TECH | Bikes that changed history TECH | Bikes that changed history

Fitted to the Mavic Comete disc — which has a structural foam core and is flat in profile, unlike the latest hollow, lenticular version — is a 12-up seven-speed Dura-Ace cassette, which is perfect for time trialling.

The bladed Columbus 650c fork is as aerodynamic and lightweight as it was possible to get using steel. The rest of the front end comprises a Mavic 88 24-hole radially spoked wheel with Vittoria Juniores tub and Dura-Ace caliper.

still unproven at the top level. were benefiting from Tiziano Zullo had been building the latest in tubing with steel tubing made by fellow technology — and this Italians Columbus since the early was certainly the case bikes that Seventies. Learning his trade with Anderson’s Zullo lo-pro. changed history in the tradition of the artisan aerodynamics were improving in part V Phil Anderson’s builders east of Milan, by the time To the Max the 1980s, weight was still the Zullo sealed the deal with TVM in Columbus Max tubing had just primary consideration. 1985, his factory was producing been introduced, and was the Even Zullo had his work cut 4,000 frames a year and 10 people first tubeset to move away from out with Columbus Max tubing 1988 Zullo lo-pro were working there. the tradition of conventional — what happens when you have Zullo, based on the western diameters. Max tubes are not to braze an elliptical profiled the first non-european to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de end of Lake Garda, was virtually round in profile, but elliptical, tube to another one which has next-door neighbours with with the major axes opposed its elliptical profile 90 degrees in INSIDE TECH gave his time trial bike back to the man who built it when he changed teams, and Columbus at Settala, just outside in the direction of the stresses the other direction? The answer Tiziano Zullo has displayed in his shop in Castelnuovo del Garda, Italy, ever since Milan, so whoever rode Zullo for increased stiffness. In other is that it takes more brass and frames could be certain they words, at one end the tube looks more time, but it is possible fat from above and thin from the and it adds to the artistry in the hil Anderson’s history- Van Impe 27 seconds ahead of The Columbus Max side; at the other end it looks thin frame. However, Zullo, who is changing moment the pair, but it was enough to put tubes flatten as from above and fat from the side. still building steel frames but on was when the Aussie him in yellow and put they approach the Zullo fillet-brazed rather than a much smaller scale and mostly became the first non- on the map as a road bottom bracket, lugged the frame’s junctures. to order, says he won’t fillet braze European to wear nation to be reckoned with. ending in a smooth By now traditional lugs were any more. the yellow jersey in In his 15-year career as a and attractive becoming unfashionable as the Anderson’s lo-pro, built for a Pthe . In 1981 the Continental pro, which ran from best frame-builders laboured 650c front wheel, has the bladed join at the shell. 23 year old famously upset the 1980 to 1994, Anderson notched Anderson used over beautiful, smooth joints steel Columbus fork to match, establishment and incurred the up stage race overall wins 175mm Dura-Ace where one tube looked as though with an aerodynamic crown. wrath of on stage including the Dauphiné Libéré, 7400 cranks, fitted it flowed into the next. A fillet- Zullo’s paintwork was, and six from St Gaudens to Pla d’Adet , Tour of the Med, to the square-taper brazed frame also saved the still is, all done in-house and the in the when he sat on and he won stages of the Tour de bottom bracket of weight of a lugset, and although metallic purple/blue fade is a his wheel, refused to be dropped France and Giro d’Italia. the day. From this and then offered Hinault a drink This bike is a piece of angle the close- from his bidon — which ‘the memorabilia from Anderson’s ratio chainrings “Columbus Max was the first Badger’ swiped out of Anderson’s two-year stint with the Dutch are also visible. hand with a snarl. “I thought I TVM team, when Italian company was being sportsmanlike,” Zullo supplied the frames. tubeset to move away from a bemused Anderson said later. Steel was still the only serious Anderson crossed the line third, choice for most frame-builders, conventional diameters”

Words: Simon Smythe Photos Simon Smythe & Cor Vos Cor & Smythe Simon Photos Smythe Simon Words: just behind Hinault, with Lucien with carbon and aluminium

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Seatstays are set behind the seat tube to keep them out of the wind. Internal brake cable routing also improves aerodynamics.

typical scheme of the era, in TVM colours. Bearing the scars of its time on a team car roof, the paint has rubbed off down to the steel Anderson focuses before a chrono on either side of the down tube. Anderson used the bike for advent of aluminium welded most of which, ironically, go to two seasons, before joining frames, and then carbon-fibre. the Far East, bought by steel Motorola in 1991, where he found The demand for high-end bike fans who are looking for a himself on the same team as a handmade steel racing bicycles genuine Italian handmade frame young Lance Armstrong. His last all but disappeared as cycling built by one of the masters. ride on his Zullo lo-pro, and for bought into mass-produced But Zullo, now 58, is happy to TVM, was in 1990 at the last ever carbon frames from the Far supply a smaller quantity of edition of the Trofeo Baracchi, the East. The company moved to custom frames to a new breed of classic two-up time trial, where smaller premises with a bike discerning customer, and with the he was 10th with Jörg Müller. shop attached, and Zullo now resurgence of interest in steel, produces 180 frames a year, now has a growing waiting list. Bike keepsake The course of the Trofeo Baracchi ran close to the Zullo factory, and new status for italian frame-builder of course Tiziano Zullo and his wife Elena were there to watch. Zullo in the 21st century Afterwards, Elena remembers, Anderson handed them his TIZIANO Zullo is one of the relatively will be at the European version in May. In bike, and asked them to keep few Italian frame-builders who haven’t his factory shop he has examples of what it to remember him. “He was a sold out and gone carbon. Now he is he’s making at the moment. gentleman, a very nice person,” thankful that he stuck to his guns, as Highlights include frame number one says Elena. he is enjoying a new-found status as of 20 new Columbus Max tubesets built Zullo supplied TVM’s bikes for one of the originals, with an order book with the last ever Max lugs produced. another two seasons, but after that reflects it. The revival of interest in That’s it, finito. All 20 have been snapped that the seven-year partnership steel has meant that his little factory in up and most are Japan bound. There’s finished when the big money Castelnuovo, on the banks of Lake Garda, also the Inqubo race bike, painted deep arrived. Dutch manufacturer is a very busy place indeed. brown with coffee bean graphics and made Gazelle paid three million guilders There’s hardly time to drink espresso, from Dedacciai 16.5 steel; the Verano (about £1 million), according to which every Italian business runs on, but made from the latest Columbus stainless Elena Zullo, to be TVM’s bike Zullo did manage to take a week out to steel tubing, XCr; and the Vintage, made sponsor. Even in the good times, display his work at the North American from lugged Columbus tubing. Mosquito the Zullos couldn’t compete Handmade Bicycle Show in February, a Bikes (www.mosquito-bikes.co.uk) is to with that. custom frame-builders’ convention that bring Zullos into the UK later this year — Zullo’s fortunes took another is more art exhibition than bike show, and watch this space for more news. turn for the worse with the

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