TYPE:
10 speed - "lightweight" road / race type - 1975 model Pepita Professional De Luxe 320 - serial number 4663440 ... [The 1975 M.S.R.P. for this bicycle in factory original state was $461 USD - assuming that it was not equipped with the optional Campagnolo Record brakeset or bar end shifters (...otherwise, it would have commanded an additional $60 and $10 respectively). For purposes of perspective, that base retail price would equate to approximately $1927 USD when cost adjusted for inflation using a benchmark of 2011 dollars.]
SIZE:
24 inches or 61 cm : 610 mm (physical seat tube C-t-T) - 575 cm (physical top tube C-t-C) - 440 mm (chainstay) - 100 cm (wheelbase) - xx mm (bottom bracket height) - xx mm (bottom bracket drop) - xx inches (standover height with 700c wheelset) - xx degree (fork rake) - 72 degree (head tube angle) - 72 degree (seat tube angle)
COLOR:
Racing Orange (...the only color in which the Pepita Professional De Luxe 320 was offered), originally rendered over a rust inhibiting Zinc phosphate primer base, with White accent paint on the seat stay caps and White pinstriping detail around the frame lugs as well as the front forks and rear stays ... [Correct as original excepting the manner of pinstriping seen on the rear seat stays which at its uppermost region now has a decided "line break" whereas it originally continued to flow into that area of White paint found on the seat stay caps. The entire frame and fork combination was professionally refurbished and repainted by Bob Freeman and the fine folks at Elliot Bay Bicycles of Seattle, Washington.]
BADGING:
Head badge comprised of a Black painted diamond shaped background with Gold border overlaid with a metallic badge formed from mirror image Crescent "C" wings attached in wrap around form and having a center section with "MCB Crescent" logo lettering over the shape of a five pointed star (head tube) - rectangular cut clear background decal reading "MADE IN SWEDEN" in Gold sans serif block lettering (head tube) - wrap around angled Black and White checkered flag image with center spear "CRESCENT" wording along its top side (forward on top tube) - "VÄRLDSMÄSTARCYKELN" or "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BICYCLE" stickers in White (center right and left sides of top tube) - stylized "Crescent" logo stickers in Black with White outline (center right and left sides of down tube) - round Gold foil style sticker with outer boarder in Green laurel branches reading "GULD KVALITET Crescent VÄRLDSMÄSTAR CYKELN" or "GOLD QUALITY Crescent WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BICYCLE" in Yellow lettering with Black outline (seat tube) - horizontal CdM rings bordered with Black and White checkered flag bands and having a stylized winged wheel image with the word "LÄTTGÅNGSLAGER" or "EASY RUNNING BEARINGS" in Red lettering (center of seat tube) - March 1974 through early 1975 vintage Reynolds 531 frameset rectangular dry transfer decal with registered trademark indicator (seat tube) - pre 1977 Reynolds 531 triangular dry transfer decal without trademark (right & left fork blades) : all decals and transfers applied underneath protective clear coat ... [Generally correct as original, with those various Crescent specific decals affixed to the newly repainted frameset being painstakingly accurate reproduction transfers I had custom made by Signs Plus Graphics in Sioux Falls, SD after learning that Cycleurope / Crescent had seen fit to throw away all of their older decal sets when production of their contemporary "racing style" bicycles moved from Varberg in Sweden to the Bianchi facility in Treviglio, Italy back in 2005. As for the Reynolds 531 rectangular frame and triangular fork decals, they are reproductions having the very same unusual markings as their predecessors and these new versions were procured from Greg Softley, proprietor of Cyclomondo in Coffs Harbor, Australia who was kind enough to make a special run for this very purpose. While each of these particular decals were originally applied over top the paint and clear coat, all of the reproduction Reynolds 531 frame and fork decals are now covered in clear coat (...for no reason other than that is how I received the bicycle following its re-paint). The metallic portion of the head badge is also a reproduction piece having been carefully cast from the original which was scarred beyond reclamation. However, the replacement is exquisitely crafted from genuine sterling silver as opposed to polished and clear anodized aluminum. Also perhaps worthy of mention, the original blind rivets once used to secure the wrap around style Crescent head badge have been replaced with similarly sized brass round headed slotted screws.]
FRAME:
Reynolds 531 double-butted manganese-molybdenum alloy steel tubing - Imperial sized tube set (1 inch or 25.4 mm top tube / 1 1/8 inch or 28.6 mm down tube and seat tube) - Nervex Professional model 49/162 lugs with Agrati 68 mm bottom bracket shell - 35 mm x 1 mm (25.4 TPI) French threaded bottom bracket shell (non-drive side - right threading / drive side - also right threading) - braze-on front and rear derailleur cable guides on top of bottom bracket / right rear stay derailleur cable stop - Campagnolo model 1010 forged long horizontal rear dropouts with rack eyelets / standard 10 mm x 26 TPI threaded derailleur hanger and locating notch / spring tensioned adjustment screws - 126 mm dropout spacing ... [Correct and original, with the distinct exception of the rear dropout spacing. Crescent road bicycles from this era, including the Pepita model 320, came stock having a 122 mm rear spacing apropos a conventional 5 speed or narrow 6 speed freewheel, however, I opted to spread the rear triangle on this bike out to 126 mm so as to accommodate either a standard 6 speed or narrow 7 speed configuration. Upon careful inspection of this bicycle, I must admit that the unrepentant perfectionist in me was mightily tempted to have the folks at Elliot Bay Bicycles "clean up" some of the arguably crude workmanship found to be in evidence. But pragmatism eventually won out and I decided to leave most things pretty much "as is" principally because I reasoned that it would be better to preserve this frameset in a state better approximating true originality rather than to over restore / refurbish it to a point where it no longer accurately represented what one would have found "riding about" or parked on the showroom floor of their favorite LBS back in the mid 1970’s and thereby risk misrepresenting the "freedom from files" ethos embodied by Crescent lug work of that period.]
FORK:
Reynolds 531 double-butted manganese-molybdenum alloy steel - 1" (25.4 mm) x 24 TPI English threaded steer tube - forged steel Agrati fork crown (flat top without horizontal chevrons - long spear vertical epaulets) - Campagnolo model 1010 forged dropouts with rack eyelets - 100 mm dropout spacing ... [Correct and original. Yes, it is right and proper in this case, as that is how those cunning Swedes saw fit to produce their 1970’s vintage Crescents, no doubt in a diabolically contrived attempt to baffle and befuddle bike wrenches the world over - an English threaded steer tube mated to a frameset having a French threaded bottom bracket shell.]
