ron's bikes
Ron's bikes
All those classic road bikes on the wall above the Service Center are the physical mementos of Ron Kiefel's storied professional racing career.
Above: Ron breaking out of the peloton to attack on the final day of the 1987 Tour de France, Champs d'Elysee, Paris. Photo: John Wilcockson
Click on a bike below to get his personal take on that particular model.
Click THIS LINK to read about Ron Kiefel's pro cycling career.
BIKE 1: MERCKX MOTOROLA TEAM BIKE
The old tanks! We had the Serotta-built Huffys, and then Rossins, and then we got Merckx. The Merckx bikes were really stable rides compared to the Rossins and Serottas, which were built with pretty light tubing. Merckx, he just built heavy bikes, the heaviest bikes. Great descending, very stable. He built bikes that were very durable, all built in his Belgian factory.
BIKE 2: 1984 OLYMPICS BRONZE MEDAL WINNING MURRAY
This is a bike from when I was an amateur. If you look at the chain rings you can see the Olympic logos. So in 1984 we got these bikes and equipment – chain rings, cranks, and stems with the Olympic logos. We rode these in the ’84 Olympics in Los Angeles. You can see the chrome fork and stays and they did that for durability so they wouldn’t get scratched. But it made them heavier and I think it actually affected the tubes. We couldn’t use lighter tubesets and chrome plate them – the steel gets brittle. That’s why they got away from the chroming process. Even having the number plate tab on the frame was a highlight then. “Wow, I’m actually in a race where they have number plates!”
Get the full story
BIKE 3: TOUR DE FRANCE TEAM TIME TRIAL HUFFY
These were branded Huffy for the sponsorship, but were made for us by Ben Serotta. This is a Tour de France race bike and used a smaller front wheel so you could get closer to the guy in front of you. Bullhorn bars were as aero as we had. They are cut off and flipped over drop bars.
Get the full story
BIKE 4: ICONIC EDDIE MERCKX TEAM 7-ELEVEN BIKE
Pretty much the same story as Bike #1 -- the Motorola bike.
BIKE 5: RACE-WINNING SOMMER BIKE, NOTICE THE 24” WHEELS
I got this bike because I won a stage race in Texas, just barely. I was there trying to qualify for the Junior World Championships trials. I had to go to a race somewhere outside Colorado to get enough points to make it to the trials. I won two of the three races, won the field sprint the first day. When I crossed the finish line I threw my arms up, which I didn’t know was illegal in Texas. I got a 30-second time penalty, and two other guys were then ahead of me. I was so mad I went out hard in the criterium the next day and lapped them. The prize for that win was this bike, made by a Texan builder named Sommer.
Get the full story