Bart Van Boxel (birth year 1971) lives in the Tuinwijk in Brecht. Unfortunately, there are no traces of an authentic garden district, you know such an idyllic site in the atmosphere of an English crime series. Fortunately, his bike collection is much, much more authentic.
In the 1980s, Bart and his brother Jim made the cycling races in Antwerp unsafe. In the youth series he drove a Diamant, of course with a steel frame at the time, to compete against contemporaries such as Tom Steels, Jo Planckaert or Peter Van Petegem. From the amateurs it went a bit downhill with Bart's cycling performance, the injury burden forced him to stop.
The passion for the retro race came later, as with many cycling enthusiasts. ,,My brother Jim took part in the Blauwvelokes race in Zwijndrecht, one of the first retro races in the region. This tour went on every year from 1996 to 2006. But the fair of Sint-Lenaerts (Brecht) then needed some new impulses. Then we started in 2011 with a retro bike tour under the name 'Verzopen Talenten (Surrounded Talents)', of course a title that can be completely written in the name of my brother,'' Bart laughs.
,,The event was a real success, with over a hundred participants each time. In addition to Belgians, many Dutch people also went to Sint-Lenaerts. That's why I bought myself a vintage racing bike. It became a Flandria.
In the meantime my brother had bought quite a few retro bikes and/or frames. After a few years he wanted to get rid of them. I then took them over and made them roadworthy with a lot of love and passion.”
Collection of vintage racing bicycles
Bart has a varying collection of ten vintage racing bicycles, which he respectfully prepares for road use and occasionally takes them outside for a ride. But in the meantime, there are also about 15 frames, full of longing to be back on the track. He will never sell a few bicycles, unless an irresistible offer is made. ,,I occasionally use my Guerciotti cross bike to take a tour in the woods."
Paolo Guerciotti is a little known Italian cyclist from the second half of the 1970s. He was also active as a cyclocross rider. In 1964 he opened a bicycle shop with his brother Italo. From 1975 the frames were exported to the US and the brand boomed. Five-time cyclo-cross world champion Roland Liboton achieved his successes on a Guerciotti, among others.
,,The gold-colored L'express never goes away. It may not be my size, but it is a unique piece. The color is unique and I am almost certain that the frame was built by the father of Jan Wijnants, a professional cyclist from the 1980s.
In any case, L'express is a bicycle shop with a history. The Antwerp bicycle shop was founded in 1927 by the brothers Vic and Jan Van Baellaert. In 1985 they opted for the simpler name Lexpres, but quality remained paramount. From 1991 they became a distributor of Cannondale, from 1995 Specialized was added.
Vintage bicycles have a look and timeless quality that you no longer find with a contemporary bicycle. Such bicycles are simply much less subject to wear and tear. I have always been passionate about the material. This way I still perfectly remember which professional team rode with which bicycle brand.
I mainly focus on cycling, but I also keep track of jerseys and racing caps. With every retro bike I cherish, I have matching retro cycling equipment. And those too have become real collectibles. For example, I am still looking for the woolen cycling jersey that I wore in the years 1985-1987.”
Fairs and happenings
According to Bart, the years in which you could do real bargains are over. But the interest in the vintage bicycle will remain. Quality survives. “The real collectors will stay. And for me this is a pure hobby. If I had to calculate the working hours when selling an old racing bike, this would quickly amount to several hundred euros. So no.
I hope to be able to organize a retro race often or to participate in these happenings myself. Close to home I think of the small-scale retro course on and around the abbey domain in Westmalle. Certain years the fifteen participants, including myself, stood with their ankles in the water. I would also like to drive the Eroica in Tuscany. But first I have to get rid of those corona kilos!"
Soon the stock markets will come back. On October 11, 2020 Bart will organize the 'Vintage Bike Fair' in the Sint-Amands hall in Geel, together with his companion Pol Herijgers and his girlfriend Sofie. About fifty exhibitors will offer a nice impression of all the beauty that cycling was able to give us years ago.
Article written by Patrick Anthone: journalist in his spare time and avid cyclist who makes the Flemish roads unsafe on his Ridley Fenix or on his vintage Guerciotti > more info about Patick
