Joco
54.5cm Joco Ronde Van Europa c.1956 Classic Track Bike
£2,750.00
To discover any Joco is a special thing, so you can imagine our excitement when we got our hands on an original 1950s one!
Joco was established in 1919 by Matheus Antionius ('Toon') de Jonge, taking its name from the cycle repair shop's title, Jonge & Co, although wasn't until 1924 when they started manufacturing bikes.
By the 1940s Joco cycles sported the slogan 'Light as a Butterfly'. They genuinely were up there with the best of the best, and with a price tag to boot.
At the very end of the 1950s they'd moved out of Amsterdam and in to Hilversum, and by the 70s they'd stopped manufacturing bikes altogether.
If you get the chance to ask a Dutch classic cycling enthusiast about Joco bikes, guaranteed you'll get a great response. Their legend really has lived on. We're so happy that we got hold of one, having missed out on one many years ago, and it's instantly apparent just why they're held in such high regard.
This one is a Ronde Van Europa (Tour of Europe) model, built with Reynolds 531 Double Butted tubing, finished in Joco's trademark 'Italia' style, with chromed Nervex 45/159 lugs, stunning box lining and probably the nicest paint scheme we've ever seen. Considering its age, the chrome and enamel are still in very presentable condition, not without patina of course, but we'd much rather see it like this in its original glory than it go through the paint shop only to lose all its character.
As for the kit, it's all about the Titan; adjustable track stem, steel track bars & pantographed seatpost all courtesy of the legendary Belgian parts maker. The wheels are a combination of Campag Grand Sport front & 110mm FB Brevette rear hub laced to Fiamme Sprint rims, all genuine 1950s attire. Crankset is an early 151 BCD Campagnolo Pista set with matching bottom bracket, this we assume to have been updated from cottered to cotterless at some point in the 60s.
The beauty of track bikes usually lies in their simplicity, but this Joco is a different kind of beast. Toon's approach back in the 1920s was to revolt against the bland uniform of racing bikes of the time, where every marque sported the same black paint. His vision was to introduce fresh, striking colours to his fleet, and was the first to do so. He certainly produced something striking here, and whichever home this goes to next is sure to be a happy one.
As with all our bikes, it's been fully stripped, inspected, professionally polished & re-built. The frame is straight & true - please inspect the photos for cosmetic condition as we photograph the bikes so you can see the exact condition of the bike before purchasing.
| OVERVIEW: | |
| Seat Tube (ctc): | 54.5 cm |
| Top Tube: (ctc): | 56.5 cm |
| Head Tube: | 150 mm |
| Standover: | 80.5 cm |
| Weight: | 8.59 kg (With Pedals) |
| Tubing: | Reynolds 531 Double Butted |
| Country: | Netherlands |
| Year: | 1956 |
| FULL SPEC: | |
| Crankset: | Campagnolo Record Pista 151 BCD / 52 Tooth 1/8" / 165mm |
| Track Sprocket: | F.B 16 Tooth Fixed Gear |
| Chain: | Sedis 1/8" Track Chain |
| Pedals: | Campagnolo Pista / Christophe Clips / Christophe Special Leather Straps |
| Bottom Bracket: | Campagnolo Record Pista |
| Hubs: | F.B Pista Low Flange Rear / Campagnolo Gran Sport Low Flange Front |
| Rims: | Fiamme Sprint for Tubulars (700c/27/28") |
| Tyres: | Lion Tubular (22mm Width) |
| Headset: | Original Steel |
| Handlebars: | Titan Steel Pista |
| Stem: | Titan Adjustable Track Stem |
| Bar Tape: | Velox Tressorex |
| Saddle: | Laced Leather Sprinter |
| Seatpost: | Titan Steel |