My Uncle’s ~1980 Olmo Grand Prix

4 years ago I already did a post about this bike, but I want to do another post because I have the full story of this bike now.

This is my uncle’s Olmo Grand Prix.

This bike has been in my family for decades. At first glance, purists might call it a "Frankenbike" because of the mixed groupset, but every single piece on this bike was chosen for a reason, and it has a pretty incredible history.

I’m planning to keep it as a museum piece in my house, replacing only the consumables (new tires, cloth bar tape, and Campy hoods) to keep its battle scars intact.

Here is the breakdown of this beauty:

⚙️ The Specs (Fully custom build)

* Frame: Olmo Grand Prix (Late 70s). Columbus SL steel tubing.

* Brakes & Pedals: Campagnolo Super Record. My uncle personally imported these to Spain at a time when they were basically impossible to find here. At that time, in Spain you could only find Campagnolo record in very specific places. Súper récord arrived 3/4 years later.

* Cockpit: Tecno Tubo Torino stem and bars

* Saddle: Selle Italia Superleggera.

* Wheels: Mavic rims with Vittoria tires.

* Drivetrain: Shimano 600 rear derailleur paired with a Regina chain.

📖 The Story: Why Shimano on a top-tier Italian frame?

In Spain in the late 70s/early 80s, Japanese components were super rare here, and my uncle wanted the best bike that money could buy at that time. I know that the super record group set could be better, but at that time, Shimano was unknown territory, and my uncle decided to import this groupset instead os the campagnolo. He paired the Shimano with the best chain available at that time, Regina.

🏆 The Racing story

Back in the mid-80s, my uncle was close friends with a high-level Elite/Amateur rider named José Antonio Miralles, who rode for the famous Spanish team Colchón CR.

Right before a very prestigious local stage race called the Vuelta a Burriana, Miralles snapped the bottom bracket of his official team bike during a training ride. His team didn’t have a replacement bike, so he asked my uncle to borrow his Olmo, since they rode the same size.

Miralles raced this exact bike, with this exact Shimano 600 / Campy Super Record setup, against the official team bikes of the other teams and he won the Vuelta a Burriana. Twice. (Miralles later went on to become a full pro rider in 1989 for Helios-Colchón CR).

So, while I originally wanted to swap the Shimano 600 for a period-correct Campagnolo Super Record derailleur to make it a perfect bike, I quickly realized that would erase its history.

I'm keeping it 100% as it is. Just a deep clean, a polish, and some fresh tan walls!

What do you guys think?