Searching..

So considering the plain technical facts, in terms of quality the Tecnos is superior, but it's the great reputation that still makes the Master most admired. And most widely spread so it would appear. The Tecnos is simply rarely seen, especially in good condition. In general, the bikes and frames I came across on the web were either in a too poor shape or single-colored while I preferred the superbly designed Art-Decor paintwork equal to my own bike. Upon looking out for one, an intensive two months search proved four bikes would have been worthwhile.  The most interesting specimen was spotted on E-bay located in the USA:  An almost new bike in a nice yellow-white colour scheme for a fairly small price, which the owner however unfortunately did not want to sell outside the US. A highly prized brand new white-blue colored version, with a Shimano 105 outfit, was available in southeast Germany and was kept on my favorite list for some time until I decided it was too expensive after all. Then there was a white-blue-gray version available in the central part of The Netherlands, but this one turned-out to miss the Columbus decal. The last possible choice was also located in The Netherlands, in excellent condition, but in black and white only, which had too much resemblance with my Tecnos #1 in black-white-red scheme. The bike available I had most liked besides the four mentioned had a wonderful white-blue-green colour outfit but was a 54 size so too small. Measuring had shown that I would need something of a 57 to 59 size. So I had to wait until the right specimen would show up someday, which I realized could take time. I limited my search efforts for some time but then, all of a sudden, it happened.

There she was..

Although I had searched the Belgian version of the Dutch Market Place (Marktplaats) regularly, I probably somehow had missed the advertisement which turned-out to have been there since May 2022 though: A Tecnos for sale in Hasselt Belgium. In a marvelous paint scheme I had not seen before: Multi-colored with Gold, blue and purple aside from other mixtures. Completely fit with Shimano Dura Ace. My interest was immediately ignited as the advertisement promised the bike to be in very good condition and documented. I sensed this was something special I would need to look at anyhow.  Bidding had been relatively on the low side so the site revealed, but once in contact with the seller, it was clear that the bike had its fixed minimum price to be paid. A price I felt would be reasonable if the bike would turn out to be to my taste and in the shape promised. The size was claimed to be a 60 about which I had my doubts looking at the head tube on the pictures. I estimated it to be a 57 which would fit me perfectly. So I agreed to buy it for the price asked for, if upon visiting and measuring the bike it would meet my expectations. Which it fortunately did. By far. The visit to Sophie's house was an event I will always remember. The 180 km drive commenced early morning that Saturday as Sophie had to attend a fancy fair event starting at 10:00 AM that day. I arrived around 08:30h immediately being invited to coffee. She showed me the bike at once which instantly surpassed my expectations as it was in extraordinary well shape. As promised, it had only one paint chip on the top tube. A further closer look only revealed some minor surface scratches and some light lacquer wear here and there.. The color scheme was truly magnificent, and I was really exited to have found such a treasure..

The 60 cm, indeed mentioned in the booklet, turned-out to be measured from the bracket center to the top of the seat tube, instead of the center of the top tube, which was 56 only. Was this indeed a 56 instead of a 60 as I had sensed upon seeing the advertisement? Then I noted an interesting feature. The head tube, including the chromed lug, had an extension of 1 cm above the intersection with the top tube. The seat tube on its turn even had a 2 cm extra length above the joining area. The top tube itself turned out to have a length of 58 which indicated that, measured according to old-fashioned  bike frame geometry,  this was actually a 58. A perfect fit ! The original invoice and guarantee certificate were included. The bike came from dealer Math Salden, a famous Bike shop in Limburg Holland, where I also bought my New Carbon Wilier Izoard in 2014. According to the booklet, the frame was a Model 1994, sold to the dealer in 1998 & re-sold only in 1999, so by then already 5 years of age and kind of new old stock.

Besides the lengthened seat and head tubes, I indeed noticed another difference from my current Tecnos, which no doubt was a later version; the extended drop-outs which allow the wheel axle to be positioned back or forward by using the dropout adjusting screws, commonly available on racing bikes. My current Tecnos does not have these & has only one possible axle position. With a new price of almost six thousand good old Dutch Guilders, the bike was one of the most expensive available in those years according to Sophie. At the time of purchase the dealer had also confirmed that the bike was the lightest possible option in frame and parts choice.  Besides the Dura Ace parts the handlebar and stem were indeed also extremely light weighted as I was to find out soon. The bike turned out to have been her father's who sadly had passed away recently. At the moment before loading it in my car, I asked Sophie if it was OK to take a picture of her and the bike, but then she broke out in tears and told me how both her father and mother had died during the Covid period in which no visits to patients were allowed. I tried to comfort her as much as possible after which we had another coffee and could talk for a while. But we had to say goodbye soon & I was on my way back. To my next mission actually. Because it was my lucky day, which was far from over yet.