PANTOGRAPHED VINER SPECIAL PROFESSIONAL FOR SALE
I just came across this Viner Special Professional on ebay today. It looks to be a totally original bike from Italy complete with Campag Super Record groupset and some nice pantographed parts. The bike obviously needs a bit of a clean and perhaps a respray but it’s been looked after – even the Modolo brake hood rubbers are in good nick (these usually perish over time) and the original San Marco Concor Supercorsa saddle has hardly any signs of wear.
It’s a shame it’s too small for me – but if anyone is interested this is the ebay listing
TEST RIDE A PERFECTA 2.11
Bike Science in Bristol have now got their first Viner demo bike built up. A stunning Perfecta 2.11 with Campag Chorus 11 and Deda finishing kit. Andy Sexton and his team can help you achieve the perfect Perfecta, as they offer a full fitting service included in the price.
So if you’re thinking of buying the new 2012 model and want a test ride get in touch with Andy Sexton at Bike Science on 0117 9273444.
80′s SLX
The 80′s. The decade that saw massive upheaval’s in the UK, the birth of many musical movements, and the years of my youth. It was also the decade where I first fell in love with cycling. I remember the garish flouro paintjobs on many bikes, and drooling over exotic Italian frames in the mecca that was Sheffield’s Tony Butterworths.
The 1986 Viner SLX pictured above, sent in by Adam Green, sums up the style of the decade very well. Beautiful craftsmanship adorned with outlandish paintjobs! Adam picked up this bike from a friend who had too many bikes and not enough time to ride them all. The bike was originally picked up in Milan in 2009, sporting Campag’s beautiful C Record components. This groupset was stripped off the frame and the Viner sold on to Adam’s friend. The frame is in pretty good nick, the only downside being it doesn’t have the original forks (the originals were bent – so a Colnago style straight fork was built for it – which looks pretty good to me). The original forks are pictured below.
As you see, Viner’s in the 1980′s had lost some of the embellishments of the 1960s and 1970s Special Professional’s and Special Corsa’s, mainly the cut outs on the lugs and pantographing. Simpler lugs were the order of the day, flourishes were left to the paintjobs, garish bike ribbon and copious amounts of chroming!
Adam’s Viner is built with Columbus SLX, the tubeset that superceded the famous SL. It improved on SL with the use of five internal spiral ridges at the ends of the double butted tubes, that added rigidity to the joint areas, making SLX a ‘superbutted’ tubeset, ideal for Professional use.
Adam isn’t a professional, but is making good use of his Viner, racing alongside his brother (on his 1980s Brian Rourke) in local Triathlons.
ANYONE SPEAK GERMAN?
If anyone understands German then it would be great if you could let me know what Marcel Wust is saying about the new Maxima in this video! Ex Festina pro Marcel is a big fan of Viners, he famously announced that the Maxima was the best bike he’d ever ridden (so much so he wanted to keep hold of the test bike he rode a few years ago) and has since tested the Maxima RS for German Procycling magazine.
Looking uncannily like the British actor Rufus Sewell, Marcel seems to like the new RS 2, but then again, what’s not to like!
ITALIAN RACING BICYCLES
My brother gave me a nice surprise the other week. Italian Racing Bicycles, a newly published book about, yes you guessed right, racing bicycles from Italy. All the famous marques are in there, including a couple of pages about Viner (although there some notable omissions, including the famous champagne metallic Benotto’s). I thought the book would just focus on the frame builders, but as it’s a book about bicycles, it also includes the famous Italian component manufacturers, which you obviously need to build up an Italian bike. So you have the likes of Campagnolo and Miche in there, along with ITM, Deda, 3T, the various Italian saddle manufacturers and also names that are not so well known now, including Modolo and Universal (who I always thought were a French or British company).
The author Guido Rubino has written the history of each manufacturer, including reference to famous rider’s who graced the companies products, and contains some great photography. My favourite piece (apart from the Viner pages of course) is the double page spread about the design classic – the Cinelli Laser. A stunning bike.
PRAISING THE KRONUS
Sunday was my last race of the season, and will be a date that goes down in British cycling history. As well as Mark Cavendish bringing home the rainbow bacon, the 25th September saw me lower my 25 miles all time best (that had stood for 7 years), knocking 28 secs off on a far from perfect day or course. A great way to end my best ever season.
2011 is the first time I’ve ever used a cycling coach, and what a difference he made. Finally I had the fitness to do my Kronus justice. I’ve had her 2 years now, but last season I felt a bit of a fraud on her. This season I turned up at events with my head held high, confident in my fitness and my bike. Following Vitesse Cycle Coaching’s training plans saw me increasing my power and losing over a stone in weight, which resulted in a far better power to weight ratio. The result at races was a lot faster times. What was impressive was that apart from one day (which happened to be the National 10m TT Champs but at least I managed to qualify!) my performances were consistent. A sure sign that my hard training over the winter had built a solid base.
All this new found fitness is no good if your frame doesn’t transmit the power. Thankfully the Kronus transferred every watt into the back wheel, and got up to speed quickly and without fuss out of corners and roundabouts. My increase in speed this season also meant I was going into and through corners and turns a lot quicker than previously. But it wasn’t a problem on the Viner, she handled every one impeccably, being very sure footed and trustworthy. OK she isn’t going to fly through them like my Maxima, but with a lump of a disc on the rear she does a great job.
So hand in hand with my Kronus I’ve lowered my 5 year old 10 mile TT time by over a minute to 20:53, I’ve dropped down to 57:28 for 25 miles, I’ve become a local ‘fast man’ by doing a sub 30 minute ride on the local 12.6 mile sporting ‘Pool Triangle’ course and I achieved personal best’s on every course I rode. I also managed quite a few top ten placings as well. So whilst I take October ‘off’ and go for a few leisurely cafe rides at the weekend, I’ll be thinking of new goals for me and the Kronus to achieve next year.
THE SCIENCE OF FITTING A VINER
In my opinion, the only way to truly sell a Viner is part of a full bike fitting process, where the rider’s dimensions, riding characteristics and dynamics, and intended use are taken into consideration. I always liken it to stepping into a Savile Row tailors, where personal attention and the skill of a small number of craftsmen ensure the perfect fitting suit.
So it is with Bike Science, the latest official Viner dealer in the UK. Started 18 months ago by Andy Sexton, a master bike fitter in Bristol, Bike Science now have two other premises (in Derby and Rotherham) with another opening soon in the North East. Viners are only available to order in the Bristol showroom for now, but they are expected to be introduced to the other showrooms in the near future.
Like other Viner dealers, Bike Science pride themselves on their bike fitting prowess. They are unique in that they use a blend of frame size prediction software, an adjustable fitting bike and the Retul motion capture system to measure the rider during the frame selection process. This ensures that they get the most accurate assessment possible of rider requirements before the frame design gets passed to the craftsmen at Viner. The Retul system is then used to fine tune the rider’s position when their bike is built up. All this is included in the cost of any made to measure carbon frame.
Bike Science got involved with Viner UK when Andy met Brian Stanwyk at the TCR Show. Brian was impressed with Andy’s approach to bike fitting, one that is very similar to Giuseppe Giannecchini’s, and Andy was looking for a bike brand that would complement his vision of how a bike should be fitted to a rider’s requirement.
Indeed Andy spent a day with Giuseppe at Le Beau Velo, watching the master at work fitting various rider’s and learning about the various frame’s in the Viner range.
Bike Science (Bristol) have now taken delivery of some stock bikes, including a Maxima RS2 which will be built up with Di2 and Enve wheels shod with very rare silk FMB Record tubs. This beauty will then be available as a demo bike. Other demo bikes in the pipeline include a Perfecta 2.11 and an aluminium Vigor, Viner’s entry level, made to measure frame.
You can get in touch with Bike Science at info@bike-science.com or on 0117 927 3444
CANADIAN 29ers
There is a real enclave of Vineristi in Canada, no doubt down to SRI Importing’s hard work at marketing Viner’s in North America.
SRI supplied the above VR Race 29 SL to Bogi Gyorfi, an elite MTB racer based in Calgary. Bogi is originally from Hungary, where she raced for the country’s best MTB team. She then moved to Chicago with her partner Gabor Csonka (himself a Pro/Elite MTB racer, who competed in the 1995 Grunding Mountain Bike World Cup) where she became the Illinois State Time Trial champion in 1994. They then moved to Canada’s capital where they continue to race at a high level.
So no doubt Bogi has a good idea what makes a great XC MTB frame:
“I started to get a real feel for the Viner 29er bike. The first two rides were in new, fast rolling trails so I could not really compare the bike handling, but the first impression was that I felt safe on the bike. The big wheels were very stable, I could really lean into turns and the loose downhill were not a problem anymore. I used to be scared of baby heads and riverbed rocks, with the 29er it felt like no big deal, riding over them. The climbing felt good too, the big wheels have better grip and the Viner frame has a great geometry for climbing. I used to love my Element for good climbing this frame is even better. The front tires never came off the ground on the steep hills;if only I had the legs I could climb everything. The short power climbs are just fun as I can stand up and hammer it without bouncing on my full suspension frame.
Yesterday finally was riding on well know trail… Pneuma. I had a good time trying to keep up with the boys and pushing the middle ring as I could stand as much as I wanted without touching my lock out. I could climb the tight switch backs the same way I can with my 26 wheels. The biggest difference I felt is at the top section where it gets really rocky and rough, I could do sections I have never ridden before and seem to have less problem on the rocks than the riders in front of me with the full suspension bikes. Then the downhill came and I had a blast, did not feel any slower on the rigid frame… Rode Shaft with the endless switchbacks and I think the big wheels actually saved me on the steep loose stuff again.
I was just a very happy rider at 9:30 pm at Station Flats….
I absolutely love the Viner’s Euro look, way better than the boring flat black bike Gabor rides nowadays…
The VR Race 29er climbs great, rides good downhill and is very comfortable. I thought I would feel the bumps more but the big wheels and Stan’s (rims) just take most of the beating. The only down side is that I still need some stronger legs and lungs to ride faster. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fast racing machine, or lower tech hard tail or for Single speed!”
The Viner VR Race 29 SL is a tig welded, double butted alloy frame and is treated with an anti corrosion process. It can be built made to measure to ensure the perfect fit. It’s weight is competitive at 1600gr, and it’s 29er geometry means a more comfortable ride, better obstacle rollover, and even better traction.
THE MYSTERY OF STARS AND CROSSES
Sometime in the future I’d like to renovate an old 70s/80s Viner frame. To be honest I’d do one now but I don’t have the space – I need to move house first and get that all important garage. But in the meantime I’ve been doing a bit of research, seeing what’s out there and how much second hand Viner frames go for. With retro ‘fixies’ all the rage at the moment, old steel frame prices seem to have risen, and anything that is in decent condition is snapped up very quickly.
After doing quite a bit of research it became apparent that there were two types of Viner frame from the 70s and 80s – the Special Professional and the Special Corsa. But things started getting more puzzling when some of these frames sported ‘stars’ expertly cut into the lugs, whereas other had ‘crosses’. There is quite a lot of discussion on various forums about these differences, some people even saying that the ‘cross’ lugged frames were in fact copies produced to order by a Belgian retailer called Colnero. Which means that some Viner frames up for sale are sometimes headed ‘Viner/Colnero’. Very confusing if you’re wanting to get hold of a ‘real’ Viner.
I was determined to get to the bottom of this so emailed Serena Baldi at Viner’s Head Office. An hour later she had the answers.
Sadly a lot of info about Viner’s old frames and bikes were lost when Viner founder Viviano Nerozzi, and his son in law Cesare Baldi passed away, but luckily Mark the warehouseman who joined Viner in the 1980s is still around. He knew exactly what left the factory in those years.
Basically, the Special Professional was the top of the range, it had Star (Stella) cut out lugs (including a massive cut out star on the bottom bracket shell) and was built with Columbus tubing (more than likely SL). These were the frames that were usually exported to the UK and US.
The Special Corsa was the ‘cheaper’ model, and had cross cut out lugs and was built using Reynolds 531 tubing.
Now there are 531 frames out there with cross lugs that have ‘Special Professional’ decals and I’ve seen Special Corsa’s with Columbus tubing and stars! I suspect that these have undergone a renovation or respray, and the incorrect decals applied.
Either way, if the frame has stars or crosses, at least you know that it is a Viner!
Personally I prefer the Special Professional, and it’s this frame I’ll try to track down in the future, mainly for sentimental reasons. My first ever bike was built with Columbus SL, so it would be great to ride on this famous tubing again. Plus, I can’t imagine owning a steel Italian frame that isn’t built with Columbus!
All I need to do now is wait until the ‘fixie’ trend dies away, and I should be able to pick up a bargain.
2012 EUROBIKE: GLADIUM 2.0, EXTREMA 1.2 & PERFECTA 2.11
Some more images from Eurobike 2012, courtesy of road.cc, including close-up photos of the new Gladium 2.0, which in my opinion, is the biggest news to come out of Pistoia this year.
As mentioned in a previous post, the Gladium 2.0 is a completely new bike, replacing the 2011 monocoque with a handbuilt, made-to-measure frame, built in exactly the same way as the Maxima RS2 etc. Meaning a custom carbon Viner frame is now achievable at a lower price point.
The above shot shows the ‘bulge’ at the wishbone seat stay/seat tube. joint.
The Extrema 1.2 is now the only carbon frame in the Viner range that is of monocoque construction. This too has undergone some slight tweaks for 2012.
Below are some more shots of the new Perfecta 2.11. In contrast to my brother’s frame, the Perfecta on the Eurobike stand is in the optional matt finish.
