4 rims are 700c with a 20mm tire. But I can not find them anywhere. Maybe you can help me out so I can start to restore this beauty. Handles bars, seat post, and tires that would fit the frame! Thank you so much if you can!

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hi Butcher. Those Mavic rims will fit any standard 700c tire. The bike will probably have tire clearance for 25mm, but a regular 23mm tire will work fine. The 20mm refers to the tire width and its personal choice. the 20's were very skinny tires that some folks rode back in the day, but now 23/25 is standard and those rims will work fine for those.

[@thebutcher1412]

@@bikestrikesrazors oh awesome I’m more worried about them fitting the frame. What size fit your frejus? Can I use any handle bars and seat for this bike as well ?

[@bikestrikesrazors]

@@thebutcher1412 You can't go wrong with a 23mm. I believe that's what I have on my bike. Not sure on the seat post and stem. I've got a standard Campy seat post from the 60's and it works fine. Mine came with the original Ambrosio stem and bars. If you're not on "Bike Forums" classic and vintage section, sign up for that forum. You'll get lots of good advice for building up your bike!

[@thebutcher1412]

@@bikestrikesrazors thank you very much sir !

[@ralphc1405]

@@bikestrikesrazors Hi! Question on AMBROSIO bars. I have a NOS "13 Volte Campione del Mondo" drop bars on my Master Piu and the drop part of the bars flare out (like gravel bike bars) instead of being straight like typical Cinelli bars. Any reason why??? Thanks. I'll send a pic if you want!

[@toshaveornottoshave-4804]

Hi Joe, I mean you're getting in good shape, I think you've lost weight?

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hey Oleg! Naw, spandex hides a multitude of sins (or pizzas). LOL! :)

[@toshaveornottoshave-4804]

@@bikestrikesrazors 😂✌️

[@MrJava1593]

ok, hold on! The modern bike is actually an old bike from the 80's!? loI..... would've love to see a bike from this decade..... 😂😂😂

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hi and thanks for watching! No, the Calfee was made in 2002 and they're still making that model today. Calfee started making bikes in the 90's.

[@MrJava1593]

@@bikestrikesrazors I loved your video.. The 3 bikes are super nice! I was just joking but at the end I did get what you were saying! 🙏💪

[@MrJava1593]

@@bikestrikesrazors OMG I just went to their website and saw this gorgeous Calfee Tetra!!! I didn't even know the brand! Thanks again for educating me!!!

[@bikestrikesrazors]

@@MrJava1593 No problem. My brother has a REALLY modern BMC I probably should've used. :)

[@bikestrikesrazors]

@@MrJava1593 They're a bit under the radar. Known mostly for their tandems, but I wouldn't mind one of those Mantas. :)

[@frankducett9]

So progress is losing 3 lbs. and getting padded handlebars for only an added $3000.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

If you put some decent brakes on the 1919 bike and wrapped the bars with some padded wrap, it would be perfectly ridable. Took a ride yesterday on my carbon bike and Joe rode an early 80's steel touring bike (which was about as heavy as the antique bike) and he had no problems keeping up.

[@MinasK.97]

90’s is not modern, it’s retro

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hi and thanks for watching! While my Calfee Tetra Pro was built a while ago, they still make the same bike today. I guess some would consider a 9-speed group retro and I guess at this point it is!