John Marino's 1982 Mike Melton Huffy Race Across America Aero Bike! 56cm - Fillet Brazed (Certificate of Authentation - Signed Provenance - The Competition Bicycle Book)

Cash pickup price: $1999

This bicycle is of extreme importance to the history of endurance racing, the Race Across America community (aka RAAM, previously the Great American Bike Race), and steel road bike framebuilding development in general. In 1982 Mike Melton built this bike for John Marino under sponsorship from Huffy to ride in the first Great American Bike Race which he created after setting the world record for coast to coast riding. John came in last out of 4 racers in the inaugural race, but he set the foundation for a legendary ultra cycling event that continues to this day. Mike Melton used this bike as inspiration for his famous, legendary, and futuristic bikes for the 1984 & 1988 US Olympic Teams using many of the aero features seen on this bike.

John gave this bike to RAAM finisher and race staffer Chris Kostman of AdventureCORPS in 1989. Chris had the frame fully restored by CyclArt in the early 1990's and built the bike back up to John's exact specs (helpfully listed in the included 1982 Great American Bike Race Log!). According to Kostman about 50% of the parts are original to the bike when John rode it in 1982. It hasn't been ridden since the 1980's! In 2008 the bike was highlighted in Jan Heine's book "The Competition Bicycle," bringing it into the eyes of the mainstream bike world.

Included in this sale is a collection of documentation proving the provenance of this iconic bike. Highlights are a signed letter of authenticity by Chris Kostman, a copy of "The Competition Bicycle” which Heine signed & gave to Kostman, a very rare and original 1982 Bud Light Great American Bike Race Log, reprinted photos of the bike from 1982, and a copy of "John Marino's Bicycling Book".

The bike itself is a masterpiece. The frame is fillet brazed from Tange #3 Special Oval airfoil-shaped steel. It includes ahead of its time features like top mount shifters, fully internal cable routing, a special fully ovalized seat tube designed for the Dura Ace aero seatpost complete with rear-facing binder bolt, and - most uniquely - a second aero bottle mount under the top tube! Components were chosen to be aerodynamic, efficient, and lightweight. There's a mix of Dura Ace AX, Suntour Cyclone MKII drivetrain, DIA-COMPE, Brooks, etc. 

Condition

This bike was restored in the 90's by CycleArt and has not been ridden since the 1980's when John still owned it as its too small for Chris. Its been a wall hanger display bike. While it has a few inconsequential blemishes in the paint from almost 30 years of display it is in exceptional condition. It has a fresh professional tuneup and needs nothing. The components are largely near mint to mint with very light scattered cosmetic wear. The hub's clear plastic dust cones are cracking though the Dura Ace AX seatpost gasket is in wonderful shape. Tires are in wonderful cosmetic shape. *Tires are 30 years old and not safe to ride.

Frame details

• Frame number: None
• Top tube: 56cm
• Seat tube: 57cm c-c
• Head tube: 157mm

Components

• Wheelset: Dura Ace AX FH-7330 / HB-7300 hubs laced to Araya Aero ADX1 / ADX2 tubular
• Crankset: Dura Ace AX FC-7300: 170mm x 53/42t
• Bottom bracket: Dura Ace AX BB-7500
• Pedals: Dura Ace AX PD-7300
• Seatpost: Dura Ace AX SP-7320 oval
• Stem: Dura Ace AX HS-7300
• Headset: Dura Ace EX HP-7200
• Brakes & levers: DIA-COMPE Aero Compe AC300G
• Drivetrain: Suntour Cyclone MKII derailleurs & shifters
• Saddle: Brooks Professional Special
• Handlebars: 3ttt Competizione
• Tires: Clement Super Condor
• Aero water bottle & cage: Cobra Profil