1972-73 Falcon San Remo

model no. 76 serial no. 53259, c. 1972-3

Purchased as a frameset on eBay on 3 September 2012 for $167, back on the road 17 November.

"Designed by Ernie Clements, three times British National Champion and a cyclist all his life-- race tested by top professional racing men, made with loving care by the family team at Falcon's Barton-on-Humber factory and sold by dealers who really care, the model 76 is, quite simply, a winner." (Falcon sales literature)

Some History
“…a cycle with a Continental line, but with British reliability” was how Ernie Clements, Britain’s great cycle champion and designer for Falcon Cycles, described the new “San Remo” model in 1960, adding that it had taken him three years to plan and design and 18 months to test and prove. With 73 degree parallel angles and 1 7/8” fork rake, it was as racy and “Continental” as any British racing mount of its day and rather more so than most. Its fame was enhanced by its use by Falcon’s successful pro cycling team (which was also dated from 1960) with riders like Albert Hitchen and John Perks.

Like most of the varied and often very complicated Falcon range, the San Remo was not one model but several with as many as five variants, both road and track, offered c. 1967. The best of the San Remos was usually called the “Equipe”, spec’d the same as the team cycles.

The original Falcon team colours were dark blue with white head tube and tube panels with all-chrome fork and half-chrome rear stays. A mix of components included Huret Allvit derailleurs, Campagnolo crankset, hubs and seat pin, Ambrosio stem and ‘bars and Weinmann 999 centre-pull brakes and rims (Weinmann being a co-sponsor of the team). In 1964, the powder blue racing livery that came to be associated with Falcons was introduced and Campagnolo derailleurs were fitted. For the 1965 season Huret derailleurs reappeared but Campagnolo returned for good the next year. In addition to the more common Prugnat pattern lugs, Nervex lugs were fitted to several production runs in the mid to late ‘sixties with the head lugs usually chromed.

Around 1969 the distinctive wrapover ridge seatstays were replaced by a “flattened” style wrapover design, the arched rear brake bridge superceded by a straight one and the fork crown switched to the “Cinelli” (really a Davis) sloping fork crown. Campagnolo brakesets were fitted to commercial models by 1970 although the team continued to use Weinmanns for several more years in deference to their sponsors. Falcon also offered models with Weinmanns and mudguard eyelets to the general public.

By 1972, the frame had been redesigned with steeper angles (74 parallel), shorter top tubes and higher bb reflecting prevailing tastes in British racing bike design. Some production runs featured a flat fork crown instead of the Davis sloping one, contrasting flam red-painted head tubes, “imichome” seat, top and down tube decals or white ones etc. etc.

Most of the no. 76s extent in the U.S. seem to be similar to the machine depicted here, dating from c. 1971-73 with flat fork crown, white downtube and seat tube bands and chromed Prugnat lugs. It is quite possible these were for export to the American market only as they differ in some aspects from the models depicted in the catalogues.

The San Remo Equipes were manufactured in their own corner of the big Falcon factory at Barton-on-Humber by the firm's best framebuiilders like Alan Towle (40 years experience) under the direction of George Flavell, each frame taking some three and a half hours to build. The workmanship and finish reflected their status as "flagships" of the Falcon range and comparable as such to the Raleigh and Holdsworth Professionals in quality, desirability and price.

The Restoration
This was purchased by the original owner in May 1977 for a "deal" from Campus Bike Shop, Columbus OH. Dating almost certainly from around 1972-3, it had obviously been hanging around the shop for quite a while, not uncommon for so large a frame. Rattle can repainted when I obtained it as a frameset (the original components having been sold off earlier), it has been beautifully repainted by Brian Chapman of Circle A Cycles, Providence RI, who perfectly hand matched the distinctive original Falcon Racing Blue. Replacement decals are from Cyclemondo (Greg Softley). Refitted with catalogue spec components.

The Ride
A perfectly balanced ride with a tight front end, quite steep frame angles (74.5 head and 74 seat), short top tube and characteristically British long chainstays, Ernie Clements whose name was slapped on everything Falcon made, really made his reputation on the design of these top-end San Remos. The high bb and tight angles encourages aggressive high speed cornering but the ride isn't harsh by any means. Not a particularly light machine at 23.5 lbs but the handling is superb.

Frame
Material: Reynolds 531 butted tubing and forks
Finish (repainted by Circle A Cycles): Falcon Racing Blue with chromed head lugs, front fork and rear fork socks (eight inches).
Size: seat tube 63 cm (25”) (c to t), 62 cm (c to c), top tube 60 cm (c to c)
Chainstay length: 17” (c to c)
Wheelbase: 41 inches (c to c)
Bottom bracket height: 10.75"
Angles: 74.5 (head) 74 (seat)
Fork offset: 1 3/4th”
Rear spacing: 126 mm
Lugs: Prugnat type “I” long spearpoint
Fork Crown: Prugnat
Dropouts: Campagnolo forged
Braze-ons: none.
Frame features: wrap over seat stays with flattened caps, oval to round section fork blades with long tangs and flat fork crown and "rapid taper" chainstays with no dimples.

Components
Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record pat. 71
Front deralleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Seat tube cable guide: Campagnolo bolt-on
Cablestay cable stop: Campagnolo bolt-on
Gear levers: Campagnolo clamp-on with blue Campagnolo lever covers
Chainset: Campagnolo Record Strada, 42t x 52t, 172.5 cm cranks
Bottom bracket: Campagnolo Nuovo Record English thread
Headset: Campagnolo Record English thread
Stem: Cinelli 1A, 125 mm
Handlebars: Cinelli Criterium, no. 65, 40 cm, Velox black cloth tape and Velox black plugs
Brakes: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Brake levers: Campagnolo Nouvo Record "long" pattern
Brake cable clips: Campagnolo
Seat pillar: Campagnolo Record, 27 mm
Seat binder bolt: domed nut
Saddle: Brooks Professional small rivet
Pedals: Campagnolo Record alloy/steel cage with strap loop
Toeclips and straps: Christophe chromed steel clips and white leather straps
Rims: Weinmann 293 eyeletted 36-hole polished alloy sprints with serrated braking surface
Hubs: Campagnolo Record 36-hole large-flange with Campagnolo quick release straight skewers
Spokes: 3x double-butted stainless steel
Tyres: Tufo Jet Pro sew-ups
Freewheel: Regina Extra 13-19t, five-speed
Chain: Regina
Accessories: Britannia Sprint Veloce pump with Campagnolo end, Campagnolo umbrella clip
Weights:
bare frame: 5.2 lbs
fork: 1.8 lbs
complete machine: 23.6 lbs