Ken's Torpado Page

In the time I have had this page up I have received many pleasant emails from other people researching their own Torpado bicycles. I will try to share the information we collectively learn about this relatively unknown Italian bicycle.

Uncle Ken shares the tale of, The Endeavor, the Torpado he recently rebuilt from parts.

Classic Rendezvous' Torpado Page includes some photos and background.

First Flight Bicycles Lightweight museum's Ice Blue 1983 Torpado Super Racing

Well, I finaly have the Torpado frame back and assembled into a bicycle, but it still is a bit of a mystery to me.

I purchased this frame from a fellow who raced it. I thought it would be an inexpensive way to tell first hand if steel realy does ride differently from aluminum as my brother had been trying to convince me. I also thought I could have it painted red and have a beautiful piece of italian craftmanship.

Now that I have it back I can honestly say that steel rides increadibly compliantly. Feels like I am rolling on 100 psi cruiser tires compared to my oversized aluminum frame with the same 150 psi tires! I can also say that restoring an old bicycle isn't as easy or inexpensive as I had thought. That said the process was long, but not painfull, nor terribly expensive, especialy when compared to the price of similar bikes new.

Enough blather, now for some photos. Since I am trying to learn about this frame's age, name, and properties, I am providing the following photos which illustrate unusual aspects of this bicycle. Unfortunately the photos didn't turn out too well. The paint color is off, and the details are washed out from the flash (so much for attempting to use a digital camera)

Bicycle Photos:

• Pretty poor photo of the entire bicycle which doesn't do justice to the beautifull paint work Rick of D+D Cycles, San Lorenzo CA, performed (PPG with clearcoat).
• Etching on the Cinelli bottom bracket (interestingly the bottom bracket is english threaded. It also has a drainage? cutout on the underside in the shape of a stylized 'T')
• Unusual V shaped brake bridge with etching
• Factory Torpado decal special thanks to Dale proprietor of Greensboro NC's cycles de ORO Bike Shop for these rare gems.
• Etching on the fork
• Internaly routed chain stay! (and campy dropout)
• Head tube etching
• Seat tube lug etching (and internaly routed cable)

Miscelaneous frame details:

• Columbus SLX tube set
• Campagnolo chromed dropouts
• Cinelli lugs and bottom bracket
• Internaly routed rear derailer cable (goes through the chain stay!)
• Internaly routed brake cable though top tube
• Hand punched serial number on bottom bracket (numbers wander)

Based on this information can anybody give me an idea of when the frame was produced, the relative quality of the frame, etc.? Please email me if you have any information, old pamphlets, etc.

Coming soon. To demonstrate how anal I can be, or to illustrate how bicycle components add up (both in terms of weight and price). I will provide a table of component weights and prices used to assemble this bicycle.

Special thanks to Jim Kramer for the guidance and parts which made the project possible, to Simon Wong who helped get the beast together, and to my brother Jeffrey for taunting me about riding an aluminum bicycle!

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