Razesa from late 90's or early 2000

[Lazpi]

Hi team!

In parallel with the recovery of an MBK that belonged to my father-in-law, from 1989

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/mbk-adventure-recovey.486033/

I wanted to get another bike, for the same reason I wanted to get the MBK back, pedaling together with my 5-year-old daughter at the country house, without having to move the 'official' bike.

With a maximum budget for the purchase of €150 (I knew that whatever I bought, I would want to customize it to my liking, so the budget was not very high), I wanted to get a Sunn 5000, but it was really in very bad condition, with a lot of oxide.

Searching on wallapop, this Razesa appeared, it was close to home, it fit the budget and the truth is that it caught my attention in the photo in the advertisement.

It was about this

 

[Lazpi]

So, I decided to go for it.

I saw that it had several 'buts', they had changed the stem in the ad photo for an adjustable one (a little ugly) and the purple aluminum rear closure for an old Shimano.

Also (I already knew this), the teeth of the large chainring had been filed and the front derailleur did not work, it was like a single chainring. The bike rolled and shifted very smoothly, so I decided to keep it.

That's how he came home

 

[Lazpi]

Once home, I decided to take a good look at it. I tried to locate the model/year using Google, along with keywords like 'aluminum' but no luck. On the rear tube, where the rear derailleur is housed, I saw that it had a 'CALOI' stamping.

Also, one of the stickers on the frame said '2 year warranty on the frame only' It was something that didn't make much sense to me, since Razesa was supposedly a small frame manufacturer located in Navarra, Spain. Caloi is a Brazilian manufacturer.

I found the 1998 Caloi Supra to be practically the same as mine. Had they sold me a Brazilian bicycle?

Although Razesa closed a few years ago, the son of one of the owners continues to make custom road and gravel frames, and I got in touch with him. I sent him photos and he explained to me that just as jobs are now outsourced to China, around 2000 they bought frames from Holland. They were brought to Navarra, the components were assembled and marketed under their brand.

Let's say I buy a Razesa without a pedigree.

 

[Lazpi]

In any case, I have been putting it to my liking in the month and a half that I have had it more or less.

I replaced the Schwalbe Road Cruiser tires in 26x1'75 with some Maxxis Holly Roller tires in 26x2'2 that I had used.
The adjustable stem gave way to a silver Ritchey Comp Lite.
The double height handlebar was replaced by a straight Sunn Brute handlebar, but being 560mm it was shortened so it ended up with a 620mm Bontrager Super Stock
The chainrings have been replaced with a 38-tooth single chainring from Aliexpress
Shimano XT M737 Crankset
Shimano XT Pedals
Selle royal saddle
Sunn Brute seatpost adjustable in inclination
Shimano XT Shark Finn
Eleven saddle closure

I have yet to ride,
Magura HS33 brakes John Tomac edition (red) Ritchey lock grip rubber grips

The final idea with this bike includes a 1x10 gearbox and a MAG 21 fork. But little by little...

Thanks for reading!

 

[Lazpi]

Little changes today,

Changed seatpost and seat. I think these will be the definitely ones. Seat post is Shimano DX SP-M650 and seat a Selle Bassano Vuelta

Changed rear tyre, the used Maxxis in 2.2 has been replaced with a new Panaracer in 2.1

Stem has been provisionally changed with a generic black one. Need to sell some parts and I would like to buy a Thomson Elite stem for this bike.

I've started the conversion to Magura HS33 too, but I don't have photos. Unfortunatelly the brakes where competely dissasembled and needed to take time to look internet phots and videos as I didn't have any experience with this kind of brakes.

Hope could update soon. Roadmap for this year is to finish brake conversion, change front wheel with a Dart one and get a decent stem.

Thanks for reading!