Presto - Race bicycle - 1978

Presto (Amsterdam, since 1924) was, in the 1960s to the 1980s, a leading workshop for road bicycles. Frame builders such as Jan le Grand (later working for Team Raleigh and builder of Joop Zoetemelk’s Tour-winning bicycle), Peter Serier, and Bertus Slesker were regarded at the time as the most precise builders of Reynolds frames. Not only the Peter Post Raleigh team, but also champions such as Leo Duyndam, René Pijnen, Danny Clark, Ferdinand Bracke, Roy Schuiten, Cees Stam, Klaas Balk, Jan Jansen, Gerard Koel and Eddy Merckx rode Presto. Presto racing bicycles from this period are regarded as the best hand-built race bikes from the Netherlands.

This bicycle is hand-built in 1978, probably by Jan le Grand. The bike was always owned by a prominent amateur cyclist, who later became a board member and president of the Nederlandse Wielerunie KNWU (Dutch Cycling Union). The frame and all components were state of the art for the time: Reynolds 531 tubes and Campagnolo Nuovo Record derailleur set, which were surpassed only by - a fraction lighter but less strong - Reynolds 753 and Campagnolo Super Record. The condition is almost completely original. Original finish: rust-free and fixed with clear varnish. All components have been disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, and adjusted to the last bearing. Only disposables in the correct brand are new, such as handlebar tape, inner and outer cables, brake shoes, toe clip straps.

SPECS
Year built: 1978
Complete bike weight: approx. 10 kg.
Frame: Reynolds 531, 2130 g. Built by Jan le Grand for Presto, Amsterdam
Center-Top = 56 cm Top tube = 54 cm
Frame number: 2247
Finish color: SIGNA0903 / ICIA0903 77YY 13/238 (HEX. 6a6742) palm tree
Fork ends: Campagnolo Record
Front fork: Campagnolo chrome
Quick release as-spanners v-a: Maillard MM Atom (Fr.)
Seat: Selle Idéale Modèle 90 (Fr.)
Seatpost: Campagnolo Record Road
Derailleurs v-a: Campagnolo Nuovo Record 15V
Front: Campagnolo Record Triple crank set
Rear: Maillard Course Zycral cassette/freewheel 5V 14-24 teeth (Fr.)
Rear: Campagnolo Portacatena chain holder
Rims: Mavic G40 (Fr.) – rim size 27 inches = 630 mm for 700c tires 622 19 to 28 mm wide
Tires: Wolber LX20 (Fr.) 700c 20-622 (purchased with Vredestein Ricorso MK2)
Hubs v-a: Maillard Normandy Luxe Competition 36 holes (Fr.)
Quick-release spanners: Campagnolo Nuovo Typo
Bottom bracket: Campagnolo Nuovo Record inscription 68-SS-120 sizes: 1.370” x 24TPI
Cranks: Campagnolo 175 Strada 9/16 x 20F
Pedals: Campagnolo Superlight Record Road
Toe clips & pedal straps: Zéfal Christophe (Fr.)
Handlebar: 3TTT Competizione (It.)
Handlebar tape: Velox Soft Micro Perforated (Fr.)
Outer cable clips: Campagnolo
Chain: Sedis Sedisport (Fr.)
Brakes: Campagnolo Record Road
Brake levers: Campagnolo Record Road
Bottle cage: REG portaboraccio superleggera ergal (It.)