tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-29263414276102049632008-03-21T01:07:00.014-05:002008-03-21T01:52:37.755-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NQ4OnAx3I/AAAAAAAAAcw/ZSK8Oyfo4jM/s1600-h/CRW_4836.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NQ4OnAx3I/AAAAAAAAAcw/ZSK8Oyfo4jM/s400/CRW_4836.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180072923330824050" /></a>One of the most interesting bikes at the Handmade Bicycle Show lacked the high-polished freshness of many of the bikes that had been assembled in the 72 hours prior to display. John Slawta of <a href="http://www.landsharkbicycles.com/">Land Shark</a> presented the bike he built in 1988 for Andy Hampsten, the bike he would go on to win the Giro d'Italia aboard.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NRIOnAx4I/AAAAAAAAAc4/KpW7gT8N3_o/s1600-h/CRW_4837.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NRIOnAx4I/AAAAAAAAAc4/KpW7gT8N3_o/s400/CRW_4837.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180073198208731010" /></a>The bike featured crisp lug work and fastback seatstays. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NRS-nAx5I/AAAAAAAAAdA/tuK6GZ5TM_Y/s1600-h/CRW_4838.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NRS-nAx5I/AAAAAAAAAdA/tuK6GZ5TM_Y/s400/CRW_4838.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180073382892324754" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NRkenAx6I/AAAAAAAAAdI/WCNUKHm42Ng/s1600-h/CRW_4839.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NRkenAx6I/AAAAAAAAAdI/WCNUKHm42Ng/s400/CRW_4839.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180073683540035490" /></a>In one corner of Slawta's booth he displayed the original promotional poster put out by Cinelli celebrating that great day on the Gavia. However, the most curious aspect of the display was in the lower right corner of the frame. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NR8-nAx8I/AAAAAAAAAdY/WeN3mC1NLgA/s1600-h/CRW_4841.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NR8-nAx8I/AAAAAAAAAdY/WeN3mC1NLgA/s400/CRW_4841.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180074104446830530" /></a>Slawta displayed a postcard signed by Andy and members of the 7-Eleven team.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NR1enAx7I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/cYnYOSwOn4U/s1600-h/CRW_4840.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_MSkdtPZIzjU/R-NR1enAx7I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/cYnYOSwOn4U/s400/CRW_4840.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180073975597811634" /></a>Slawta's hand-scrawled notes regarding Andy's requested frame measurements. The bike was built around 56.5cm top and seat tubes a 74-degree seat-tube angle, 73.5-degree head tube angle and only 35mm of fork rake, resulting in a whopping 6.42cm of trail, which is roughly a full centimeter more than is used in most racing bikes made today. With so much trail, the bike steered deliberately and remained calm at high speed, just like our hero did on those crazy descents in the Dolomites.Padraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14806791547912750107noreply@blogger.com