Gelmino Chesini himself would be impressed by Tony Hooper’s restoration of a 1987 X-Uno frame: no financial expense has been spared. Nor has any time been spared, trawling eBay and other sources for rare, NOS components. The result is nothing short of spectacular.
New Zealand rider and collector, Tony Hooper, set himself the challenge of a complete, period-correct restoration and build of a Chesini X-Uno frame. It was found in a sound but cosmetically poor condition, so Wellington painter Ross Bee was assigned the task of applying the new coat. The Chesini is kitted out with a complete Campagnolo C-Record gruppo, including pantographed Syncro shifters and Delta calipers with covers painted to match the frame. 3ttt handlebars and a pantographed stem complete the cockpit. Tony’s dad created a brand new pair of Columbus forks, topped with a Cinelli internal fork crown, another eBay purchase.
I’ve admired Tony’s Chesini on his flickr stream for quite some time, but when I saw the bike ‘on location’, pointing down a Kiwi country lane, I had to see more. Turns out Craig Madsen, one of New Zealand’s foremost cycling specific photographers, shot the X-Uno for New Zealand Road Cyclist magazine – suitably, and finally, capturing Tony’s pride and joy in the light it deserves.
