<------------------ SOLD ------------------> 3TTT Superleggero handlebars - ALMARC leather wrap - 44 cm (NOS)
3ttt Record Competizione Superleggero handlebars - 1974 to 1986 second edition engraved logo - thin wall aluminum alloy - T6 heat treatment - Gimondi profile bar bend - 120 mm wide / 26.0 mm Italian clamp sized bulged center section - 44 cm O-t-O / 116 mm reach / 178 mm drop - model Superleggero : ALMARC - leather handlebar covering - hand stitched sewn-on mounting - Black - model 66 : 3ttt handlebar end plugs - push-in style - domed ends - chrome plated ... [NOS / NIP - very faint markings to be found at one spot on the leather wrap along the left hand side of the handlebars and those can easily be remedied, either by yourself if you know how or by employing the services of your favorite shoe repair shop for a cost of something less than $10.00 USD (...I have not made any remedial attempts at this point only because I believe it better to present vintage items exactly "as is" and "untouched" when offering them for sale - if I end up keeping these handlebars for one of my own projects, I guarantee that I will do just as described above) - from that point in time when they were first introduced to the U.S. market in 1974 (...although they had been available in Europe since at least 1972 and perhaps as early as 1971) as well as throughout the remainder of that decade and well into the next, 3ttt’s Superleggero model was absolutely the lightest drop style handlebar available, weighing in at a mere 240 grams (...without the leather wrapping seen here, of course) - and for whatever it may be worth, you should know that these highly coveted 44 cm O-t-O bars were the widest that 3ttt made during an era when narrow bars were the norm (...making this size double tough to find today - especially in NOS state) - as for the ALMARC leather wrap, its application and execution exemplifies the finest traditions of "old world" craftsmanship, and indeed, variations of ALMARC covered handlebars could be found as a fine finishing touch on several distinctive Italian bikes of the era including the Bianchi Super Leggera, the Ciöcc Mockba 80 Super Record and CLX 384 Aero Titanium, the Guerciotti Jet Super Record and GLX 7600 Super Record Pro, and the Somec 2001 C Record and Air Super Record]
In response to a couple of questions that I have had regarding these handlebars, I thought that I would provide the following information:
ALMARC leather wrapped bars were originally made available in two configurations. The first one was pre-mounted onto a stem which was also included (...3ttt, Cinelli, ITM, custom pantographed or not - there were a host of options). The second type were sold absent any stem so that one might choose their own. Should you have a quick-release type stem where either the front plate is removable or the clamp area is hinged or otherwise opens up, then mounting a set of these ALMARC wrapped bars was a snap. With a traditional ‘fixed’ style quill stem, a little more work is required. Here is what I did to mount a similar set onto my Pino Morroni bicycle. Remove the end cap on the left side of the handlebars, unfold the excess leather which has been stuffed inside the opening, untie the knot in the white stitching thread, and then CAREFULLY un-stitch that one side of the wrap noting the pattern used all the while you pull back small sections of the ALMARC wrap. The leather itself is only lightly tacked into place with a dusting of adhesive along the top / outside edge of the handlebars (...not much, so it is pretty easy to separate using only your fingers). After marking the location of the brake post clamp, remove same and then thread the handlebars through your designated stem as one would traditionally need to do. Having clamped the stem closed only enough to gently secure the handlebars in place, re-mount the brake post clamp in its proper position, then re-apply a small bead of adhesive along the top edge of the bars and let dry to a tacky state. The real trick to a nice tight wrap as original is to soak the leather in water FIRST, wring it somewhat dry, and then continue. Noting where the wrap need be placed to match its un-touched counterpart on the other side of the handlebars, begin laying your wrap back into position at the top near the center section and stitch it back up with the original thread that you CAREFULLY removed. Proceed in this fashion while making sure to pull back on the leather while ‘tightening up’ the threading every one to two inches. When you reach the end at the bottom of the drops, DO NOT tie a knot into the thread. After re-inspecting your re-wrap job to insure that everything looks straight and proper, take a hair dryer to the leather so that it pulls itself down nice an tight. NOW, pull on the two ends of stitching one last time and tie those into a knot, push the remainder into the open end of the handlebars, and re-install the bar plug. FINITO!!! Upon request, I would be happy to include a more detailed outline of this entire procedure along with a pair of the needles requisite for stitching to who ever agrees to purchase these handlebars.
