FREJUS Corsa Campagnolo Paris Roubaix 59cm (1951) – SOLD

Frejus was founded in 1896 in Torino, Italy by Emmo Ghelfi. He named his brand after the nearby Monte Frejus (on the border of Italy and France) and was one of the first bike manufacturers in Italy (alongside with Bianchi). Emmo and his brother designed and hand-built every frame Frejus produced, focusing on sleek lines, simple lug-work and balanced handling. The Frejus was sposnsoring also their own team called FREJUS which existed from 1935-1956. Their team immediately achieve a success when the great Gino Bartali won 1935 Giro d’Italia on a Frejus bike. Later Giovanni Valetti won the 2 editions of the Giro d’Italia (1938 and 1939). One of biggest cycling stars back in 1940s and early 1950s was Ferdinand Kubler, ridding for FREJUS -Pirelli Team.

Ferdinand “Ferdi” Kübler (24 July 1919 – 29 December 2016) was a Swiss cyclist with 71 professional victories, including 1950 Tour de France and 1951 World road race Championship in Varese, Italy. He began racing professionally in 1940 but his early career was limited to Switzerland by the Nazi occupation elsewhere. He was multiple Swiss national champion and a three time winner of the Tour de Suisse. He won the La Flèche Wallonne  and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, both in 1951 and 1952. He rode the Giro d’Italia from 1950–1952, placing fourth once, and third twice. Kübler was a high-spirited and impulsive rider sometimes given to strategically unwise attacks, out of exuberance and competitive style of racing. He was known as “The Cowboy” because of his penchant for Stetson hats. He retired from racing in 1957 at 38. Kübler died in Zurich on 29 December 2016 at the age of 97. Prior to his death he was the oldest living Tour de France winner.

Ferdinad Kubler (1919-2016)

F.Kubler- winner of the Tour de France 1951

CAMPAGNOLO Paris Roubaix gearing system: In 1950 Coppi won the Paris-Roubaix using Campagnolo’s newest derailleur the “Una leva” (single lever) model which superseded the “Due leve” (two lever model) originally introduced in 1947. Following Coppi’s win the new mechanism was renamed to Paris-Roubaix model. In 1950 also Bianchi renamed their top model frame by famous ”Hell of North” race.To change gear the rider would:

• Reach back to the seat-stay mounted lever.
• Back pedal.
• Turn the lever releasing the rear wheel. (The lever was in effect a extended quick release)
• The action of releasing the wheel would engage the lever with a fork mounted over the chain enabling the rider to select the sprocket he wanted by turning the lever.
• Once the chain was engaged on the correct sprocket the rider would stop backpedaling and turn the lever back to it’s locked position. This action would lock the wheel and release the changing fork.- The rider could then pedal forward again and go on his merry way.

Coppi’s 1950 Paris-Roubaix is considered one of the great rides in cycling history. In extremelly bad weather conditions, Coppi went solo for the last 45km and won Paris-Roubaix covering the 247 km in 6h 18 m at an average speed of 39.12 kph.

Happy to present another legendary Italian steel racing bike – FREJUS Corsa, which dates back to 1951, thanks to special vintage bike register. The frame is made of very light Reynolds 531 tubing (for early 1950s era) and equipped with extremely rare Campagnolo Paris Roubaix gearing system. Easy to recognize typical Frejus details like lugs, fork crown, seatstay, seat clamp, braze-on lubricators for headset and bottom bracket. Full original build with Cinelli cockpit, Universal 453949 brakes, original NiSi rims, saddle, special oil can for lubricating the chain, air pump. Beautiful steel racing bike ready to participate at L’Eroica.

Nice catch for any vintage bike collector. A museum piece.

Frame & Fork: FREJUS Corsa Paris Roubaix (frame no: 19066)

Size:

– seat tube (c-t): 62 cm

– seat tube (c-c): 59 cm

– top tube (c-c): 57 cm

– headset tube: 17 cm

– standover: 83 cm

Crankset: Magistroni

Gearing system: Campagnolo Paris Roubaix

Headset: Magistroni

Shifters: Campagnolo Gran Sport

Brake Levers: Universal 453949

Brakes: Universal 453949

Stem: Cinelli

Handlebar: Cinelli

Hubs: Campagnolo

Rims: NiSi

Saddle: BROOKS (original)

Pedals: Sheffield Sprint

Tubulars: Veloflex (new)

Handlebar Tape: cotton, blue

Air pump: original

Condition: The frame was completely restored, re-chromed and refubrished by professional guy. No cracks, no dents, not bent. Looks like it jus came out of the Frejus factory.

Year: 1951

Price: SOLD (May 2020)